Sydney Harbour
Sydney Harbour
5
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Monday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Wednesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
About
Secluded beaches, quiet coves and soaring headlands predominate this harbor, which is considered one of the world's most beautiful.
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Top ways to experience Sydney Harbour
The area
How to get there
- Circular Quay • 6 min walk
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Best nearby
Restaurants
4,067 within 5 kms
Attractions
804 within 10 kms
See what travellers are saying
- Kelly O19 contributionsLots to see and do.Lots to see and do. Ferry travel out of this harbour along with many tour boats, as well as the city trains and light rail. Shopping in the area along with many restaurants.Visited March 2023Written 19 March 2023
- marriott946London, United Kingdom674 contributionsAt Last!!!For years I'd seen the New Year fireworks from the bridge, I'd admired the architecture of the Opera House, then I went to Sydney to see for myself. A long journey from the UK. Was it worth it? Oh yes 10 times over. Climb the bridge and visit the Opera House is my advice.Visited March 2023Travelled with friendsWritten 23 March 2023
- PigletWinnieAndRooHampton, United Kingdom1,051 contributionsLargest harbour in the world!This is the largest harbour in the world and can be appreciated from many aspects. View it from the Bridge Walk or on a ferry. E.g. there are inexpensive ferries to Manly for $8 each way. You can take a ferry tour which is more extensive or go on the excellent Bridge Walk. Around the Rocks and Circular Quay, there are too many restaurants and bars to choose from. So far everyone of the staff and other visitors have been warm and friendly. I guess a lovely climate and great views helps! Have I had a great time in Sydney and it’s Harbour? Yes!Visited April 2023Travelled soloWritten 31 March 2023
- Tony PBrisbane, Australia3 contributionsBYO boat and see the best with low costsWe drove from Queensland with our 23 foot motor cruiser and stayed on Sydney Harbour with their own transport and accommodation at a very low cost. It was phenomenal fun. From your own boat the harbour is wonderfully accessible. We could run a short in our tenders and walk to the main to instructions. We also got to go to some beach is that just aren’t accessible any other way. We left the boat trailers at Kssing Point right on the Parramatta River and had no hassles.Visited March 2023Written 6 April 2023
- Hazeleyes_vdmToronto, Canada69 contributionsSuper lovely sight for tourists and localsSydney Harbour is just great. One of Sydney's must see for almost all first time visitors. Comes with the Opera House view too and a lot of shops, eateries snd souvenir shops right within the central business areaVisited April 2023Travelled with friendsWritten 21 April 2023
- ntjsmithLancaster, United Kingdom163 contributionsAn true Australian experienceWalked around the harbour on a recent business trip, absolutely stunning from Darling harbour right around under the bridge to the opera house and the Botanic gardens. A must for any visitor to Sydney. There was even an Angus Young impersonator playing all the back catalogue from AC/DC on the harbour front and stalling selling BBQ crocodiles, Emu and Kangaroo a truly Australian experienceVisited June 2023Travelled on businessWritten 23 June 2023
- centralvicBallarat, Australia551 contributionsDifferent views from different sides.For the iconic photo shown here, go to the other side of the Gardens, on the way to Mrs Macquarie's Chair. Walk along the fence line and you'll find the ideal spot. But, remember to do the other side too! Both are an amazing sight, whether close up or further away.Visited August 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 9 August 2023
- PamGolden Valley, Minnesota22 contributionsWorth every penny.It was a great tour. Great tour guide. So thankful it was a covered vehicle since it was raining. The only thing is that the crew prepared a meal for the next set of customers which smelled SO good it made me hungry. Minor issue. Nice overview of the harbor. Definitely worth the price.Visited November 2023Travelled soloWritten 4 November 2023
- Smita SinghSingapore, Singapore4 contributionsjust wowMind Blowing spectacular and magical maritime museum that shares stories of the sea. Visited Darling Harbour to explore tall ships and beautiful boats, diving under the sea on a submarine, discover contemporary exhibitions and enjoy creative family activities. Duration: 2-3 hoursVisited April 2023Travelled soloWritten 18 December 2023
- leuveenUnited Kingdom1,284 contributionsA beautiful spotA beautiful spot full of interesting things to do. You can either walk around, admire the architecture (or the bridge!), take photos of the top attractions, visit one of the many pubs and restaurants or just sit down and take a break.Visited February 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 24 February 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
21,972 reviews
Excellent
18,034
Very good
3,520
Average
381
Poor
26
Terrible
11
Ethan M
New York City, NY7 contributions
Sept 2023 • Friends
Busy area with a lot of tourists around. It's one of the must visit places in Sydney. Advised to visit during early hours to avoid the crowd and get better pictures. The views are beautiful and worth the hype. 5 stars from me. Highly recommended.
Written 13 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Boomer
Jupiter, FL95 contributions
Apr 2023 • Couples
Sydney Harper was a great area to visit we stayed at the Hyatt on darling Harbor visited the zoo the Botanical Garden many restaurants the Chinatown District and Market everything was fantastic and people were friendly all over we would go back in a heartbeat
Written 12 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jbushman2017
Nipomo, CA492 contributions
Mar 2024 • Couples
Sydney harbor offers some of the best sights and views of any harbor in the world. With Opera House, the bridge and the different ferry destinations you can spend a day riding around on them. If our are a tourist that wants to ride on the ferries around the harbor you can book a private ferry boat. The easiest way, however to ride around on the harbor is to take her public ferries. You get on an off of them with a simple credit card so do not need to buy tickets in advance. Secondly, on weekends the ferries have a cap of $10 dollars, so if you use a credit card to ride the ferries, after the card has been charged $10 it will not charge you again, and all the rides you do the rest of the day will be free included the trams and buses.
Written 9 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Di P
Sunshine Coast, Australia7 contributions
Mar 2024 • Couples
Sydney Harbour is certainly one of the wonders of the world.
So easy to get around on ferries.
Beautiful views.
The ferry system is very easy to navigate with signage.
Easy to tap on & off with your Opal Card.
So easy to get around on ferries.
Beautiful views.
The ferry system is very easy to navigate with signage.
Easy to tap on & off with your Opal Card.
Written 9 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
need2trvl
Miamisburg, OH471 contributions
Jan 2024 • Couples
There are so many places and ways to enjoy Sydney Harbor. We enjoyed it by car, cruise ship, ferry, and walking different times of day and vantage points. We really enjoyed the area and park under the Harbor Bridge for a great view of the Opera House (especially at night). Walking along all the Pier by the Pier One Hotel was great early morning or night. Ferry you can see Cockatoo Island, UNESco Convict site. Loved watching people climb the Harbor Bridge. Another great location is by the Opera House. Enjoy!
Written 5 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ilovkpop
london78 contributions
Feb 2024 • Family
Went to view the Harbour bridge and Sydney opera House. Weather wasn't ideal, but couldn't be helped. Naturally, a very busy area , with lots of visitors and camera phones. The views are well worth it though.
Written 4 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Aruna Gunawardena
Colombo, Sri Lanka4,084 contributions
Mar 2024 • Friends
One of the iconic places in Sydney. Filled with tourists. Lots of bars and restaurants. Souvenir shops. Very expensive
Written 2 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mathis
Sydney, Australia14 contributions
Feb 2024 • Family
A nice view and lively atmosphere, perfect for a weekend getaway with the family. From waterfront dining to interactive museums and entertainment venues, there's something for everyone to enjoy. Explore the vibrant atmosphere and attractions for a memorable family weekend at Darling Harbour.
Written 28 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
leuveen
United Kingdom1,284 contributions
Feb 2024 • Couples
A beautiful spot full of interesting things to do. You can either walk around, admire the architecture (or the bridge!), take photos of the top attractions, visit one of the many pubs and restaurants or just sit down and take a break.
Written 24 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chris P
6 contributions
Feb 2024 • Couples
A great place to visit by taking ferry from Circular Quay out across the harbour. We went to place near the entrance to harbour and saw cruise ship departing.
Written 9 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Middo
Aberdeen, Australia12 contributions
Accomodation with veiws of Sydney opera house
chiangmaicharlies
Chiang Mai, Thailand5,653 contributions
Sorry, I cannot help you with that one. Try the local tourist office.
I see on the terms and conditions you can queue up at 9am.. is it necessary to get there early? Do you think its possible to find a spot to eat and drink, then head over around 11pm for the fireworks?
patriciaphillips6
Sydney, Australia18 contributions
Yes the earlier the better to find a spot and reserve it
Macht es Spaß?
Joan G
Paramaribo, Suriname134 contributions
It is fun & lots to do in the Harbour.
Lindy N
Preston11 contributions
We're coming over for 3 weeks. We have a lot to pack in but have 2 days in Sydney. I want to get in a harbour cruise as it's the best way to see the harbour I'm told. Do we need to book it before we come or are the queues fast moving? Don't want to queue half a day to get tickets as I don't want to miss any other things. What do people recommend? -and what else should we see apart from the opera house, harbour cruise... giving harbour bridge walk a miss doe to vertigo. But is there anything I'm missing? Thank you :)
Rodney W
Guyra, Australia409 contributions
You can get on cruises pretty quickly as there are a fair few operating with some having shows etc
We have been a few times and easy to get on might wait for 30 min to hour.
The ferry is also another way of seeing lots of the harbour as can stop at various points for photos and is very inexpensive. We were surprised how much we saw on the ferry’s.
There is lots to do zoo, museums, restaurants, live shows, underwater world, Luna park for kids, casino you will be able to get lots of information from circular quay or darling harbour.
There are lots of short trips on buses and trains and if you search what’s on in Sydney will give you lots of options for sight seeing or thrill seeking depending what your into.
Hope this helps
Regards
superbReviewer
Singapore, Singapore116 contributions
Where is the best spot to view Sydney opera house and Sydney Harbour Bridge? is it from Mrs Macquarie's chair?
night or day is better?
Samjam1949
Melbourne, Australia82 contributions
For the opera house and bridge photos, Take the Pyrmont Ferry. You get good views of the opera house from the water. You actually go under the bridge, and get the iconic view of the opera house below the bridge at two of the stops before Darling Harbour.
For passing shots of the opera house and long shots with both the opera house and bridge take the Manly ferry (this trip will also provide you iconic shots of the harbour, Sydney heads).
Frances S
Seaford, NY71 contributions
Where is the cruise port located ?
Nonapama
Kincumber, Australia1,057 contributions
There are 3 wards for international cruise ships that I know of being Circular Quay, Darling Harbour & Garden Island. If it's a local cruise you are looking for then Circular Quay is where most of the Ferries & Cruises leave from.
dema2dgalata
Surabaya, Indonesia1 contribution
transportasi apa jika ke opera house dan berapa biayanya
YuditaC
Madrid, Spain540 contributions
Hay que reservar para subir al puente? Cuanto cuesta? Existe algún requisito para poder hacerlo? Gracias!!!!
Meisterjaeger
Hildesheim, Germany2,546 contributions
Yes, you have to book in advance! It is quite expensive, about 300 AUS$. More details here bridgeclimb com
Please check my review, I also listed other options for a cheaper great view.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Sydney Harbour
- According to Tripadvisor travellers, these are the best ways to experience Sydney Harbour:
- Sunset and Sparkle Sydney Harbour Cruise (From ₹ 2,725.09)
- Sydney Harbour Sunset Dinner Cruise (From ₹ 6,061.73)
- Sydney Harbour Hop On Hop Off Cruise with Taronga Zoo entry (From ₹ 4,745.95)
- Sydney Harbour Dinner Cruise (From ₹ 7,729.23)
- Sydney Harbour Ferry with Taronga Zoo Entry Ticket (From ₹ 4,152.60)
- Hotels near Sydney Harbour:
- (0.35 km) Park Hyatt Sydney
- (0.32 km) Pullman Quay Grand Sydney Harbour
- (0.49 km) The Russell Boutique Hotel
- (0.47 km) Harbour Rocks Hotel Sydney
- (0.60 km) Four Seasons Hotel Sydney
- Restaurants near Sydney Harbour:
- (0.14 km) Aria Restaurant Sydney
- (0.13 km) Opera Bar
- (0.19 km) Bennelong Restaurant Sydney
- (0.17 km) The East Chinese Restaurant
- (0.17 km) Portobello Caffe
- Attractions near Sydney Harbour:
- (0.24 km) Sydney Opera House
- (0.26 km) Ocean Extreme
- (0.25 km) The Opera House to the Botanic Gardens Walk
- (0.26 km) Sensational Sydney Cruises Pty Ltd
- (0.27 km) Thunder Jet Boat Sydney