The Ultimate Sydney City Travel Guide

Sydney boasts many exceptional hotels and resorts where you can relax and unwind. It goes without saying though, that we have our favourites we love to recommend. Starting with Mantra Sydney Central Hotel, which is located in the heart of the city on George Street and an easy walk to major attractions such as Sydney Harbour. Each of the 160 rooms is equipped with kitchenettes, plush beds, air conditioning and modest amenities to ensure you can relax and unwind every day of your journey. 

For the family, you’ll want to check out the Oaks Sydney Goldsbrough Suites. This heritage listed building with unique architecture is adjacent to Darling Harbour and the Fish Market and includes many onsite leisure facilities. They offer a wide selection of well detailed and appointed studios and multi-bedroom apartments to cater to all your needs. Rooms are complete with air conditioning, full kitchen facilities and the space to spread out in comfort. Oaks Sydney Goldsbrough Suites is conveniently located in the Darling Harbour precinct, and so is an easy gateway to many of the city’s best kept secrets and most iconic tourist experiences. 

If you fancy being closer to the water, then the Sydney Harbour Hotel will be the choice for you. Situated at The Rocks, you’ll be minutes away from the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House, all of which are visible from the hotel itself! This is the perfect base of operations for any traveller seeking unrivalled convenience when exploring the sights of Sydney. The rooftop pool gives you excellent views of the city, and the rooms are an immersive blend of relaxation and modern chic. Designed with the comfort of guests in mind, these inviting rooms can cater to individuals, couples and even families, and are equipped to make your Sydney getaway incredible! 

Sydney is not short on spectacles worth visiting, ranging from the Sydney Opera House to the Sydney Harbour Bridge, onward to the Royal Botanic Gardens. Your first days in Sydney should be filled with sightseeing. The public transport system is reliable, meaning you can easily hop on and off the bus to make your way around the city. If you start bright and early then you can readily make your way around all the iconic cornerstones of the city, and get all those gram-worthy pics that you need. 

Bondi Beach is a crowd favourite, blending the backdrop of the city into soft white sands, surfable waves and tropical vibes. You can easily spend a day at Bondi Beach learning to surf, snorkelling or visiting the nearby Bondi Icebergs for an oceanside swimming pool that is breathtaking. 

Once you’ve had your fill of ground and sea, take to the sky in the Sydney Tower Eye and observe the city from the heavens. The Sydney Tower Eye boasts a 4D cinema, outdoor viewing platform and a restaurant, meaning you can easily round out your day dining above the beating heart of New South Wales. 

If you’re after excellent boutique shopping and stunning architecture in one tidy package, then the Queen Victoria Building on George Street will make your heart sing. This Romanesque style structure houses a massive array of shops and cafes, and is well worth the visit.  

The Pitt Street Mall is at the very heart of Sydney and boasts over 600 stores within two city blocks. Think of any big name brand and you’re likely to find it here, alongside other retail moguls like Myer and David Jones. This area gets extremely busy, however is well designed to handle the crowds. If you’re not a fan of large groups then you’re better off going nice and early or later in the evening to avoid the larger rush.  

If you happen to find yourself beachside in Bondi, then do not despair if you grow tired of tanning. Bondi has been built for travellers like yourself, and has a great array of shops on offer from boutique to more common brands. Plus, you’ll be able to escape the heat for a bit as you slip into the air con and browse the goods on offer. 

No holiday is complete without delicious food - the sort of meals that will have you coming home and bragging to your family, friends and colleagues about how delectable it was. Sydney brings world-class culinary delights to the forefront with an array of exceptional restaurants. If you’re a lover of seafood, then Saint Peter in Paddington’s Grand National Hotel is a must-visit. Ensure you arrive hungry and take advantage of the nine-course set menu where chef Josh Niland explores the bountiful flavours of the marine world with passion and care. 

If you want a view with your meal, or perhaps want to splash out for a special occasion, then a trip to Oncore by Clare Smyth at the 26th level of the stunning Crown Tower in Barangaroo is sure to fill your cup. Smyth delivers Aussie versions of her most famous dishes, as well as some unique offerings that can only be experienced at Oncore. The menu isn’t cheap, but offers an array of delicious treats to sample - plus a 3,000 strong wine list for you to peruse. Bookings open in advance, so you’ll need to make sure you’ve got a reservation to enjoy this game changing restaurant. 

For the more budget-conscious diner, you’ll want to check out Hariri Chickens in Kogarah for delicious charcoal chicken served with things like Lebanese bread and delectable side dishes. Ama (pronounced ah-maa and meaning grandmother in Thai) in Surry Hills offers traditional Thai street-food and is an homage to founder’s Rowena and Kate Chansiri’s grandmother. Think 16-hour braised silverside, chewy noodles, crispy garlic and all those aromatic flavours that make you salivate as you read it! Or, if you’re after a European treat, then Bar Reggio delivers award winning Italian that is affordable but tastes a million bucks! 

It feels like a mandatory for any holiday, to go and explore a local museum and engage with the local culture of the destination. Fortunately, Sydney has many different opportunities for you to explore the culture and history of the city. The Museum of Contemporary Art in Circular Quay blends the best of modern artistic stylings from both international and Australian artists. It also hosts an extensive education program, and many online exhibitions in an innovative space geared towards celebrating the best of modern artistic expression.  

The Art Gallery of New South Wales is arguably the most profound public exhibition space and features all those beautiful, old-timey, golden-framed portraits and paintings that we know and love. Notably, this gallery also hosts one of the world’s largest permanent exhibitions for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art, which is a must-do if you’re eager to explore the cultural heritage of Australia’s First Nation people. In 2022, the gallery also expanded into a Sydney Modern Project, which houses modern artistic experiences, including site-specific art spaces and column-free galleries. We highly recommend you check it out! General entry is free and it is open daily. 

Lastly, but certainly not least, the Australian Museum in the heart of Sydney offers a cultural exploration and curation of historical experiences. Their vision is to be a leading voice for exploring the richness of life, the Earth and the culture of Australia and the Pacific. The Australian Museum has spent over 190 years collecting its collection of exhibitions, including Natural Sciences, the Wild Planet, the First Nations Gallery Garrigarrang and Dinosaurs, amongst others. Whether going with the family, or just on your own, the Australian Museum is a guaranteed opportunity to immerse yourself in the history of Australia.  

Easily the biggest event of the Pride calendar down under, the Sydney Mardi Gras sets the city ablaze with a vibrant array of colours and lights. Head along from 14 February to 2 March 2025 for 17 days of unforgettable parties and festivities, celebrating all that the LGBTTQIA+ community brings! 

Events include the First Nations First Light festival welcoming ceremony and the Ultra Violet women’s party. Plus, no Mardi Gras would be complete without attending the Parade which will take over Oxford Street, Flinders Street and Anzac Parade in the heart of Sydney. Whilst not all events are suitable for children, there is the Oxtravaganza family zone which is one block away from Oxford Street and will provide you a reprieve from the festivities where you can unwind with the whanau! 

Your Sydney getaway doesn’t need to be all shopping and fine dining - if you’re keen to get your heart racing and try some exhilarating experiences then Sydney’s got you covered. The Circular Quay Jet Boat ride is always a fun way to experience high intensity speeds combined with sightseeing, and without putting a dent in your wallet. Flying across the water with the 700 horsepower engine, you’ll see the Opera House, Fort Denison, the Harbour Bridge and even the Taronga Zoo in this 30 minute high intensity experience. 

If you’re eager to take to the skies above Sydney, then perhaps a flying lesson will be more to your liking. From Camden Airport, you can take on a 45-minute flying lesson with an experienced flight instructor, and master some classic aerobatic manoeuvres. You’ll start the day with a briefing by your instructor including what you can expect, and then you’ll take to the skies where you’ll pilot for roughly 98% of the time! But fear not, the plane has dual controls so you’ll be in safe hands, even as you learn how to perform various aerobatics. 

Want a great story to take back home? The Black Ops military-style helicopter mission will give you just that. In this fully immersive experience departing Sydney Airport, you’ll take off in a jet-powered 500E Black Ops, open-door helicopter for 20-minutes of blood pumping action and adventure. Simulated to give you a real experience, you’ll recognise this helicopter from many iconic action films including Apocalypse Now and Mission Impossible. The helicopter reaches speeds of 240kmh and you’ll be supplied with a GoPro to help you truly capture this memory in cinematic style! 

So what do you reckon? We’ve got ourselves excited for a Sydney getaway and are ready to help you plan yours!