Sydney's natural assets – a harbour considered the most beautiful in the world, ocean beaches within 30 minutes of the city centre, a warm climate, and outdoor culture that makes full use of both – are so exceptional that the city could coast on them entirely. It doesn't: Sydney has also developed into one of the world's great food and arts cities, building on its natural advantages with genuine cultural confidence.
The Harbour
The Sydney Harbour is best experienced on the water. The Manly Ferry – a regular public transport service, not a tourist boat – crosses the harbour from Circular Quay to Manly Beach in 30 minutes, providing one of the world's finest commuter views for the price of a transit ticket. The coastal walk from Bondi to Coogee (6km, 2 hours) follows clifftops above dramatic Pacific scenery.
Sydney Opera House
Jorn Utzon's masterpiece is as good up close as it is from a distance. Tour the building (essential for understanding its complex engineering and acoustics) and attend a performance if anything is scheduled during your visit – the interior acoustic experience is part of the architecture's genius. Book concert tickets well in advance for major productions.
Beaches
Bondi is the famous one, reliably beautiful, reliably crowded in summer. Coogee is quieter with a similar landscape. Manly has excellent surf. Palm Beach, an hour north of the city, is where Sydney escapes when it needs to escape.
Food
Sydney's food scene is legitimately world-class, driven by the city's extraordinarily diverse Asian population. Chinatown and Haymarket for yum cha and Hong Kong-style roast meats; Cabramatta for the finest Vietnamese food outside Vietnam; Eastwood for Northern Chinese; and the inner suburbs for the contemporary Australian cuisine that combines these influences with exceptional local produce.