Sydney and the Sydney sights in Australia must be experienced, over 260 Sydney sights are mentioned again and again and it is difficult to determine the personal top 10 Sydney sights. The Australian metropolis offers so many beautiful places that you simply have to experience during your days “down-under”. You have to experience Sydney with all its sights and I will show you with my personal top 10 list which places you should definitely visit in Sydney.
Public transport in Sydney
Whether you want to experience Sydney as a luxury vacationer, as a backpacker or even with a rental car – there is only one requirement for the Australian metropolis to experience it properly – to use public transport to the Sydney sights, get a “My Multi Trains” ticket at the beginning of your vacation, which costs around AU$ 60 (per week) for a week (including all ferries, etc.) to travel to all Sydney sights.
Find a cozy café in the morning, let the city wake up and then think about which sights you want to see in Sydney. Below I would like to introduce you to my personal highlights for a trip to Australia.
Sydney top 10 sights
The big advantage of Sydney compared to cities like New York, London, Paris or Los Angeles is the size of Sydney, so that you can combine many sights in one day. I spent a week in Sydney and planned four days for the above-mentioned Sydney sightseeing top 10 highlights (even though it turned out to be thirteen points).
Port Jackson – Sydney Harbour
Sydney Harbour – Port Jackson – was my first port of call during my stay in the Australian metropolis. Simply a dream in the German winter, standing on the waterfront at 30°C, watching the ferries and of course experiencing the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge as top Sydney sights.
Just take a few minutes to sit on the harbor, enjoy the moment that you are in Australia and enjoy the active life there. Port Jackson will also often be the starting point for your explorations over the next few days of your trip, as many ferries to Manly Beach, Bondi Beach and Taronga Zoo depart from Port Jackson and you can enjoy the unique view of Sydney, the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge every day. For me, this is the most beautiful place in Sydney with the best view of the best Sydney sights.
Sydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House was also the center of attraction for me and the top 1 of the Sydney sights. Standing in front of the building, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2007 and was designed by Danish architect Jørn Utzon. Due to its unique architecture, the building itself has been included in the Danish cultural heritage and attracts up to four million people every year.
It hosts over 2000 different concerts and shows and is probably photographed billions of times a year. With a length of 184 meters and a height of over 60 meters, the strong reflection of the more than one million tiles on the roof fascinates visitors. A fantastic photo backdrop, especially at sunset.
Similar to other opera houses, the original production costs at the end of the 1960s rose from AU$ 3.5 million to over AU$ 50 million.
Sydney Harbour Bridge
The bridge can be seen on television around the world at the latest on New Year’s Eve fireworks and connects the north and south of Sydney. Australians refer to the bridge, which was opened in 1932, simply as the “coat hanger”. With a span of over 500 meters, the bridge is up to 134 meters above sea level and is still one of the heaviest bridges in the world.
If you are looking for a special adventure, you can climb onto the arch of the bridge and photograph Sydney and the Opera House at sunset. If you are looking for a special photo spot of Sydney’s sights, you will also find it on the bridge and, with a bit of luck, you can also photograph the large cruise ships in Port Jackson, directly in front of the Opera House.
Darling Harbour
Darling Harbour became famous among many tourists from all over the world as Sydney’s new recreational area during the 2000 Olympic Games. Various shopping centers, restaurants, bars, clubs and hotels form a large pedestrian zone bordering Cockle Bay. Chinatown begins on one side and the Harbour Bridge and Opera House are just a few steps away on the other.
Darling Harbour is perfect for a nice evening by the water, a cozy restaurant or even a boat trip – but the prices in the restaurants at Darling Harbour are usually a little more expensive than in other parts of Sydney. Nevertheless, Darling Harbour is one of the top Sydney sights for me.
Bondi Beach – Sydney’s famous beach
Bondi Beach is one of the most famous beaches in the world and is often mentioned in the same breath as Venice Beach in California and Waikiki Beach in Hawaii, making it one of Sydney’s top 10 sights. The venue of the Olympic beach volleyball tournament in 2000 is absolutely popular with surfers and locals alike.
The expansive beach reflects Australian life, enjoying the sun and the water, hanging out with friends and having a good time. It’s not for nothing that people say that if you haven’t been to Bondi Beach, you haven’t experienced Australia and Sydney in particular – for me, it’s one of the top sights in Sydney.
Of course, the beach is also easily accessible by bus and ferry, it’s about 7 kilometers from the city center. Perfect for a whole day at the beach in Sydney to recover from the Sydney sights – especially with the many surrounding restaurants and cafés.
Taronga Zoo – one of the most beautiful zoos in the world
There are few zoos that I have read as much about in advance as Taronga Zoo. The zoo, which was opened in 1916, is located on the opposite side of Sydney and offers 2600 animals and a breathtaking view over Sydney.
When do you ever have the opportunity to photograph giraffes being fed and have the Opera House and Port Jackson with the Sydney skyline in the background? For me, this is one of the Sydney sights that you should definitely do.
The ferry ride also offers more opportunities for great photos of the water from Harbour Bridge, the cruise ships, etc. – Arriving at the bottom of the zoo also allows for quicker entry as bus groups disembark at the top of the zoo.
The Rocks and Circular Quay
You will almost inevitably come across The Rocks on your tour of Sydney. At the end of the Harbour Bridge, there are many opportunities to enter this interesting district and visit the old brick buildings. In recent years, “The Rocks” has become one of Sydney’s cultural attractions.
Various theaters and galleries have their performances and exhibitions. The Museum of Comtemporary Art (MCA) is not far away. The Rocks area is also suitable for visiting the historic military hospital and the observatory. “The Observatory has been home to an astronomy museum since the early 1980s and is also open to the public.
Sydney Tower – Sydney’s highest viewing platform
The highest point in Sydney and therefore also the highest attraction in Sydney is easily recognizable from afar. With a height of 301 meters and a viewing platform at a height of 250 meters, the television tower and observation tower “Sydney Tower” offers a breathtaking view over Sydney.
The tower, which is the second highest observation tower in the southern hemisphere after Auckland, is a must-see in the Australian metropolis. You get a beautiful view in the late afternoon or early evening, when the whole city is bathed in a golden hue.
However, if you are expecting the perfect view of the Sydney Opera House from this viewing platform, you will be disappointed. There are some beautiful views, but the skyscrapers around the TV Tower obscure the view somewhat.
My recommendation – visit the observation tower just before you leave and remember the most beautiful places of the last few days. Of course, this is also a clear top 10 Sydney sightseeing recommendation.
Manly Sea Life Sanctuary & Manly Beach
In contrast to Bondi Beach, Manly Beach is the quieter, albeit no less famous beach in Sydney. Consistent waves and a paradise for surfers and nature lovers. Countless hiking trails lead along the beach into the woods. Relax along large pine trees, unwind in one of the many small, cozy cafés on arrival and only take the last ferry back to downtown Sydney in the evening.
Manly is a respite from city life and the sights of Sydney, which is why it is so popular. Less than 10 kilometers from the city center, a completely different world opens up. There is also the Manly Sea Life Sanctuary, which is often referred to as the “Underworld”.
The public aquarium is home to thousands of sea creatures such as large sharks, rays and penguins. This Sydney attraction is also perfect for a day out with the kids and family. One of my personal top 10 Sydney sightseeing moments.
Sydney Aquarium – Darling Harbour
If the weather is bad in Sydney in winter, a visit to the Sydney Aquarium, which is located near the Pyrmont Bridge on Darling Harbour, is a good idea. The Sydney Aquarium is home to over 6000 different fish and over 600 animal species in various aquariums.
Various glass tunnels offer the opportunity to walk through the sea and observe sharks, rays and other sea creatures from below. A fascinating sight in Sydney, where you can observe the sea creatures in absolute peace and quiet and almost forget where you are.
Even if the aquarium doesn’t look particularly appealing from the outside, it is well worth a visit. Families with children also have the opportunity to watch the animals being fed.
Queen Victoria Building (QVB) – Historic clock
One of the Sydney sights that you practically can’t miss when strolling through the city. Between the skyscrapers of the Australian metropolis stands a 19th century building with a Romanesque-style façade. With a length of almost 200 meters and a width of almost 30 meters, the building stands out from the cityscape.
One of the most famous attractions far beyond the city limits of Sydney (and especially popular with Asian guests) is the historic clock in the building, which depicts over 30 motifs from Australian history.
A visit to the Queen Victoria Building can be combined with an extensive shopping spree in the shopping center, as the building now offers a wide variety of stores on four floors.
A little tip – on the way to or from Australia, shop in Bangkok, Singapore, etc. during the stopover – the prices for clothing are significantly cheaper there than in Australia.
Chinese Garden of Friendship – Sydney Botanical Gardens
The “Chinese Garden of Friendship” connects the “Darling Harbour” and “Chinatown” areas and is often incorrectly referred to as the “Japanese Garden” in Sydney.
The garden was designed by Sydney’s twin city “Guangzhou” and handed over to the population in 1988 as a sign of the deep bond between Australia and China.
For a few hours, you completely forget Australia and feel transported to Asia (if it weren’t for the recognizable buildings in the background). A special highlight in the “Chinese Garden of Friendship” is the original Chinese tea house, where tea ceremonies are still offered today.
If you want to get an overview of the whole garden, you have to look at it from different angles, as it is not manageable from just one side.
A very nice Sydney sight and a good combination with Darling Harbour in the afternoon. During the weekend, the garden is often used for wedding photos, with a variety of backgrounds always perfect for a romantic wedding photo in Sydney.
Sydney Helicopter Tour – Helicopter sightseeing flight
Hardly any other city lends itself so well to a helicopter flight. The airport is only a few minutes’ drive from the city center and the local provider “BlueSkyHelicopter” has been awarded for good service and safety for years.
If you have already seen a lot of Sydney, the helicopter tour offers a nice memory and another great photo opportunity, alternatively you can see parts of the city that were not yet on the list of sights.
Helicopter sightseeing flights are possible from approx. 20 minutes (pure flight time), with a sightseeing flight of approx. 35 minutes you can see all the main parts of the city (incl. Manly Beach, Bondi Beach, etc.). Prices for a sightseeing flight are currently around AU$ 140 per person and a DVD with your own flight video is available for a small surcharge.
If you are looking for a special end to Sydney and the highlight of the Sydney sights, you should consider a helicopter flight over Sydney.
Conclusion – Sydney sightseeing top 10
Sydney simply offers many more sights than a top 10 list and so I am back to the top 13 Sydney moments. I could certainly have included many more moments in Sydney on the list, but Sydney and the Sydney sights simply have to be experienced.
The Australian metropolis on the east coast really does offer a great program for every type of traveler, whether luxury traveler with 5-star hotels right next to the Opera House followed by a sunset boat trip under the Harbour Bridge or backpacker with a simple bed & breakfast hotel near the beaches.
For me, Sydney is one of the few cities where you say: “WOW” as soon as you arrive and are fascinated by the special Sydney sights. I am often asked how many days you should spend in Sydney and in my opinion, seven days is enough to get to know the many sides of the city.
If you can spend fewer days or would like to visit other cities in Australia (e.g. Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide, etc.), you can reduce your stay to four or five days.
Of course, the cost of living in Sydney should not be forgotten. In addition to relatively high entrance fees for the Sydney sights, as well as for local transport, the cost of food and restaurants is comparable to Geneva, Oslo or Stockholm and therefore twice as high as in many German cities.
For more information and as a travel companion, I recommend one of the many travel guides about Sydney. It makes a lot of difference if you can read up again on the spot or plan opening times.
If you are interested in experiencing Sydney once, exploring the various Sydney sights and creating your own top 10 Sydney sights list, you should look out for possible combinations with Asian cities when planning your trip.
Especially in the last two months of the year, many Asian airlines (such as Thai Airways, Singapore Airlines, Malaysia Airlines or Cathay Pacific) often offer cheap package deals with a stopover option for next spring. This not only cuts the flight time in half, but also gives you the opportunity for another city tour (and usually cheaper shopping).
