Free things to do · Sydney · Australia
11 free things to do in Sydney
Sydney without the ticket prices: sights, walks and views that cost nothing.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Nick Ang, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
You can fill at least 4 days in Sydney without paying an entry fee: Sydney Harbour Bridge, Bondi Beach, Royal Botanic Garden and Mrs Macquarie's Chair and The Rocks are all free. Opal fares cap automatically each day and week, and Sunday travel has a much lower cap, so save the ferry rides to Manly or Watsons Bay for a Sunday.
Key facts
- Free sights in this guide
- 11
- Low-cost extras
- 4
- Cost level
- Expensive
- Lowest hotel prices
- July–August
Free sights and experiences
Landmark · The Rocks
1.Sydney Harbour Bridge
Reach the footpath by the stairs from Cumberland Street in The Rocks, walk to Milsons Point and come back by ferry for a different angle.
- Time needed
- 1 hour walk; 3.5 hours to climb
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Views
- Active
- Photo spot
Beach · Bondi
2.Bondi Beach
Swim only between the red-and-yellow flags; the southern end has a well-known rip current that catches visitors every summer.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Outdoors
- Active
- Photo spot
Garden · Circular Quay
3.Royal Botanic Garden and Mrs Macquarie's Chair
Follow the waterside path from the Opera House to Mrs Macquarie's Chair early or late in the day, when the light is softest on both landmarks.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Views
- Couples
- Nature
- Kids
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Neighbourhood · The Rocks
4.The Rocks
Stop for a drink at one of the area's 1840s pubs, such as the Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel or the Hero of Waterloo, on the quieter western side.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Food
- Shopping
- Architecture
Nature · Eastern Beaches
5.Bondi to Coogee coastal walk
Start at Bondi in the morning so the sun is behind you, and pack swimwear for a dip in the Bronte or Clovelly ocean pools.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Active
- Views
- Photo spot
Gallery · The Domain
6.Art Gallery of New South Wales
Walk the short path between the two buildings and finish on the newer building's outdoor terraces, which look across Woolloomooloo to the Finger Wharf.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Gallery · Circular Quay
7.Museum of Contemporary Art Australia
Pair it with a wander through The Rocks next door; it is also the obvious shelter when a summer thunderstorm rolls in.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Rainy day
- Views
Museum · Hyde Park
8.Australian Museum
Combine it with a walk across Hyde Park to St Mary's Cathedral and the Hyde Park Barracks on Macquarie Street.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Kids
- Free
- Rainy day
- History
- Nature
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Architecture · Sydney CBD
9.Queen Victoria Building
Use the underground walkway that links the QVB with Town Hall station for a dry route across the CBD on a wet day.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Architecture
- Shopping
- Free
- Rainy day
- History
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Park · Barangaroo
10.Barangaroo Reserve
Walk from Barangaroo Reserve through Walsh Bay to The Rocks for a quieter harbour route than the crowds at Circular Quay.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Views
- Off the beaten path
Island · Sydney Harbour
11.Cockatoo Island
Catch a ferry from Circular Quay and bring a picnic, as food choices on the island are limited.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- History
- Free
- Off the beaten path
- Outdoors
Free sights by area
| Area | Free sights | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| The Rocks | Sydney Harbour Bridge and The Rocks | 1 hour walk; 3.5 hours to climb + 2–3 hours |
| Bondi | Bondi Beach | Half a day |
| Circular Quay | Royal Botanic Garden and Mrs Macquarie's Chair and Museum of Contemporary Art Australia | 1–2 hours + 1–2 hours |
| Eastern Beaches | Bondi to Coogee coastal walk | 2–3 hours |
| The Domain | Art Gallery of New South Wales | 2–3 hours |
| Hyde Park | Australian Museum | 2 hours |
| Sydney CBD | Queen Victoria Building | 45 minutes |
| Barangaroo | Barangaroo Reserve | 1 hour |
| Sydney Harbour | Cockatoo Island | 2–3 hours |
Worth a small ticket
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Experience · Manly
Manly ferry and Manly Beach
Sit on the outside deck on the right-hand side as you leave Circular Quay for the closest views of the Opera House.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Views
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Couples
Historic site · Macquarie Street
Hyde Park Barracks
Don't skip the top floor, where rows of hammocks recreate the convicts' crowded sleeping quarters.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Nature · Watsons Bay
Watsons Bay and South Head
Walk to Hornby Lighthouse first, then return to the waterfront for the sunset over the city skyline.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Outdoors
- Couples
- Off the beaten path
- Photo spot
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Garden · Darling Harbour
Chinese Garden of Friendship
Finish with a pot of tea in the teahouse overlooking the lake, then walk into Chinatown and Haymarket for lunch.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Off the beaten path
- Couples
- Nature
- Photo spot
More ways to save
- Opal fares cap automatically each day and week, and Sunday travel has a much lower cap, so save the ferry rides to Manly or Watsons Bay for a Sunday.
- Many headline experiences are free: the Harbour Bridge walk, the Botanic Garden, the Art Gallery of NSW, the MCA, the Australian Museum and the coastal walks.
- Parks and beaches have free public barbecues and water fountains, so a supermarket picnic is an easy cheap meal.
- Sunday and public-holiday restaurant surcharges are typically about 10–15%; eat out on weekdays to avoid them.
- BYO restaurants let you bring a bottle from a bottle shop, which costs far less than ordering wine.
- Hotel prices peak from mid-December to January and around Mardi Gras and Vivid; winter weekdays are the lowest-priced time to stay.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Sydney expensive to visit?
Sydney is expensive for most visitors, but 11 of its best-known sights are free, which makes a tight budget workable.
+What is the best free thing to do in Sydney?
Sydney Harbour Bridge: Reach the footpath by the stairs from Cumberland Street in The Rocks, walk to Milsons Point and come back by ferry for a different angle.