Sydney Sydney Surrounds North Coast South Coast Snowy Mountains Heart of Country Outback Lord Howe Island Inner Sydney Greater Sydney Back to main Sydney map Northern Beaches Manly Mosman Sydney Harbour The Rocks Darling Harbour Balmain Leichhardt Glebe Newtown Chinatown City Centre Kings Cross Double Bay Darlinghurst Paddington Moore Park Coogee Bondi Back to main Sydney map Hawkesbury Valley Hawkesbury River Penrith Parramatta Cabramatta Sydney Olympic Park Picton Macarthur Cronulla
Sydney

The London Hotel, Balmain (Photo: J. Morgan/Tourism NSW) Balmain One of Sydney's oldest suburbs, now a vibrant and artistic community.

Bondi Icebergs Swimming Pool, Sydney. Bondi One of Sydney's most eclectic and exciting precincts.

Cultural activities in Cabramatta, Sydney Cabramatta An authentic slice of South-East Asian sights and tastes.

Strolling in Chinatown, Sydney Chinatown and Haymarket Asian streetlife with a bit of Spanish pizzaz.

An aerial view of Sydney's Central Business District City Centre A beautiful harbourside capital, with historic precincts and cosmopolitan style.

Family fun on Coogee Beach, Sydney Coogee and Randwick Classic Sydney surf scene popular with everyone

Bushwalking in Maianbar, Cronulla, Sydney Cronulla Coast Sydney's longest beach is just a ferry ride from the Royal National Park.

Darling Harbour, Sydney Darling Harbour A lively harbourside precinct that throbs with activity day and night.

Cafes on Victoria Street, Darlinghurst (Photo: Tony Yeates) Darlinghurst Boutiques and bookshops by day, bars and nightclubs by night.

Dee Bee's Café, Double Bay, Sydney Double Bay Fashion central and the playground of Sydney’s beautiful people.

Waterside strolls at the end of Glebe Point Road, Glebe, Sydney Glebe is one of Sydney's most vibrant alternative areas.

Explore the Hawkesbury River (Photo: P. Blackmore/Tourism NSW)Hawkesbury River A fascinating mix of natural attractions and a peaceful country ambience.

Tizzana Winery, Ebenezer, Hawkesbury Valley (Photo: P. Blackmore/Tourism NSW) Hawkesbury Valley The Hawkesbury River winds its way through a fertile valley.

Dining on Woolloomooloo Finger Wharf, Sydney (Photo: F. Quimby) Kings Cross and Woolloomooloo This lively entertainment area buzzes with nightclubs, bars and...

The Leichhardt Forum, Sydney Leichhardt Sydney's Little Italy, the place to go for all things Italian, from gelato to espresso.

St John's Anglican Church, Camden, Sydney Macarthur A vibrant, bustling area with country charm

Manly BeachManly 

Nestled between the harbour and a surf beach – a quintessential Sydney experience.

Bent Street, Fox Studios, Moore Park, Sydney Moore Park Major sports stadiums, entertainment venues and an expansive park.

Taronga Zoo, Sydney Mosman and Balmoral Beach Harbourside suburbs blessed with great cafes, shops and views

One of Newtown's many café spots on King Street, Sydney (R. Billington/Tourism NSW) Newtown Colourful, unconventional and gay-friendly with a strong arts culture, great shopping and dining.

Manly Walk, Sydney (H. Lund/Tourism NSW) Northern Beaches and Pittwater Peninsula with the Pacific Ocean on one side and Pittwater on the other

Shopping for the latest trends in Paddington, Sydney (J. Morgan/Tourism NSW) Paddington Stylish terraces, a great shopping precinct lined with cafés and restaurants.

St Johns Cathedral, Parramatta, Sydney (3stroke Photography/Tourism NSW) Parramatta Parramatta is a city of historic charm with a multicultural footprint.

Overlooking the Nepean River, Penrith precinct Penrith Valley An aquatic playground at the foothills of the Blue Mountains.

George IV Hotel in Picton, Sydney Picton and Surrounds All the charm and tranquillity of the country.

Fort Denison, Sydney Harbour (Photo: Hamilton Lund / Tourism NSW). Sydney Harbour and Islands All kinds of water craft jostle for a piece of the world's best harbour.

Biking around Sydney Olympic Park, Sydney. Sydney Olympic Park Home of the Sydney 2000 Olympic and Paralympic Games, major social and sporting venue.

Some architectural details in The Rocks, Sydney The Rocks and Circular Quay Historic harbourside area with shops, pubs and restaurants.



Sydney arts and museums

Fast facts

  • Sydney is Australia’s thriving cultural hub
  • Home to key national institutions and Australia’s iconic Sydney Opera House
  • Moulin Rouge, Superman Returns and The Matrix trilogy filmed at Fox Studios

Why go there

Sydney is justified in calling itself the cultural capital of Australia. It is home to Opera Australia, The Sydney Theatre Company, the Australian Chamber Orchestra and Sydney Dance Company, as well as domestic and international record companies and the nation’s biggest visual art show, the Archibald Prize. The local theatre and orchestral scene has never been busier, while galleries and museums have a packed calendar of events.

Things to do

The gallery and museum circuit. Walk around Circular Quay from the Museum of Contemporary Art through the Royal Botanic Gardens to the Art Gallery of New South Wales, then through the Domain and Hyde Park to the Australian Museum. (You can also cover Customs House, the Museum of Sydney, the Justice and Police Museum and Hyde Park Barracks on the same walk, perhaps on another day.)

Wander from the Australian National Maritime Museum in Darling Harbour through Chinatown to the Powerhouse Museum.

Stroll through the art dealerships and cutting-edge galleries of Paddington and Surry Hills.

Don’t miss

Events

 

Powerhouse Museum

Arts, culture and music in Sydney