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Worth leaving the house

Things to do in Sydney

The best experiences in Sydney

Shows worth dressing up for, restaurants worth the wait, and adventures you'll talk about for years. These are the best things to do in Sydney — curated, not crowd-sourced.

Updated Oct 202612 guidesLocals' picks

The short answer

The best experiences in Sydney are a show at the Sydney Opera House, dinner at one of the city's top restaurants, climbing the Harbour Bridge, the Bondi to Coogee walk and a ferry to Manly. Our guides below rank the best in every category.

The guides

Pick your Top

12 categories
Theatre audience applauding in SydneyPhoto: Cameron Leo
ShowsTheatre · comedy · magic
Bennelong's bar beneath the ribbed concrete vaults of the Opera House sailPhoto: Bennelong
RestaurantsWhere to eat
Bennelong's bar beneath the ribbed concrete vaults of the Opera House sailPhoto: Bennelong
Waterfront diningHarbour & beach views
Sunlit dining room with banquettes and cane chairs at bills Surry HillsPhoto: bills
BrunchCafes & bottomless brunch
Green fluted bar and arched back-bar shelves at Maybe Sammy in The RocksPhoto: Maybe Sammy
BarsRooftops & cocktails
Guest at Hotel Palisade's rooftop with the Harbour Bridge viewPhoto: Hotel Palisade
Rooftop barsHarbour views & sunsets
The sandstone corner facade of the Lord Nelson Brewery HotelPhoto: The Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel
PubsHeritage pubs & beer gardens
Bennelong's bar beneath the ribbed concrete vaults of the Sydney Opera House sailPhoto: Bennelong
Date nightRomantic ideas
BridgeClimb climbers on the Harbour Bridge arch high above the harbour and Opera HousePhoto: BridgeClimb Sydney
Tours & adventuresBucket-list Sydney
The Art Gallery of NSW's Sydney Modern building in the Domain with the CBD skyline behindPhoto: Art Gallery of New South Wales
Rainy dayIndoor things to do
Walkers on the clifftop path of the Bondi to Coogee coastal walk with Bondi Beach behindPhoto: Destination NSW (sydney.com)
Free things to doSydney for $0
Two giraffes at Taronga Zoo with the Sydney Harbour Bridge in the backgroundPhoto: Taronga Conservation Society Australia
With kidsFamily days out

Things to do in Sydney: where to start

First time in Sydney? Spend day one around the harbour: walk from Circular Quay past the Opera House into the Royal Botanic Garden, then catch the ferry to Manly for fish and chips. Day two, do the Bondi to Coogee coastal walk and end with dinner at one of our best restaurants in Sydney. Save a night for a great show.

Live here? Check what's on in Sydney this month for festivals, openings and limited-run events.

Frequently asked questionsThings you might ask

What are the top 10 things to do in Sydney?

See a show at the Sydney Opera House, climb or walk the Harbour Bridge, do the Bondi to Coogee walk, take the ferry to Manly, explore the Royal Botanic Garden, visit Taronga Zoo, wander The Rocks, eat at a top harbourside restaurant, see the Art Gallery of NSW and take a day trip to the Blue Mountains.

What is there to do in Sydney at night?

Catch a show at the Opera House or a theatre in the CBD, see a magic or comedy show, have cocktails at a rooftop or hidden bar, or take a sunset harbour cruise.

What are unique experiences in Sydney?

BridgeClimb, a seaplane to lunch on Pittwater, whale watching (May–November), a private harbour cruise and a live magic or comedy show are among the most memorable.

Keep exploring

More of the Top

3 guides
What's OnThis week & month
Sydney Opera House at dusk with a harbour ferry passingPhoto: Sydney Opera House
Places to visitLandmarks & attractions
Corporate audience applauding at a Sydney eventPhoto: Cameron Leo
Corporate eventsEntertainers · venues · ideas

Want in on The Top?

Run a venue, show or act that belongs among the best in Sydney? Tell us about it. Every nomination is reviewed by our editors before anything goes live.

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