Things to do in and around Sydney

Other superb options at Circular Quay include 2-hatted restaurants Aria and Bennelong, located inside the Opera House. Don’t miss local favourites Customs House Bar, Bekya Middle Eastern Kitchen and Settlement on Quay. Explore Sydney’s top attractions, hidden gems and must-do activities. Follow Sydney’s main strip, George Street, straight through its vibrant centre packed with shops, restaurants and bars. Sydney is full of romantic restaurants, great rooftop bars, and places to watch the sunset. Watching a performance at the Opera House or taking a sunset harbor cruise are great ways to celebrate a special occasion.
One of the best parts about visiting the zoo is the journey to get here. Along the way, you get an up-close view of the Sydney 9d cinema Opera House. Also, the views themselves just seem to be a lot better once you’re in the open air. We loved this experience and highly recommend it for someone who is willing to spend the extra money.

If you’re looking for something to do while in Sydney, the Manly Ferry is a great option. Departing every half hour from Circular Quay, the ferry will take you over by the Sydney Harbour Bridge and then to beautiful Manly Cove. If nature is more your thing then a picnic at Cremorne Reserve is great idea when wondering what to do in Sydney. The harbour side bushland, lawn and garden areas make for a perfect setting for a picnic. Plus there are some pretty spectacular views of the harbour and city. It’s a quintessential Sydney experience to take a dip in the North Sydney Olympic Pool.
My grandkids love this park with its water fountains and play area, swings and slides, and climbing equipment suitable for kids of all ages. See the world’s largest collection of marine life at Sea life Sydney Aquarium including the beautiful giants on Dugong island. Right next door is Wild Life Sydney Zoo, both this and Sea Life is air-conditioned and undercover so great indoor activities. Take a self guide tour or book one of the special animal encounters like breakfast with the Koalas. Most kids light up when they see native Australian animals, and Sydney gives you world-class options from the stunning Taronga Zoo to intimate encounters at smaller attractions. Plus, if you visit June to October, whale watching cruises offer an unforgettable experience.
Visitors can enjoy guided  tours, dine at waterfront restaurants or simply admire the famous sails from the surrounding harbour foreshore. For a guided tour of the park, Activity Tpurse offers full-day wildlife-spotting tours for 169 AUD. The building took almost 15 years to complete, opening to the public in 1973. Today, more than 8 million people visit the Opera House annually, with almost half a million taking a guided tour.

From huge installations to videos and paintings, it's a place to get inspired and see the world in a whole new way. Smile in the sun, backdropped by the Opera House and Harbour Bridge looming in the distance, while seabirds dip and dive around you. Where Sydney began, The Rocks is a maze of cobblestone streets and old sandstone buildings. Imagine pubs where sailors once brawled, now filled with hip cafes and boutiques.
But the best stalls to visit are the ones selling street food from all corners of Asia. You can get octopus balls – yum! – and ten different types of Asian-style liquorice, but there’s also cheap yum cha, teppanyaki, sushi and pho. There’s nothing quite like gazing upon the impressive Harbour Bridge silhouetted against the Sydney sky.
It was faithfully restored in 1985, and only minor works have been carried out since. Located on the western side of Cremorne Point in North Sydney, MacCallum is an unusual 33-meter pool with heritage character, waterside timber  decking, and exceptional sunbathing. The Queen Victoria Building, lovingly known as the QVB, replaced the original Sydney markets on the same site in 1898 – and is now the perfect place for a little upscale shopping. For an even more memorable visit, add a special animal encounter. You’ll be able to get close and personal with your favourite animal, from capybaras and crocodiles to red pandas to rhinos. There Royal Botanic Gardens also has rotating school holiday programs on offer.

However, the island was mostly used for shipbuilding and repairs. Today, the island is run by the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust, which runs different types of tours. While this beach is popular with locals in the know, its location, very much off the beaten track of the city and harbour beaches, flies under the radar of most.
This Library bar with picture perfect skyline views opened after the pandemic on the roof of the country’s oldest library, the State Library of New South Wales. The dining precinct has more than 25 cuisines on offer with Korean street food, gourmet cheese plates, fresh seafood and dumplings from Luke Nguyen in the mix. Opera newbies are particularly welcome to discover the art form in a low key setting, while seasoned listeners can enjoy hearing the vocalists in the unconventional but intimate setting.

Designed as Australia’s highest-rated magic-themed escape room series, this cinematic adventure  blends enchanting sets, spell-casting puzzles, and collaborative challenges. With a 6/10 difficulty rating, it’s ideal for first-time escapers, families, birthdays, and groups of friends looking for a magical August activity. Aenza, a 50-seat Japanese wine bar from Joy Liu, opened on 5th August 2026 at the Oxford & Foley development on Oxford Street, Darlinghurst.
Think of Golden Age as the femme fatale, the leading man, and the sassy best friend all in one. The famous art deco building was painstakingly transformed for its opening in 2013, including 1940s-era cinema chairs with plush velvet upholstery sourced from Zurich. A stay at the Lord Nelson is a step back into Sydney’s past and a taste of Sydney’s present. It is in easy walking distance of most of Sydney’s major attractions and bursting with history, personality, and merriment.
I’ve mentioned the ferry to Manly a couple of times in this blog because it’s one of the best ways to experience Sydney Harbor. Speaking of those views, if you’re here during the winter (May to October), you can spot passing pods of migrating whales along the shoreline. It’s free to whale-watch here and pretty amazing to spot them swimming by. There are floating pontoons to sun yourself on or you can jump off the wharf into the water. It’s tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the city, but only a few minutes from nearby cafes and restaurants. Hyde Park is Australia’s oldest park and the city’s central open green space is popular among office workers who want some fresh air, a quick siesta, or a time away from the concrete jungle.

It's the perfect spot to recharge and reconnect with nature, without even leaving Sydney. It’s a free activity that’s absolutely perfect for families, nature lovers, photographers, or anyone seeking a moment of calm. Forget those history books – want to step into Sydney's wild past? Imagine cobblestone streets echoing with the footsteps of convicts, the salty air of the harbour, and the raucous laughter spilling out of dimly lit pubs.