Top Things To Do In Sydney

Tailoring each experience to your wishes by locals who love their city

Tourist in summer clothes and a hat posing in front of Sydney Harbor Bridge
Tourist in summer clothes and a hat posing in front of Sydney Harbor Bridge

Wondering what to do in Sydney?

With its crystal clear beaches, colorful cockatoos, and super-cool crowd, Australia’s most vibrant city demands attention with its endless list of things to do. Lovers of the outdoors will be treated with bush-fringed coastline and manicured gardens; foodies will be spoiled for choice at century-old markets and quaint cafés. Many of the best things to do in Sydney can be found in and around the central pedestrian precinct, Darling Bay Harbor. From this perfectly positioned starting point, see major attractions like the Opera House before heading deep into the inner-city suburbs, where rows of 19th-century terrace houses sandwich tiny book shops and boutiques.

Tourists and locals enjoying a beautiful sunset with Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbor Bridge in the background

A very pretty city

With sleek architecture, sun-dappled streets, and heritage buildings harking back to Sydney’s maritime history, finding a city with more aesthetic wow-factor would be a tall ask – and yet, Sydney is somehow upstaged by its natural surroundings. With so many outdoorsy things to do in Sydney, it’s no wonder getting outside is what locals do best. Whether you stroll the lawns of the centuries-old Royal Botanic Gardens, hike between cliffs, explore the sun-soaked harbor, or tuck into seafood on the beachfront, the city-to-surf lifestyle offers plenty of things to do in Sydney.

Tourists and locals enjoying a sunny day out at a local beach in Sydney

Breathtaking beaches

Sydney’s seaside is a paradise for beach bums, and each of the city’s beaches has its own appeal. There’s Manly Beach, a haven of golden sand and bronze bodies sunbathing and surfing, while street art-plastered Bondi Beach is perfect for beachside bar-hopping with beautiful people. For coastal walks, Coogee can’t be matched, and the secret sheltered shorelines and hidden coves in all corners of the city lure locals for balmy beachside afternoons. Wherever you decide to soak up the sun, one of the most unique things to do in Sydney is to travel between the beaches by ferry!

A typical food stall at a local market in Sydney

Phenomenal food

It’s not all shrimp on the barbie – Sydney’s food scene is a celebration of flavors from all over the world. Many of the most memorable things to do in Sydney involve food, from tucking into crispy fish and chips along on a beachfront to trawling historic inner-city markets for street food. Whatever cuisine you fancy – Turkish, Thai, Indian, Mexican, Chinese – you’ll find it here, and while fusion food is predictably huge, there’s no shortage of local fare. Once you’ve had your fill, grabbing a drink at a tiny heritage bar is one of the best things to do in Sydney at the end of your day.

Latest reviews from our guests

    An amazing day with an outstanding guide. Ross contacted us in advance and created a personalized tour of Sydney. He introduced us to the many public transportation options in the city. We covered many sites in the city and area…and still enjoyed a relaxing lunch with a lovely water view. Our remaining 2 days in Sydney were much more enjoyable and relaxed because of our experience on this guided tour. Sydney is a beautiful city that deserves to be explored. This private tour was indeed a treasure…and our guide Ross…a gift! Thank you!

    4 February 2026

    Peter S

    We had an excellent small group tour with our guide Peter. We covered a lot of ground in Sydney and saw/experienced all the key things on our list! The Opera house is wonderful as expected, but we also got to explore Darling Harbour, the Rocks, and other local sites. Peter was able to adapt along the way for us to get our best experience. Wonderful memories about Sydney, we'll be pleased to return again.

    2 February 2026

    Peter K

    Our Sydney tour with Peter was great - exceeded our expectations. He was highly engaged for all arrangements and tour content to meet our needs. We'll have wonderful memories of Sydney to carry forward

    3 February 2026

    Peter K

    Ross met us at our hotel. Well before we met he corresponded with us to inquire as to what we were going to see prior to our tour while in Sydney and also to inquire about anything we wanted to absolutely see. I appreciated the communication. We started off by going through parts of Sydney Harbor that my wife and I had not yet experienced and heard about the history of this area and of Australia. We next headed to Bondi Beach, which was the one place we definitely wanted to go to. He smoothly guided us on and off trains, buses and railways to get to the beach. We spent time walking the beach and hearing about some of the history there and at the Bondi Iceberg’s Club. We went to downtown and midtown and Ross showed us all of the significant historical sites all the while explaining their significance both in the past and currently. We spent 4 hours walking and seeing many wonderful historic sites and hearing about the history of Australia from its beginning to now. It was a great combination of history and current uses of places. Ross was great as our guide - very friendly, very knowledgeable and very adaptive to our ‘wants’. We enjoyed the morning!

    29 January 2026

    Shawn V

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