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Sydney is a vibrant city known for its yacht-studded harbor, superb beaches and the
iconic Opera House with its towering sail structure. Once a British colony of exiled convicts,
Sydney has grown into Australia's most diverse and cosmopolitan city with an exciting food, arts
and entertainment scene. Sydney has been named as the best city in Australia for quality of life
and the 10th best in the world, in a global survey examining 450 cities.
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On this adrenalin-pumping guided tour over the arch, you’ll hear stories about the history
of the bridge and the city as you take in the amazing views over Sydney harbour. It
doesn’t come cheap, but the price includes all safety equipment and photos taken by the
guide (cameras are not permitted). Joining the tour is the only way to navigate the arch,
but if you're keen to explore the bridge independently there's a footpath parallel to the
road that's free. You could also pay a small fee and do the 200-step climb up the Pylon
Lookout, which also offers a fabulous bird's eye view of the harbour. Sydney's Opera
House is an architectural masterpiece that’s become one of the world’s most recognisable
landmarks. Among the 40 shows a week performed here, you can choose from live music
concerts, ballet, modern dance, opera, symphony orchestras and plays. The Opera House
not only attracts talents from around the world but is home to seven resident performing
arts companies including Opera Australia and the Australian Ballet.
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Just 8 km from Sydney's city centre, Bondi Beach is a busy stretch of beautiful golden
sands. While you could easily spend a lazy day here relaxing on the sands, it’s also a
great place to surf. Experienced surfers will find challenging waves at South Bondi, while
newbies to the sport could take lessons from one of the surfing schools lining the beach.
Board rental is also available, and when it's time for a break, just stop in at one of the
beachside cafes or wander to Gould Street for a bit of shopping.
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There are plenty of guided boat trips around Sydney's coastline, but a cheap and easy way
to do it is by catching a ride to Manly on the ferry. The 30-minute trip from Circular
Quay to Manly glides under the Harbour Bridge and past the Sydney Opera House,
giving you a close-up view from the water. The sturdy wooden ferry has been operating
this route since 1855, with a newer fast ferry making the trip in less than 20 minutes.
Linger on for at least a few hours to relax in a sea-view café and take a swim at one of
Manly's lovely beaches.
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Sydney has a great range of places to shop, but 2 Victorian-era shopping centres add a
dash of regal beauty to the experience. Find a mix of luxury and affordable fashion
brands at Queen Victoria Building, which has been revived to its 1890s splendour with
intricate stain-glass windows and its original staircase. Go for an elegant break from
shopping with high tea in the QVB Tea Room. The Strand Arcade is a historic glass-
domed landmark just a few blocks away, where Australian designer brands like Aje and
Dion Lee are among its mix of high-end boutique stores, cafes and restaurants.
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Enjoy awe-inspiring views across Sydney and the sea in the 360 Bar and revolving
restaurant. Found near the top of the 300-metre-tall Sydney Tower, the bar is an elegant
space in dark mahogany wrapped with floor-to-ceiling windows to offer a full view of the
spectacular city panorama. One full rotation takes about 80 minutes.
1. The Magic Of Vivid Sydney

One of the most spectacular annual events in Sydney is Vivid Sydney, a festival of lights. Held from May
to June, the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge are turned into light art for visitors and
“Sydneysiders” - a nickname for Sydney locals - to enjoy. The festival also includes illuminated koala
bears attached to tree trunks, stepping stones that light up, and more.

2. Sydney Has More Than 100 Beaches

When it comes to the best beaches around Sydney, it’s hard to know where to begin. Choose from over
100 beaches around the city to enjoy adventurous water sports including surfing, diving, kayaking,
stand-up paddle boarding, and jet-boat rides!

3. One Of The Tallest Steel Arch Bridges In The World

The Sydney Harbour Bridge is one of the longest steel arch bridges in the world, spanning about 1650
feet, which is especially impressive considering it was built in the 1930s. Today, the bridge carries eight
traffic lanes, rail tracks, a pedestrian walkway, a bicycle path, and a set of stairs to the center of the arch.

4. Sydney Is A Multicultural Hub

Sydney is one of the most global cities in the world. Over one-third of its population was born overseas
and around half of Sydney’s citizens are first and second-generation immigrants. The western suburbs
are particularly diverse. For example, in Parramatta - a city that belongs to the Greater Sydney area - 50
percent of its population speaks a language other than English.

5. World-Famous Sydney Opera House

The Sydney Opera House is one of the most well-known buildings in the world. The building was
designed by Jorn Utzon, a Danish architect, and was finally completed in 1973, after sixteen years of
construction, at a cost of over $100 million dollars! This iconic landmark is one of the world’s premier
performing arts venues and it defines the Sydney skyline.

Fun fact: 15,500 light bulbs are changed every year at the Sydney Opera House because of its massive
size!

6. The Iconic Sydney Tower

The Sydney Tower Eye - often referred to by Sydneysiders as Sydney Tower - has been an integral part f
the famous Sydney skyline for the past 30 years. The world-famous Sydney Tower is 1,014 feet tall and
the second-highest observation tower in the Southern hemisphere. On top of this mesmerizing structure
is a revolving restaurant, making it an exhilarating place to dine.

7. Sydney Is The First Major City To See The New Year

Another fun fact about Sydney is that due to its location near the International Date Line, Sydney is
always the first major city in the world to see in the New Year. Sydney is famous for its incredible New
Year’s fireworks show that lights up the night and lasts for 85 minutes. In fact, it’s so well-known that
over a billion people across the globe gather around their televisions each year to watch it.
8. Biggest Natural Harbor In The World

Sydney Harbour is also the world’s largest natural harbor. The harbor has a single entrance and covers
an area of 11 miles. Due to its size, many animals and ocean creatures call Sydney Harbour home,
including grey nurse sharks, weedy seadragons, Australian fur seals, bottlenose dolphins, and green sea
turtles.

9. Why Are The Blue Mountains Blue?

Did you know that The Blue Mountains got its name because of the blue color it takes on when viewed
from a distance? The blue tinge of the Blue Mountains is caused by the dispersion of volatile oils
released by the eucalyptus trees that cover the mountains. These oils combined with light, dust, and
water vapor create the blue hue and the mountains’ distinct color. A visit to the Blue Mountains also lets
you explore waterfalls, valleys, and rugged sandstone tablelands.

10. The Largest Sculpture Exhibition

“Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi" was established in 1997 and is the world’s largest free, public sculpture
exhibition with over 100 sculptures by artists from across the world. In late October, the city of Sydney
transforms the spectacular 1.2-mile Bondi beach to Coogee walk into a temporary sculpture park for all
to enjoy.

Sydney is the first stop on many Australian itineraries, and for good reasons. It’s an inviting blend of
exhilarating and easygoing activities, and the excitement of the city is balanced with beautiful beaches.
Sydney, Australia has been blessed with many spectacular landmarks including its scenery and frequent
sunny days — all of which make it one of the most exciting cities on Earth.

From the iconic Opera House to the majestic Harbour Bridge, there are lots of reasons to visit
Sydney. Guest ReservationsTM is here to help you find the best stays for your adventure. As inspiration,
check out the top hotel destinations in Sydney, Australia.

Sydney Is The 12th Most Expensive City in the World.

Consistently ranked as one of the world’s most expensive cities, real estate in Sydney averages a
staggering US$8,717 per square meter. Point Piper in Sydney’s east is the 9th most expensive street
globally, costing an average of US$16,840 per square meter. Houses in this area cost around US$5.53
million each. Drive down one of these luxurious streets to get a feel for how the wealthiest people in
Australia live.