Find the best tourist attractions and places to visit in Sydney with our guide, including iconic landmarks, unique hidden gems, and beautiful natural sights.
Sydney is the prettiest, most versatile, and also most popular city in Australia, visited by millions of tourists each year.
What sets Sydney apart from other big cities around the world is a beautiful Harbour, unique landmarks such as the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House, a moderate climate, plenty of culture, and a stunning coastline with countless beaches.
If you’ve never been to Sydney, you might feel overwhelmed by the many attractions this amazing city offers. To help you plan your visit, we have listed 25 of the most popular Sydney tourist attractions.
1. Sydney Opera House
Opened in 1973, the Sydney Opera House is not only one of Sydney’s top tourist attractions; it is also considered one of the most famous and distinctive buildings of the 20th century.
The Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre with several theatres, rehearsal studios, two main halls, restaurants, bars, and souvenir shops.
When you first lay eyes on this magnificent piece of engineering, you will be in awe. The beautiful location of the Opera House adds to the experience, with Circular Quay and the Harbour Bridge just around the corner.
Book a tour:
A guided tour is a great idea if you want to see the Opera House from the inside and learn more about it. For example, this hour-long guided tour takes you underneath the world-famous sails and along the 300 corridors of the Opera House.
Watch a show:
Check out the Sydney Opera House calendar of upcoming shows and events. If you’re going to visit Sydney as a tourist, going to a performance at the Opera House is highly recommended.
2. Sydney Harbour Cruise
While regular ferry services are a great way to experience the beauty of Sydney Harbour, a day or night cruise across the Harbour is a wonderful experience, and often includes drinks and a meal.
On a cruise, you typically have a lot more space to wander around, and there are fewer people on the boat than on a regular ferry. A cruise is also much slower, allowing you to really soak in the beauty surrounding you.
Take a look at our guide on the best Sydney Harbour cruises for a selection of different types of cruise experiences catering to various budgets.
Top Sydney Harbour cruises:
- Harbour cruise with 3-course dinner
- Sydney Harbour discovery cruise with lunch
- Tall ship afternoon Harbour cruise
3. Taronga Zoo Sydney
Against the backdrop of the Sydney city skyline, Taronga Zoo in Mosman is a fantastic day out for young and old. There are various ways to get to Taronga Zoo, but the ferry trip from Circular Quay is the best way.
Quietly tucked away on the north side of Sydney Harbour with superb city views, Taronga Zoo is Australia’s largest zoo, with great shows and close encounters with various animals.
It’s easiest to purchase your tickets online in advance. Another option is to purchase a cruise and Taronga Zoo combo ticket, which includes a rocket ferry trip and entrance to the zoo.
Read our guide on the best zoos in Sydney for a complete list of Sydney zoos and wildlife parks to visit.
4. Sydney Tower Eye
If you want to see Sydney, the Harbour, the coastline, and its surrounding suburbs from above, a visit to the Sydney Tower Eye should be at the top of your list of favourite attractions.
The Sydney Tower Eye is where you enjoy the best views from the second-tallest observation tower in the Southern Hemisphere, which also includes an exciting 4D cinema experience. In addition to enjoying the incredible views from high above, you can also enjoy unique dining or drinking experiences at the rotating restaurant.
To buy general admission tickets in advance or to book one or more of the special experiences, this page has an overview of what’s available.
5. Sydney Harbour Bridge
The famous Sydney Harbour Bridge opened in 1932 and is an incredible piece of engineering. Also known as the Coathanger because of its arch-based design, the 134m high Sydney Harbour Bridge connects Sydney’s city with the North Shore.
One of the most popular free things to do in Sydney is actually walking across the Harbour Bridge. The views of the Opera House and Circular Quay from the bridge are wonderful along the walkway.
Another option is to visit the Harbour Bridge Pylon Lookout. For a modest entrance fee, you can go to the top of one of the four pylons, where you can enjoy fantastic views and also visit a small museum.
6. The Rocks
One of Sydney’s oldest neighbourhoods, The Rocks used to be a notorious convict settlement but is now a popular tourist destination. The area is home to friendly pubs, cobbled laneways, historic buildings, and many events happening throughout the year.
The Rocks is home to over 100 heritage sites and buildings spread across the narrow streets. This includes Sydney’s oldest surviving house, Cadman’s cottage, a heritage-listed former water police station built in 1816.
The best way to enjoy The Rocks and learn more about Sydney’s colonial history is by doing a self-guided walk that takes in all the highlights. Read our guide on the best pubs in The Rocks with insider tips and a recommended walking route.
Top guided tours in The Rocks:
7. Darling Harbour
Sydney’s largest recreational and pedestrian precinct, Darling Harbour, is home to a great variety of family-friendly attractions. The area, including Darling Square and Darling Quarter, has something for everyone, from waterfront dining and regular fireworks displays to exciting museums and huge playgrounds.
Some highlights include the Sydney Aquarium, the Australian National Maritime Museum, Madame Tussauds, the Wild Life Sydney Zoo, the Chinese Garden of Friendship, and the Darling Quarter Kids Playground.
Nearby Darling Quarter and the Barangaroo Foreshore are within walking distance and very much worth visiting. Both locations have undergone significant upgrades and have evolved into popular lunch and dinner hot spots for tourists, local office workers, and residents.
8. Royal Botanic Garden Sydney
Situated next to the Opera House and facing Sydney’s impressive city skyline, the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney is home to a large collection of exotic plants from around the world.
The Royal Botanic Garden was established in 1816 and is Australia’s oldest botanic garden and scientific institution. Wandering through this 30-hectare green oasis is an absolute delight.
Popular with tourists and local office workers, the Botanic Garden is a peaceful place where visitors can learn more about science, gardens, plants, and horticulture.
The best way to access the Royal Botanic Garden is via Circular Quay and the Opera House, or otherwise via Hyde Park and The Domain.
9. Bradleys Head
Bradleys Head is a picturesque headland in Sydney Harbour, offering stunning views of the city skyline, the Opera House, and the Harbour Bridge.
This historic place is home to the foremast of the HMAS Sydney. It was erected there in 1934 and serves as a monument for all Australian ships lost and all Australian sailors killed at war. Another highlight is the Bradleys Head Amphitheatre, a stunning location that is regularly used for wedding ceremonies and outdoor events.
The best way to get there is via the Bradleys Head Walk, a scenic trail starting from the Taronga Zoo ferry wharf. This short walk is an excellent way to see the beauty of Sydney Harbour while also learning a thing or two about Sydney’s history.
10. Cockatoo Island
Visiting one of the many Sydney Harbour islands is a great way to learn more about the history and evolution of Sydney. Cockatoo Island is one of those islands that is worth visiting and makes for a great day out.
Cockatoo Island is a UNESCO World Heritage and National Heritage Listed island, situated right in the middle of beautiful Sydney Harbour. Over the years, the island has served as a shipbuilding yard, naval base, and convict island.
There is a direct ferry service from Circular Quay to Cockatoo Island. Once on the island, grab a free map from the visitor centre and wander around to fully absorb the rich history and the highlights.
11. Manly Ferry Trip
The best way to enjoy the beauty of Sydney Harbour is by catching a ferry from Circular Quay to Manly. This popular ferry trip is one of Sydney’s top attractions, not just for tourists but for Sydneysiders as well.
This unique ferry ride passes all the sights that make Sydney Harbour so pretty, such as the Opera House, the Harbour Bridge, Bradleys Head, South Head, and Manly Cove.
Depending on the weather on the day, try to get a seat outside at the front of the vessel for the best views. Otherwise, pick one side of the vessel on the way to Manly and grab a seat on the other side when returning to the city.
Travelling by ferry in Sydney generally isn’t very expensive, but on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, all public transport has an attractive daily cap.
12. Bondi Beach
A visit to Sydney is not complete without spending a morning or afternoon in Bondi Beach, Australia’s most popular and well-known beach town.
Bondi Beach has something for everyone. The water is excellent for swimming and surfing, there are many great outdoor picnic areas to enjoy, and the suburban streets of Bondi are heavily populated with great cafes and pubs.
If you have the time and you love a bit of hiking, the Bondi to Coogee Walk is an absolute must. It’s Sydney’s most popular walking trail, and for very good reasons.
The views from start to finish are amazing, with many cafes and parks along the way to rest. Depending on stops, the walk can easily be completed within three hours.
13. Watsons Bay
Watsons Bay is a popular harbourside suburb of Sydney, located 11 km northeast of the city centre. South Head, the southern entry point to Sydney Harbour, is also part of Watsons Bay.
There’s plenty to see and do in Watsons Bay, which is why this small suburb gets so busy during weekends. A large park in the centre of town, various cafes and pubs, a couple of beaches, and some great lookout points make Watsons Bay a pleasant tourist attraction.
The popular Watsons Bay Walk around South Head offers some of the best panoramic views of Sydney Harbour, the city skyline, North Head, the Gap, and the historic Hornby Lighthouse. This relatively easy walking track is the best way to discover the beauty of Watsons Bay.
Getting to Watsons Bay is easiest by ferry from Circular Quay. It’s a scenic ferry ride, which makes the day trip to Watsons Bay even more enjoyable.
14. Manly Beach
Manly is a beachside suburb with a somewhat unique and relaxed atmosphere. It has a long beach facing the ocean and a quieter beach facing Sydney Harbour, where the ferry wharf is located.
Both beaches are connected by the Manly Corso, a pedestrian mall lined with pubs, cafes, surf shops, galleries, and street entertainment.
One can easily spend a whole day in Manly as it’s such a great place to enjoy a relaxing day out. But if you like some exercise, Manly is the starting point (or end point) of two popular hiking trails.
The Spit to Manly Walk is a 10 km coastal adventure between the Spit Bridge and Manly, and the North Head Circuit Walk is a 10 km walking track that explores the history and unique landscape of North Head.
15. Hyde Park
Located on the eastern fringe of Sydney’s city centre, heritage-listed Hyde Park is Australia’s oldest public parkland. The park extends to the Domain and the Royal Botanic Garden further north.
While certainly not as large, Sydney’s Hyde Park does look and feel a bit like New York’s famous Central Park, also because of its location in the city.
Hyde Park is rich in history, with several historic buildings along the park’s boundaries, such as the Supreme Court of New South Wales, St. James Church, Hyde Park Barracks, and St Mary’s Cathedral.
The park is also home to the ANZAC War Memorial, a heritage-listed monument and museum located near Liverpool Street.
16. Sydney Fish Market
Located in Glebe, facing the quiet waters of Blackwattle Bay, the Sydney Fish Market is Australia’s home of seafood. This vibrant public space offers quality seafood, speciality retail, and waterfront dining.
In 2026, the Sydney Fish Market moved into a new, architecturally impressive building, and is set to become one of the leading tourist attractions in Sydney.
Getting to the fish market is very easy. At Central Station, jump on the light rail from the Grand Concourse and get off at the Wentworth Park stop, from where it’s only a short walk to the fish market.
17. Australian National Maritime Museum
The Australian National Maritime Museum (ANMM) is Australia’s national centre for maritime collections, research, exhibitions, and archaeology. The museum was opened in 1991 as part of a significant Darling Harbour redevelopment project.
Besides the free, permanent galleries, the ANMM hosts an ever-changing program of temporary exhibitions and a fleet of historic craft at its wharves in Darling Harbour.
The Maritime Museum is a fun and educational museum that caters to all ages and is a great way to spend an afternoon in Sydney.
18. Queen Victoria Building
Built in the 1890s, the heritage-listed Queen Victoria Building (better known as the QVB) is one of Sydney’s many historical buildings, located in George Street in the middle of the city centre.
The heritage-listed QVB was designed by Government Architect George McRae in Romanesque Revival style, and is bounded by George, Market, York, and Druitt Streets.
After having undergone several major renovations, the QVB is now one of Sydney’s most popular shopping destinations, offering a great variety of fashion boutiques, jewellery shops, cafes, restaurants, and so much more.
19. Fairfax Walk on Manly’s North Head
The Fairfax Walk on Manly’s North Head is a family-friendly walking trail with two panoramic lookouts offering incredible views of Sydney Harbour, the city skyline, South Head, and the ocean.
The Burragula Lookout is one of Sydney’s most impressive lookouts, with incredible ocean and Harbour views against the backdrop of the Sydney city skyline.
The North Head Sanctuary, close to the Fairfax Walk, is also worth a visit. It holds special significance to the indigenous people of the Sydney area, with Aboriginal remnants such as rock engravings and middens still visible in the headland.
20. Cahill Expressway Lookout
Mostly overlooked by tourists as well as by locals, the Cahill Expressway Lookout is a panoramic viewing point right above Circular Quay train station. The large viewing platform offers incredible views of the Opera House as well as the Harbour Bridge.
The lookout can be accessed via the short Cahill Walk, which runs between the Royal Botanic Garden and The Rocks and connects with the walking path across the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Read our guide on the best Sydney city walks for more great walking trails that allow you to see the beauty of Sydney by simply walking around.
21. Australian Museum
Established in 1827, the heritage-listed Australian Museum (AM) is the oldest museum in Australia, boasting a collection of almost 20 million objects related to Australian culture and history.
Conveniently located on William Street, right at the edge of Hyde Park, the Australian Museum is a great Sydney tourist attraction, perfectly suitable for both adults and children.
Read our guide on things to do on a rainy day for more ideas for museums and other indoor attractions.
22. Chinese Garden of Friendship
Built in the late 1980s, the beautiful Chinese Garden of Friendship is a heritage-listed green space situated at the south end of Darling Harbour, only a short stroll away from Darling Harbour.
The Chinese Garden of Friendship was designed in China to celebrate the Australian Bicentenary. It was gifted to Sydney from Guangdong, a Chinese sister state to New South Wales.
The garden is quite a special place in Sydney, with small waterfalls and lakes, large willow trees, pavilions, sculptures, and large colourful fish on display.
23. Museum of Contemporary Art Australia
If you’re a fan of cutting-edge Australian and international modern art, a visit to the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) on the western side of Circular Quay is an absolute must.
Housed in an impressive Art Deco building right at the waterfront, the MCA is dedicated to exhibiting, collecting, and interpreting the work of today’s contemporary artists.
The beautiful building itself, dominating the Circular Quay shoreline, is enough reason to visit this museum.
24. Broughton St Lookout
Sydney’s best-kept secret is perhaps the Broughton St Lookout, located at the southern end of Bradfield Park in Kirribilli. The views of the city skyline, the Harbour Bridge, and the Opera House are stunning.
It’s easy to get to this lookout by public transport, with the Milsons Point train station just down the road.
An even better option is to walk across the Harbour Bridge from the city and then make your way to Bradfield Park.
25. Art Gallery of New South Wales
Situated in The Domain just south of the Royal Botanic Garden, the beautiful Art Gallery of New South Wales is the most important public gallery in Sydney and one of the largest in Australia.
The gallery was established in 1874 and is now home to significant collections of Australian, European, and Asian art. The gallery also presents almost forty exhibitions each year.
Like the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Art Gallery of New South Wales is housed in an imposing and historic building. What’s more, entry to the public exhibition space is free.
