Sydney Travel Guide This page is designed to give you some local Sydney travel information as you plan your perfect Australian holiday. We trust you will find the Sydney travel ideas here to be useful as you plan your ultimate trip to our beautiful city.Sydney is Australia’s largest city and is the capital of New South Wales. Sitting on the East Coast of Australia, and with an enviable climate Sydney is home to one of the world’s most beautiful and extensive harbours and is a healthy, vibrant and diverse city. When visiting Sydney it is hard to believe that the city, and Australia are only just over 200 years old, being officially settled on January 26th, 1788, the date that is annually celebrated as Australia Day.Below are some of the key precincts close to the city to help you plan your ideal stay in Sydney.
Sydney Harbour If you are visiting Sydney for the first time then head straight to Sydney Harbour. It is one of the most beautiful harbours in the world and with icons like the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Sydney Opera House and the stunning Sydney skyline surrounding it you will soon understand its appeal. The Sydney Harbour foreshore is easily experienced on foot and in one morning or afternoon you can easily enjoy the major sites and areas such as The Rocks with its history, ambience and great restaurants or Circular Quay where you can enjoy Sydney street performers, take a ferry to Manly, Watson’s Bay or Taronga Zoo or just sit in a cafe and watch the world go by. It is also easy to walk around to get closer to the Opera House and then continue through the beautiful and relaxing Botanic Gardens on your way to see Lady Macquarie’s Chair or the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Sydney Shopping If a Sydney shopping experience is what you are after then you wont have to look far. A must see Sydney shopping icon is the beautiful Queen Victoria Building next to Sydney Town Hall dating back to the 1890’s, a truly unique shopping experience for visitors to Sydney. With it’s grand design, boutique shops and eating options it is a great place for some retail therapy. Just across George Street is more shopping at Pitt Street Mall and Westfield with vast collections of local and international brands and loads of eating options. For a bird’s eye view of the city head up Sydney Tower and enjoy 360 degree views which on a clear day will reveal the Blue Mountains to the west and the sparkling Pacific Ocean to the east. A short walk away you can find colourful and cultural experience at Paddy’s Market’s and nearby Chinatown where you can enjoy Asian cuisine and a bustling ambience. Darling Harbour Precinct An easy 10 minute stroll from Sydney Town Hall takes you to the relaxed and recreational area of Darling Harbour, re-developed in the 1980’s as a place for both locals and visitors to enjoy an outdoor space with easy access to entertainment, retail and relaxed dining options. Here you can find the recently completed Tumbalong Park which is an amazing, interactive play area for young kids and the adjacent Darling Quarter with its excellent dining options and open grass areas. Just nearby is the tranquil Chinese Fellowship Gardens which provides a peaceful getaway from the busy city. Also in Darling Harbour and all in close proximity on the eastern side are the Imax Theatre, Wild Life Zoo, Sydney Sea Life Aquarium, and Madame Tussauds wax museum. On the west side you will find the Harbourside shopping centre, the Maritime Museum and the recently renovated Star Casino. Local Sydney Areas Discover Sydney suburbs Local Sydney travel information to give you a snapshot of some of the more popular suburbs and precincts around Sydney. This is just the start, with so much cultural diversity to discover. Feel free to contact us for some more specific local advice. Bondi Beach Sydney’s most famous and popular beach and home to surf crazed backpackers from all over the world. If you don’t mind sharing the water, it’s an iconic experience to swim here. Enjoy local shopping and eating or the scenic walk along the coast to Bronte Beach and beyond. Chinatown Sydney’s Chinatown and nearby areas are full of exciting restaurants, shops, and specialty stores and the area is always bustling with colour and life. Taiwanese noodles, Chinese yum cha, Malaysian curries, Korean BBQ and so much more. Well worth the visit. Circular Quay Not just a transport hub for buses and ferries, Circular Quay is always buzzing with street performers and packed cafes as well as being your access point to some of Sydney best restaurants like Aria, Cafe Sydney and Quay. City Centre Shopping and entertainment options are only part of the downtown appeal. You can also access landmarks like the Sydney Town Hall, Hyde Park Barracks, St Mary’s Cathedral, the Art Gallery of NSW and much more. Darling Harbour A family friendly area that always has something on offer. Playgrounds, shopping, attractions, dining and plenty of places to just relax and unwind. Take the kids to Tumbalong Park or walk to nearby Barangaroo to catch a ferry or have a drink. Kings Cross A community full of colourful local characters and famous stories, this area has shaken off its bad reputation and has some excellent and authentic eating options as well some iconic local Sydney architecture. Sydney Harbour Stunning views and iconic Sydney landmarks line the harbour. Enjoy it from the shores or jump on a ferry or water taxi and see the city from on the water. Great for late afternoon walks, fine dining and photography. The Rocks The historic heart of Sydney and modern Australia. A place full of stories and narrow, charming walkways. Great place to wander around in the late afternoon with many great restaurants, cafe’s and the famous weekly Sunday Markets. Walsh Bay A great place to sneak away to escape the city crowds and enjoy some local history, great views and fine food. Home to the Sydney Theatre and Dance Companies. Woolloomooloo A warm and vibrant part of Sydney with fabulous waterside dining, local pubs and the famous Harry’s Cafe De Wheels where you might want to try your first ‘Aussie’ meat pie. Potts Point The ‘Soho of Sydney’, Potts Point is next to King’s Cross and full of amazing bars, cafes and restaurants. Worth the short walk or uber to enjoy a hip local neighbourhood. Surry Hills Hip neighbourhood near the city centre with great dining and bar options, eclectic galleries like the late Brett Whiteley, legendary coffee at Artificer and sausage roll from Bourke Street Bakery. Newtown Newtown may be the hippest neighbourhood in Sydney and should be on your radar, especially if you consider yourself a bit hip. Amazing food, loads of pubs and bars, incredible street art and an interesting mix of people make this is a super colourful pocket of Sydney. Paddington One of the first gentrified suburbs of Sydney, Paddington oozes cool at every turn and has a very English feel courtesy of the charming terrace houses that fill the streets. Famous for Aussie fashion boutiques, great food, bars and the legendary Saturday markets. Barangaroo With work being done in this area of Sydney even as I type, this is very much a new part of our city, even for locals. Think funky modern architecture, great waterside dining and bars and a fun and vibrant feel, Barangaroo is a must see precinct in the day or at night. Darling Quarter Another new precinct in Sydney with awesome food, photogenic architecture and right near Chinatown and Chippendale. Grab a Bahn Mi from Marrickville Pork Roll, enjoy ice cream from legendary Messina or do Yum Cha at Golden Century. This area if fun and fresh. Looking for exceptional private Sydney tours with a warm, local guide? See the real Sydney in relaxed style with Your Sydney Guide local experts. Book Now Have questions about our tours? Sydney travel information and advice We have included answers to some commonly asked questions about Your Sydney Guide services and also about visiting Sydney generally on our Travel Tips & FAQs page. Find your answer here Your Sydney Guide on Instagram #yoursydneyguide We love our photography here at Your Sydney Guide. We love Sydney’s architecture. Old world charm m It’s a bit crazy how many amazing beaches there In Australia we love beach life and most of us liv No drone needed 😎 You don’t have to head far What a stunner of a day in the Blue Mountains with Stunning winter day in Sydney. Nothing us locals l Could Sydney have been more spectacular today?? We Okay you may think the #bluemountains are the only Follow us Travel Industry Recognised Awarded and Trusted We're here for our guests We hope to see you in Sydney soon Being Sydney locals we are more than happy to answer any specific Sydney travel questions about your next trip so please feel free to contact us if we can help in any way. You can also find more Sydney travel information over on our Sydney blog page, in the FAQ’s and on any of our social profiles. Looking forward to seeing you in Sydney soon. 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Local Sydney Areas Discover Sydney suburbs Local Sydney travel information to give you a snapshot of some of the more popular suburbs and precincts around Sydney. This is just the start, with so much cultural diversity to discover. Feel free to contact us for some more specific local advice.
Bondi Beach Sydney’s most famous and popular beach and home to surf crazed backpackers from all over the world. If you don’t mind sharing the water, it’s an iconic experience to swim here. Enjoy local shopping and eating or the scenic walk along the coast to Bronte Beach and beyond. Chinatown Sydney’s Chinatown and nearby areas are full of exciting restaurants, shops, and specialty stores and the area is always bustling with colour and life. Taiwanese noodles, Chinese yum cha, Malaysian curries, Korean BBQ and so much more. Well worth the visit. Circular Quay Not just a transport hub for buses and ferries, Circular Quay is always buzzing with street performers and packed cafes as well as being your access point to some of Sydney best restaurants like Aria, Cafe Sydney and Quay. City Centre Shopping and entertainment options are only part of the downtown appeal. You can also access landmarks like the Sydney Town Hall, Hyde Park Barracks, St Mary’s Cathedral, the Art Gallery of NSW and much more. Darling Harbour A family friendly area that always has something on offer. Playgrounds, shopping, attractions, dining and plenty of places to just relax and unwind. Take the kids to Tumbalong Park or walk to nearby Barangaroo to catch a ferry or have a drink. Kings Cross A community full of colourful local characters and famous stories, this area has shaken off its bad reputation and has some excellent and authentic eating options as well some iconic local Sydney architecture. Sydney Harbour Stunning views and iconic Sydney landmarks line the harbour. Enjoy it from the shores or jump on a ferry or water taxi and see the city from on the water. Great for late afternoon walks, fine dining and photography. The Rocks The historic heart of Sydney and modern Australia. A place full of stories and narrow, charming walkways. Great place to wander around in the late afternoon with many great restaurants, cafe’s and the famous weekly Sunday Markets. Walsh Bay A great place to sneak away to escape the city crowds and enjoy some local history, great views and fine food. Home to the Sydney Theatre and Dance Companies. Woolloomooloo A warm and vibrant part of Sydney with fabulous waterside dining, local pubs and the famous Harry’s Cafe De Wheels where you might want to try your first ‘Aussie’ meat pie. Potts Point The ‘Soho of Sydney’, Potts Point is next to King’s Cross and full of amazing bars, cafes and restaurants. Worth the short walk or uber to enjoy a hip local neighbourhood. Surry Hills Hip neighbourhood near the city centre with great dining and bar options, eclectic galleries like the late Brett Whiteley, legendary coffee at Artificer and sausage roll from Bourke Street Bakery. Newtown Newtown may be the hippest neighbourhood in Sydney and should be on your radar, especially if you consider yourself a bit hip. Amazing food, loads of pubs and bars, incredible street art and an interesting mix of people make this is a super colourful pocket of Sydney. Paddington One of the first gentrified suburbs of Sydney, Paddington oozes cool at every turn and has a very English feel courtesy of the charming terrace houses that fill the streets. Famous for Aussie fashion boutiques, great food, bars and the legendary Saturday markets. Barangaroo With work being done in this area of Sydney even as I type, this is very much a new part of our city, even for locals. Think funky modern architecture, great waterside dining and bars and a fun and vibrant feel, Barangaroo is a must see precinct in the day or at night. Darling Quarter Another new precinct in Sydney with awesome food, photogenic architecture and right near Chinatown and Chippendale. Grab a Bahn Mi from Marrickville Pork Roll, enjoy ice cream from legendary Messina or do Yum Cha at Golden Century. This area if fun and fresh.
Looking for exceptional private Sydney tours with a warm, local guide? See the real Sydney in relaxed style with Your Sydney Guide local experts. Book Now
Have questions about our tours? Sydney travel information and advice We have included answers to some commonly asked questions about Your Sydney Guide services and also about visiting Sydney generally on our Travel Tips & FAQs page.
Your Sydney Guide on Instagram #yoursydneyguide We love our photography here at Your Sydney Guide. We love Sydney’s architecture. Old world charm m It’s a bit crazy how many amazing beaches there In Australia we love beach life and most of us liv No drone needed 😎 You don’t have to head far What a stunner of a day in the Blue Mountains with Stunning winter day in Sydney. Nothing us locals l Could Sydney have been more spectacular today?? We Okay you may think the #bluemountains are the only
We're here for our guests We hope to see you in Sydney soon Being Sydney locals we are more than happy to answer any specific Sydney travel questions about your next trip so please feel free to contact us if we can help in any way. You can also find more Sydney travel information over on our Sydney blog page, in the FAQ’s and on any of our social profiles. Looking forward to seeing you in Sydney soon.