Things
to do in the City of Sydney
The top
attractions of the City of Sydney
The City
of Sydney's top attractions
We have
extracted the best bits from the list of Sydney's Top 100 (plus)
things to do that refer to the City of Sydney. If you are really
interested in all of Sydney, including her beaches, National Parks
and other key attractions, you should start with the top things
to do in Sydney and just work your way through the list:
Sydney Opera House and
Sydney Harbour Bridge
The first time you actually
see the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge with your own
eyes you may find that you don't pay much attention to to anything
else. I know I didn't. The Sydney Tower is the most likely exception
as it is kind of out there - or rather up there. 
Sydney Tower and the
Rocks
Sydney Tower offers great
views across the roof tops and out to the harbour. The Rocks offers
sandstone and convict history whilst the city rocks to variety of
quality bars, pubs and clubs.
Darling Harbour, Kings
Cross and Oxford Street
Darling Harbour is a
tourist mecca and a locals playground. Kings Cross and Oxford Street
offer seedier delights and some interesting sights.
33
Sydney Tower
Previous known as AMP
Tower and Centrepoint. Pay your fee, get in the lift and wander
around the observation deck. The view is partially obscured by neighbouring
high rise office blocks - but it's still pretty impressive.
Sky Walk
One of Sydney's latest
attractions. Comparable to the Harbour Bridge
Climb only higher up, shorter duration, cheaper, less fuss and
not so far to walk.
42 Ghost Tours
Even after death no-one
wants to leave Sydney:
The Rocks - Rocks
Ghost Tour
45 Sydney Festival
The Sydney Festival has
lost a little of its appeal as it has become more commercial but
the festival still offers a smorgasbord of events and activities,
some of which are still free! Scrutinise their website and pick
out the stuff you're interested in. Sydney is a great place to be
at any time of year but in summer it shines.
Sydney
Festival
60
Powerhouse Museum
The Powerhouse is a science
and design museum with interactive exhibits. The Powerhouse Museum
is family friendly, educational, interesting and potentially fun!
Located in Darling Harbour and accessible by Monorail, the Powerhouse
Museum is an excellent thing to do if the weather is a little unfriendly.
Powerhouse
Museum - more
63 Sightseeing
Sydney
There are quite a few
different options when it comes to sightseeing around Sydney. You
need to pick the option that best suits you. Many of the tour buses
allow you some flexibility as to what to see. Some even allow you
to get on and off whenever you want – just wait until the
bus has stopped moving
. Take your iPOD / personal stereo in case you hate the commentary
and get off when ever you find yourself somewhere you like the look
of. If you find yourself getting off a lot that's ok - there's always
tomorrow.
Sightseeing
in Sydney
65 Harbour View Hotel
- Sydney
The Harbour View Hotel
is a pub in the Rocks with a nice close up view of the Sydney Harbour
Bridge. The Harbour View Hotel lunch is very nice, particularly
if someone else is picking up the bill. The Lamb Shanks are recommended
(yum yum).
Harbour
View Hotel - more
67 Sydney Swans (Aussie
Rules Football)
The Sydney Swans roost
in the Sydney Football Stadium east of the city (but fairly close)
and next door to the Entertainment Quarter (Fox Studios). They occasionally
fly around at Homebush. Ideally you'd be taken by a Sydney-sider
who regards 'Aussie Rules' as 'aerial ping-pong' to get maximum
enjoyment.
The
Sydney Swans - more
41 (71) Hyde Park Barracks
Delve into Sydney's dark
convict past at Sydney's Hyde Park Barracks. Nice cafe if you fancy
lunch - ironic, given its history. We have elevated Hyde Park Barracks
up the top 100 things to do list on account of an excellent exhibition
and an awesome lunch. The day always seems to go better after a
good feed (or maybe that's just me).
Hyde
Park Barracks - more
72 Sydney Monorail
The Sydney Monorail is
much aligned and there are even plans to remove it which seems a
shame. I know it doesn't take you to the Sydney Opera House or Circular
Quay but the Sydney Monorail does give you an elevated tour of the
City of Sydney with the minimum of hassle and effort.
Sydney
Monorail - more
71
Imax Theatre
Located at Darling Harbour,
the Imax Theatre has the worlds largest screen (apparently) so don't
sit yourself too close to the front. The movies usually last less
than an hour.
Imax
Theatre - more
77 Art Gallery of New
South Wales
The Art Gallery of New
South Wales is nicely surrounded by parks (Botanical Gardens and
Domain) yet close to the heart of Sydney town. In the recent past
it has been punching above its weight with some major international
exhibitions. Check out the gallery's web site for all the latest.
Art
Gallery of New South Wales - more
78 The Rocks
Visit the rocks for history,
street markets, old buildings (that's around 200 years old) shops
and pubs. Try the Lord Nelson at the ‘wrong end’ (toward
Darlings Harbour – walk down Argyle Street) of the Rocks for
a pint of the Lord Nelson's own brew. The Rocks rocks towards the
end of George Street with the home of the famous Irish pub, The
Mercantile ('The Merc’).
The
Rocks - more
84 The Australian Museum
The Australian museum
is an excellent museum located in Bridge Street in the city. The
Botanical Gardens and Circular Quay are close by if you need to
escape the glass towers that will surround you. The museum is endowed
with a glass cafe to help it fit in with the surrounding architecture.
The
Australian Museum - more
98 Sydney Markets
I sympathise if the idea
of shopping doesn't seem like a top thing to do, but you probably
ought to buy somebody something. Paddy’s Market is said to
be the largest market in Sydney. It is open Thursday through to
Sunday in the Haymarket. There are many other markets of course
including:
The Rocks Market
The Rocks market is more
arts, craft and expensive. The Rocks market is smaller, easier to
walk around and there are pubs close at hand to escape into.
Sydney Fish Market
The Sydney Fish Market
open 7am every day. It is a real hot spot in Sydney every Good Friday
as people come from far and wide come to get their supplies for
the day.
Some many markets, so
little time
Alternatively, visit
Glebe Market for a second hand jacket or the more up-market Paddington
(Paddo) Market. You could also try Birkenhead Point for a less touristy
option.
Sydney
Markets - more
101 Tour the Sydney
Cricket Ground
Visit the Sydney Cricket
Ground (SCG) and see the dressing rooms where Australia, the world’s
finest, if not best loved, cricket team prepares to vanquish its
opponents.
Sydney
Cricket Ground - more
103 The Sydney Film
Festival
The Sydney Film Festival
is a wonderful opportunity to see some challenging and interesting
movies. Some might even entertain you!.
Timing is good as, the festival usually runs in June at the start
of winter.
The
Sydney Film Festival - more
Other
Sydney Festivals
105 Museum of Contemporary
Art
You'll find the MCA -
Museum of Contemporary Art, on the west side of Circular Quay, the
end nearest to the Sydney Harbour Bridge. They will provide you
with ear phones for commentary. They also run free tours on occasion.
The new Museum of Contemporary
Art
MCA has been recently
suffered a renovation. The arrangement of boxes next door is actually
part of the museum. Don't worry, you can't see the outside from
the inside. Just focus on the exhibits and you'll be fine. Maybe
the MCA should be renamed the Museum of Art - Contemporary [MAC]
and then have their new boxes painted red and yellow.
Museum
of Contemporary Art
108 Oxford Street, Sydney
Oxford Street has changed
over the years but it still retains a certain something. For the
people watchers amongst you, a walk down Oxford Street can still
be quite interesting. Grab yourself a coffee somewhere and watch
the mostly unsuited world go past.
Oxford
Street, Sydney - more
110 ANZAC Bridge (Madonna's Bra)
Air Zealand have asked
me to let you know that the ANZAC Bridge does NOT span the Tasman
to New Zealand. You'll just have to fly there I'm afraid. Madonna's
Bar is a nice looking bridge linking Sydney's fringe suburbs to
the city. It could use a larger stretch of water to go under it...
ANZAC
Bridge - more
114 Sydney Observatory
The Sydney Observatory
provides us all with the potential for an interesting educational
experience. The Sydney Observatory is a place full of history, yet
it also covers recent explorations of the solar system. Is there
life on Mars? A visit may give you the chance to ask a few questions.
Sydney
Observatory - more
120 Casino – The
Star (ex Star City), Darling Harbour
Apart from lots of pokies
(slot machines), cards, roulette and the rest, the Star Casino has
some good theatres, bars, night clubs and shows.
The
Star (Star City Casino) - more
124 Cook and Phillip
Park
Cook and Phillip Park
lies underneath Hyde Park. It contains a pool, fitness equipment
and art work. If you are staying in the middle of town, or work
in the city, this is an excellent place to lose a few calories.
If you prefer to exercise outdoors, you can always jog around Hyde
Park. If you wish to venture further, The Domain lies ‘hidden’
to the North East behind St
Mary’s Cathedral.
Cook
and Phillip Park - more
125 Balmain
There is a lot to be
said for Balmain. Located close to Darling Harbour and the City
of Sydney, Balmain is blessed with its own variety of pubs, cafes,
narrow side streets and ‘water views’. Balmain is only
a brief ferry ride from Circular Quay and Darling Harbour. Get off
at Darling Street wharf and catch the bus or puff the ten minute
walk up the hill.
Balmain
- more
127 Queen Victoria Building
(QVB)
It is said of
the Queen Victoria Building (QVB) that the prices rise as
you ascend the building. The QVB is a well
travelled pedestrian thoroughfare from Town Hall Train Station to
heart of Pitt Street in the city. On your way have a look at the
clock on the top floor and the Statue of Queen Victoria, ruling
over the entrance nearest to Town Hall. The statue would not be
out of place in Trafalgar Square in London.
Queen
Victoria Building - more
128 Sydney Town Hall
I suspect
more Sydney-siders have sat or stood on the steps outside Sydney's
Town Hall than have actually been in it (it's a popular meeting
point). This is a shame really as there is quite a bit to see. It
is a working building (although some might dispute this) so you
can't expect unfettered access, but there are guided tours.
Sydney
Town Hall - more
129 Marble Bar
Marble
Bar is a very attractive marble bar. In the past, it has
been lit up by candle light in honour of Earth Hour - a sight to
be seen. The Marble Bar hosts live music and generally caters for
an ‘older’ clientele. Nice spot for a quiet drink before
the place livens up. You'll find the Marble Bar in the bowls of
the Hilton Hotel in Pitt Street.
158 (130) The Marble
Commonwealth Bank – Martin Place
If enjoyed your visit
to the Marble Bar, get some cash out at a marble bank. Visit the
Commonwealth Bank, situated on the corner of Castlereagh Street
and Martin Place. If you have to visit a bank why not a marble one
(now that's where my fees go!). It’s a lovely old building,
but it is not suppose to be a tourist attraction, so please ask
first if you want to take a photo.
More top things to do
in Sydney
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100 Things To Do In Sydney, Australia 
