Visitor Guide
Visiting Sydney? Here's Time Out's ultimate guide to the city's events, attractions and sights. From tourist favourites to hidden gems
The Sydney Bucket List
Time Out Sydney editors have selected their favourite things to do in Sydney right now.
The best walks in Sydney
Coastal walks, bush walks, historical walks and inner city ambles: there are many routes to choose from to discover Sydney from a new angle. See our list of ten favourite places to wander and remember to pack a camera – these walks offer some of the best vantage points for snapping our city at its best.
Sydney beaches
From Sydney’s most famous stretch of sand to the hidden bathing spots around the harbour.
The best art galleries in Sydney
Sydney is busting at the seams with great art – here's where to see it.
The best clubs in Sydney
Hats off to the venues still giving Sydneysiders a place to boogie – and the DJs dishing out stellar soundtracks.
A foodie's guide to dining and drinking in Sydney
The Sydney restaurant hit list
Unless you have the metabolism of a nine-year-old and the finances of a Kardashian, you never stand a chance against Sydney's ferocious dining machine. The openings just don't stop – and ain't nobody got time to keep on top of what's what. Except us, of course. Behold: our eat-and-destroy list, a guide featuring some of the best new restaurants you need to try, along with some old standbys still doing things right. Go forth – and eat all the things!
The 27 most Australian dishes in Sydney
No matter how you feel about nationalism, there's one thing all Australians can agree on. We make pretty epic food. We thought we’d celebrate our country with some of Sydney’s finest fare. We’ve found the 27 most Australian dishes that Sydney has to offer. From the best pad Thai to our raddest lamington and most delicious native plant stir-fry. Here is our list, in no particular order, of Sydney's best takes on Australiana:
The best cheap eats in Sydney
In a perfect world, we'd spend every night enjoying fine cuisine at Sydney's most indulgent restaurants. We'd be at Quay, Sepia, Rockpool Bar & Grill... anywhere, really, that requires half (or all, or far more than) what's currently in your bank account for a shared plate. But we do not live in a perfect world – sometimes the stove is broken, the thought of checking your balance makes you break out in hives and skipping meals seems a viable option. But you don't have to do that! There's a host of restaurants all around our fair town serving up tasty food at prices that won't leave your wallet empty.
The best breakfasts in Sydney
Aussie breakfasts are legendary the world over, and we damn well know how to do them right here in Sydney. From the best cheese toastie around to that liquorice bread, here's our list of where to go and what to order at the best cafés in Sydney.
The best bars in Sydney
This has been the year Sydney’s bar scene got classy. People who not so long ago wouldn’t have touched a straight liquor cocktail with a bargepole are now ordering up Old Fashioneds and Sazeracs without a second thought, and they’re loving it. Sure, the lockout laws continue to dampen the late-night hijinks, but that just means our party starters have had to get creative. New bars are still popping up in any underground space, hidden enclave and lofty spot that becomes available, and the yardstick for bar snacks has been set at an all-time high. The old guard have applied fresh vigour to the cocktail craft in the last 12 months. New additions have reminded us that the best drinks aren’t always the booziest; orange wines are everywhere we look; and this year heralded the rise of locally distilled spirits. Way to level-up, Sydney.
The best pubs in Sydney
Charge your glasses, friends, and join us in a toast to Sydney’s pubs. To the fusty watering holes that champion the old ways: they’ve still got a pie warmer behind the counter, the footy is on the TV and their Reschs is cold and clean. And to the young guns swinging open the saloon doors to local breweries fermenting up a flavour storm in all corners of the city. Great evenings have been built on a foundation of schnitzel and steak, but we’re also showcasing the local pubs getting creative with counter meals and ensuring the tucker is top-notch. All up it’s been a ripper year for the Sydney pub scene: this guide is where we get to sing the praises of the best in the business.
Most popular events in Sydney
Louis Theroux Live on Stage
Everybody's favourite documentary maker will share stories about his fascinating body of work in an Australia-wide speaking tour
Spot On Children’s Festival
From ninja nans to Play Along with Sam, the fifth annual festival has lots to choose from
Jonathan Jones: barrangal dyara
Kaldor Public Art Projects are teaming up with an Australian artist for the first time, to present this epic installation in Sydney's Royal Botanic Gardens
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
From finding your place in the world to metamorphosis, 75 magical puppets bring the words of Eric Carle to life in this children’s show
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Liveworks
Liveworks festival is the main event in Performance Space's annual program, showcasing local, interstate and international artists pushing the frontiers of art and performance. In 2016, artists include dancer/choreographer Kristina Chan, who offers a meditation on impermance in the era of climate change, 'A Faint Existence'. Mish Grigor (of the collective post) will give 'The Talk' – in which she re-enacts awkward conversations about sexuality she had with her family members. Visual artist Ross Manning will transform CarriageWorks' public spaces into a psychedelic landscape with his installation 'Melody Lines'. Meanwhile Indigenous acoustic outfit the Stiff Gins will give a music-based performance about Indigenous artefacts held in museums.Experimental musician and composer Jon Rose will showcase his extraordinary collection of hand-built instruments for 'The Museum Goes Live'. Taiwanese performance artist River Lin will ask visitors to nominate 'unclean' parts of their bodies in a work titled 'Cleansing Service'. And there's more besides: check the website for the complete line-up. For a limited time CarriageWorks is offering an Earlybird discount of 20 per cent off all tickets for Liveworks.
Made in Sydney: Music Makers and Innovators
In this edition of Made In Sydney series General Assembly will be focusing on the city's vibrant music and nightlife scene by hosting a panel of music makers and innovators. Chad Gillard, the co-founder of one of Sydney's most loved record labels Future Classic will be on the panel alongside some other industry buddies. Considering he's played a part in launching the careers of the likes of Flume, Jagwar Ma and Wafia, you know the guy's going to have some pretty excellent insights on the Sydney scene and beyond. After the panel wraps up there will be drinks and tunes right into the evening. The evening is free but RSVP is essential.
A three-course French lunch for just $45
Café Ananas down in Phillip Street is a restaurant inspired by the cuisine of the South of France. In the spirit of the longer days and warmer temperatures that are upon us, they’re now offering a weekday three-course express lunch at the wallet-friendly prix fixe of $45. Your entrée is a beet salad, ricotta ravioli or Niçoise tuna pan-bagnat. For mains, you can have the grilled Wagyu bavette steak, Champagne risotto or fish of the day. Finish it off with a vanilla crème brûlée or selection of ice cream and sorbet. So head to Café Ananas to savour the fresh flavours of French cuisine as well as Sydney Harbour views. Your lunch break can be a real escape – one that doesn’t take all afternoon, or bust the budget.
Win a trip to India with Intrepid Travel
Intrepid Travel is giving one lucky person a spot on their 15-day Classic Rajasthan tour, departing March 19, 2017. The prize includes return airfares from any Australian or New Zealand major city to Delhi and offers an intimate small group experience as you travel through the romantic northern Indian province of Rajasthan. Tour highlights include tiger spotting in Ranthambore National Park; camel riding through the desert in Pushkar; and a visit to the Taj Mahal. Accommodation is included and ranges from fortified mansions to camping under the stars. Competition opens September 15 and closes October 27, 2016. To enter, simply fill out your details here. Good luck!