Places to Visit in Sydney | 15 Popular Attractions & Coastal Hot Spots

With so many places to visit in Sydney, it can be hard to decide where to go first. Plan an itinerary for a trip to Australia, and be sure to include these 15 must-see tourist attractions in Sydney!

1. Sydney Opera House

The Sydney Opera House is one of the most recognized buildings in the world. Australia‘s iconic landmark is recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The Sydney Opera House features a concert hall, multiple bars and restaurants, an opera house that seats 1,500, and three other theaters.

Multiple tours are available, including:

• Backstage Tour: an intimate, small-group breakfast and a tour of rehearsal areas. Tours last up to two and a half hours and take place every day at 7 A.M. Tickets are $175 AUD per person.
• Taste of the Opera House: a four-hour sample of the bars and restaurants in the Sydney Opera House. Tickets are $295 AUD per person and tours are done once a month at 10:45 A.M. The dates for 2020 are 5 April, 3 May, 14 June, 5 July, 2 August, 11 October, 1 November, 15 November.
• Sydney Opera House Tour: a guided one-hour tour through the Sydney Opera House. Tickets are $42 AUD per person and the tours run daily between 9 A.M. and 5 P.M.

Check In to Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park, Step Out to Sydney Opera House

2. SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium

Featuring a dugong exhibit and the largest Great Barrier Reef exhibit in the world, the SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium is open every day from 10 A.M. to 6 P.M., with last entry at 5 P.M. Over 700 species can be found here, including penguins, sharks, rays, tropical reef fish, and two of the five dugongs on display in the world. For an even more eventful visit to SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium, ride a glass bottom boat over the reef exhibit tank, dive with sharks, head out on the ice with penguins, or have a private dining experience next to the floor-to-ceiling windows of the reef exhibit.

Check In to Novotel Sydney on Darling Harbour Hotel, Step Out to SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium

3. Observatory Park

Head to Observatory Park that offers incredible views of Sydney Harbour and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It is a popular spot for picnics and watching the sun set. The Sydney Observatory is found here as well, where you can take a tour or go stargazing at night.

Check In to InterContinental Sydney, Step Out to Observatory Park

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4. Quarantine Station

Perhaps the most haunted place in Australia, the Quarantine Station was used from the 1830s to 1984 as a place to house migrants who were suspected of having contagious diseases. Ships would drop off infected passengers in order to reduce the chance of an epidemic. Hundreds of migrants, infected with diseases such as smallpox, tuberculosis, influenza, typhoid fever, cholera, and the bubonic plague died here. History tours are operated during the day, and ghost tours are run at night for the more adventurous visitors.

Check In to Manly Paradise Motel and Apartments, Step Out to Quarantine Station

5. Sydney Fish Market

Find the freshest catch of the day at the Sydney Fish Market. Though the fish market is open from 7 A.M. to 4 P.M., the best catches are often picked up quickly in the mornings. Early risers can do a behind-the-scenes tour of the Sydney Fish Market on weekdays at 6:40 A.M.

Check In to Dixon Residences, Step Out to Sydney Fish Market

6. Art Gallery of New South Wales

The Art Gallery of New South Wales has one of the largest collections of indigenous art in Australia. It also has a substantial amount of contemporary works and collections from European and Asian artists. Screenings, lectures, workshops, and artist talks are held throughout the year. Admission and guided tours are free. Some of the temporary exhibits may have a fee.

Check In to Hilton Sydney, Step Out to Art Gallery of New South Wales

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7. Wild Life Sydney Zoo

Meet koalas, crocodiles, kangaroos, wombats, and platypuses at the Wild Life Sydney Zoo. Found in Darling Harbour, the Wild Life Sydney Zoo is open every day of the year from 10 A.M. to 5 P.M., though last entry is at 4 P.M.

Daily feeds and talks include:

• 10:30 A.M., 12:30 P.M., and 2:30 P.M. at Wallaby Cliffs: wombat and wallaby talk
• 11:00 A.M., 1:00 P.M., and 3:00 P.M. at Kangaroo Walk-About: kangaroo and emu talk
• 11:30 A.M., 1:30 P.M., and 3:30 P.M. at Kakadu Gorge: crocodile talk
• 12:00 P.M., 2:00 P.M., and 4:00 P.M. at Koala Rooftop: koala talk

Check In to Vulcan Hotel Sydney, Step Out to Wild Life Sydney Zoo

8. The Rocks

The Rocks is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Australia. This was the first permanent settlement for Europeans, and in the late 1800s was full of taverns and brothels. You can still get a drink at Fortune of War, the oldest pub in Sydney. A restoration project starting in the 1970s revived the neighborhood into a trendy spot with boutiques, galleries, cafes, historical buildings, and of course, pubs.

Check In to Mercantile Hotel, Step Out to The Rocks

9. Taronga Zoo

Discover over 4,000 animals at Taronga Zoo, with indigenous Australian creatures as well as animals found all over the globe. The Roar and Snore experience allows visitors to sleep overnight at the zoo and check out the nocturnal animals. Open every day from 9:30 A.M. to 5 P.M., day tickets are $44.10 AUD for adults and $26.10 AUD for children between the ages of 4 and 15. Adults can be a Zoo Keeper for a Day for just $350 AUD, preparing food, feeding animals, and creating enrichment activities. Close-up animal encounters are also available with elephants, koalas, penguins, tortoises, and owls.

Check In to Park Regis Concierge Apartments, Step Out to Taronga Zoo

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10. Royal Botanic Garden Sydney

Spanning an impressive 74 acres (30 hectares) is the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Full of over 7,500 types of plants, both exotic and native, this is the oldest botanical garden in Australia. Entrance and guided tours are free, and you’ll likely see beautifully colored birds and flying foxes as well as other animals in the garden.

Check In to Swissotel Sydney, Step Out to Royal Botanic Garden Sydney

11. Australian Museum

The oldest museum in Australia, the Australian Museum, was opened in 1827 and is currently home to an estimated 21 million cultural objects and scientific specimens. An extensive renovation lasting until mid-2020 will see a number of improvements to the Australian Museum including new interactive exhibits, an exhibition hall, additional amenities, and a museum shop.

Check In to Medusa Hotel, Step Out to Australian Museum

12. Bondi Beach

The white sands of popular Bondi Beach stretch a mile long, with surfers frequenting the south end for the roughest waves. Swimmers prefer the calmer north end, where visitors can also find coin-operated barbecues. The Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk takes you 6km between Bondi Beach and Coogee Beach.

Check In to Beachside Bliss: A Bondi Beach Holiday Home, Step Out to Bondi Beach

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13. Queen Victoria Building

The Queen Victoria Building is a five-story shopping center with close to 200 retailers. The building itself features a 19th century staircase and a huge glass dome covered in copper. Shop until you drop in the Queen Victoria Building, then head to one of the cafes or restaurants in the building.

Check In to Radisson Hotel Suites Sydney, Step Out to Queen Victoria Building

14. Sydney Harbour Bridge

Known to locals as “Coat Hanger,” the Sydney Harbour Bridge rivals the Sydney Opera House as an iconic Sydney landmark. The Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb takes you 134 meters above sea level up to the summit of the bridge for incredible views of Sydney Harbour and the city of Sydney.

Check In to Vibe Hotel North Sydney, Step Out to Sydney Harbour Bridge

15. Darling Harbour

Darling Harbour is where you can find popular tourist attractions such as SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium, the Australian National Maritime Museum, and the Harbourside Shopping Centre. Here you’ll also find the LG IMAX theatre, with the world’s largest screen. Stroll through the waterfront neighborhood and stop at one of the many bars, restaurants, and shops.

Check In to Peg Leg Darling Harbour, Step Out to Darling Harbour

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