Travel Tips for Sydney, Australia

Cost: €€ (expensive)

Safety: 5/5 for solo female travellers

I travelled to Sydney just before the Covid-19 pandemic and I must say it is a captivating and diverse city. It has beautiful beaches, iconic attractions and of course gorgeous weather. The vibes there are great, and locals are quite friendly.

I would recommend 5-7 days in this city, and if you plan wisely you will fit a lot in. Although I didn’t travel alone, I did partake in a few solo activities, and overall I felt safe.

Sydney is an expensive city, so be prepared to spend some dough!

How to get there

You can fly from Dublin to Sydney via Emirates, Etihad or Qatar, and the flight length will vary depending on the route and stop-overs (usually between 22-24 hours). The cost of flights will also depend on how long you are going for, when you book and the time of year.

Language, Currency & Weather

While English is the main language in Sydney, it’s important to note that Australia is a linguistically and culturally diverse country. The currency is the Australian Dollar.

The peak time for people visiting Sydney is summer (December to February) as this brings hot and humid weather. The weather is pleasant from September to November and February to May, so I would advise you to go during this time if very hot temperatures are not your thing (welcome to the club!).

June to August is winter, but temperatures remain decent (between 8 and 17 degrees Celsius).

Public Transport

Sydney has a great public transport network, and it’s a very straightforward city to get around. There are buses, trains, metro rail, light rail and ferries. I would advise you to purchase an Opal card while you’re in the city (at most shops and stations), and tap-on and tap-off when using services.

There is a train service that will bring you to and from the airport, taking about 15 minutes.

Where To Stay

Accommodation in Sydney is very expensive, so it can be hard to find the right spot, but it’s not impossible! When I was there, I used Airbnb to locate a place very close to Centennial Park.

If you are looking for luxury and wishing to stay in the city, I would recommend the Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel or Meriton Suites Campbell Street.

If you are looking for something a bit cheaper, I would advise you to book No 9 Springfield or ibis budget Sydney East.

If you are on a budget, there are lots of hostels to choose from, including YHA Sydney Central and The Pacific House.

It’s really important to do as much research as possible before you book accommodation in Sydney, to ensure you stay somewhere that has a suitable location for your itinerary and to ensure that you are comfortable.

Where To Go & What To Do

There is so much to do and see when in Sydney, so make sure you plan your trip properly and realistically.

I would highly recommend the beautiful Bondi to Coogee coastal walk, a visit to Manly on the ferry from Circular Quay and walking to Shelly Beach from Manly for an amazing paddle boarding or snorkelling experience.

It’s also an unforgettable experience to book sunrise kayaking around Sydney Opera House and under the Harbour Bridge.

I would recommend booking day trips from Sydney to Palm Beach (where Home and Away is filmed) and to the Blue Mountains (the three sisters are a must). You can get a train from Central to Katoomba for the latter.

Walk or cycle around Centennial Park as it is a lovely spot and if you’re in Sydney on a Saturday night, visit Darling Harbour for some fireworks.

What & Where To Eat

A day trip to the wineries in Hunter Valley is top of the list for me!

It’s also essential to visit Coogee Pavilion for some rooftop drinks and of course Marrickville for amazing Vietnamese food.

Newtown has great bars and live music, and if you want to go clubbing, Darling Harbour is the place.

For dinner and drinks, Platform 818 is delicious, with very good service. Meanwhile, Farmhouse Kings Cross is another great spot if you’re looking for something healthy.

For brunch, I visited Social Brew Cafe and the coffee, food and service was excellent, so I would definitely recommend this place. 

Happy travels!