Sydney is the capital of New South Wales and the largest city in Australia. Millions of tourists from all over the world travel to the city on Australia’s east coast every year. The reason is, Sydney has a lot to offer: from beautiful landscapes, nice beaches where you can learn to surf, to many interesting museums and a lot of great cafés.

In my opinion, Sydney, is the most beautiful city in the world. Even after living there for four months, I could spend infinitely more months there. There is so much to see and do in this city and even after such a long time you always find new things to do.

I picked out my twelve personal highlights that you absolutely must have seen and experienced while you stay in Sydney:

Visit the famous Opera House

Of course you have to visit the famous Opera House when you travel to Sydney. After all, the Opera House is one of Sydney’s landmarks. If you find the time, you should definitely not only look at the famous opera from the outside and take a few photos, but also watch a performance. In December 2019, just before Christmas, I watched the ballet of the Nutcrackers and I was really enthusiastic. The show was incredible and I was impressed from the dancers, the set and the music. Seeing the backdrop from the inside and sitting in one of the halls is simply incredible. The Opera House is definitely worth a visit.

Walk the Harbour Bridge

Apart from the Opera House, you must have seen the Harbour Bridge. When I arrived in Sydney and saw the Harbour Bridge for the first time, I was speechless. I was surprised at how huge this bridge actually is. In 20 – 30 minutes you can walk along the bridge with an incredible view of the Opera House and the CBD.
If you are brave enough, you can also climb up the bridge with a guided tour.

Go to taronga Zoo

Actually, Taronga Zoo is a normal zoo. But in addition to a whole lot of Australian animals, such as kangaroos, koalas and wombats, which you can look at, you also always, have a look at the skyline of Sydney.

Go hiking in the Blue Mountains

A few kilometers outside of Sydney is the Blue Mountains National Park located. There are various hiking trails there to explore the mountains and also visit some waterfalls. You definitely have to see the famous Three Sisters there. The view over the mountains and the landscape is really impressive.
Tip: Take the train from Sydney Central Station to the National Park on a Sunday. Because on Sundays each trip in Sydney costs a maximum of $2.80. That’ll save you a lot of money for the ride.

Go swimming or surfing at Manly Beach

Even though the famous beach in Sydney is Bondi Beach, in my opinion Manly Beach is a lot more beautiful. The promenade and the water are not quite as crowded. And also in general the beach just looks a lot nicer. The district of Manly with its small shops, the many sweet cafes and the plants is also much more beautiful compared to the district of Bondi. It is definitely worthwhile to take the ferry from Circular Quay to Manly and explore everything there. You also have the opportunity to relax at the beach or to learn to surf.

Stroll through Royal Botanic Garden

One of the most beautiful places in Sydney is the Botanical Garden. From Mrs Macquarie’s Chair you can look across the water to the Opera House, the Harbour Bridge and the CBD. During a walk through the park you can also discover many other things, such as the huge koala, which was formed from a bush. You can also come here with friends for a picnic.

Drive up the Sydney Eye Tower

The Sydney Tower at the Westfield Shopping Center in the city Center is definitely worth a visit. From the 309 meter high tower you have a view of the sea, the Harbour Bridge and the whole city. Especially in the evening it is worth visiting the Sydney Tower and watching the sunset over the city.

Get fascinated by Diamond Bay Reserve

For tourists mostly totally unknown, the Diamond Bay Reserve. From there you have a breath taking view of the ocean and the cliffs where the turquoise water bounces off. Due to the fact that hardly anyone is there, you can enjoy the nature and the view away from the hustle and bustle in the city Center in peace. For me, the Diamond Bay Reserve is definitely one of the most beautiful places in Sydney and I would come back every time I visit Sydney.

Hike the Spit to Manly Walk

If there’s something in Sydney, it’s a whole bunch of coastal walks. In addition to the Bondi to Coogee Walk, there is the Roseby to Watsons Bay Walk and the Spit to Manly Walk. Unfortunately, I never walked the Roseby to Watsons Bay Walk, but from there you should have a great view of the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge all the time.

Just like most people only hike the Bondi to Coogee Walk, as it is one of the best known in Sydney, I personaly find the Spit to Manly Walk a lot more beautiful. With views of the coast, various beaches and the districts of Spit and Manly, you walk a ten-kilometre-long adventurous path through the forest. The Bondi to Coogee Walk is much easier to handle. But the view at the Spit to Manly Walk is much more varied and impressive, even if you pass many famous beaches on the way from Bondi to Coogee.

Tip: Start your hike in Spit so that you arrive in Manly at the end of the hike, where you can grab a bite to eat at one of the many cafes there.

Visit the Grounds of Alexandria

A café, a garden and a small market next to it. The garden with the different flowers is really worth seeing. Also the market with its many small offers is definitely worth a visit.

Stroll along Darling Harbour

There are plenty of restaurants, cafes, theatres, museums and of course the Chinese garden of friendship on a pedestrian street at Sydney Harbour. Every Saturday evening at 8.30 you can also watch a free firework. You can definitely spend a few hours at darling harbour without getting bored.

Visit as many Cafés and Restaurants as possible

And last but not least… If there’s anything in Sydney, it’s really good food in all sorts of restaurants. Therefore, I can only recommend visiting as many restaurants and cafes as possible. I was particularly impressed by the selection of delicious breakfasts in Sydney. My personal recommendations are therefore definitely a visit to the Bare Naked Bowls in Manly, Bronte, Surry Hills or Dee Why, the Social Hideout in Parramatta and the Raga Muffin in the district of Leichhardt. In Leichhardt there is a very large selection of cafes and restaurants. I can also recommend the Bar Italia, where, among Italian food like pizza and pasta, the largest and best ice balls are served.

If you want to know what else to do in Sydney, you should also read my blog post 15 Free Things to do in Sydney.