10 essential things to do in Sydney

As the most populous city in Australia, with a five million-strong population, Sydney’s richly diverse communities have lent the Harbour City a buzzing energy – with something to do and explore at every corner.

Sydney is a city that has it all: it boasts bucket list-worthy landmarks such as the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge, world-class beaches, a thriving gourmet scene famous for more than just brunch; plus history and thrill in equal doses.

Read on for our top 10 essential things to tick off your list, whether you’re visiting for the first time or are already a regular.

1. Have a drink at Opera Bar

There are many fabulous ways to soak in the world-famous views of Sydney’s iconic harbour skyline – you can swap your miles for a walking tour or a hop-on, hop-off boat rendezvous for instance – but a sunny summer session at the Opera Bar with bevvy in hand simply can’t be beat. Order your favourite drink at the bar, sidle up to the water’s edge for a prime people-watching spot (and try to avoid the seagulls in the background, swooping for snacks). It’s the quintessential Sydneysider experience.

2. Get inspired at the Art Gallery of New South Wales

The Art Gallery of New South Wales is the state’s flagship museum, championing a wide range of Australian and international artists. It celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2021 and subsequently launched an expansive new North Building last year which houses an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art collection. Admission to most of the exhibitions and events is free, as are daily guided tours and quick drop-in ‘welcome wanders’. For those with busy itineraries, visit on a Wednesday, when opening hours extend till 10pm. 

3. See inside the Sydney Opera House

An undeniable icon of architecture at the tip of the Sydney CBD, the Sydney Opera House is worth a special visit not just for the breadth of shows on offer . The Opera House offers one of the world’s most photogenic backdrops, especially with its ongoing nightly immersive light show . But if you want to see a unique side of this landmark, you can explore deep within its inner workings with a Behind the Scenes Tour : climb some 300 stairs as you venture backstage, winding through the orchestral pit where musicians play, all before enjoying an Aussie breakfast in the Green Room prior to when the action happens.

4. Climb Sydney Harbour Bridge

They built the bridge, so why not climb it? Established in 1998, BridgeClimb has helped more than four million people scale Sydney’s almost 100-year-old harbour icon – they’ve also conspired with over 3,000 proposals and even a handful of weddings. Face your fear with one of four types of climbs to choose from – for an extra dose of culture while scaling 134 metres high, the three-hour Burrawa climb is led by an Indigenous guide who will share stories of First Nations people before Sydney came about.

5. Feast up at Sydney Fish Market

Those seagulls we mentioned? They’re back and on a mission here at Pyrmont’s Sydney Fish Market, but that doesn’t stop the throngs of hungry seafood lovers from feasting on Sydney's freshest catch of the day as early as 7am. Find a retailer you like and take your pick of freshly shucked oysters and sliced fish sashimi to piping-hot lobster tails baked with cheese and more. For less hassle, grab a table at The Boatshed and dine in. Gourmet delis, fresh fruit stalls and coffee shops are also well worth a post-meal browse.

6. Hit the beach

Sydney is synonymous with beach life, with more than 70 dotted along its coastline. For a pastime so rife with surfers, families and weekend warriors alike, Sydney’s beaches are still some of the world’s cleanest and most well-maintained. If you want to take a dip, Bondi Beach’s long-time Icebergs Swimming Club (open seven days a week to the public, with pool cleaning on Thursday mornings) is home to a stunning IG-famous seaside swimming pool. Or, take the leisurely Bondi to Coogee Walk to pick from five swimmable beaches.

7. Taste bush foods at the Royal Botanic Gardens

Australia’s Indigenous bush foods, from meats like kangaroo and emu to vegetables and fruits like warrigal greens and quandong have been making their way onto the menus of modern Australian bars and restaurants. For a culinary deep-dive into these traditional ingredients, head straight to the Royal Botanic Gardens for a tour , where a First Nations guide will take you through how these plants were used traditionally and how they have been adapted for the modern palate.

8. Bar hop in Newtown

If you’re craving great food and drink, a cheeky night out in this funky indie neighbourhood is a no-brainer. King Street, Newtown’s main thoroughfare, is home to a plethora of bars and restaurants. Start with a satisfying chicken schnitty (schnitzel) or parmie (parmigiana) at mainstay The Courthouse Hotel . Beer geeks should head to famed Mountain Goat Brewery’s Newtown brewpub to try everything on tap. For something different, dive into all things fermented and delicious from food to cocktails at Odd Culture , and wrap up the night with stiff martinis and addictive savoury popcorn at quirky Bar Planet . 

9. Watch a dazzling Drag ‘N’ Dine show at the Imperial Hotel

Sydney’s thriving LGBT+ scene makes for a showstopping calendar of events all year long, but a visit to the iconic Imperial Hotel should be at the top of your list. Built in 1880, the historic Imperial Hotel in Erskineville was featured in The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, which spotlighted Sydney’s drag scene. The venue now hosts Drag ‘N’ Dine events Fridays to Sundays which feature ‘soil-to-plate’ dinner menus that caters equally to vegetarians and carnivores. Meanwhile, Sydney’s most talented drag queens take the stage as they work their magic performing all the hits – and with plenty of sass, to boot.

10. Go for a Marrickville craft brewery crawl

Aussies love a good beer, and Marrickville is one of the best places to get one. Our favourite taphouses and cellar doors in this Inner West suburb include Wildflower Brewing , which ferments its beers using yeasts and bacteria from flowers native to NSW. The Grifter is worth a visit for its lip-smacking watermelon pilsner alone, while Mixtape Brewing & Bar is a great all-rounder – offering 18 indie beers on tap as well as small-batch beers brewed onsite and a sizeable list of natural wines and whiskeys.