Sydney Opera House. Jorn Utzon's sail-like masterpiece on Bennelong Point is both a working performing-arts precinct and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Guided tours run daily from 9 am in multiple languages, and catching an evening performance here is one of the great urban experiences on earth.
BridgeClimb Sydney. Since 1998, more than four million climbers have ascended to the 134-metre summit of the Sydney Harbour Bridge for 360-degree views of the harbour, the Opera House and the city skyline. Expert guides share the bridge's engineering and cultural history on the three-hour climb.
Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk. This iconic 6-kilometre clifftop trail winds through Tamarama, Bronte, Clovelly and Gordon's Bay, passing ocean rock pools, the historic Waverley Cemetery and dramatic Pacific headlands. The Grade 2 walk takes two to three hours but rewards lingering all day.
Taronga Zoo Sydney. Perched above the harbour in Mosman and reached by a scenic ferry from Circular Quay, Taronga is home to more than 4,000 animals including koalas, wombats and giraffes, all with the Sydney skyline as a backdrop. Free Flight Bird Shows and daily keeper talks round out a full family day.
Vivid Sydney Festival. Each May-June, Sydney transforms into a canvas for the Southern Hemisphere's largest festival of light, music and ideas. The 6.5-kilometre Vivid Light Walk spans Circular Quay, The Rocks, Barangaroo and Darling Harbour, and the majority of installations are free to experience.
Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Established in 1816 and free to enter year-round, these 30 harbour-front hectares adjoin the Opera House and offer Aboriginal Heritage walks, a free self-guided audio app, and extraordinary views across Farm Cove. It is the oldest scientific institution in Australia.
Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA). Set in a striking Art Deco harbourfront building steps from Circular Quay, the MCA is Australia's leading institution dedicated to the art of now, with free general admission and a collection of more than 4,500 works, over a third by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists.
Manly Ferry & Harbour Crossing. The F1 public ferry from Circular Quay to Manly delivers 30 minutes of world-class harbour scenery — Opera House, Harbour Bridge, Kirribilli and the Heads — for the price of a standard Opal fare. It is widely called the world's best-value harbour cruise.
Top-rated tours & activities in Sydney
Highland Tours: Cabot Trail Excursion Sydney Cape Breton Island — 4.6★ (39 reviews)
Cabot Trail & Baddeck Tour from Sydney Cape Breton Cruise Port — 4.3★ (69 reviews)
Black Wood Tours: Fortress of Louisbourg Tour — 4.2★ (21 reviews)
Cabot Trail Tour for Cruise Excursion Sydney, Cape Breton — 3.9★ (148 reviews)
Blackwood Tours: Highland Village, Baddeck, Bell Museum Tour — 4.7★ (84 reviews)
Sydney City & Ocean Views Tour – 2-Hour Cruise Guest Favorite — 4.0★ (12 reviews)
Blackwood Tours: 6 Hour Cabot Trail Tour in Cape Breton, NS — 3.9★ (36 reviews)
Alexander Graham Bell Museum & Baddeck Tour (Sydney Port Pickup) — 3.8★ (11 reviews)
Highland Tours: Cabot Trail Excursion Sydney Cape Breton Island — 4.6★ (39 reviews)
Cabot Trail & Baddeck Tour from Sydney Cape Breton Cruise Port — 4.3★ (69 reviews)
Black Wood Tours: Fortress of Louisbourg Tour — 4.2★ (21 reviews)
Cabot Trail Tour for Cruise Excursion Sydney, Cape Breton — 3.9★ (148 reviews)
Blackwood Tours: Highland Village, Baddeck, Bell Museum Tour — 4.7★ (84 reviews)
Sydney City & Ocean Views Tour – 2-Hour Cruise Guest Favorite — 4.0★ (12 reviews)
Blackwood Tours: 6 Hour Cabot Trail Tour in Cape Breton, NS — 3.9★ (36 reviews)
Alexander Graham Bell Museum & Baddeck Tour (Sydney Port Pickup) — 3.8★ (11 reviews)