aerial photography of concrete buildings and bridge beside ocean under cloudy sky

Sydney

Sydney is Australia's largest city, known for its harbor, the Sydney Opera House and Bondi Beach.

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Sydney is the capital of New South Wales and the largest city in Australia, built around Sydney Harbour on the Pacific coast. The Sydney Harbour Bridge, completed in 1932, and the Sydney Opera House, which opened in 1973, are its best-known landmarks. Bondi Beach is the most famous of the city's roughly seventy surf beaches, and Manly, on the Northern Beaches, is a popular holiday spot reached by ferry. Greater Sydney has no single fixed boundary, so it helps to plan by area: the harbor and central business district, The Rocks, the Eastern Suburbs beaches and the terrace streets of Paddington.

Sydney suits visitors who want city, beaches and bushland in one trip. Royal National Park lies south of the city, and the Blue Mountains are to the west of the metropolitan area. Temperatures can exceed 35 °C in late spring and summer, while winters are mild to cool. Sydney is also one of the world's most expensive cities, so check hotel and dining prices before you book.

Sydney in five

Tap on with your bank cardTrains, buses, ferries and light rail all take contactless cards, so a short stay needs no separate transit card. Tap on and off to get the right fare.
The airport train is quick but costs moreIt takes about 15 minutes to Central, with an airport station access fee added to the fare. A taxi is slower in traffic and often costs more.
Take the Manly ferryIt takes about 30 minutes from Circular Quay, past the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge. Sit outside on the upper deck.
Walk Bondi to Coogee earlyThe coastal walk is about 6 km of cliffs, beaches and ocean pools. Start before the heat in summer and carry water.
Swim between the flagsLifeguards patrol between the red and yellow flags. Rips and sudden swells can catch swimmers outside them.

Things to do in Sydney

See all attractions in Sydney

Sight · SydneyBondi Beach Public SchoolUse public transport, as street parking around the school is limited.

Museum · SydneyThe Rocks Discovery MuseumVisit before exploring The Rocks to put the area’s historic buildings and streets in context.

Park · SydneyCadman's CottageCheck current access information before you go; the cottage has been reported closed to visitors.

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to SydneyPut the places you like in Sydney on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Sydney (SYD), about 15 min to Central by train
Getting around: Trains, ferries, buses and light rail; tap on with a card
Best base: Circular Quay, Surry Hills or Newtown
Time needed: 4 days, plus a day for the Blue Mountains
Emergency: 000

Weather by month

Rainy days

Best
Good

JanuaryRain13 rainy daysHigh26°Low20°Hot, busy
FebruaryRain13 rainy daysHigh26°Low20°Hot, humid
MarchRain17 rainy daysHigh25°Low19°Warm, calmer
AprilPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh22°Low16°Mild, clear
MayPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh19°Low13°Cool, clear
JunePartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh17°Low10°Cool, Vivid lights
JulyClear7 rainy daysHigh17°Low10°Coolest, whales
AugustPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh18°Low10°Cool, whales
SeptemberClear7 rainy daysHigh20°Low12°Spring, mild
OctoberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh22°Low14°Warm, clear
NovemberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh23°Low16°Warm, jacarandas
DecemberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh25°Low18°Hot, New Year

Average daily high and low in Sydney, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Sydney

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 18°
Humidity: 91%
Wind: 16 km/h
Chance of rain: 97%

Sydney

07:06 AM

Tuesday, November 3

GMT+11

Today26°18°97%Tuesday: Thunderstorms. High 26°, Low 18°. Chance of rain 97%.
Wed22°17°53%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 22°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 53%.
Thu20°15°22%Thursday: Drizzle. High 20°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 22%.
Fri22°13°2%Friday: Cloudy. High 22°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 2%.
Sat25°14°78%Saturday: Rain. High 25°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 78%.
Sun16°11°51%Sunday: Drizzle. High 16°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 51%.

Updated 05:15 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 1.423 AUD

Amount

Converted to

AUD · Australian Dollar

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Sydney

Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city

Events calendar

Coming up

Day trips by train

Blue Mountainsabout 2 hours by trainLookouts, rainforest and cliff walks around Katoomba.Read the guide
Hunter Valleyabout 2.5 hours by carWine country north of the city; a car or a guided tour is easiest.
Royal National Parkabout 1 hour by train and walkCoastal cliffs and beaches south of the city.

Before you go to Sydney

Stays in SydneyCircular Quay, Surry Hills and BondiCheck availability

Harbor and Blue Mountains toursCruises, Opera House and day tripsCompare tours

eSIM for SydneyData for ferry times and ridesharesRead the guide

Insurance for Sydney tripsCover for surf injuries and doctorsRead the guide

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Rules for Sydney, checked

Many nationalities enter on an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) and others need a visitor visa. Check which one applies to you on the Home Affairs site before you book.Source
Declare all food, plants and animal products on your incoming passenger card. Biosecurity dogs work the arrivals hall, and undeclared items can be fined.
Declare cash above the legal limit on the incoming passenger card. Check the current threshold with the Australian Border Force before you fly.
Dial 000 for police, fire or an ambulance. Calling 112 from a mobile phone also reaches the emergency services.
Funnel-web spiders live in coastal and bushland areas. Do not handle them, and get medical help right away after any bite.

Plan around Sydney

All of Australia

ETA, regions, flights and money basics

Read the guide New South Wales

Parks passes and the road north

Read the guide Newcastle

Ocean baths and the Bathers Way

Read the guide Canberra

Free museums and Parliament House

Read the guide Melbourne

About 1.5 hours by air

Read the guide Great Barrier Reef

Flights from Sydney to Cairns

Read the guide Flights and car hire

Domestic flights and rentals

Read the guide

Sydney FAQ

How many days do you need in Sydney?

Four days: the harbor and ferries, a coastal walk, the inner west and a day in the Blue Mountains. Three works if you skip the mountains.

Do I need an Opal card in Sydney?

Not for a short stay. A contactless bank card or phone works on trains, buses, ferries and light rail, with the same fares. Tap on and off, and check your card's foreign fees.

How do I get from Sydney airport to the city?

Take the airport train, about 15 minutes to Central, adding an airport station access fee to the fare. Taxis and rideshares work but are slower at rush hour.

When is the best time to visit Sydney?

March to May and September to November are warm and settled, with quieter beaches. December to February is hot and busy, and winter is cool but clear, with whale watching.

Is the Bondi to Coogee walk hard?

No. It is about 6 km with some stairs and ocean views, and takes two to three hours with stops. Wear sun protection and carry water.