Top 25 Amazing Attractions in Sydney you cannot miss

Sydney is one of the most exciting cities in the world, home to famous landmarks, extraordinary museums, beautiful parks, and beaches. The beautiful city of Australia and the capital of New South Wales is an enticing and seductive place to come. It has many places that can be explored, but let us jot down some when there is a lack of time. Sydney is a UNESCO world heritage site and is a great building which is surrounded by water. When you stroll around this place, the mesmerizing glimpses will make you crazy. You will see many attractions there on the cruise itself. Here are our top 25 Amazing attractions in Sydney you cannot miss.

1. The Sydney Opera House

blue mountains sydney
Instagram @drruthcollins

Located at Bennelong Point in Sydney. Sydney Opera house is a multi-venue performing art center located in the prime destination of Sydney. It is one of the most prominent tourist attractions in Sydney with over eight million people visiting it every year. The opera house has been included under UNESCO World Heritage List on 28th June 2007. The building structure and its surrounding occupy the whole of Bennelong Point in Sydney Harbor which lies between Sydney Cove and Farm Cove. The opera house is home to some of the best performing arts that happen in the country. Multiple events in all sorts of art happen in the Sydney Opera house so tourists can enjoy them. For recreational purposes, there are various bars, cafes, and restaurants inside it. Check out Sydney Opera House backstage tour

2. The Blue Mountains

blue mountains sydney
Instagram @bailey.and.finch

The Blue Mountains, located immediately to the west of the sprawling metropolitan area that is Sydney, is one of the most accessible areas of (relatively unspoiled) highland natural beauty in New South Wales, Australia. Although not particularly high for a mountain range, the Blue Mountains is nonetheless renowned for its uniquely majestic scenery, for its cultural attractions, and for its relatively tranquil, alternative mode of life. The most popular attraction in the Mountains is Echo Point at Katoomba, a major lookout with incredible views of the Jamison Valley and the Three Sisters. There's also an information center here with displays about the environment of the area, so its a good place to start your visit to the Blue Mountains. Maps and souvenirs available for sale. Come back at night to see the area lit up. The Blue Mountains region was inscribed as a World Heritage Area by UNESCO in 2000. Check out Blue Mountains tours from Sydney

3. The Rocks

blue mountains sydney
Instagram: @nooraalhaidous

Known as Sydney’s creative hub, The Rocks is a vibrant and dynamic precinct on Sydney’s foreshore that combines old and new to form a nucleus of markets, festivals, contemporary art, and ever-evolving pop-up spaces. Situated on the edge of breathtaking Sydney Harbor with spectacular views of the Sydney Harbor Bridge and Opera House, The Rocks boasts an array of attractions, from historic architecture and intimate cobblestoned laneways to bustling markets, busy restaurants, and stylish modern bars. Visitors can enjoy guided educational tours through the gentrified neighborhood, which showcases its rich and fascinating heritage.

4. Sydney Harbor

blue mountains sydney
Instagram @kedubesaustralia

Home to one of the world’s most famous landmarks, the Sydney Harbor is not only the gateway to the city, but it is also the center for a variety of land and water-based activities that are synonymous with the capital city. Located in Sydney New South Wales and is in close proximity to most of the transportation facilities. The harbor bustles with locals and visitors enjoying the water from ferries, yachts, and kayaks,... The harbor, surrounded by miles of pristine shoreline, historic sites, and national parks, is home to an array of restaurants, cafés, and bars providing a vibrant nightlife and entertainment. Enjoy scenic ferry cruises, relax on a chartered yacht, or visit one of the islands in the harbor, including Fort Denison, Goat, or Cockatoo Islands. Check out Sydney Harbor dinner cruise

5. Sydney Harbor Bridge

where to go in sydney
Instagram @charlieasamson

Sydney Harbor bridge is also known as The Coat hanger and is the world's largest steel arch bridge. It is also one of the iconic symbols of Australia. The bridge carries eight vehicle lanes, two train lines, footway and a cycleway too. The bridge helps in connecting the Sydney central business district and the North Shore. For tourists, it is great to get along to different famous places from here. The place looks beautiful and the scenery is just amazing overlooking the waters. The bridge and the river together look more beautiful and captivating. Check out Sydney Harbor Bridge climbing tour

6. Queen Victoria Building

where to go in sydney
Instagram @kh_jesse0626

The Queen Victoria Building is a late nineteenth-century building in the central business district of Sydney that is home to a variety of businesses, shops, and restaurants. It was built as a monument to the long-reigning monarch and later became a marketplace, which still stands today. The exquisitely restored building consists of four main shopping floors, which are naturally lit through the stained glass windows of a mighty center dome. The building features magnificent design details such as intricate tiled floors, arches, balustrades, and pillars. The northern end, which was previously a beautiful Grand Ballroom, is now a popular tearoom.

7. Circular Quay

attractions in sydney
Instagram @josephiliadis

Circular Quay is one of the most famous harbors in Australia. Many types of community celebrations take place here so you can be here during such times to make the most out of the place. It is located at the central business district of Sydney Cove. The location is precisely between the Bennelong point and The Rocks. There are great transportation facilities including ferry quays, bus stops, and train stations. This harbor is among the favorite tourist attractions in Sydney and people who are on a travel to Sydney definitely visit here. One of the most fascinating or strange thing about the place is that despite circle in its name, it is square in shape. You will get a spectacular view from the Cove in this quay.

8. Susannah Place Museum

attractions in sydney
Instagram @josephiliadis

Susannah Place Museum is a historic museum which was built in the year 1844. The architecture of the four terrace house is something which will take you back in time. The museum stands as a sign of all the working class people in the locality. A few things were recently repaired in the museum so that it stays stable to be visited by tourists. Located in The Rocks, Sydney. Getting to the place is quite easy as you can get many public transportation facilities heading to the museum. Tourists mostly visit the place for its architecture and rich heritage. It has been in existence since more than a century back so it's definitely worth a visit.

9. St. Mary's Cathedral

where to go in sydney
Instagram @linhlonglanh_

St Mary’s Cathedral is in the center of Sydney. A lot of artists have contributed to St Mary’s Cathedral in their designs in stone and glass thereby creating a special space of solitude in Sydney. The Cathedral is believed to be the most treasured historic building here in Sydney. More importantly, St Mary’s Cathedral is one of the most surprisingly beautiful English styles of gothic churches in the world. William Wilkinson Wardell conceptualized a gothic type structure shaped from the local yellow-block sandstone. The building was finally completed 100 years after Wardell's death. This Cathedral is the representation of the origins of the Catholic Church. Not only Catholics but people irrespective of the religion can make a visit to the St Mary’s Cathedral to gather some inner peace.

10. Royal Botanic Garden

top attractions in sydney
Instagram @b_the.explorer

Situated in the center of Sydney, the Royal Botanic Gardens are one of the largest botanical institutions in the world. Founded in 1816, the gardens are open to the public every day of the year and access is free of charge. Spanning 30 hectares (74 acres), the gardens are divided into four sections, namely the Lower Gardens, the Middle Gardens, the Palace Gardens, and the Bennelong precinct. These sections contain smaller gardens and wooded lawn areas, which form a natural amphitheater around a zone called Farm Cove. In the middle of the gardens is the Palm Grove Center, which has a modern visitor’s center, restaurant, and bookshop.

11. Royal National Park

where to go in sydney
Instagram @wandersofaustralia

Royal National Park is the second oldest and protected National Park in the vicinity of South Sydney. In December 2006, the park was added under Australian National Heritage List. It is also known as Nasho or Royals and was established in the year 1879. Royal National Park is located at Sutherland Shire, New South Wales in eastern Australia. Public transports like ferry, tram or trains are easily available to reach the national park. This place has incredible landscapes and beaches and is the best place to explore the beauty of nature. It's also a perfect place for walking, cycling, surfing, picnicking, whale watching or bird watching. Read more: Amazing Day Trips from Sydney

12. King’s Cross

sydney attractions
Instagram @ali_skygrass

King’s Cross is an inner-city locality which is situated 2 km east of Sydney's central business district. It is Sydney's red light district known for its crime and organized mafia. Once infested with numerous illegal establishments and casino it is now a mixed area with residences, nightclubs, restaurants, bars, brothels and strip clubs. The tacky nightclubs, topless waitresses, strip clubs as well as the adult bookshops are still there, but of late some exciting cafes have surfaced on the Kings Cross that is attracting a wide range of the different types of visitors. The Kings Cross is very sleazy at night, during the day it looks a lot less threatening.

13. Macquarie Street

sydney best attractions
Instagram @explore__sydney

Named after Lachlan Macquarie, an early governor, Macquarie street is the eastern street of Sydney's central business district. It was designed as a ceremonial district starting from the Harbor to the vast areas of Hyde Park and the Domain. Lachlan Macquarie, a visionary in his own right, along with convict architect Francis Greenway designed and constructed many of Sydney's magnificent public buildings. It is regarded as the symbol of an informal governmental and public precinct. Macquarie Street was also known as the Harley Street of Sydney. Macquarie Street starts south of Circular Quay, near Opera House to the Parliament House. Circular Quay, Martin Place, and St James provide easy options to reach Macquarie Street.

14. Sydney Ferries

sydney best attractions
Instagram @transportfornsw

What better way to explore Sydney than by ferry! Sydney Ferries provides a range of ferry services to local residents and visitors to Sydney. It offers residents a practical way to commute to work, while guests can enjoy a range of beautiful sightseeing tours to places such as Balmain, Parramatta, Double Bay, Manly, and Cockatoo Island. Sydney Ferries has a fleet of 28 vessels, all of which are wheelchair accessible and provide access to 20 accessible ferry wharves around Sydney Harbor. Ferries have cafés that serve light refreshments and drinks, as well as special lunch and dinner cruises with onboard entertainment.

15. Nicholson Museum

top places in sydney
Instagram: @egyptomania

Located in the historic Main Quadrangle at the University of Sydney, the Nicholson Museum is Australia's oldest University Museum. The museum is open to the general public free of charge, and it houses one of the largest collections of antiquities in the Southern Hemisphere. Sir Charles Nicholson founded the vast collection, which currently contains over 30,000 artifacts of artistic and archeological significance from Egypt, Greece, Italy, Cyprus, and the East. The museum also offers a variety of guided tours, including The Heritage Tour, which explores the beautiful architecture of the Camperdown campus and the iconic Quadrangle and the Modernist Art Tour, which takes a look at the University’s modern art collections.

16. Chinatown

where to go in sydney
Instagram @angelinasun_sst

Located in Haymarket, between Darling Harbor and Central station, it is Australia's largest Chinatown. Showcasing the best of China's food and culture in Sydney's Chinatown, an urban locality in the southern part of Sydney's central business district. An enthralling experience for any food lover, you can get all of your favorite classic Chinese food right here. Chinatown is sure to give you an intensely rewarding experience as here you can immerse yourself in Chinese culture and history and partake in its many festivals that take place throughout the year. It is an absolute family destination with something for everyone. What makes Chinatown extraordinary are the specialty shops wherein one could buy things which would not normally be available elsewhere. You could get art, crafts, tea sets, dinnerware and Chinese herbs.

17. Hyde Park

sydney top places
Instagram: @lisa_zmr

Hyde Park is one of the oldest parks in Australia. It is divided by the Park Street. The southern section of the park has the visitor center, a number of monuments as well as statues, the ANZAC Memorial building and the pool of reflection. On the other hand, the northern section of the Hyde Park features multiple themes gardens like the iconic Nagoya Gardens and Sandringham adorned by the public artworks, Archibald Fountain as well as the monuments and the water features. It has some 16 hectares of the wide open space in the heart of the central Sydney. There is no shortage of the lush green grass here. So, it is an ideal spot for a picnic.

18. Australian National Maritime Museum

sydney top places
Instagram @patrick_guimonet

The Australian National Maritime Museum is dedicated to educating the public about the nation’s rich maritime history, which it preserves through its distinguished collections, exhibitions, and world-renowned research. The museum presents one of the largest floating historical vessel collections in the world, which includes vessels such as the former Navy destroyer HMAS Vampire. Visitors can enjoy guided tours of the vessels and explore the once hallowed life at sea. The museum also offers an array of educational workshops and hands-on sessions for students and learners run by experienced teacher guides.

19. Westfield Sydney

sydney top places
Instagram @bdbdbd3210

Tourists love shopping and Westfield is the best shopping center present in Sydney. The place was opened in 2010 and the rush never seems to slow down. The place went through a huge redevelopment process and after that, there have been many new stores opened up. Westfield is located right below the Sydney Tower in the Sydney central business district. It is also very near to the Westfield Sydney Central Plaza so getting around other famous places is hassle-free as well. There are more than 361 stores and services in the shopping center so you can purchase from a wide range of collections here. You will also find some of the high-end luxury stores like Guess, Esprit, and Cue in the place. The Pit Street Mall is also here, which is supposedly one of the most expensive shopping streets in the world.

20. Centennial Parklands

sydney top places
Instagram @waltherben

Affectionately known as “the lungs of the city,” Centennial Parklands is one of the worlds leading public parklands, providing an urban green space for people to enjoy nature and the outdoors. Located approximately 5 km southeast of Sydney’s central business district, Centennial Park is reminiscent of a grand European park, featuring formal gardens surrounded by tree-lined avenues, beautifully restored heritage buildings, and shimmering ponds, statues, sculptures, and sporting fields. Walkers, joggers, rollerbladers, and cyclists, frequent the park, as well as horse riders and their charges, all of whom make use of the beautiful natural landscapes. The park is filled with unique and diverse flora and fauna, including Port Jackson figs and Holm oaks. You will also find a restaurant, café, and kiosk that serve refreshments and light meals, an education and exhibition space, and a modern visitor’s center.

21. Sydney Tower

disney top attractions
Instagram @rigaud.frederic

Sydney Tower is one of the tallest structure and the second tallest observation tower in the southern hemisphere. The tower is 1,014 feet high and among the most eye-catching places of tourist attraction. It is also known as Sydney Tower Eye, AMP Tower, Westfield Centre point Tower or Sydney Sky tower. Sydney Tower is located in the new Westfield shopping center at the corner of the Pitt Street and Market Street. To reach here, the quickest and easy way is to use public transport. magnificent view of the whole of Sydney from the tower eye is one of the most spectacular views one will cherish in their visit here. At the base of the tower, there is a shopping center. It also has restaurants, coffee lounge with the revolving view of the Sydney Skyline. Check out Sydney Tower admission ticket

22. Sydney Observatory

top places in sydney
Instagram @maasmuseum

Situated on top of Observatory Hill in the center of Sydney, the Sydney Observatory is a working museum where visitors can observe the stars and planets in the evenings. Built in 1858, the observatory was once a fort that only later evolved into an observatory. Today, it is one of the most significant sites in the nation’s scientific history. Visitors can view the night sky through a state-of-the-art Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope or a historic refractor telescope from the late 1800s. The observatory also features a virtual reality 3-D space theater, digital planetarium, and a range of exhibitions about the history of Sydney Observatory, astronomy, and meteorology. Guided tours in science, archeology, and weather measuring can be booked for school and community groups.

23. Wild Life Sydney Zoo

top places in sydney
Instagram @jenece_xo

The Wild Life Sydney Zoo is a wildlife park located next to the Sea Life Aquarium on Darling Harbor. The award-winning zoo is designed to recreate the iconic habitats of Australia across 10 different zones, showcasing Australia's most incredible and iconic animals. You can see Tasmanian Devils in Devil's Den Gumtree Valley, which is filled with koalas. Kakadu Gorge, on the other hand, is packed with crocodiles. The park features indoor and outdoor exhibits and is open year-round. It also hosts a range of conservation events throughout the year and offers educational resources, classes, and workshops for school groups.

24. Taronga Zoo

top places in sydney
Instagram @soooophie_w

Taronga Zoo is one of the best zoological parks in Sydney. The zoo was opened on 7th October 1916 and is among the best places to explore different types of wild animals. Taronga Zoo is located on the shores of Sydney Harbor in the suburb of Mosman. To reach the zoo, you can use public transport which is easily available or private vehicles if you please. Taronga Zoo has different animal species nearly about 340 species and more than 2600 individual animals. You can also hire the venue to organize any functions or events with a 180 degree and peaceful view of the Sydney harbor making those events truly memorable. Check out Taronga Zoo online ticket

25. Collaroy Beach

top places in sydney
Instagram @meganmareeb

A suburb in northern Sydney, it is 22 km north-east of Sydney's central business district. It is among the northern beaches' region. Famous for its great swimming conditions, amateurs, as well as seasoned players, will not hesitate to make this their playground. This beach provides the perfect waves for all skill levels. Advanced surfers can move on to crazy wave magnets like Narrabeen and long reef. It has a lot of amenities to complement your wave time, like the picnic area and Rock paths. There is also a surf shop, a restaurant and a cinema for fun seekers.