Did you know that most of Sydney’s top attractions are free to visit? Whether you want your fill of local history or you’re eager to explore the great outdoors, Australia’s thrifty capital has your back. Read on to discover some of our favourite things to do here, without having to part with your paycheck.
DK Top 10 Sydney
View BookVisit the Sydney Opera House
A modern architectural marvel, the Sydney Opera House is the city’s most iconic site – and one of the world’s most recognizable buildings. Luckily for budget travellers, it’s free to see. Walk around the outside of this stunning building, gazing up at its sail-like roof and getting up-close to its intricate tiled facade. Want to see what it’s like inside? You’ll have to shell out a few dollars to catch a show here, but you can enter the lobby for free.
Watch the sunset from Dudley Page Reserve
Follow the locals to this low-key little park for some of the best views of Sydney. Located in the affluent suburbs of Dover Heights, Dudley Page Reserve offers gorgeous panoramas of the city centre and Sydney Harbour. It’s the perfect place to watch the sun go down with a picnic, or better yet, head here on New Year’s Eve for top-notch views of the fireworks.
Browse Glebe Markets
Thrifty-minded locals flock to this flea market every Saturday to rifle through hand-crafted jewellery, locally designed clothes and vintage goodies. While the fashion stalls are the highlight here, Glebe Markets also sells a variety of delicious foodie treats and local crafts. Add in free local music performances and friendly stall owners who are always happy to chat, and you’ll see why locals love this place.
Linger in leafy corners
Evergreen Sydney is packed with leafy corners, and most of them are free to explore. Visitors can walk beneath towering palm trees at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, a favourite green oasis right in the middle of the city. If the botanical gardens are a little busy, head to Wendy’s Secret Garden instead. This smaller, but no less beautiful, green pocket was created by local artist Wendy Whiteley and is open to the public for peaceful walks and picnics.
Discover the city’s art galleries
If you’re looking to see art for free you’ve come to the right city. Some of Sydney’s best galleries don’t charge an entry fee. So, take a walk around the Art Gallery of New South Wales, which features one of the world’s largest permanent exhibitions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art. Or, gaze upon fascinating pieces in the Museum of Contemporary Art and the White Rabbit Gallery (home to a fine collection of Chinese contemporary art). If street art is more up your…street, amble down Newtown’s alleys to see an array of colourful murals.
Walk across Sydney Harbour Bridge
The world’s largest and widest steel arch bridge (the Coathanger, as locals call it) began life in 1923 and remains an icon of the city. It’s free to cross, whether you’re walking or cycling, and offers stunning views of the Sydney Opera House. For even better vistas, brave the BridgeClimb, a guided walk over the top of the bridge’s arch – it’ll cost you, but it’s worth it.
Unwind at the beaches
It wouldn’t be a trip to Australia without a trip to the beach. Happily, you can sunbathe on sandy shores and splash about in the water for free wherever you are in Sydney. Bondi Beach is probably the most well-known spot, and for good reason. This scenic strip of sand is ideal for casual swimmers and experienced surfers alike. Other attractions like the photo-worthy Bondi Icebergs Club pool and the top-notch collection of local restaurants only make this place even more enticing.
Join the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade
Taking place in February and March, the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras never fails to deliver. LGBTQ+ folk and their allies come from all around the world to join the various dance parties, parades, panels and performances that take place during this huge festival. While you’ll need to pay for some of the events, the historic parade – which first occurred in 1978 – is free to watch from the streets.
Discovery the city’s history
Visitors can discover Sydney’s fascinating history at various sites around the city. Head to the Rocks Discovery Museum for a free half-hour tour of the historic harbour district. Or, sail over to Cockatoo Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that housed a convict prison and shipbuilding yard back in the 1800s. To brush up on your Indigenous history, check out the free Australian Museum. Exhibits here feature thousands of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artefacts, including ancient bark drawings and hunting tools.
Explore Barangaroo
A former industrial area turned lively waterfront playground, Barangaroo is one of Sydney’s most recent attractions (work began to revitalise the area in 2012). It’s easy to spend an afternoon here, exploring the picturesque parks and art installations and fuelling up at various world-class restaurants. Guided Aboriginal Cultural Tours also illuminate the importance of the area in Sydney’s Indigenous history.
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