Sydney Hotels

No other place conjures up images of a cosmopolitan city by the big blue sea like Sydney. Whenever people think of it, images of koalas, kangaroos, and surfing pop up in someone’s mind. It’s incomparable because of the way it blended in with its surroundings, the way nature is simply at your doorstep a few feet away. People come here to experience this special thing about Sydney — a lively city that is also a stone’s throw away from nature.

How to Go

Traveling by air is the most common way to get to Sydney if you’re coming from abroad. Your first stop when you arrive would most likely be Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport, the busiest airport in Australia. It’s 25 minutes by car if the traffic is light on that day. To reach the city, you can take the train which zips through traffic in 12 minutes. Shuttle services are available once you exit the arrivals gate. The buses may be a bit of a wait since they operate at a timetabled service, but it will be helpful if you’re staying in certain areas.

Getting Around

Public transport in Sydney is easy to use. Via the Opal Card, you can get on and get off different modes easily. You can use it on ferries, trains, buses, and light rail — with discounts to boot to. The city is extremely pedestrian--friendly though because of how compact it is compared to international standards.

Neighborhoods are best explored on foot and it is the best way to familiarize yourself with your surroundings. You’ll be able to find more spots on the ground rather than zipping through the city when you do this.

Top Things to Do

Whenever people think of Sydney it’s always of people lounging on the beach or surfing. They’re not wrong. Minutes away from the city, Bondi Beach is abuzz with surfers, cafes, and restaurants. Hanging out at Bondi Beach, it’s understandable why this is one of the most iconic spots in the city. You can also trek here through the Bondi to Coogee coastal trail. You’ll be able to enjoy the amazing cliffs and the vast sea from here. The Bondi Icebergs Pool is an amazing spot in the city too.

Taking a ferry tour around the city also brings you up-close and personal with the Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House. The Harbour Bridge, also known as The Coathanger, dates back to the 1930s. You can enjoy the view of the bridge from a boat or near the opera house. But it would also be fun to walk or cycle through. If you’re more of an adrenaline junkie, then doing a bridge climb is your opportunity to scale the top and enjoy the unbeatable view on top of the bridge.

Meanwhile, Sydney Opera House is postcard-perfect from any part you look at it. Considered as a 20th-century masterpiece, the opera house has about 40 performances each week. You can sign up for a backstage tour when you’re here or opt to watch a show.

Sydney’s past is also seen when you’re in the city. The Rocks is the oldest part of the city that houses the oldest restaurants and pubs, colonial homes, and sandstone churches. This is the best place to experience different art museums, street entertainment, and weekend markets. Most art galleries and museums in the city has free entry. Depending on what you’re after you’ll find the likes of Art Gallery of New South Wales and the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia for modern art, Nicholson Museum for antiques, and The Rocks Discovery Museum for local history. The Hyde Park Barracks is an interesting one because they’re old convict barracks. It’s an amazing story of colonial life in the past too.

What to Eat

Sydney’s cuisine is an excellent mix of dishes from all over the world. You’ll find something worth a try on every corner when you’re here. Foodie’s love this place because dining is affordable and exciting. Sydney is a city filled with early risers so cafes often open early. Grab a cup of coffee from your local shops and buy an artisan pastry at the same time. Grounds of Alexandria is a popular spot for locals and foreigners alike.

Since the city is seaside, it’s technically a given that they will have the freshest catch every day. In Sydney Fish Market, you’ll find sea to table offerings in the form of sushi, sashimi, and fish dishes in any form. An appeal of this would be the experience of pointing and then cooking it on the spot for us. Vegan and vegetarian cuisines are a big thing in Sydney too. With most of its people being health conscious, it’s only natural that the trend follows. Lentil as Anything would be an amazing spot for you to try.

Nightlife

The nightlife in Sydney is as lively and energetic as the city. It has dazzling clubs and the most laid-back bars and pubs you can find. If you want to enjoy amazing drinks with a unique vibe Grasshopper in the city will be your cup of tea. They serve excellent mixes that pair well with the ambiance. The Basement is the place for live jazz, funk, and blues. It has many genres depending on the day, but each can be enjoyed by a cabaret bar. Nights in parks are also a great way to spend the night. Barbecues are held during some nights and it’s an amazing way to get to meet some locals.

Where to Stay

Sydney is a big city that has a lot in store for everyone. If you want to be near most restaurants and shops, then the CBD is the ideal place to book your hotel. For some sightseeing and culture, then The Rocks and Circular Quay would be best. These spots have the old colonial homes in Sydney along with a series of art galleries and museums at your doorstep. Getting accommodation in Bondi and Manly means enjoying a quieter place because you’re nearer to nature. The beach will be a short walk away as well as hiking trails.

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