Situated around a natural harbor, Sydney is currently the second-largest city in Australia. And while you might dream of seeing the city’s most famous landmark, the Sydney Opera House, you might be wondering what else there is to do and wonder “Is Sydney worth visiting?“.
And given that I lived in Sydney for a while after initially contemplating the same question, I think I can answer that question for you. Given how passionate I am about Australia, it might surprise you, but I never planned to move there. I was unsure if I would like the city and what it could offer me.
And then I arrived in Sydney and instantly had my answer because Sydney stole my heart. But of course, the fact that I love the city is not what makes it worth visiting, so let’s dive into the pros and cons of visiting Sydney.
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Pros of Visiting Sydney
Every year, millions visit Sydney for many different reasons and chances are, that all these people cannot be wrong. But let’s look at the biggest pros of visiting Sydney to gain a deeper understanding of what makes this city worth visiting and which types of travelers will love it.
1. Sydney’s Iconic Landmarks
Many cities around the world are closely associated with famous buildings. While New York has the Empire State Building and Tokyo has the Tokyo Tower, Sydney has its Opera House and the Harbour Bridge. And of course, the only way to see these buildings is to travel to the respective destinations.
So if it is your dream to see the Sydney Opera House, the answer to the question ‘Is Sydney worth visiting?’ is an instant yes. The Opera House is iconic and has become synonymous with the city itself. Therefore, it is no surprise, that it is one of the most photographed landmarks in Australia.
It was inscribed on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2007, due to being considered a masterpiece of 20th-century architecture.
Funnily enough, it is also a place where you might encounter wildlife, as a New Zealand fur seal can regularly be found sunbathing on the Opera House’s northern step.
And of course, the second major landmark of Sydney, the Harbour Bridge, is essentially the Opera House’s neighbor.
I have walked across the Harbour Bridge, taken the bus over it, and even driven over it at the very end of my first Australia road trip – and let me tell you that every single way to cross it initially felt like a scene from a movie. After all, I had previously seen it and the Opera House in countless movies ranging from Finding Nemo to Mission: Impossible II.
If you want a fantastic view of both iconic buildings at the same time, I recommend taking the Manly ferry from Circular Quay. During the ferry ride through the harbor, you have a stunning view of the city’s landmarks and skyline.
2. Stunning Beaches
It might feel like a cliche to include the beaches as one of the pros of visiting Sydney, but I firmly believe that they are. Of course, Bondi Beach is the one beach everyone wants to visit, but there are so many more amazing little and large beaches in and around the city.
I, for one, love Coogee Beach, and the cliffs next to it are one of the places I visited if I just wanted to be in the moment. And then there are also great smaller beaches like Tamarama Beach.
And if you are like me and are not one for spending an entire day relaxing at the beach, you can turn your beach trip into a small adventure. Many beaches, especially Sydney’s Eastern beaches, are connected, so you can easily reach the next one by following one of Sydney’s many coastal trails.
Please note that not all beaches have a constant lifeguard presence, and as such, some of them are better swimming spots than others. Especially, if you are not able to spot a rip current.
3. Great Restaurants
While I by no means want anyone to potentially fly halfway across the world just to eat somewhere, food is a big part of traveling. Oftentimes, the food we eat while traveling contributes to our understanding of a culture or country. And while most Australian foods should certainly be tried as Vegemite, Tim Tams and fairy bread are not to be missed, you certainly also need good restaurants.
And of course, Sydney has many of them. And due to the fact that it is a large city, you will certainly find a good restaurant regardless of what you want to eat.
Tip: If you are looking for great Asian food while in Sydney, you should head to Chinatown or the Anzac Parade section near UNSW.
My Favorite Restaurants in Sydney
Among all the restaurants I have eaten at while in Sydney, the following two are not to be missed
Macchiato — a wonderful Italian restaurant with a rustic charm. Their woodfire pizzas are delicious and they have a larger wine selection.
Yang San Park — a Korean BBQ restaurant in Chinatown where the food is cooked on a grill at your table. They have a selection of different meats. The place is quite popular and you usually have to wait a while to be seated, so ask to be added to the waiting list before venturing into Chinatown again until your table is ready.
4. Vibrant Cultural Scene
Given that one of Sydney’s most famous landmarks is the Opera House, it is no surprise that this city has a vibrant cultural scene. But while this landmark itself hosts a plethora of performances ranging from ballet and contemporary dance to opera and stage plays, it is only a part of Sydney’s cultural events.
After all, there are plenty of museums and galleries like the Art Gallery of NSW as well as temporary exhibitions like ‘Sculpture by the Sea‘ near Bondi.
On top of that, you also have annual festivals like Vivid Sydney, which is a stunning festival featuring light displays on the sails of the Opera House. These days, there is also an accompanying drone show, but this was not the case when I was living in Sydney.
5. Natural Beauty
Sydney’s beaches might be part of the city’s natural beauty, but there is significantly more to it. After all, Sydney has the Royal Botanic Garden that offers a gateway into nature within the city and cliffside walks, in addition to several national parks nearby.
Among these, the Royal National Park and the Blue Mountains National Park are the biggest pros of visiting Sydney for nature lovers, as they offer a large variety of hikes and scenic vistas.
They are both fantastic day trips from Sydney, but I admittedly favor the train journey into the Blue Mountains. The national park is known for its eucalyptus trees, whose oil gives the air a distinctive blue haze.
It is a hiking paradise full of trails along the cliffs and through the valleys, and chances are that you will see several waterfalls along the way.
I recommend the Prince Henry Cliff Walk from Katoomba to Leura via Echo Point viewpoint.
6. Unique Experiences
Aside from all these activities, there are also some unique experiences you can participate in while visiting Sydney. Hereby, the most popular one is likely climbing the Harbour Bridge.
Given that Sydney is also the place where Western history in Australia started, it is a great place to learn more about this part of Australia’s history. Joining the ‘The Rocks Walking Tour’ is a great way to learn about Sydney’s colonial history while seeing where it happened.
You can also whale watch right from the coast, which makes Sydney rather special. After all, very few major cities can claim that you can spot whales right from the city’s beaches and cliffs.
Bonus: It’s not Melbourne
Please consider this pro of visiting Sydney the way it is intended to be – a joke. I lived in Sydney and quickly adopted the Sydneysider stance that “our” city is much better than Melbourne, so I had to mention it.
The ongoing debate of Sydney vs Melbourne is a tale as old as time (even if it only dates back to 1901) and started when neither of the two cities was selected as the Australian capital city.
And given how fun it is to talk about the superiority of your city, I can only encourage you to choose Sydney a side and join the debate.
Fun fact: This debate is one of my favorite facts about Australia.
Cons of Visiting Sydney
My heart might try to deny it, but Sydney is not perfect, so of course, there are also cons to visiting Sydney. Like every other city, it has its downsides, with the ones affecting travelers the most being the following:
1. It’s Expensive
There is a lot you can do while in Sydney, but it certainly comes at a price, as this city is expensive. In fact, it can frequently be found on lists of the most expensive cities to live in. As such, even budget accommodations will set you back a good amount, and once you add food and activities, you are in for a potentially very expensive vacation.
However, there are plenty of fantastic free things to do in Sydney, so if you are willing to skip the more pricey range of activities like climbing the Harbour Bridge, you can make it work.
With that being said: There are places where one should consider splurging as the experiences offered are rather rewarding, and Sydney is one of these places. So please go to that expensive rooftop bar with a fantastic view of the Harbour and drink one cocktail (or more if your budget allows it).
2. Public Transportation Hassles
Some cities have fantastic public transport systems, and then there is Sydney. Things are slowly improving, but despite all efforts, Sydney will never have a perfect public transport system.
Some bus lines are continuously overcrowded and there are simply not enough train lines to avoid taking a bus. In fact, you cannot even get to Bondi Beach without taking a bus or walking more than a kilometer.
Add the fact that congestion can make taking a UBER rather slow as well, and at times you will find yourself wishing you had just walked. The metro line between Sydney CBD and Northern Sydney that is set to open soon might lead to fewer cars on the road, but having experienced the situation myself, it will only improve the situation a bit.
3. Crowded Tourist Areas
Even when tourism was not yet fully back to normal standards, Sydney saw over 8.8 million domestic overnight visitors in 2022 in addition to millions of international travelers. As such, you will certainly not be the only person who wants to see the Opera House, relax at Bondi Beach, or take in the view from Mrs Macquarie’s Chair.
Therefore, there is no way to avoid crowds when visiting the city’s most popular sites unless you want to do so in the pouring rain. And chances are, that you would still be some tourist doing exactly what you are doing.
As a consequence, Sydney itself is not the place you should visit if you are looking for some peace and quiet.
It is a definite downside of visiting a city that many consider a bucket list destination. While this ultimately does not make the city less worth visiting, it does mean you should plan to spend more time at places than you think – especially, if you want to take some photos.
Tips for Visiting Sydney
Did this list of pros and cons of visiting Sydney convince you to travel there? If so, these tips will be rather useful for you:
Use sun protection — When you are in Australia, the sun is strong, so take measures to protect yourself. Use reef-safe sunscreen and wear a hat and sunglasses. If you visit the beach, I recommend UV clothes while swimming and snorkeling. A tan is not worth the cancer risk.
Look beyond the commonly visited spot — While Sydney’s popular spots are popular for a reason, it is more than worth it to leave the touristic masses behind and look for the less visited hidden gems. There are beautiful spots everywhere, so allow yourself to stroll through the streets until you stumble upon charming spots.
Plan your visit during the shoulder season — Sydney is always popular, but if you want to avoid the largest crowds, it is best to avoid the Australian holidays and the peak of summer. September to November and March and May also have great weather, and chances are that you will not be fighting for a free spot at the beach during the weekdays.
Get the OPAL card as soon as you arrive in Sydney — The OPAL card is Sydney’s public transport card and having it makes your life as a tourist significantly easier, as you do not have to worry about train or bus tickets. You can get the card right at the airport and can top it up at many places including IGAs and online.
Use UBER if you are short on time — Depending on where you are in Sydney, it can take a while before you can board a bus, so I recommend calling a UBER if you have to get somewhere urgently. Especially, if you are on the way to the airport.
My 5 Favorite Things to Do in Sydney
There are many wonderful things to do in Sydney, and I could talk about them for hours, but when it comes down to it, the following five things are my personal favorites. They might not be activities travelers think of first when planning their trip, but I highly recommend adding them to your itinerary.
Coogee to Bondi Cliff Walk
I first did this coastal walk during my first week in Sydney, and alongside the many other coastal walks, I consider it one of the biggest pros of visiting Sydney.
This 6 km long walk takes you past some of the city’s best beaches and as you walk on the cliffs and through parks, you can see some of Sydney’s most scenic views.
It is possible to start at any point along the way, but I recommend doing the full walk. In fact, I can only encourage you to do it as a return trip so you can take in the view in both directions. Hereby, it is especially intriguing, to do the return trip just before the sun starts to set.
Scuba Diving
I learned to dive in Sydney, so the local underwater world will always have a special place in my heart, but I would recommend diving here even if the city was not where my diving journey started.
While you will not see vibrant coral reefs while diving in Sydney, there are plenty of other great things to see. While diving you can see friendly Port Jackson sharks that can often be found resting on the ground, weedy sea dragons that hide in the kelp, and much more.
Whale Watching
As previously mentioned, Sydney is a great location for whale watching as the whales migrate not far off the coast during the northern migration. During said migration up to 40.000 whales head north between May and mid-August. If you want to see them from the shore, the cliffs of Coogee are a great observation spot.
During the southern migration, most humpback whales swim in the colder waters further off-shore, so opting for a whale watching cruise is the best way to see them. This migration takes place from mid-August to November.
Badu Gili at the Sydney Opera House
Many have heard of Vivid Sydney, the annual 23-day-long festival that features illuminations, drone shows, and music. After all, it is one of the biggest cultural events in Sydney and more than worth visiting.
However, I favor the much smaller Badu Gili. After all, this event focuses on First National storytelling and artists and, therefore, grants you a glimpse into the rich and diverse history and culture of Australia’s first people.
I was lucky enough to be in Sydney when the event first occurred and loved the projection on the Eastern Bennelong sails of the Opera House. While the event is running, the projection is shown several times per night. Nowadays, there is also a live performance by First Nations artists on certain days of the month.
You can find out more about the event with live performances here. As of now, the information has yet to be updated with dates for this year, but I recommend keeping an eye on it if you plan to visit Sydney.
There is an ongoing Badu Gili projection without live performances. You can find out more about it here.
Blue Mountains Day Trip
It is great to explore Sydney itself, but no trip there would be complete without a day trip to the Blue Mountains. After all, this national park is the perfect getaway for nature lovers. It offers everything from stunning vistas, hiking trails, abundant flora and fauna as well as waterfalls.
In addition to that, you can also ride a cable car and see glow worms in an abandoned railway tunnel.
Where to Stay in Sydney
Given that I had a shared apartment during my time in Sydney, I never booked a hotel in the city. However, I can tell you that I recommend either staying in the Sydney CBD (Central Business District) or near Bondi Beach.
SYDNEY CBD
Luxury: Shangri La Sydney — If you are looking for a luxurious place to stay and want to see the Opera House or the Harbour Bridge from your room, the Shangri La is among the best options. It is located in The Rocks and close to many of Sydney’s most famous landmarks.
Mid Range: Ovolo The Woolstore 1888 — This boutique hotel is still luxurious, but is a rather affordable option. Located in a transformed historic woolstore that dates back to 1888, it combines contemporary design with historic elements, which makes staying here a rather unique experience.
Budget: Sydney Harbour YHA — While it might be surprising, Sydney also has relatively affordable accommodations in prime locations. Hereby, the Sydney Harbour is particularly popular as this hotel (that also has private rooms) has a rooftop that offers a great view of the Harbour and its landmarks.
NEAR BONDI
Mid Range: Hotel Bondi — This hotel is located across the street from Bondi Beach, and as such, it is the ideal place to stay if you want to be close to the beach. The rooms have a modern minimalistic design, but it is the beach view that makes them great. Be sure to book an ocean-facing room.
Budget: Wake Up! Bondi Beach — While simple in design, this hostel is in a prime location within direct vision of the world-famous beach. As such, it is the best place to stay if you want to be right at the beach while traveling with a smaller budget.
Is Sydney worth visiting?
Sydney has a lot to offer and, as such, Sydney is 100% worth visiting. While exploring the city, you can enjoy Sydney’s fantastic beaches, marvel at its iconic landmarks, take in a large range of cultural experiences and so much more. And on top of that, Sydney also has a lot to offer to nature lovers.
It is the ideal place to visit if you are looking for a city that combines city life and nature, and due to this, it has something to offer for every type of traveler.
More about Australia
If you are planning a trip to Sydney, you might also be interested in these Australia travel guides:
Beautiful Places in Western Australia
Perth Things to Do
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