Thanks to the city’s numerous iconic attractions, there are plenty of fun things to do in Sydney’s Central Business District alone.
Check out our ultimate list of the best things to do in Sydney CBD, listed with prices from budget-friendly to luxe!
1. Visit the Chinese Garden of Friendship - AUD 8
Spend an afternoon exploring one of Sydney's most serene gardens: the Chinese Garden of Friendship.
2. See all of the city on Sydney Tower Eye - AUD 24.8
Go up the 250-metre high Sydney Tower Eye, which offers spectacular 360 views of the entire city!
3. Meet furry friends at Taronga Zoo Sydney - AUD 25
Taronga Zoo in Sydney is a haven for wildlife! It has over 5,000 animals of 350 different species, nestled in Sydney CBD, where you can see its biggest icons like Harbour Bridge!
4. Try something new and get an awesome Axe Throwing Experience - AUD 25
Bring all your friends to learn axe throwing in Sydney, and find out who can hit the target best!
5. Explore The Rocks on this walking tour - AUD 25
Let the expert tour guide show you around Sydney’s oldest historical neighbourhood on The Rocks Walking Tour.
6. Go on the Virtual Reality Escape Room Experience in Sydney - AUD 25
Think escape rooms, but make it virtual reality! Solve puzzles and unlock clues during the Virtual Reality Escape Room Experience.
7. Enjoy the Sydney Harbour Bar Cruise - AUD 25
Hop on the Sydney 2000 and go on the 90-minute Sydney Harbour Bar Cruise, where you can sip on cocktails while enjoying the city views onboard!
8. Create your own itinerary on the Sydney Hop On Hop Off Cruise - AUD 25
Choose your destinations, such as Circular Quay, Manly, Shark Island, Watsons Bay, Taronga Zoo, and explore them at your own pace with the Sydney Hop On Hop Off Cruise!
9. Explore Sydney at your own pace on the Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Tours - AUD 25
Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Tours is similar to the cruise, but you’ll be travelling on land! It’s one of the most jam-packed things to do in Sydney.
10. Visit the Australian National Maritime Museum - AUD 25
Visit the Australian National Maritime Museum, home to an extensive maritime collection of exhibits, galleries, and installations, including the full-size replica of Captain Cook’s 18-century ship.
11. Go on the Sydney Opera House Guided Walking Tour - AUD 25
Learn about Australia’s architectural icon on the Sydney Opera House Guided Walking Tour, absolutely one of the best things to do in Sydney!
12. Explore the best booze joints on the Secret Bar Crawl Experience in Sydney - AUD 25
Discover the hidden gems of Sydney and immerse in exciting city nightlife during the Secret Bar Crawl Experience in Sydney!
13. Experience spooky thrills on the Haunted Sydney Ghost Tour - AUD 25
If you’re up for some spooktacular thrills, then go on the Sydney Haunted Sydney Ghost Tour, where the guide will take you to the best sights in town for possible supernatural encounters—mass burial pits, sly grog haunts, opium dens, and more!
14. Be a pilot for a day on the Sydney Virtual Reality Military Jet Experience - AUD 25
Fly a F/A-18 Military Jet at 300kph and zoom through the Grand Canyon or the New York City skyline during the Sydney Virtual Reality Military Jet Experience!
15. Get to know Australia’s icon from a new perspective on the Sydney Opera House Architectural Tour - AUD 25
On the Sydney Opera House Architectural Tour, you’ll learn about how this National Heritage Site came to be. A must-try thing to do in Sydney for architectural buffs!
16. Have a blast at Hard Rock Cafe - AUD 30.00
Enjoy good music and good food with your friends at Hard Rock Cafe.
17. Experience the Sydney Harbour Oz Jet Boating Thrill Ride - AUD 31.79
Explore Sydney Harbour the most exciting way possible—on the Oz Jet Boating Thrill Ride, where you’ll zoom across the water at high speeds!
18. Check out the wax figures at Madame Tussauds - AUD 36.8
Pose with your favourite movie or comic book characters and famous celebs’ wax figures at Madame Tussauds.
19. Make furry friends at WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo - AUD 36.8
Meet the favourite Aussie animals such as koalas, quokkas, and kangaroos at WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo.
20. Spot thousands of marine animals at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium - AUD 38.4
Visiting SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium is one of the best things to do in Sydney! Image credits @sealifesydneyaquarium on Instagram
Meet thousands of marine animals when you enter the wondrous underwater world of SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium!
21. Have the Brix Distillers Rum Distillery Experiences - AUD 40
Bring your mates to Brix Distillery, where you’ll discover how your favourite rums were created and even make some for yourself!
22. Explore Sydney Harbour on a jet boat - AUD 49
Experience high-speed twists and turns across the waters of Sydney Harbour when you go on the Sydney Harbour Jet Boat Adventure.
23. Get a birds-eye view of Sydney at Sydney Tower Eye Skywalk - AUD 59.8
Step onto the Internal Observation Deck of Sydney Tower Eye, where you’ll have an indescribable panoramic view of the city!
24. Dine with a view at Sydney Tower Infinity Bar and Dining - AUD 65.00
You can also dine sky-high at Sydney Tower’s Infinity Bar and Dining, where you’ll have 360-degree views of the city while you’re hundreds of metres above the ground!
25. Have a Bottomless Brunch at Terrace on the Domain - AUD 65
Enjoy the fresh air, good food and maybe even some booze during brunch at Terrace on the Domain!
Have a delicious bottomless brunch including a four-course meal with Australian wine with your best pals, at Terrace on the Domain.
26. Discover the city’s greatest icons on the Sydney Harbour Icons Guided Walking Tour - AUD 65.05
Wear your comfy walking shoes and get to know the city’s icons during the Sydney Harbour Icons Guided Walking Tour.
27. SkyFeast at Sydney Tower - AUD 70.00
Have an exceptional buffet with 360-degree revolving views of the city at Sydney Tower’s SkyFeast.
28. Go on the Sydney Opera House Tour and Dine at Sydney Opera Kitchen - AUD 80
On this Sydney Opera House Tour, you’ll cap off your exploration of the architectural wonder with a tasty meal at the Sydney Opera Kitchen!
29. Take Lessons at Bondi Surf School - AUD 85
Unleash your inner Mick Fanning and learn how to surf at Bondi Surf School!
30. Have the Luke Nguyen Tasting Menu Experience at Botanic House - AUD 89
Taste a symphony of flavours from Luke Nguyen’s tasting menu! Image credits @botanichousesydney on Instagram
One of the many great things to do in Sydney is to indulge in Luke Nguyen’s tasting menu that fuses Southeast Asian flavours with the finest Australian produce!
31. Go on a picnic in the Royal Botanical Gardens with food prepared by Luke Nguyen - AUD 90
Or you can have a picnic in the Royal Botanical Gardens with the same Luke Nguyen specials!
32. Go on the Sydney Opera House Beyond the Stage Tour and Brunch at Opera Kitchen - AUD 90
Another can’t-miss thing to do in Sydney is the Sydney Opera House Beyond the Stage Tour and Brunch at Opera Kitchen, where you’ll learn all about the magic that happens before the shows!
33. Solve some riddles at Escape Hunt Experience Sydney - AUD 92
Try solving all the riddles and mysteries at the indoor and outdoor escape rooms of Escape Hunt!
34. Have a boozy tour and go on the Half-Day The Rocks Historic Pub Walking Tour in Sydney - AUD 95
Discover the town’s legends and hauntings of The Rocks as you go from pub to pub during the Half-Day The Rocks Historic Pub Walking Tour.
35. Have a magical night and go on The Gentleman Magician’s Magical Soirée with Canapés - AUD 95
Enjoy a night of magic on this soirée!
You’ll be in awe of the magical stylings of Bruce Glen, also known as the Gentleman Magician! Plus, you’ll be served mouthwatering canapés.
36. Try Tall Ship Dinner Cruise on Sydney Harbour with Optional Mast Climb Experience - AUD 98.1
Cruise and dine at Sydney Harbour during twilight on Sydney’s only authentic timber tall ship. Experience this when you go on the Tall Ship Dinner Cruise!
37. Go on the Marrickville Behind the Scenes Brewery Tour - AUD 99
On the two and a half hour Marrickville Behind the Scenes Brewery Tour, you’ll be able to explore the finest craft beers and learn about how they were brewed!
38. Watch an Opera at the Sydney Opera House - AUD 99
Catch a spectacular production of a world-famous opera such as La Boheme, Turandot, The Marriage of Figaro, Madama Butterfly or La Traviata at the iconic Sydney Opera House.
39. Sydney Harbour Sunset Dinner Cruise by Captain Cook - AUD 105
Have mouthwatering contemporary Aussie food while watching the sunset over Sydney Harbour on the Sunset Dinner Cruise by Captain Cook.
40. Go on the Sydney Harbour Top Deck Lunch Cruise by Captain Cook - AUD 105
Have a fancy lunch break and enjoy a sophisticated three-course meal on the Sydney Harbour Top Deck Lunch Cruise by Captain Cook.
41. Go on the Fine Dining Lunch Cruise in Sydney Harbour - AUD 125
Hop aboard a luxury vessel and enjoy a two-course meal paired with an excellent selection of wines from NSW’s wine region on the Fine Dining Lunch Cruise in Sydney Harbour.
42. Pedal away on a Sydney Bike Tour - AUD 129
Tour the city on leg day and go on a Sydney Bike Tour, where you’ll pedal to Sydney’s best sites!
43. Discover the craft beer scene in Inner West - AUD 130
On Sydney’s Inner West Craft Beer Tour, you can discover the gem that is Inner West’s craft beer scene as you go to all the great breweries and sip on the best brews.
44. Sydney's Brewery, Winery and Distillery Tour by Dave's Brewery Tours - AUD 150
Discover how your favourite bevvies are created and sample the finest flavours on Sydney's Brewery, Winery and Distillery Tour.
45. Have a Private Luxury Picnic Experience at Mrs Macquarie’s Chair - AUD 175
Impress your lover or your friends and family by bringing them on a Private Luxury Picnic Experience at Mrs Macquarie’s Chair, which has fantastic views of Sydney Harbour!
46. Go on the Helicopter Flight Tour in Sydney Harbour - AUD 187
An exciting tour of Sydney awaits on the Helicopter Flight Tour, where you’ll fly over the city’s most iconic attractions!
47. Book a Tiny House - AUD 190
Have a staycation with your loved ones in a tiny house and get away from the hustle and bustle of city life!
48. Have Sunset Champagne and Oysters at Bar 83 by Sydney Tower - AUD 200
Enjoy G.H Mumm champagne and the freshest oysters at Bar 83 on Sydney Tower, which offers breathtaking 260-degree views of the city!
49. Explore the city by air on the Sydney Seaplanes Highlights Flight - AUD 230
A must-try for Sydneysiders and tourists alike, Sydney Seaplanes Highlights Flight is an exciting way to tour the city!
50. Go on the Sydney Harbour Gold Penfolds Dinner Cruise by Captain Cook - AUD 249.05
Visiting SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium is fun for the whole family!
Enjoy a six-course tasting menu, prime seating, sparkling wine, and fabulous music under a starry sky on the Sydney Harbour Gold Penfolds Dinner Cruise!
51. Enjoy good food and music on the Sydney Opera House Progressive Lunch and Jazz Series - AUD 295
What’s not to love about the Sydney Opera House Progressive Lunch and Jazz Series? You’ll be able to dine in the Opera House’s iconic restaurants and bars and enjoy the best live jazz music!
52. Explore Bondi on this local half-day tour - AUD 320
The Bondi Local Half Day Tour kicks off with surf lessons, and then you can enjoy the beach as the tour guide takes you through what the locals do at Bondi!
53. Live it up and go on the Private Luxury Sunset Cruise Experience in Sydney - AUD 799
Sail across the waters of Sydney on a posh yacht as you enjoy sparkling wine on the Private Luxury Sunset Cruise Experience in Sydney.
54. Get to know the city on the Private Sydney Sightseeing Tour - AUD 590
Ditch the big touring crowds and go on the Private Sydney Sightseeing Tour, where you’ll visit Mrs Macquarie's Chair, The Rocks, Bondi Beach, Harbour Bridge, and more, in small groups of one to eight people!
55. Charter a small yacht in Sydney Harbour - AUD 800
Treat your loved one to some private time on a luxurious yacht.
We all deserve to splurge and celebrate once in a while. What better way to do that than to charter a small yacht in Sydney Harbour for an intimate tour of the city via its beautiful waters?
