Stand at the northern end of the Royal Botanic Gardens, where the harbour water sits on your left and the white shells of the Sydney Opera House rise ahead of you. This is the walk most visitors end up doing without planning it, and it is the best introduction to the city.
Sydney suits travellers who are happy to move by ferry and on foot, and who want beaches, harbour views and colonial-era streets within a short trip of each other. It also rewards those interested in Aboriginal heritage, which is present across the region in rock carvings, art galleries and cultural sites.
This guide covers the landmarks and experiences the source material describes, ordered so you can start with the harbour and work outward. Practical notes are limited to what the sources state.
Top things to do in Sydney
1. Circular Quay and surrounds walk
Start underneath the Sydney Harbour Bridge and walk with the harbour waters on your left, down through The Rocks, across Circular Quay, up to and around the Sydney Opera House, down through the Royal Botanic Gardens, and on to the view of the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge at Mrs Macquarie's Chair.
Some variation of this walk is, for many, the epitome of the Sydney experience. It strings together the city's best-known landmarks in one continuous route, so allow a good half day and stop whenever something catches your eye.
2. Sydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House is a World Heritage-listed major tourist attraction, and it sits at the heart of the City Centre's cluster of landmarks.
Combine it with the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney Tower, St Mary's Cathedral, the Royal Botanic Gardens and the State Library of New South Wales, all of which are in or near the City Centre. The walk described above passes it directly.
3. Sydney Harbour by ferry
The harbour defines the city's beauty and can be viewed easily from the city and many areas around it. The original penal settlement was established near what is now Circular Quay because of this large natural harbour.
Take any ferry from Circular Quay to see both the harbour and the city's attractions. These are reasonably priced and a favourite with tourists, who can see most of the harbour from the various routes. Heading to Manly makes for a great 30-minute trip at a fraction of the price of a commercial harbour cruise.
4. The Rocks
The Rocks is the historic district right next to the City Centre, where you see Sydney's heritage.
It sits on the Circular Quay walk route, so pair it with the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House rather than treating it as a separate outing.
5. Sydney Harbour Bridge
The Sydney Harbour Bridge is one of the city's major tourist attractions, and you can walk across it from The Rocks on the south side to Milsons Point on the north side, or in the other direction.
Crossing on foot puts you in the Lower North Shore, where you can visit Luna Park. The bridge also forms the starting point of the Circular Quay and surrounds walk.
6. Bondi beach
Bondi is among Sydney's most popular beaches, along with Manly, Cronulla and Coogee. The eastern beaches have a crowded atmosphere among sunseekers, and Bondi and Coogee are backpacker haunts.
The major beaches including Bondi have surf schools and places where you can rent surfboards. You can also walk from Coogee Beach to Bondi along the eastern coastline past several beaches, stopping for a swim if you get too hot.
7. Manly
Take the ferry out to Manly to visit the famous beach, and walk to Middle Head, which passes many coastal artillery fortifications built into the cliffs of Sydney Harbour during the late nineteenth century.
Manly feels like a separate seaside town, and the ferry ride itself is one of the cheapest ways to see the harbour.
8. Royal Botanic Gardens
The Royal Botanic Gardens sit in the City Centre cluster of landmarks and form part of the Circular Quay and surrounds walk, between the Opera House and Mrs Macquarie's Chair.
Walk them in the same outing as the Opera House and the harbour foreshore rather than as a standalone stop.
9. Taronga Zoo
Taronga Zoo can be reached by a dedicated ferry from Circular Quay.
From the Taronga Zoo wharf, head to your right along the promontory to Bradleys Head. There is pristine bushland almost unchanged from the time of European colonisation, quiet beaches and knockout views across the harbour, and in the warmer months you will spot plenty of Eastern Water Dragons, a type of large lizard.
10. Bradleys Head
Reached by ferry to the Taronga Zoo wharf and then a walk to your right along the promontory, Bradleys Head offers bushland, quiet beaches and views across the harbour.
Once you reach the tip of the headland you can amble back to the wharf, or follow the track several more kilometres to Clifton Gardens. From there you can hike back to Taronga or get a bus to a ferry wharf.
11. Darling Harbour
Darling Harbour is west of the City Centre and offers plenty of attractions, including the National Maritime Museum, Sydney Fish Market, Sydney Wildlife World, Sydney Aquarium and the Powerhouse Museum.
It works well as a single afternoon, since the attractions are grouped together.
12. Coogee Beach to Bondi walk
This walk follows the eastern coastline past several of Sydney's beaches.
Stop off for a swim if you get too hot. Coogee is one of the most popular beaches and, like Bondi, a backpacker haunt.
13. Manly to Spit Bridge Walk
This walk runs along the foreshore of Sydney Harbour.
It pairs naturally with a ferry trip to Manly, so you can arrive by water and leave on foot.
14. Beaches of the Northern Beaches and Royal National Park
Sydney's beaches range from ocean beaches between towering headlands in the Eastern Suburbs to quiet bays facing the harbour in Mosman. In the Northern Beaches and the Royal National Park you can be one of the few enjoying the solitude.
Locals have their own favourites in the Northern Beaches and Maroubra and can be fiercely territorial, so keep to the well-used stretches.
15. Cricket at the Sydney Cricket Ground
Sydney's primary summer sport is cricket. The professional game is largely based at the Sydney Cricket Ground close to the CBD, where the traditional New Year's Test begins around 3 January and runs for four to five days.
Later in the summer, international one-day and Twenty20 matches are held at the SCG. Domestic Sheffield Shield, Ford Ranger Cup and KFC Big Bash matches are usually sparsely attended and much cheaper than internationals. Some one-day and Twenty20 matches are played at ANZ Stadium at Olympic Park instead, but the SCG gives a better feel for cricket culture.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start underneath the Sydney Harbour Bridge and follow the Circular Quay and surrounds walk with the harbour on your left, through The Rocks and across Circular Quay to the Sydney Opera House. Continue through the Royal Botanic Gardens to Mrs Macquarie's Chair for the view back across the Opera House and the bridge.
Afternoon: Take a ferry from Circular Quay. If you want the harbour itself, the Manly route gives you a 30-minute trip on the water; if you would rather walk, ride to the Taronga Zoo wharf and head right along the promontory to Bradleys Head for bushland, quiet beaches and harbour views.
Evening: Return to the City Centre and finish at Darling Harbour, where the National Maritime Museum, Sydney Fish Market, Sydney Wildlife World, Sydney Aquarium and Powerhouse Museum are grouped together.
Frequently asked questions
How do I see Sydney Harbour without paying for a cruise?
Take any ferry from Circular Quay. They are reasonably priced, and heading to Manly makes for a great 30-minute trip at a fraction of the price of a commercial harbour cruise.
Which beaches are the most popular, and can I surf there?
Bondi, Manly, Cronulla and Coogee are the most popular. The major beaches including Bondi, Manly and Cronulla have surf schools and places where you can rent surfboards.
When is the best time to watch cricket in Sydney?
The traditional New Year's Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground commences around 3 January and runs for four to five days. International one-day and Twenty20 matches follow later in the summer.
Is it worth walking across the Sydney Harbour Bridge?
Yes. You can cross from The Rocks on the south side to Milsons Point on the north side, or the other way, and the Lower North Shore end puts you near Luna Park.
Pick your dates around the season you want, whether that is cricket at the Sydney Cricket Ground or a summer day on the sand, and start building the trip from the harbour outward.