Well where do I start… As a local I know there is so much to do in Sydney that it makes it very hard for me to suggest which is the top 5 places to visit. I know what it’s like when you only spend a few days in a city and want to see the best and most popular attractions. So here are my top 5 things to do in Sydney (popular places) with information to help you plan your trip.
1. Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge and The Rocks
Since most tourist stay in the city, I thought I’d include all these places as they are within walking distance from each other (you can easily visit all 3 places in a day).
Sydney Opera House
Almost every tourist I know comes to Sydney to experience the Opera House for its beautiful architecture. I guess that’s why it was a contender for the New 7 wonders of the world back in 2007. After being a tour guide to many of my friends over the years I still find the Opera House to be unique and still love taking pictures of it. Besides taking pictures, you can walk to The Royal Botanic Gardens to relax and view native Australian plants.
You can even do a backstage tour of the Opera House or watch live shows. Just plan beforehand as some tours or shows can be booked out.
For more details on “what’s on” visit: http://www.sydneyoperahouse.com
Sydney Harbour Bridge
The Bridge is another icon of Sydney. Every time I drive over to North Sydney I take the bridge because it’s a nice scenic drive (minus the toll of course!). There’s a few ways you can view the bridge, if you want to be up close and personal I recommend climbing the bridge. You can climb the bridge with BridgeClimb (whom I used to work for). Depending on the day and type of climb (I recommend the Original climb), prices range from $180 to $300 AUD.
I’ve climbed the bridge twice and loved it each time, the view on top is one of best views you can have in Sydney. The cheaper way to view the bridge (although it’s not as high as the climb) is to go to the Pylon lookout, here there is a museum where you can discover the history of the bridge. You can view the Opera House from here as well as the city skylines, but the coolest part is being under the bridge and viewing the inside of it.
The Rocks
This part of town has a lot of history. Here you will find historical buildings, Museum of Contemporary Art, boutique shops and galleries. I love The Rocks for the nightlife, it has nice restaurants, bars and plenty of old pubs you can check out. Some famous pubs I like are the Glenmore Hotel, The Australian Hotel, The Fortune of War Hotel, and Heritage Belgium Beer Café.
If you love eating and shopping from local designers then you will love the markets at The Rocks. On Friday nights there is the Foodies Market and on weekends there’s The Rocks Market, both these markets have plenty to offer so I recommend you check them out.
For more details visit http//:www.therocks.com
2. Darling Harbour
It’s no doubt one of the best harbours in Australia if not the world. I walk pass here everyday to go to work and enjoy the awesome views. Depending on your taste of things to do, here you can visit the Sydney Aquarium, Wildlife Park (good for the kids), IMAX theatre (3D Movies and documentaries), Star Casino (shopping, bars and gambling), and National Maritime Museum. If you want to eat good food, I recommend you check out restaurants and bars down at Cockle Bay Wharf.
For more details on things to do in Darling Harbour visit:
3. Sydney to Manly Ferry
A must do for all visitors to Sydney. Catching the 30-minute ferry ride to Manly will provide you with spectacular views of the Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Once you arrive in Manly, you can go for a swim at Manly Beach (which is within walking distance from Manly wharf) or visit Ocean world and discover the underwater creatures of Australia.
You can catch the ferry from Circular Quay and it’s cheap!
For more details visit: http://www.manlyaustralia.com.au
4. Bondi Beach
Bondi Beach is located in the eastern suburbs of Sydney, about 20 minutes from the city. I used to come here as a kid but these days I go to other beaches that are not as popular to avoid the crowds (these beaches include Bronte, Coogee, Maroubra). For tourist I think Bondi is a great beach to visit because it has nice restaurants, bars, and shops. It’s a world famous beach so definitely worth checking out and ticking it off your list of things to do.
Every Sunday there is the Bondi Markets offering clothes, handmade jewellery, paintings, and other unique items from local designers. It’s a great place to buy a souvenir or gift to take home.
If you love walking than you will enjoy the Bronte to Bondi Walk. The walk offers amazing views of the coast and a great opportunity to go for a swim and take some pictures of Bronte Beach, Tamarama Beach, and Bondi Beach.
5. Chinatown
Whenever I visit another city, I try to always check out Chinatown. I love comparing Asian food and markets from all around the world just to see whether Sydney is better. The Chinatown in Sydney has Paddy’s Markets (opens Wed – Sunday), which offer all sorts of things from clothes, sunglasses, home wares, souvenirs and much more. If you want to buy cheap souvenirs or gifts for someone I recommend you buy them here, it’s affordable and you can always negotiate!
Every Friday night there is the Chinese Night Market, here you will have the opportunity to try Sydney’s street food. There’s fishballs (sticks with sate sauce), lamb skewers, dumplings, and a heap of all different types of food.
Finally my last advice is to come to Sydney during the summer (be prepared for the heat), from November through to February because it’s the best time of year where everything happens in Sydney.
Now you know the top 5 places to visit in Sydney 
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