Things to do in Sydney: 17 you can't miss

Sydney Airport is about 30 minutes from the city. The fastest and most convenient way in is the subway, which costs A$17. To use public transportation in New South Wales (NSW), you need an Opal card, which you can buy right at the airport. The Opal card gets you around the whole city by ferry, bus, train and subway.

1. Get blown away by the Sydney Opera House

The Sydney Opera House is the city's most recognizable symbol, and no visitor should skip it. Besides admiring its striking architecture, you can catch all kinds of shows, including theater, ballet and opera. We suggest seeing the Opera House from every angle, by day and by night, to appreciate it in all its majesty. Around it you'll find several bars that aren't exactly cheap, but they're worth it for the view.

2. The Royal Botanic Garden and Mrs Macquarie's Point

Wander through the huge gardens, trails, lakes and cafés of Sydney's Royal Botanic Garden, a 30-hectare green oasis just a few meters from the Opera House and the city center. It's also the ideal place for an Australian-style picnic. Don't miss the walk out to Mrs Macquarie's Point for an amazing view of the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge.

3. Walk across the Harbour Bridge

The Harbour Bridge is an impressive structure that spans Sydney Harbour and connects the CBD (Central Business District) with the north of the city. Walking across this iconic bridge is something you shouldn't miss, for its unique panoramic views of Circular Quay (the port) and the city center. From up here you can admire the Opera House from a different perspective and enjoy the sea breeze.

And if you're not afraid of heights, for around A$170 you can climb up and walk along the top of the bridge.

4. Spend the morning at Bondi Beach

Bondi Beach is one of Australia's most iconic beaches, about 30-40 minutes by public transportation from the center of Sydney. It's home to one of the most famous pools in the world: the Bondi Icebergs Pool, which belongs to a swimming club. For just A$7 you can swim in the pool or use the sauna. The beach is perfect for relaxing and sunbathing, as well as for surfing or taking a lesson. The main street along the coast is full of restaurants, bars and design shops.

If you like walking and enjoying views of the sea and the cliffs, we suggest setting aside a morning or an afternoon for the Coogee Coastal Walk, a route of 5.5 km (3.4 miles) from Bondi to Coogee.

5. Museum of Contemporary Art and the Art Gallery of NSW

If you like art, don't miss these two places. Entry to the permanent collection is free, and it has more than 4,000 works.

TIP: At the Museum of Contemporary Art, don't forget to go up to the terrace, where there's a rooftop café. Order something and take in the view of the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House.

6. Have a drink in The Rocks

The Rocks is a historic neighborhood almost directly under the bridge, full of pubs, street music and a few fancier restaurants. It's best visited at night.

7. Walk around Chinatown

The Chinese community in Australia is one of the largest in the world, so don't miss the chance to visit Chinatown. If you're traveling in February, make sure you catch the Chinese New Year celebrations.

8. Stroll through Hyde Park and visit St. Mary's Cathedral

Hyde Park is one of the oldest parks in the city. Walk for a while in the shade of the trees and relax. St. Mary's Cathedral is in the same park: it's one of the most beautiful churches in the city, Gothic in style, and the largest in Australia.

9. Take a ferry to Manly

Manly is a surfer neighborhood 30 minutes by ferry from the city center. The ride across Sydney Harbour is amazing all by itself, and circling the Opera House from the water is priceless.

Walk along the Corso, the main pedestrian street, from Manly Wharf (where the ferries come in) to the main beach. It's full of bars, restaurants and really cool shops. Manly is surrounded by lovely beaches: Manly Beach, Little Manly Beach, Collins Beach, Shelly Beach and so on.

Manly is surrounded by beaches and is part of the well-known Northern Beaches (Freshwater, Avalon, Palm Beach and others). What's more, most of them have free rock pools. We lived here for 2 months, and it's impossible to get bored!

10. Explore one of Sydney's many coastal walks

Sydney has a series of amazing coastal walks that let you enjoy its natural beauty. Almost everyone does the 2-hour walk from Coogee to Bondi, but several others are really good too:

• Spit to Manly
• Rose Bay to Watsons Bay
• Watsons Bay to Dover Heights
• Chowder Bay to Balmoral Beach
• Jibbon Beach Loop Track

11. Visit the University of Sydney

It's the oldest university in Australia (1850), and it's ranked among the 10 most beautiful universities in the world. There are 6 imposing English-style buildings. If you have time, it's really worth a visit.

12. Enjoy the view from Observatory Hill

It's a park with a viewpoint that gives you a panoramic view of The Rocks, the bridge and Sydney Harbour. Lots of people go there to watch the New Year's fireworks.

It's a good place for a picnic or just to relax and enjoy the scenery. The park is also home to the Sydney Observatory, an interesting place to learn about astronomy and the history of the city.

13. Palm Beach and the Northern Beaches

Palm Beach is the crown jewel of Sydney's Northern Beaches: 2 km of sand and a hill with a lighthouse and one of the most photographed views in Sydney.

It's 40 km from the center of Sydney, and you can get there by public transportation.

14. Diamond Bay Cliff Walk

Another great walk is Diamond Bay, with tall cliffs and an incredibly blue sea. It's a perfect spot for whale watching in season.

15. Have some fun at Luna Park

It's a small amusement park just across the bridge. It's a nice place to wander around, and it has a spectacular view of the harbor and the bridge.

Entry is free, and you pay separately for the rides you want.

Outside Sydney:

16. The Figure 8 Pools

These are natural pools, and some are shaped like an 8, which is spectacular. They're in the Royal National Park, 60-90 minutes from Sydney. Renting a car is the best way to get there. From the parking lot you have to walk about 3 km (1.9 miles) to reach the pools, which takes roughly 1 hour.

Tips for visiting the Figure 8 Pools:

• The most important thing is to go when the tide is low. With the tide always changing and the waves breaking, it can be a dangerous place, and several people have been injured. At high tide, all the natural pools are underwater. You have to go at low tide and when the swell is under 1 meter (3 ft).
• The closest parking lot to the Figure 8 Pools is Garawarra Farm, on Garie Road. You can look it up on Google Maps. Parking costs A$12, which includes entry to the national park.
• Wear comfortable sneakers. The trail is quite steep, with lots of rocks.
• There are no shops along the way for buying water or food, so we suggest bringing your water bottle and some snacks.

17. Blue Mountains

This mountainous region is just 50 km from Sydney. The Blue Mountains have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000. It's an ideal trip for getting away from the city for a while and being out in nature. You can go for the day or to camp.

You can go by car, and the train is a good option too. The train to Katoomba leaves Sydney's Central Station about once an hour, and the trip takes exactly 2 hours. A round-trip ticket costs A$17. From Katoomba station you can walk the remaining 3 km (1.9 miles) to the Blue Mountains or take bus 686.

What is there to see in the Blue Mountains?

• Hanging Rock
• Lincoln's Rock
• Zig Zag Railway
• Three Sisters
• Katoomba Scenic Skyway
• Giant Staircase
• Jenolan Caves