Sydney is Australia’s second-largest city, the capital of New South Wales and competes with Melbourne for the hearts of Australians and international visitors alike. Sydney’s natural good looks, the stunning harbour setting, miles of beaches and beautiful weather, make it a must-visit destination in Australia.

Sydney is Australia’s unofficial capital, with a stunning oceanfront location and vibrant, diverse neighbourhoods. Sydney is a must-visit on your first trip to Australia and a great spot for a weekend city break for travellers from within Australia. Having lived either side of Sydney, both in Brisbane and Melbourne, I’ve visited Sydney for both work and pleasure more times than I can count!

The Wanderbug acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation as the First Nations owners of the lands now recognised as Sydney. The Wanderbug pays respect to their Elders, lores, customs and creation spirits and recognises that these lands have always been places of great natural beauty, culture and community. 

How long should you spend in Sydney?

Sydney is so fun for a weekend or long weekend city break, but if it’s your first time and you’re coming from overseas, you’ll want to spend 3 or 4 days in the city.

Where to stay in Sydney

First time visitors to Sydney will find it most convenient to stay in the Sydney CBD, close to Circular Quay. This puts you close to major sights like Darling Harbour, the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House. It’s a little less convenient for major sightseeing, but Bondi is a beautiful part of Sydney, and is my favourite place to stay.

The best neighbourhoods to visit in Sydney

Some of the best neighbourhoods to visit in Sydney on your first trip are Bondi, The Rocks, Surry Hills and Manly. No trip to Sydney is complete without a visit to Bondi, the city’s most famous beach neighbourhood. Not only is there the gorgeous Bondi Beach, famous swimming pool over the ocean and Icebergs restaurant, but there are plenty of cool cafes, bars and restaurants in the neighbourhood, making it the perfect spot to spend a day. 

In the shadow of Sydney Harbor Bridge, The Rocks is one of the oldest European neighbourhoods in Australia. The area is a little touristy, but it’s a pretty, historic neighbourhood in a stunning location.

Surry Hills is one of Sydney’s coolest inner city neighbourhoods, you’ll find some of the best bars, restaurants and shopping. It’s right near the CBD, as well as other trendy suburbs like Paddington, Darlinghurst, Redfern and Ultimo.

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