Choose up to 4 origin airports
Enter a location to see nearby airports
From the orange-segments shaped Opera House, the Harbour Bridge off which fireworks dance on New Year’s Eve, and, of course, Bondi Beach, Sydney is Australia’s most instantly recognisable city.
It’s not Australia’s capital, but it could be, such is its energy, verve and, some would say, its brashness. It’s the top city in the Asia Pacific region for quality of life. With its climate, beaches, parks and gardens, shopping and world-class dining, not to mention the underpinning of any great city, an efficient transport system, Sydneysiders know how to live well.
Sydney is Australia’s oldest city. Most of the historic buildings stand in Macquarie Street including Hyde Park Barracks (constructed by convict labour), the Mint Building, Parliament House and Sydney Hospital. At the northeast end of the botanic gardens is Mrs Macquarie’s Chair, a ledge carved out of sandstone so that Mrs Macquarie, a former governor’s wife, could enjoy the views.
Beyond the city, Sydney is within easy reach of the Hunter Valley vineyards, the Blue Mountains, the beaches and resorts of the east coast, and, for those seeking cheap flights to Sydney during the winter months, the ski slopes of the Snowy Mountains, Australia’s winter playground.
Sydney has a temperate climate with more than 300 sunny days a year. Winters are more cool than cold. June to August are the coolest, and the daytime temperature can drop to 7 degrees (Celsius). Summers are humid with occasional downpours. Temperatures are usually in the upper 20s but can go over 37. Sea breezes cool the hot days, and evenings are balmy.Autumn and spring are delightful with clear, warm days and mild nights.
Peak season:
The Sydney festival starts just after New Year’s and runs through January. The beaches are busy and plentiful — there are more than 20 beaches along the oceanfront and more around the harbour.
The summer Surfing Carnivals bring crowds on Sydney flights to watch the surfing and other water-sport competitions. There is yacht racing on summer weekends, and the start of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race is on Boxing Day (26 December).
Off Season:
Comfortable to visit any time of year, Sydney is particularly enjoyable in autumn and spring. There is a greater chance of rain in spring, but it usually clears quickly.
Sydney is a city built around its harbour, and that’s where you will find some of the best sightseeing. The public passenger ferries are run by Sydney Ferries and you can board a monorail down to Darling Harbour. There are plenty of ways to get around the city. The By Sydney Explorer and By Bondi Explorer buses stop almost anywhere you’d want to go in the city and around the harbor and beaches. Take the light-rail tram line to Chinatown, Paddy’s Markets or Darling Harbour. You don’t need to drive, and the one-way streets and lack of parking will eat up your time. Taxis are all over and easy to hail on the street. Adventurous travellers who don’t fear heights can join the Sydney Harbor Bridge climb, which walks across catwalks and ladders across the arch of the iconic Sydney Harbor Bridge.