What’s up Trvl Likers? Today’s headline news: what to visit in Sydney in order to have a great time, a nice warm feeling and really enjoy the sunshines of this amazing place.
Soo, I’ve just put up a list with best places to visit in Sydney. And, at the end, you will have the impression that it is very hard to run away from its magnetic charm. That is why…
Sydney is like “the arrogant lover”
There aren’t too many big cities that offer beautiful beaches and blue skies on their doorstep as standard. But then there aren’t too many cities like Sydney.
This vibrant, multicultural city melds all of the above with fantastic food and rich cultural offerings to create something pretty special.
Catching the ferry up to Manly, enjoying rock oysters down at the harbor, relaxing with a drink in Surry Hills or another of the city’s trendy neighborhoods – the Sydney Opera House is indeed magnificent, but that barely begins to scratch the surface of what this city is all about.
Things only get better outside of the city, which is almost entirely engulfed by either the deep blue sea or a series of stunning national parks.
City Center
The Central Business District is to Sydney what Wall Street and the Financial District are to New York City.
Think gleaming skyscrapers, suits and briefcases, and take away coffees being knocked back on the move.
The energetic world of global finance is very much on display in Sydney’s city center, but you don’t need to scratch very deep beneath the surface to discover that there’s a lot more to the area than economic output.
19th-century buildings remind the skyscrapers of their roots, glitzy bars, and top-notch restaurants come alive at night, and the Museum of Sydney and the Australian Museum are both nearby.
The rest of Sydney is also within touching distance, whether on foot or by public transport.
Manly Beach
Hop on the ferry from Circular Quay in the center of Sydney and just 30 minutes later you’ll be lapping up the sun in Manly. Thirty minutes after that, you could be enjoying a sandy stroll along the beach or tearing towards it on a surfboard.
Golden beaches and catching waves are two of the last things that spring to mind when you think about what a suburb looks like. But in Manly, that’s exactly what you get.
Running uninterrupted for 2.5 glorious miles between Freshwater Beach and Shelly Beach, Manly Beach is one of only 8 World Surfing Reserves.
Not only recognizing the brilliant surf, this designation is also a nod to the neighborhood’s rich surfing heritage.
The first ever World Surfing Championships were held here in 1964, forever cementing the neighborhood’s status as one of the great, iconic surfing destinations.
With its bustling outdoor markets, salty surf shacks, and unpretentious bars and restaurants, this feel-good neighborhood is both laid-back and lively at the same time.
Circular Quay
Travel to Sydney on the ferry and your first steps in the city are likely to be in and around Circular Quay.
Buzzing with the bustle of local commuters and freshly disembarked cruise liner passengers, Circular Quay feels very much like the beating heart of Sydney.
The neighborhood’s central location is certainly one of its biggest draws. You are within walking distance of The Rocks and the CBD, while the beaches of Manly and Bondi are only a short bus or ferry journey away.
But you’ll want to spend plenty of time in the area itself, too. After all, this is the home of the Royal Botanic Gardens, the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, and, of course, the majestic Sydney Opera House.
This iconic landmark is one of the world’s most instantly recognizable spectacles, from where you can also enjoy stunning views of the Sydney Harbor Bridge.
Pyrmont / Darling Harbour
Surrounded almost entirely by water, Pyrmont in Sydney might feel like an island but enjoys a fantastic, central location.
You can walk to the city center and CBD in just 15 minutes via Pyrmont Bridge, but not before exploring this up-and-coming neighborhood first.
Once a bit run-down and neglected, Pyrmont has undergone something of a transformation while still hanging onto its maritime roots.
Tech and media companies have followed some of the country’s best chefs in setting up shop here, while its pocket-sized parks are perfect for a picnic and to watch the local fishermen.
Waterfront bars and restaurants serve up craft beer and some of the city’s best seafood.
For the freshest-of-fresh fish you need look no further than Sydney Fish Market. This is the world’s second largest fish market of its kind in terms of the variety of fish sold and makes for a dazzling spectacle.
Explore the stalls, sign up for a seafood cookery course or just sit down for some of the best sushi you’ve ever had or are likely to have.
Bondi Beach / Coogee
Bondi is a diverse, clean-living sort of place with a passion for enjoying the best of the great outdoors. Name ring a bell? Of course, it does.
Bondi Beach is the stuff of legend, sitting pretty just a few miles from the heart of the city and a popular spot for Sydneysiders and tourists alike.
The beach even has free Wi-Fi, enabling you to taunt colleagues sat at their desks with beach and surfing selfies.
Wander down to the beach on a Sunday morning to watch the next generation of surf- lifesavers learn the trade, before hitting up Bondi Beach Markets in the afternoon.
The neighborhood itself is bustling and not at all touristy, known especially for its healthy restaurants and laid-back, residential character.
You could also throw together a picnic and set off for Coogee, a wonderful cliff-top walk that serves up some stunning views. Downtown Sydney is only ever a stone’s throw away from Coogee and Bondi, so if surfing by day and fancy bars by night sounds like your thing, you’ve landed in exactly the right place.
Not London’s Kings Cross
Kings Cross is a lively, somewhat edgy neighborhood which is a little bit proud of its sleazy reputation. Gentrified the neighborhood most certainly is not, and this reputation is a big part of the neighborhood’s appeal.
Trendy cafes and restaurants have recently started to move in, though, and these are only adding to its fun factor.
However, this is also the site of the El Alamein Memorial Fountain, which remembers the soldiers that died at El Alamein in World War II.
Whether you stay in Kings Cross or one of the surrounding neighborhoods, spending a few moments of reflection here is definitely worthwhile.
Neighboring Woolloomooloo not only has one of the world’s best names but is also one of Sydney’s top foodie destinations. Finger Wharf is home to several of Sydney’s best restaurants, while for a great cup of coffee head even further north and up into Potts Point.
This once industrial neighborhood has some of the city’s best cafes and the convivial atmosphere is a great counterpoint to the decadence of Kings Cross.
The Rocks / Millers Point
The Rocks is Sydney’s oldest neighborhood, with roots going way back to the earliest days of European settlement in Australia.
Something of a beat-up slum back in the day, the area has developed into one of Sydney’s most pleasant and lively neighborhoods.
Historic buildings, cobbled streets, and Sydney’s oldest pubs all attest the area’s humble origins. It’s not all historic watering holes and pretty streets, however. This is a neighborhood with its finger on the pulse of what modern, cosmopolitan Sydney is all about.
Pop-up art galleries, music festivals, an open-air market selling street food one day and arts and crafts the next – The Rocks just rocks.
You can enjoy stunning views of Sydney Opera House and Harbor Bridge from Hickson Road Reserve, or wander over to Miller’s Point.
The view from the top of Observatory Park in this adjoining neighborhood is something you won’t forget in a hurry.
Final words
That was only about Sydney and yet Australia is huge and I didn’t even tell you about the Great Barrier Reef. But this is for another story and another time. I will keep it short this one.
In this respect, the only smart thing to do if I were you, is to grab the first flight and accommodation here.
Do not forget to pack your bathing suit, sun cream and a travel plug adapter. I recommend this one or this one.