21 BEST Places to Visit in Sydney including Hidden Gems!

Therefore, it is almost inevitable that there will be queues in front of the ticket counters at the top attractions. To avoid waiting in line, you can buy tickets for the most popular highlights in advance. Heading off to Uni can be incredibly exciting, but leaving behind the safe and familiar to embark on a new challenge – often in a new city, filled with new faces and experiences – can also be quite daunting.
If you weren't interested in learning about the quarantines of yore before 2020, you might be now. Q Station was on the frontline of activities to do in sydney the last global health emergency in 1918, and the rich history of this heritage-listed site offers a fascinating lens on the experiences of the past year. The gardens were first planted in 1968 as a sanctuary for Indigenous plants and animals.

Sitting on the top floor of the museum is an outdoor café with views of the harbor. This is called the MCA Café and on the menu are salads, sandwiches, coffee, and wine. If you go all of the way to Luna Park, you can either return by walking across the bridge again or riding the ferry to Circular Quay. There is a  pedestrian walkway that runs along the east side of the bridge. To get on the walkway in The Rocks, you can take the steps or the elevator.
The Royal Botanic Garden is within walking distance from Martin Place and St James Stations, but is closest Circular Quay Station, so it’s well worth doing in the same day as the Sydney Opera House. Walking through nature’s lush trees and flowers is a great way to take a break from Sydney’s hustle and bustle. The Royal Botanic Garden in Sydney’s CBD is a tranquil and beautiful attraction, and provides a peaceful, beautiful getaway when you need to escape city life. It’s within walking distance from the Opera House and Circular Quay. Lazy, lapping waves and golden sands make Bondi Beach a picturesque location in Sydney’s eastern suburbs and one of Sydney’s most vibrant attractions.

You can find everything here, from small specialist stores and sprawling Asian grocers to noodle bars in hidden food halls and tucked-away fine-dining restaurants. Must-visits include the Chinese Garden of Friendship, Paddys Markets, and foodie hotspots Mamak and Gumshara. The Sydney Harbour Bridge is one of the world’s most recognisable landmarks. Not only is it the largest steel arch bridge on the planet, but it also spans one of the globe’s finest natural harbours. Affectionately named the ‘Coathanger’ by locals, it’s an intrinsic part of the city; you can walk or cycle across it and even climb to its peak for incredible views.
This is a stunning coastal walk rather than a hike, with plenty of coves and beaches to visit along the way for a swim. There are also some cafes along the way for a drink and a bite to eat, such as Coogee Pavilion. You’ll see a sandstone centrepiece of coral with 3 carp on top that support a clamshell basin on their tails. The large ground basin with stone sides makes a perfect spot to perch and take a break from city life within Australia’s oldest park.
Yes, Sydney has the Opera House and Harbour Bridge – must-sees for sure! It's where beaches and skyscrapers meet, where history lives alongside cutting-edge cool. Situated at the center of Sydney, Macquarie Street is the most significant cultural and historical thoroughfare that extends from the Sydney Opera House at the northern end and Hyde Park at the southern end.

If you’re a fan of cutting-edge Australian and international modern art, a visit to the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) on the western side of Circular Quay is an absolute must. Built in the late 1980s, the beautiful Chinese Garden of Friendship is a heritage-listed green space situated at the south end of Darling Harbour, only a short stroll away from Darling Harbour. Built in the 1890s, the heritage-listed Queen Victoria Building (better known as the QVB) is one of Sydney’s many historical buildings, located in George Street in the middle of the CBD. Whilst it’s not the easiest of suburbs to get to, Palm Beach is worth a visit if you’re staying in Sydney for more than just a couple of days.
Nestled on the shores of Sydney Harbour and a quick 12-minute ferry ride from the CBD, Taronga Zoo is a Sydney staple and a must-visit spot for animal lovers. The zoo is home to over 4,000 animals including African lions, giraffes, zebras and native Australian animals like dingos, koalas, kangaroos, emus and wallabies. Connecting Queenscliff and Freshwater beaches, the tunnel is still the most direct route between the two seafronts without cutting through the suburban streets.

Keep the good times rolling in a Sydney club where great tunes spanning every era are pumped well into the early hours. Journey off the beaten track to explore the city and its under-hyped charms from a true local’s perspective. Swing like a pendulum on board the 30-metre-high Sledgehammer, whiz down silky-smooth slides in Coney Island and take it nice and slow on the Ferris Wheel.
Once on the island, grab a free map from the visitor centre and wander around to fully absorb the rich history and the highlights. Visiting one of the many Sydney Harbour islands is a great way to learn more about the history and evolution of Sydney. Cockatoo Island is one of those islands that is worth visiting and makes for a great day out. The best way to get there is via the Bradleys Head Walking Track, a scenic trail starting from the Taronga Zoo ferry wharf. This short walk is an excellent way to see the beauty of Sydney Harbour while also learning a thing or two about Sydney’s history.
If you opted for the former, you need to experience the thrill of a 30-minute Thunder Thrill Jet Boat Adventure around Sydney Harbour. It’s one of very few white knuckle thrills you can enjoy so close to the Opera House – and the wetter you get, the better. Oz Jet Boating’s speedboats go up to 40 knots as they zoom from Circular Quay to Rose Bay, Shark Beach and around Clark Island. We’re pleased we left our shoes and sunnies on shore (they lose pairs of sunnies every week).  But, the photos captured on the boat’s GoPro are too funny for us to regret our decision. In days gone-by, the Art Gallery of NSW (established in 1871) was a romantic (and slightly antique) wander through a delightful mix of the old masters and emerging Aussie talent.