The best things to do in Sydney
The top 3 according to 31 votes from people: Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk · Sydney Opera House · Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. (Updated Aug 19, 2026.)
Harbour icons, beaches and coastal walks: what Lonely Planet, Destination NSW and Sydney locals recommend most.
Top 15
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1
Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk
6 km clifftop walk past Tamarama, Bronte and Clovelly beaches and ocean pools.
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2
Sydney Opera House
Jørn Utzon's sail-roofed masterpiece, opened in 1973 and a World Heritage Site; take a tour or see a show.
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3
Royal Botanic Garden Sydney
Harbourside garden founded in 1816, leading to Mrs Macquarie's Chair viewpoint.
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4
Blue Mountains (day trip)
World Heritage mountains two hours west, with the Three Sisters at Echo Point.
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5
Art Gallery of New South Wales
Free gallery in the Domain, expanded in 2022 with the Sydney Modern building.
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6
Bondi Beach
Australia's most famous beach, with the Bondi Icebergs ocean pool at its southern end.
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7
Taronga Zoo
Zoo on the harbour's north shore with koalas, platypus and views back to the city, reached by ferry.
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8
Darling Harbour
Waterfront precinct with SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium and WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo.
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9
Spit Bridge to Manly Walk
10 km bushland harbour walk with Aboriginal rock engravings and hidden beaches.
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10
The Rocks
Sydney's oldest neighbourhood, with colonial pubs and a weekend market under the bridge.
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11
Sydney Harbour Bridge and BridgeClimb
The 1932 'Coathanger'; climb its arch with BridgeClimb or walk across for free.
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12
Manly Ferry
30-minute ferry from Circular Quay past the Opera House to Manly's beaches.
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13
Queen Victoria Building
Romanesque Revival shopping arcade from 1898 covering a whole city block.
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14
Australian Museum
Australia's oldest museum (1827), with natural history and First Nations collections.
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15
Watsons Bay
Harbour village with fish and chips and The Gap clifftop lookout.
Candidates
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16
Cockatoo Island
World Heritage former convict prison and shipyard in the harbour, with camping.
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17
Barangaroo Reserve
Harbourside headland park built on a former container terminal, with walking paths and sandstone foreshore.
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18
Sydney Fish Market
The largest seafood market in the Southern Hemisphere, in Pyrmont on Blackwattle Bay.
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19
Featherdale Sydney Wildlife Park
Wildlife park in Doonside where you can see koalas, kangaroos and wombats up close.
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20
Palm Beach
Northern Beaches suburb with a long surf beach and the Barrenjoey Lighthouse walk.
How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.
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Comments (4)
Featherdale for koalas if you've got kids, and Palm Beach for a day trip 🌊
Missing the Sydney Fish Market and Barangaroo Reserve!
Bondi to Coogee walk on a Sunday morning, then a swim at Bronte. Best Sydney day.
Manly ferry is the cheapest harbour cruise you'll ever take, just tap your Opal card