Traveling to Sydney and no time to prepare? No worries! I stayed 3 days and this what you need to know:
- Get an opal card (public transport) in the airport
- Tag along the I am free tours to see all important sights
- Checkout the skyline from Sydney Tower
- Walk from Kings Cross trough the Royal Botanic Gardens to the Opera House.
- Take a ferry to Manly beach. Bonus: enjoy amazing views of opera house on the way.
Let’s dig a bit deeper in each tip.
Get an opal (public transport) card in the airport.
- Easy to get from the airport to city.
- Take trains in the city if you are tired of walking.
- You will never pay more than 15 AUD a day (every ride over that is free).
- Even better on Sunday you will never pay more than 2.5 AUD. Perfect to take ferries!!
I am free tours.
Yes free tours by a local! Not your typical boring guided tour. It’s fun, intriguing and educational. The guide I had was awesome, he showed us all the highlights of the city in just 3 hours and entertained our group with short stories and anecdotes. The perfect introduction to the city with the most famous opera house!
- Is it really free? Yes the tour is completely free but it’s just nice and respectful to give your guide a nice tip at the end.
- How many tours are there? 2 tours and I strongly recommend both!
- Sydney sights (3 hours) – info, timings and starting point
- The rocks (1.5 hours) – info, timings and starting point
- Can I do both tours on same day? Yes!
- How do i find the guide? Look for a bright green t-shirt or hoodie with “I am free”
Checkout the Sydney skyline from Sydney Tower
Like all big cities around the world, Sydney has an observation deck with dazzling views from above.
Sydney Tower Prices and info.
Walk from Kings Cross through the Royal Botanic Gardens to the Opera House.
A nice walk trough different areas of the city with some cool views.
Take a ferry to Manly Beach
From the ferry station (Circular Quay, just next to the opera house, so you can’t miss it) you can take a ferry to Manly Beach.
On the way you can enjoy cool views of the Opera House. Once you arrive, hop in the tourist center and take a walk for a couple of hours, again pretty cool views and a good break from the busy city.
By the way if you want to save money, take ferry’s on Sunday as you will only pay 2.5 AUD to travel unlimited. (see the first section about Opal)
That’s it mate, enjoy!