Top things to do & see in Sydney

Sydney Opera House

Guided tours of the iconic Sydney Opera House are designed for a variety of interests, including architectural, backstage and historic. If the schedule permits, the opera house has five theaters offering performances in opera, ballet, symphonic music and drama.

The Rocks

Sydney’s oldest district, The Rocks dates from the city’s origins as a British penal colony. Today it’s a great place to explore historic sites such as Cadman’s Cottage and the Customs House, to shop for Australian souvenirs and to hang out at a pub. The district is also home to the Museum of Contemporary Art, which has important collections of modern paintings and sculpture as well as aboriginal art.

Powerhouse Museum

Powerhouse Museum,  Australia’s largest museum, is located in a late 19th-century power station and features changing exhibits on scientific and cultural phenomena. It also offers working steam engines, space modules, an Art Deco movie theater and much more.

Courtesy of Regent Seven Seas CruisesAustralia's majestic Sydney Harbor, a great winter getaway for Americans and Europeans.

Beaches

Sydney’s beachside enclaves, the most famous of which are Manly and Bondi Beach, are rich in water activities, including swimming, surfing and parasailing, as well as cafes, shops and other diversions. Less crowded Balmoral Beach is a favorite among windsurfers and offers a wide esplanade lined with everything from chic restaurants to fish-and-chip shops.

Shopping

Among local specialties to look for are aboriginal arts and crafts, including wooden bowls, ceremonial items and paintings, which are available in galleries throughout Sydney. For Australian opals, the National Opal Collection offers a showroom and demonstrations on how the fiery gems are cut and polished. Paddington Markets is a popular flea market crammed with stalls offering avant-garde clothing, crafts, jewelry and much more.

Nightlife

Sydney has everything from world-class performing arts at the Opera House to nightclubs, bars and comedy clubs. Popular nightspots in the city center include the Arthouse Hotel and Bambini Trust Restaurant & Wine Room.

Family-friendly options

• Taronga Zoo: Sydney’s zoo showcases Australia’s fascinating wildlife, including koalas and kangaroos, in naturalistic bush settings. A platypus exhibit and a walk-through rainforest aviary filled with exotic birds are among the many highlights. 
• SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium: This is the place to see such rarities at the duagong, a manatee-like creature native to North Australia, as well as the teeming marine life native to Sydney Harbor and a dazzling coral exhibit. Right next door is Wild Life Sydney Zoo, where the denizens include Tasmanian devils, hairy-nosed wombats and yellow-footed wallabies.
• Luna Park Sydney: An old-fashioned amusement park that was recently updated, this harborside attraction offers thrill rides, a fun house and a midway.

YOLO (You only live once!)

Sydney Harbor Bridge Climb: A 3.5-hour trek up, down and along the stairways and catwalks of the landmark bridge provides thrilling views of the harbor. Harnesses and special clothing make it a safe adventure.

Don’t miss

Sydney Fish Market: Second only to Tokyo’s fish market in size, this site near Darling Harbor is the place to watch a fish auction shortly after the catch comes in, take a behind-the-scenes tour or sample delicious local oysters, shrimp, sushi and other seafood.

Courtesy of Cunard LineGet a close-up view of some of Sydney's most famous landmarks while Queen Elizabeth sails its coast.

Best bets for dining

• Casual lunch: In Circular Quay, check out the food-hall eateries at the David Jones Department Store. Harbor views and fresh seafood dishes are on the menu at The Deck, located at the entrance to Luna Park. Fishmongers in Bondi is the place to go for fish and chips, including battered barramundi.
• Fine dining: One of the city’s most acclaimed restaurants is Rockpool, a city center favorite known for its Modern Austalian (Mod Oz) dishes prepared with seasonal ingredients. Offering Mod Oz dishes with a Japanese aesthetic is Tetsuya’s, also in the city center. Another celebrated spot is Iceberg’s Dining Room and Bar, which serves Mediterranean specialties, at the south end of Bondi Beach. 
• Travel + Leisure magazine singled out these restaurants for praise: Ester, Cho Cho San, Moon Park and Acme.   

Best time to go

The spring months of October-November and fall months of March-April offer idyllic weather, but even the winter months of June-August bring mostly mild and sunny days. December-February are typically hot and humid but a great time to experience ime to experience Sydney’s summer festivities and beach ambience. 

Fun facts

• Locals refer to the Harbour Bridge as “the coat hanger” because of its shape.
• Sydney Harbor is the deepest natural harbor in the world.
• Sydney has the seventh-largest number of foreign-born residents of any city in the world, with immigrants accounting for 75 percent of annual population growth.

When you arrive

Docking information

Most cruise ships dock at the Overseas Passenger Terminal in Circular Quay, within walking distance of The Rocks, Opera House and other waterfront sights.

Getting around

Circular Quay is the city’s mass transit hub, including for the light rail system serving downtown Sydney and buses and trains to outlying areas. Taxis are plentiful at the ship terminal, with reasonable fares for points within the city center. Circular Quay is also the departure point for Sydney Ferries, a fun and scenic way to explore the harbor and visit such areas as Manly, Darling Harbor, Olympic Park and the zoo.

Need to know

Documents: U.S. and Canadian citizens will need a valid passport and an Australian visa.

Language: English

Currency: Australian dollar

Safety: Bag snatchers, pickpockets, water hazards, spiders and sunburns are just a few of the Aussie safety risks. For the most part Sydney is like any other large metropolis, but the main hazards you'll face in Sydney are at the beach. Never mind the snakes, spiders and sharks and any number of other venomous creatures, it's drowning you should be worried about. Follow the beach safety rules and "slip, slap, slop"  (slip on on a shirt, slap on a hat and slop on some sunscreen)!

Your take

How about you? Been to Sydney recently, or planning to go? Tell me what's on your must-do-in-Sydney list.  

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