Its most famous tourist attractions include the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge. Whether you are a party animal that thrives best in night life or are laidback Sydney is a city that will accommodate you and meet your holiday needs in a great manner. The culture, history, art, wildlife, flora and fauna of Sydney will keep you captivated from the day you land in Sydney to the day you leave this great city.

Some of the places that make Sydney a city you should purpose to visit are:

Harbour Bridge

This is the landmark that identified Sydney. You see that bridge anywhere you think of Sydney. Sydney would not be Sydney without this famous bridge. Ensure that you get to the top of this bridge. Kayaking under this bridge is also an experience you will never forget.

Opera House

The Sydney Opera House is definitely one of the architectural wonders of the world. A tour guide can take you on tour while you learn the stories behind this piece of architecture and engineering. Better still you can buy a ticket for a performance.

Sydney Olympic Park

Sport plays a significant role in the Australian culture and the Sydney Olympic Park houses modern sport venues. This is the home of the Best Games Ever and the 2003 Rugby World Cup. In this park there are loads more to enjoy. You can ride and explore more than 35 kilometers of off road cycle paths around the Olympic venues, Bicentennial Park and along the Parramatta River. You can also take a walking tour around the park that includes entry to the Sydney Olympic Aquatic Centre and the 17th Floor Observation Deck.

Taronga Zoo

In Sydney you will find the Taronga Zoo which is home to more than 2,900 exotic and native species that include rare Western Lowland gorillas, Sumatran tigers, snow leopards, Kodiak bears, chimpanzees, and Asian elephants. This is a great place to bring your kids to see the animal shows like the popular Free Flight Bird Show. This is one experience that will last a lifetime in your memory. You can also buy great items from the zoo and help to the efforts of the Zoo in caring for wildlife and natural world by getting souvenir items.

Sydney Wildlife World

Sydney Wildlife World is a place you will experience Sydney’s in a very personal way. The best time to visit this place is when the animals are active the most. This is usually during feeding time, where you get to see for yourself as large poisonous snakes feed on mice or whatever other prey they have. This may be scary for some who may opt to watch lovely birds feeding on live insects.

Shopping experience

With a mile of style on the Oxford Street in Paddington you have a great reason to go shopping in Sydney. The designer shops in Darlingburst will give you great variety of any local street fashion you may be looking for. For beachwear the way to go is Bondi, the beachwear Mecca. For art pieces and jewelry, the Rocks is the place to pick that. Sydney ensures that all your shopping needs are taken care of. Anything you may want to buy, you will find it in Sydney.

Sports

Surfing and other water sports feel as natural as breathing in Sydney. Don’t be surprised to find many people in Sydney go for sneaky surf in their lunch hour from work. If you are a swimmer  visiting the Olympic Park and take a dip at the North Sydney Olympic pool would be an experience that you would live to remember. A visit to one of the Sydney Harbour baths or beaches, such as Red Leaf or Nielsen Park would be heavenly. Outside the water you can catch a game of rugby or Australian Rules football at Telstra Stadium, and if you’re into road running why not try the City to Surf marathon, a 14k race which takes place in mid-August.

A few yards away is Circular Quay with the famous Sydney Opera House on one side and the Sydney harbour Bridge on the other. You can get here just by walking form the Centerpoint. Across the harbour are the bright lights of Lunar Park where those looking for an adrenalin rush can try some of the rides.

Sydney Observatory is Australia’s oldest observatory and the perfect place for visitors from the northern hemisphere to view the southern skies. This wonderful spectacle was built in 1858. Tourists are able to experience a virtual reality 3-D space theatre and nightly viewings through telescopes of the moon, the planets and some of features of the southern sky. If you have children there are activities to keep them busy as well.

Circular Quay is the Rock area which is the old part of Sydney town with cobbled stone lanes and plenty of pubs and restaurants, is also in the hood. A short walk up from the Rocks brings you to the Sydney Observatory at Watson Road, Observatory Hill the Rocks.

After visiting the observatory and experiencing the Circular quay where you can catch a Sydney ferry around to Darling Harbor. The ferry trip alone is an experience by itself. Arriving at Darling harbor there is an array of activities there to choose from that include more restaurants, more bars, cinemas, Imax Theatre, convention centers and a monorail to take you all around the harbor site.

One little know attraction at night is Sydney’s Centennial Park where Rangers take night tours of the park showing visitors this unique place and the nocturnal animals that can be found there and you get to see them properly. The Centennial Park is very close to Paddington and Oxford Street where there is an array of night clubs and up-market pubs where you can stop by for a drink or two.

Just down the road from Paddington is Moore Park where there are two major sporting stadiums for the sporting fans, The Sydney Cricket Ground and Aussie stadium that host Rugby league and soccer. And right next to the stadiums is the Entertainment Quarter that backs on to Fox Studios and is a popular place for more restaurants, bars and cinemas.

Star City in the Darling Harbour is a place for those folks that are feeling lucky. It offers the choice of 1500 slot machines and 200 gaming tables offering everything from blackjack, roulette and craps to big wheel and pontoon. Other than gambling, Star City offers entertainment at the Lyric and Showroom Theatres, bars and restaurants, hotels and apartments, banqueting and conferencing.

The nightlife in Sydney compares to none other. It’s an experience you don’t want to miss.

There are the beaches that are on the northern side of the city and those that are on the south. On the northern shores the most popular beaches are Vilgola, Mona Vale, Whale Beach, Palm Beach, Avalon, Dee Why, North, Curl Curl, Queenscliff and Manly Beach. On the southern shores, the main beaches are Bondi Beach, Bronte, Coogee, and Cronulla.

When you are in Sydney you are never more than 30minutes drive away from the beach.  They are all accessible via public transport of hired cars.

A peek at some of the popular beaches.

Southern Beaches

Bondi Beach:  Bondi Beach is a national Icon of Australia. It is one of the most famous beaches in the world. During the warm and summer days this is the place to be to explore or to just relax. Bondi Beach is about 1km long, and is located around 7km from Sydney’s Central Business area.

Coogee Beach – A great beach for surfing swimming and fishing and spectacular coastal views. It is located 8km to the south east of Sydney Central Business District, and in the Randwick Area.

Cronulla Beach- Cronulla is also known in aborigine as ‘Place of the Pink Seashells’. It is a beachside area located 26km south of Sydney city centre. It’s found on a peninsula surrounded to the north by Botany Bay, the south by Port Hacking, the west by Gunnamatta Bay, and to the east by Bate Bay.

Bronte Beach –It is also a great beach, which is less populated than Bondi and is popular for surfing as well.  It is located 8km to the east of Sydney. Bronte is about 2.5km south of Bondi Beach.

Northern Beaches

Palm Beach – This is the beach that is famous for filming of the soap opera ‘Home and Away’. It is located 41km to the north of Sydney’s Central Business District, in the Northern Beaches Region. Some of the attractions in Palm Beach include the famous Barranjoey Lighthous. This is a very high-end area and is donned with very luxurious houses.

Whale Beach – This is another spectacular beach which is located 40km north of Sydney.

Avalon Beach – The Avalon area is a vibrant community with plenty to do and see, and has a perfect beach for relaxing and waves for surfing. It is located 35km north of Sydney city centre.

Manly Beach - Manly is a suburb in the north east of Sydney, located 17km from the city centre. Manly Beach has a long stretch of sand on the ocean side, which follows all the way from Queenscliff Beach to North Steyne Beach and down to Manly Beach. There are other rock pools and beaches in the area called Fairy Bower and Shelley Beach.

Sydney boasts of a very vibrant night life. One of the best around the world. There are several clubs and pubs some of which are among the oldest we have in the world. You will also be lost for choice when it comes to the food choices there are in Sydney. From Italian, Indian, Chinese, continental, Mongolian, name it you will find it in Sydney. The modes of transport in Sydney are many. The trains (City Rail), buses, taxi and tram which by the way are very few within the city. There is a monorail as well as an extensive ferry.

Besides the regular sceneries and places such as the zoo, aquarium, botanical gardens, museums, it is in Sydney that you will find the well know Opera House, Harbour Bridge and the AMP Tower. Right within the city there are several attractions that can take you several hours to indulge in

There are other several places that are not necessarily in the city that may interest you.

Nelson Bay

This is one of the most spectacular beaches in Sydney. It is located in the north of the city and offers a great variety of adventure sports including water sports.

Snowy Mountain

This is the place to tour if you happen to be in Sydney between July and September. Skiing is the best sport to indulge in here, and if that is a hobby then the Snowy Mountains is the place for you.

Kangaroo Valley

This is one of the gems of Sydney. It is Australia’s most beautiful valley.  A great place to visit as individuals, with friends or with your family. The variety of things to experience in the kangaroo valley is just unbeaten. It has  great camping sites by the river. You also encounter wildlife. And another interesting fact about Kangaroo Valley is that it has some of the best wineries in Australia.

Tumut

This is another wonderful to visit in Sydney. It is located very close to the Snowy Mountain range. While at Tumut  the place to stay are the wood cabins by the Tumut River.

White sand beaches

There are several fantastic beaches in Sydney located in the south. These beaches from the 7 mile beach to the Cave beach to the Jervis Bay to the Pebbly Beach, the Hymans have some of the whitest sand in the world. The shoal Haven region where all these beaches are located is a must visit when in Sydney.

Wollongong, Illawarra Coast

This is a very beautiful place near Sydney with spectacular scenes and places to visit and easily accessible from the city.

Akuna Bay

This is a very spectacular bay that is a little secluded. Hiring a house boat to experience this bay would be in order. You may opt to float around the bay or if you are more adventurous you may go into the pacific. There are camping grounds close to the shores where you may also stay when tired of the ocean.

Batemans Bay

If fishing is your hobby then this is definitely the place to be. Besides fishing there are other several activities that you can indulge in when at Batemans Bay.

Bondi to Cogee Walk

Locals of Sydney love this place. It is a nature trail that is located very close to the city of Sydney. This trail goes through the coast and cliffs

Jenolan Caves

This is the oldest discovery as far as cave systems are concerned. It is a spectacular view with very beautiful calcite and stalagmite formations.

Some of the annual festivals that take place in Sydney are:

The Sydney Festival

The Sydney is regarded as the premier event of music and culture in Australia, the festival is now in its 32nd year (in year 2009). There are live performances and many events and free performances for children and younger audiences throughout the festival.

Big Day out Sydney

The Big Day out Sydney is an annual event that is part of a music tour showcasing some of the best Australian and International acts, and travels throughout Australia and New Zealand

The Saint Patrick’s Day Parade & Festival Sydney

The Saint Patrick’s Day Parade & Festival is on the feast day of Ireland’s patron saint. Very similar to what they do in Ireland The festival attracts huge numbers each year, and in the past Sydney’s Hyde Park has played host to wide variety of Irish themed acts, from ceili dancing, folk music to a U2 tribute band.

The Sydney Royal Easter Show

The Sydney Royal Easter Show takes place at the Sydney Showground and Sydney Olympic Park. There is usually a carnival, animal displays, live music and stage shows. There are a variety of kids’ activities as well as food and wine tasting. It’s an event that the entire family can attend.

The Sydney Home Show Expo

The Sydney Home Show exhibition takes place at the Sydney Convention and Visitor Centre. It is a show that parades different home designs for anyone who would be interested. There is plenty to learn in this event.

The Sydney Writers Festival

The Sydney Writers Festival brings together the best writer not just in Sydney but in the whole country as well. It is annual event.

Sydney Italian Festival

The Sydney Italian Festival is a celebration of Italian culture and food. With the rising Italian population this festival keeps growing bigger and more popular each year. You get a chance to indulge yourself in the Italian art, cultural exhibitions films etc.

Byron Bay Writers Festival

The Byron Bay Writers Festival is a celebration of Australian literary genius and the respective authors. It’s a festival the puts together arts and culture and the best literary writing that Australia has to offer. Traditionally it is held on Byron Beach Bay Resort but this may change in the future.

Sun Herald City 2 Surf Festival

The Sun Herald City 2 Surf Festival is generally a 14 km run from William St in Sydney to Bondi Beach. Its aim is usually to raise funds for charity and has been very successful in the past few years. It is always a popular event in Sydney.

The Blackmores Sydney Running Festival

The Blackmores Sydney Running Festival (Sydney Marathon) is Australia’s biggest running festival. It is also for charity and in 2008, and helped raise over 1 million dollars for various charities.

Sydney World Masters Games

The World Masters Games are held every four years, and has grown to become one of the biggest international sporting events. About 12,000 competitors will take part in the 2009 games. The different sports involved in range from archery and athletics to tennis, soccer, and volleyball.

In Sydney the hostels are clean and offer secure accommodations for much less the cost you would incur in a hotel. It comes with the ambience of a home unlike a hotel room. You also get a chance to meet other tourist who may be sharing the same hostel as you and you have an avenue to make new friends while on holiday, which would otherwise not happen if you were booked in a hotel.

Unlike the stereotype that hostels are for the young single travelers, more and more tourist are discovering just how economical and enjoyable a stay in Sydney can be if they choose to stay in a hotel. Not just the young and single but people preferring hostels cut through all age groups now.

Sydney’s vibrant cultural institutions are more accessible than ever from such facilities. In these hostels you will be expected to furnish your beddings, or use a sleeping bag. Bath and toilet supplies are also on you.

The hostels are of different types which range from semi- private rooms for couples and small families to dormitory-like accommodations for singles. There are a few people who are still very skeptical about hostels but they are a great avenue where you can get to make new friends.

There are plenty of hostels in Sydney to choose from in the different part of the city.  Many of the hostels in Sydney are located near the various waterfront areas; the edge of Moore Park is home to two more hostels. Sydney visitors who prefer accommodations more convenient to local public transportation have a few options as well out in the Newton and Enmore neighborhoods.

It is important to take in mind that most of the hostels in Sydney will prohibit you from smoking from the buildings.

When touring Sydney, you do not have to spend an arm and a leg on your accommodation in an expensive hotel room. Hostels can come in handy to save you a lot of money. Before settling for any hostel however look around for the best deals. Do not forget to consider the location of the hostel as well and whether it will be easy to access other parts of the city from your hostel. Picking one early enough and making an early booking can also help save a dime further,

As you tour different districts in Sydney here are some of the places you can look out for.  In the West there are several Cambodian and Turkish restaurants. In the South you can find Greek and Lebanese restaurants. Looking for Indian, African, Japanese restaurants head to the suburbs in the north. While suburbs in the east host Indonesian and European restaurants.

To get a good view while you are dining the place to be is The Boathouse, or Catalina or The Summit.

For different cuisines the best places are as discussed below.

Vegetarian.

The best vegetarian restaurants are Govinda’s and Harvest. The trendiest culinary enclaves are Bayswater Brasserie Restaurant and Hugo’s.

Sea food

Sydney is a harbor city, which makes seafood quite common in this city. It is served in many restaurants some of which include Fishface, Five Dock Seafoods Café, and Doyles Hotel. Fresh barramundi, snapper, mussels, prawns, calamari and octopus, are always served in these restaurants. Biggest of them all is the Doyles Hotel which is the oldest seafood restaurant in Sydney. The location of the Doyles is spectacular. From the hotel you can have a view of the fantastic Watsons Bay. The Sydney Fish Market ensures that these restaurants have fresh supplies of seafood at all times.

Italian Food

Gelbison and Mezzaluna are the best of the best in serving Italian cuisine. There is also a great Italian influence on Sydney’s fashionable café society. In the Norton Street you will find the best pasta in Sydney in the Leichhardt (otherwise known as Little Italy).

The hippest spots in town also happen to serve the best coffee and these include Bills, Tropicana, Bar Coluzzi and La Buvette.

Traditional foods

For a tourist in Sydney who wants to try out the traditional Australian food can visit some of the places such as Harry’s Café de Wheels for the best meat pies in the city. There is also original aboriginal foods that comprises of kangaroo meat and also available in different venues.  The Australian however had restrictions on the kangaroo meat being served up until 1993 when this was dropped. Since then they have never looked back.  Kangaroo meat has become a must try-out for most tourists and a delight to many.

European Cuisines

The French cuisines have not been left behind in Sydney. Some of the very popular spots are Bistro and Sel et Poivre. Tourists and locals alike indulge themselves in these very delicious cuisines.

The Greeks are also taken care of in Sydney. One such spot is the Mykonos which serves exotic and amazing Greek meals. Eastern Europeans are catered for at Corner 75. Captain Torres is a Spanish restaurant serving different

Asian Cuisines

Japanese food that is unforgettable. If you want the best sushi, sashimi, noodles, tempura and teriyaki the places to look for are Sushi Suma, Shimbashi, Dragonfly and Raw Bar.

Other assorted cuisines from Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, India, Cambodia and Iran can also be found in Sydney. The Malaya, Chinta Ria, Lebanon & Beyond and Blue Elephant are some of the spots where you can get these exotic meals.

Public Transport

Using the bus or train you incur less cost per mile as compared to using the car. There are no parking charges involved whatsoever when you are on public means.  One can take advantage of saving promotional offers, or travel during off peak hours and you will end up saving an extra dime.

The most popular means of transport in Sydney is CityRail which is the train operator. Not only is CityRail popular in Sydney but in the rest of Australia too. There are different tickets to choose from, from one way, to weekly tickets and others are return tickets. They are found in any CityRail station at the ticket office, or at a ticket vending machine.

There is a Monorail which operates a service linking Sydney city with Darling Harbour. This is a means that you can use to reach many tourist attractions and it runs every 3-5 minutes.  Generally the railway network spans from Bondi Junction and goes to as far as the Blue Mountains. The inner city trains run every few minutes and the outer city trains operate every half an hour or so.

You can buy a Super voucher day pass that allows unlimited travel and discounts at some of the best tourist attractions in Sydney, in some restaurants and museums as well. These can be purchased at a monorail station. They can also be found at the Sydney Visitor Centre.

There is another mode of transport is the Light Rail which is the commuter means that is preferred most by people in Sydney. You can access Chinatown, the fish markets and the famous Darling Habour among others along this route. You can access the tickets at the Light Rail stations or at some vending machines that are clearly indicated. The Light Rail is located at the hub of Central Station and many of Sydney’s Inner Western Suburbs.

While in Sydney you can also use the metrobus which is a means by which you can access most of the popular destinations. Whether you want to get to Chinatown or go shopping in Broadway, or Paddy’s market, a bus is a convenient means to get there. The Metrobus operates every 10 minutes at peak times and every 15 minutes during off peak times.

Car Hire

You can opt for a car hire for the benefits that come with having one. The freedom you get when you have your own personal means is great. You are also flexible to visit any place you like and at your chosen time.

The cost of hiring a car depends on different things. The time of car, the duration of the time you will have the car, are some of the factors that will come into play. Others such as when you make the booking and insurance also affect the cost of hiring a car in Sydney. There are many car hire companies be sure to do your research before settling for any one particular deal.

If you are on holiday with a few of your friends, then hiring a car may be a better choice to make than getting on the train. Since the cost is shared it may be cheaper. A timetable does not dictate when you visit where or when to be at any particular place or when to leave

If you have young children then hiring a car maybe the wise thing to do. Getting on a bus with children may be quite a challenge. Even little things such as listening to music of your choice is a big plus that comes with using your own car.

At the end of the day you make the decision of what works best for you. Whichever you choose you can be sure you will still experience Sydney in an unforgettable manner.

The most popular of the sites in Sydney’s CBD are the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House. They are world famous attractions. The view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge against the magnificent backdrop of the harbour is a sight that you will marvel. If you don’t take a photograph in this location while in Sydney, it will be such a waste.

The opera house is one of the greatest performing arts centers in the world. It is built on the picturesque Sydney harbor. This is an architectural wonder. The opera house was opened in 1973 and was designed by a Danish architect to represent the sailing ships of the harbor. The Sydney Opera House is a well known venue for events like orchestras, jazz performances and plays.

If you are a person intrigued by history, some of the places to visit are like the Fort Denison, the Hyde Park Barracks and the Government House. Fort Dennison is located at the Sydney Harbour. It was a major part of the city’s defense system in the 1800s. This is where prisoners were locked up. The hide out for convicts was the Hyde Park Barracks but this came to an end in 1848. The Government House is a classy and unique Gothic Revival style building, a great piece of art as well and a must see when you visit Sydney’s Central Business District.

Along the Sydney Harbour, is the Royal Botanical Gardens which is beautiful lush of green and boasts of over 7500 trees. For flower lovers this is a must visit, with very beautiful rose bushes and many exotic and rare flowers.

The Chinese Garden in Sydney’s CBD is a relaxing getaway from the bustle of the city. It is located near Chinatown.  There are great Chinese cultural sculptures made of stone and pavilions as well.  The Chinese garden has one of the most marvelous gardens in Sydney.

There are different types of art galleries and museums for those that love art. The Art Gallery of New South Wales is a venue for cultural events.

Some of the museums located in the CBD are Australian Museum, the Australian National Maritime Museum and the Justice and Police Museum. Each of these carries great wealth of history.

For a delicious meal there are two great stop-overs on the CBD. One is the AMP Tower Centrepoint where you will great a treat with a delicious meal. From this place you also have an amazing view of the harbour all the way to the Blue Mountains.

Other places you cannot afford to leave behind in Sydney’s CBD are the IMAX Theater and the Sydney Aquarium are also sure to be awesome places to visit with the whole family.  A stop at one of the world’s largest cathedral’s which is the St Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney is also in order.

Sydney is rich in colonial heritage and history being the first site of the European colony in Australia, some of the preserved colonial landmarks are the Hyde Park Barracks and Elizabeth Bay House which recreate the atmosphere of the first white settlers in Australia during the 19th and 20th century. There are housing exhibitions on the Australian history and culture.

Let’s have a closer look at some of the major landmarks in the city of Sydney.

Before we go to the physical attractions, we should appreciate that Sydney itself is much more than a place filled with phenomenal attractions, it is a city rich in art and style. The Chinese Garden of Friendship demonstrates Sydney’s rich multicultural streak. The Sydney Markets are present great variety and it’s a perfect place to experience Sydney’s relaxed atmosphere and buy all you may need. The city centre boasts of some of the best shopping districts. The nightlife in Sydney is electric.

Going to the physical aspects of Sydney, right in the heart of the city is its two landmarks, the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The opera house is one of the greatest performing arts centers in the world. It is built on the picturesque Sydney harbor.  The opera house was opened in 1973 and was designed by a Danish architect to represent the sailing ships of the harbor.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge is a view of great awe, and one of the major landmarks of Sydney.  The Sydney Harbour Bridge was opened in 1932. It has a nickname  ’coathanger’ because of its unique shape. Both of these landmarks run regular tours. To experience this spectacular pieces of art take one of the cruises that run up and down the harbor everyday.

Another streak of Sydney is found in the Bondi Beach. The waters on this beach are crystal clear, and has very white sand. Bondi beach is on a moon shaped bay giving it a spectacular look. This is a second home for surfers and people who enjoy water sports and it a very popular tourist destination. In addition it’s donned with classy restaurants. Bondi Beach is one of the best known beaches in the world and is synonymous with Australian beach culture. It is the closest ocean beach to the city centre. It is big and action packed, so it may not be the best place for a quiet sunbathe and swim. Surfing is also very common here. The beach is carefully delineated, with surfers using the southern end of the beach. The beachfront Campbell Parade is both cosmopolitan and highly commercialized, lined with cafés and shops. Many events take place along in this beach like rollerblading and skateboarding. In September, the Festival of the Winds, Australia’s largest kite festival, takes place here in the beach.

Though a business center, Sydney comes with great relaxation aura making it a great holiday destination.