CBD and The Rocks
First-timers and sightseeingThe Opera House, the bridge, Circular Quay ferries and the oldest streets.
Australia city guide
Sydney Travel Guide
Sydney is where most Australia trips start, and it earns the hype: a harbour you cross by public ferry, an ocean coastline with a free cliff walk between beaches, and the Blue Mountains two hours inland. It's expensive, so the trick is using what's free, which is most of the good stuff.
60
Hostels in the city
8.2
Average, from 63,814 reviews
About 6 km
Bondi to Coogee coastal walk
From AU$32
Dorm beds on Hostelworld
60
Hostels on Hostelworld
Sydney at a glance
Sydney is built around one of the world's great natural harbours, and the water shapes everything. The Opera House and the Harbour Bridge sit at Circular Quay, ferries fan out from there to Manly, Taronga Zoo and the harbour beaches, and the Pacific coast is a string of surf beaches joined by cliff-top walks.
The city is big and spread out. The CBD and The Rocks are the historic centre, Kings Cross and Potts Point the old backpacker quarter, Newtown and Surry Hills the inner-west and inner-south neighbourhoods for food and bars, and Bondi, Coogee and Manly the beach suburbs where a lot of travellers end up staying.
Most people arrive in Sydney jet-lagged and spend their first week here sorting out a phone, a bank account and a tax file number if they're on a working holiday visa. That makes it the easiest city in Australia to land in, and the hostels are set up for it.
It's also the most expensive. Dorms cost more than anywhere else on the east coast, and a beer in a bar is a real decision. But the harbour, the coastal walks, the beaches and the views cost nothing.
Four or five days covers the harbour, the coast and a day in the Blue Mountains. Many people stay months.
Where to stay in Sydney
Stay near Central or in Kings Cross for transport and nightlife, or at Bondi or Coogee for the beach. Newtown suits a longer stay with a local feel.
Kings Cross and Potts Point
Nightlife and backpackersThe classic backpacker quarter, with hostels and bars, a short walk from the centre.
Bondi
Beach lifeSurf beach, the coastal walk and cafés, about 25 minutes by bus.
Coogee
Quieter beach baseBeach suburb at the end of the coastal walk, with ocean pools and pubs.
Newtown
Food and longer staysInner-west neighbourhood with pubs, live music and cheap Thai food.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 12 top-rated hostels. Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
The harbour, the coast and a ferry ride
Start at Circular Quay. The Opera House and the Harbour Bridge are the postcard, and you can walk around both for free. The Opera House runs guided tours, and the BridgeClimb takes you over the top of the bridge, though it is one of the most expensive things to do in the city. Walking across the bridge's pedestrian path costs nothing and the view is almost as good.
Take the public ferry to Manly. It's a commuter service, priced like a bus, and it passes the Opera House, the harbour headlands and the open sea at the heads. Manly has a surf beach, a corso of cafés and a walk to Shelly Beach.
The Bondi to Coogee coastal walk is the classic. It's about 6 km of cliff path past Tamarama, Bronte and Clovelly, with ocean pools along the way. Start early in summer, before the heat.
The Royal Botanic Garden and Mrs Macquarie's Chair give the best free view of the Opera House and the bridge together. The Rocks, beside the bridge, is the oldest part of the city, with laneways, pubs and a weekend market.
The Art Gallery of New South Wales and the Museum of Contemporary Art are free to enter.
Day trips go to the Blue Mountains, two hours west by train, for the Three Sisters, bushwalks and lookouts, and to the Royal National Park, south of the city, for coastal walking.
More on things to do in Sydney
Free things
Sydney for free (or nearly)
Sydney is expensive, but most of what makes it great is free.
The Bondi to Coogee coastal walk, the beaches, the ocean pools and the harbour foreshore cost nothing.
Walk across the Harbour Bridge on the pedestrian path, then around the Opera House and through the Royal Botanic Garden to Mrs Macquarie's Chair.
The Art Gallery of New South Wales and the Museum of Contemporary Art are free.
The ferry to Manly costs the same as a bus fare and is one of the best harbour trips you can take.
Hostels run free walking tours, barbecues and beach days, and the weekend markets at The Rocks and Glebe are free to browse.
More on free things in Sydney
Food and drink
Brunch, Asian food and a pub schnitzel
Sydney eats out a lot, and brunch is close to a religion: smashed avocado, eggs and very good flat whites in every neighbourhood café.
The best-value food is Asian. Chinatown and Haymarket, near Central, have Chinese, Thai, Malaysian, Korean and Japanese restaurants and food courts where a filling meal costs AU$15 to AU$20. Newtown and Marrickville add Thai and Vietnamese.
Pubs serve schnitzel, burgers and parmigiana, often with cheap weekday specials.
Fish and chips on the beach at Bondi or Manly is the classic.
Supermarkets (Coles and Woolworths) and hostel kitchens are how most backpackers keep food costs down.
A beer in a bar costs AU$10 to AU$14. Tap water is safe to drink.
More on food and drink in Sydney
Nightlife
Rooftops, pubs and Kings Cross
Sydney's nightlife is spread across neighbourhoods. Kings Cross and Potts Point are the old backpacker party area, with hostel bars and clubs. Newtown has pubs, live music and a more alternative crowd. Surry Hills and Darlinghurst have cocktail bars and small venues. The Rocks has historic pubs.
Rooftop bars in the CBD give harbour views, at a price.
Hostel bars and pub crawls are the cheapest way to go out, and many hostels have their own bar or run nights out.
Drinks are expensive, so most backpackers start at the hostel.
Late-night trains and buses run, and taxis and ride-hailing are easy. Watch your drinks and stick with friends.
Getting around
Getting to and around Sydney
Sydney Airport is about 10 km south of the centre. The airport train is quickest but charges a station access fee on top of the fare, so the bus is cheaper if you are on a budget.
Public transport uses the Opal system. Tap on and off with a contactless bank card or an Opal card on trains, buses, ferries and light rail. Fares are capped daily and weekly.
Ferries from Circular Quay go to Manly, Taronga Zoo, Watsons Bay and around the harbour.
Trains run to the Blue Mountains from Central.
For the east coast, Greyhound buses and domestic flights leave for Byron Bay, Brisbane and Cairns, and many travellers buy a camper van here.
More on getting around in Sydney
Costs
What Sydney costs
Sydney is the most expensive city in Australia for travellers. Hostelworld lists dorm beds from about AU$32 at Mad Monkey Coogee Beach and AU$40 to AU$75 at the central hostels, rising in summer.
Food is where you save: cook in the hostel kitchen and shop at Coles or Woolworths. Asian food courts serve meals for AU$15 to AU$20, and a pub meal costs AU$22 to AU$35.
A beer in a bar is AU$10 to AU$14.
Transport fares are capped daily and weekly on Opal.
The coastal walks, beaches, harbour and galleries are free.
Without working, allow around AU$100 to AU$140 a day.
More on costs in Sydney
Safety
Staying safe in Sydney
Sydney is a safe city. Petty theft happens at beaches and in nightlife areas, so don't leave your things unattended on the sand.
The ocean is the real danger. Rip currents drown swimmers every year. Swim only between the red and yellow flags on patrolled beaches, and use the ocean pools if you're not a strong swimmer.
The sun is extreme. Wear sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses, and avoid the midday sun in summer.
On the coastal walks, stay on the path and away from cliff edges and rock platforms, where waves can knock people into the sea.
At night, watch your drinks in bars and stick with friends. Kings Cross is busy and generally safe, but take the usual care.
Day trips from Sydney
Sydney has mountains, national parks and beaches within a train or ferry ride.
Blue Mountains
The Three Sisters, lookouts and bushwalks along the escarpment.
Manly
Surf beach, Shelly Beach and the walk to North Head.
Royal National Park
Coastal walks, beaches and waterfalls south of the city.
Palm Beach and the northern beaches
A string of surf beaches ending at the Barrenjoey lighthouse.
What's on
What's on in Sydney
Sydney's calendar runs from New Year's Eve fireworks over the harbour to Vivid's winter light festival.
Staff pick
31 December
Sydney New Year’s Eve
Ring in the new year with style and spectacle at Sydney New Year’s Eve, one of the world’s most iconic celebrations. From dazzling fireworks…
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28 Nov – 24 Dec
Martin Place Christmas Markets
Experience the festive spirit in Sydney’s city center at the Martin Place Christmas Markets, where twinkling lights and holiday cheer set the scene for…
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16–25 December
Christmas at the Cathedral Marketplace
Christmas at the Cathedral Marketplace in Sydney transforms the forecourt of the iconic cathedral into a festive wonderland each evening, featuring a dazzling light…
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16–25 December
Christmas at the Cathedral
Celebrate the festive season in Sydney as the area in front of the iconic St Mary’s Cathedral transforms into a lively Christmas festival. Enjoy…
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26 December
Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race
The Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race is a legendary ocean race that begins in the iconic Sydney Harbour, drawing tens of thousands of spectators…
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7–25 January
Sydney Festival
Embracing the art of summer for over 25 years, Sydney Festival is a city-wide celebration of culture, creativity and the questioning mind. From the…
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22–31 October
Sydney International Women’s Jazz Festival
The Sydney International Women’s Jazz Festival in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, is a premier celebration of women and gender-diverse artists in jazz and…
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31 October
Oktoberfest in the Gardens
Sydney's sprawling Domain transforms into a Bavarian beer garden for this massive Oktoberfest celebration. You'll find authentic German biers, wines, cider, and food stalls…
Hostels
Hostels in Sydney
Sydney has around 60 hostels on Hostelworld, from Kings Cross party hostels to quiet beach houses at Coogee and Bondi.
Harbour views
YHA Sydney Harbour
Rated 9.6 from 1,797 reviews, in The Rocks next to the bridge, with a rooftop looking over the Opera House. Dorms from about AU$74.
Beach base
Mad Monkey Coogee Beach
Rated 9.5 from 1,144 reviews, at the end of the coastal walk, with dorms from about AU$32.
Near Central
Sydney Central Inn
Rated 10 from 185 reviews, about 1.4 km from the centre and close to Central station, with dorms from about AU$42.
Lord Wolseley
Rooms from AUD 75 a night
See dates and book
Cambridge Lodge Budget Hostel
Dorms from AUD 56 a night
See dates and book
Sydney Central Inn
Dorms from AUD 47 a night
See dates and book
Stoke Beach House
Dorms from AUD 65 a night
See dates and book
Sustainable
YHA Sydney Harbour
Dorms from AUD 73 a night
See dates and book
Mad Monkey East Side
Dorms from AUD 5 a night
See dates and book
Mad Monkey Bayswater
Dorms from AUD 39 a night
See dates and book
Mad Monkey Kings Cross
Dorms from AUD 46 a night
See dates and book
Coogee Beach House
Dorms from AUD 28 a night
See dates and book
Sustainable
Mad Monkey Coogee Beach
Dorms from AUD 32 a night
See dates and book
Manly Bunkhouse
Dorms from AUD 68 a night
See dates and book
Tequila Sunrise Hostel Sydney
Dorms from AUD 69 a night
See dates and book
When to go to Sydney
Sydney has mild winters and warm summers, with highs from 17°C in July to 26°C in January. September to November and March to May are the best months. December to February is hot, busy and the beach season.
Jan
Hot; beach season; Sydney Festival
Feb
Hot; Mardi Gras (Feb or Mar)
Mar
Warm and settled
Apr
Mild; Easter
May
Mild; Vivid begins
Jun
Cool; Vivid light festival
Jul
Coolest month
Aug
Cool; City2Surf
Sep
Spring; warming up
Oct
Warm; Sculpture by the Sea
Nov
Warm; beaches filling
Dec
Hot; New Year's Eve fireworks
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average daily highs from weather2travel's Sydney climate data. Crowd levels are our rough guide.
How much does Sydney cost per day?
Pick a style and a number of nights for a rough total. Per day, for one person, in Australian dollars.
Estimates. Beds are based on Hostelworld prices in October 2026, converted from US dollars. Day trips and BridgeClimb sit outside these figures.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Sydney FAQs
Prices and timetables change. Check before you travel.
Where should backpackers stay in Sydney?
Near Central or in Kings Cross for transport and nightlife, or at Bondi or Coogee for the beach. Newtown suits longer stays.
How do I get from Sydney Airport to the city?
By train, which is quickest but adds a station access fee, or by bus, which is cheaper. Both take Opal or a contactless bank card.
Is Sydney expensive?
Yes, it's the most expensive city in Australia. Dorms start around AU$32, and a day without working is AU$100 to AU$140. The beaches, walks and harbour are free.
What is the best free thing to do in Sydney?
The Bondi to Coogee coastal walk, then a swim in an ocean pool. The ferry to Manly is cheap and almost as good as a harbour cruise.
Can I visit the Blue Mountains as a day trip?
Yes. Trains from Central take about two hours to Katoomba, for the Three Sisters and the bushwalks.
Is it safe to swim at Sydney's beaches?
On patrolled beaches between the red and yellow flags, yes. Rip currents are strong, so never swim outside the flags.
How many days do you need in Sydney?
Four to five days for the harbour, the coast and the Blue Mountains.
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