Top things to do in Sydney, events & more

Darling Harbour is full of waterfront fine-dining, culture, beauty, and entertainment. Here you’ll find the Australian National Maritime Museum, the Sydney Aquarium & Zoo, and several large venues dedicated for concerts. In 1819, the Hyde Park Barracks were constructed to house the male convicts who had been brought to Sydney.
Work started appearing on the wall in the late 1970s, and by the late 1980s, it moved to a legal space for artists to work. Twice a year, artists are chosen to redo the walls, meaning there is always something new to see. Two murals are permanent, the Anzac one shown about and a memorial to a Bali Bombing victim. Check out our guide to art galleries in Sydney for more free things art. There is an excellent Aboriginal Art collection and a places to visit in sydney good range of modern Australian art. Be sure to look for Brett Whiteley’s The Balcony 2, Grace Cossington Smith’s Curve of the Bridge and John Olsen’s Five Bells, three iconic Sydney works.

It's where beaches and skyscrapers meet, where history lives alongside cutting-edge cool. Watsons Bay is a thin stretch of sand backed by a couple of great restaurants. The Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel has chic comfortable rooms, many with excellent views. We also include Manly on our best day trips from Sydney, which has rural areas, charming towns, and beaches that are further away. One of Sydney’s most popular walking tracks, the Bondi to Coogee Walk, showcases the stunning beauty of the city’s coastline.
Adjoining Chinatown in Haymarket you’ll find over 1000 stalls inside the complex. You can pick up an array of imported goods at bargain prices, from fashion and accessories to souvenirs and gadgets. Driving through Sydney’s southern CBD, you won’t be able to miss the stunning sandstone Gothic Revival architecture of St. Mary’s Cathedral. Standing on the site of Australia’s first Catholic chapel, St. Mary’s stands 107m long with a ceiling height of 22.5m and a nave 24.3m wide. But the outstanding architectural piece-de-resistance is the front towers and spires which soar over 74m in height. Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens is located just a few minutes’ walk from both the CBD and Opera House.
Spring forward with these must-see events to ring in the new season. Fill your spring calendar with markets, festivals and storytelling. See highlights of the festive season including free concerts, markets, light displays and the tallest Christmas tree in NSW. Our top picks of theatre, music, dance and live performance to make the most of a jam-packed line-up of event from 8 to 25 January. Fun, creative and active ideas to keep kids entertained all summer long.

The Eight, East Ocean, Mr Wong and Uncle Ming's all offer delicious dumplings alongside Chinese tea and other classic Cantonese dishes. The Kangaroos’ ability to stand and move by hopping is interesting to observe as it’s a distinctive adaptation and feature that sets them apart from other animals. It is a beautiful building from every angle as you go around it.
Walking through the garden offers a peaceful escape from the city hustle. Strolling along the promenade is also a delightful experience. You can watch surfers catch waves or simply enjoy the beach atmosphere. This site details the stories of convicts who first settled here.

With the heat dialled all the way up this weekend, Macquarie Ice Rink’s re-opening couldn’t have come at a better time. An inner-city institution since 1981, the Olympic-sized rink spent most of 2025 undergoing a multi-million-dollar glow-up—and now it’s officially back. Expect a pristine new ice surface, slick tech upgrades and modern amenities.
The warmer months are commonly from November to February, with the cooler months being March to August. Sydney/Warrane is home to a number of distinct First Nations groups, spanning from the beaches of Bondi out to the Blue Mountains. Warrane refers to the area now known as Circular Quay and Sydney Cove specifically. Help feed kangaroos, koalas and Little Penguins during an animal encounter at this Doonside sanctuary in Sydney’s west. The North Head Quarantine Station is a heritage-listed former quarantine facility that operated from 1832 until 1984.

In doing so, she gives up her family and life as she knows it, only to be brutally betrayed by Pinkerton, which leads to her ultimate demise. Mueck is known for his hyperrealistic sculptures, which range from minute to massive, conveying themes that explore our relationship with the world, including birth, death, alienation and togetherness. We had a first look at the exhibition last week, and you can check out our review of the incredible works here.
Or explore a different environment with a walk along the Badu Mangroves Boardwalk nearby and discover the wildlife that calls the swampy mangroves home. Explore the unrivalled 360-degree views of the city from Sydney Tower Eye Observation Deck and SKYWALK experience. Known as Sydney’s ultimate viewpoint, experience the true beauty of the city from 250 metres in the clouds. You can see all the famous landmarks, including Hyde Park, Darling Harbour, The Opera House, and the Sydney Harbour Bridge and all the way to the Blue Mountains, 80 kilometres away.
If the sun’s shining, gather the crew and head to one of Sydney’s top rooftop bars, or knock back a pint in a sunny beer garden at one of the city’s best pubs. Afterwards, dress up and visit one of Sydney’s best restaurants – or save a few dollars and work your way through our guide to these fab cheap eats. St. Mary’s Cathedral is another nearby landmark that locals and tourists regularly visit. An architectural feast for the eyes, its Gothic Revival style dates back to the European medieval cathedrals. From the outside, you can see many artistic statues from saintly heads to looming gargoyles.

All the beaches are easy to get to via public transportation or car and there are tons of restaurants and surf shops lining them all. Further north, St Ives is home to the enchanting Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Garden. Follow winding trails and spot wallabies hopping among the gums, or pop into the nursery for a souvenir to  create your own wildflower garden at home. To the south-west, Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan is a lovely expanse of rolling hills, lakes and gardens – perfect for a picnic away from the hustle and bustle.