40+ Fun Things to do in Sydney in 2024

Whether you are looking for things to do in Sydney for your next visit or a local looking for something different to do this weekend this list is a great starting point for finding fun and interesting things you can do in Sydney.

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Get out on the water

Captain Cook Cruises

Harbour Cruises are not just for tourists! As locals, we really enjoy being out on the Harbour, and Captain Cook really looks after their guests.

Captain Cook offer a number of premium dining and adventure cruises.

• Sunset Dinner 
• Lunch Cruise
• Sightseeing HOHO Boat

Oz Jetboating

Shark Attack Thrill Ride is a fun ride on the harbour that puts a whole new perspective on the icons with entertaining commentary and plenty of excitement.

Sydney Harbour Tallships

Sydney Harbour Tallships have two majestic vessels and are one of the best ways to see Sydney Harbour for active travellers. It’s also a great family outing, you can even take a turn at the wheel or climb the mast! The crew entertain with stories of the ship and the harbour.

A sunset cruise on a tall ship is a memorable way to spend a couple of hours on the water. The Twilight Dinner Cruise is a two-hour tour of Sydney Harbour complete with starters, salads, mains and desserts. You can also add a climb the mast experience or a 2 hr drinks package.

Take a walking tour

Local Sauce Tours

Local Sauce calls themselves Sydney’s “funniest” small group tours. Their tours focus on helping you see Sydney like a local, telling entertaining stories, mixing in some history and stopping at excellent, independently-owned bars, restaurants and cafes along the way. They also won an award at this year’s NSW Tourism awards for best cultural experience.

I have done most of the Local Sauce tours and always come away with some new places to take friends and learn new facts about the city. This is a great way to get to know your hometown a little better and find places to go back to next time you head out.

Sydney Secret Bar Tour – How long since you had a night out in the city? You will discover four small bars on these fun bar tours and learn about the city’s bar culture. Along the way, guides throw in some interesting history and more than a few laughs.

Explore either Darlinghurst or Surry Hills. We had a blast on the Darlinghurst tour and hope to book the Surry Hills one soon. If you want to explore the historic Rocks they offer a great cocktail tour in this area.

Their “Chinatown – Stories, Snacks & Secrets” that will help you discover half a dozen new places to eat and teach you about the history of Sydney’s Chinese community along the way.

Local Sauce also runs a Newtown food and street art tour that is perfect for discovering some of Sydney’s best murals. Or a visit to Fivedock to learn about Sydney’s Italian community and discover small businesses you will certainly want to go back to!

If you are visiting Sydney for the first time I highly recommend their Ultimate Sydney walking tour – it’s heads and shoulder above the others and the BEST walking tour of Sydney on offer!

Taste Cultural Food Tours

Taste Cultural Food Tours is a social enterprise that provides training and opportunity to migrants and youth and is possibly the best way to “travel” overseas without leaving home.

The tours mix delicious bites with engaging stories of food, history, and culture. Perfect for foodies like us missing overseas food-based trips!

We recently joined a tour of Hurstville and found some great new places to dine and enjoyed learning more about the traditions and superstitions of Chinese New Year.

These suburban experiences allow you to enjoy some cuisines you love when you travel; Vietnamese in Cabramatta, Indian in Harris Park, or tours that combine a mix of cuisines found in multicultural hotspots like Liverpool, Bankstown and Merrylands.

Taste also offers Barangaroo tours for those who want to get the lowdown on the best alternative places to eat in this new precinct.

Sydney Photography walks

Alfonso Calero offers beginner and intermediate smartphone and digital photography walks in the city centre. Three-hour daytime, night courses and sunset classes are offered for $99.

EcoWalks Tours

How well do you know the bushland that surrounds Sydney Harbour? EcoWalks has a number of guided walks that provide a great introduction to bushwalking or just a wonderful way to learn more about the landscape.

Most walks are 3 hours and suitable for Choose from Q Station Wildlife Meanders, Middle Head Battery walk – exploring military relics, Georges Head Walk or Curlew Camp Sydney Walk. Walks are priced from $39.

The Rocks Ghost Tours

It does not have to be Halloween to get your spook on, join this Ghost Tour of the Rocks for a Thursday to Saturday.

Skirting Sydney

How much do you know about the women who shaped our city? On this 2-hour walking tour Simon, your incredibly knowledgeable guide will tell the story of some of the city’s amazing women, from a convict who went on to become governor’s wife, to those who fought for women’s suffrage and equality, and those who challenged the status quo in business breaking glass ceilings before it even had a name. I loved this tour and highly recommend it.

Sydney Architecture Walks

How much do you know about the buildings you walk past across the city? With seven tours on offer, the guides at Sydney Architecture Walks (SAW) will help you discover so much about this wonderful city we call home.

Tours include Utzon and the Sydney Opera House, Modern Sydney, The transformation and regeneration of Ultimo or Chippendale and even a bicycle tour. I want to do them all!

Enjoy the arts at Sydney Opera House

Opera Australia

Buy tickets to see Opera Australia perform at the Sydney Opera House before the performance take a good look around the building itself.

Operas you can book tickets to include The Barber of Seville, Guys and Dolls on Sydne Harbour and Cinderella.

There is a good range of tickets options in Premium, A, B, C and D Reserve. D Reserve tickets are usually $99 (excluding Saturday night performances)

Australian Ballet

Enjoy a performance of the Australian Ballet at Sydney Opera House, this year they are performing Nijinsky, Carmen, Manon, The Sleeping Beauty and Prism.

BangaRra Dance

Opens June 2025 at the Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House

In 2025, Bangarra Dance Theatre presents Illume, a groundbreaking collaboration with visual artist Darrell Sibosado. Inspired by Sibosado’s Bard Country, Illume explores the significance of light in Indigenous culture through music, visual art, and dance.

It considers the impact of light pollution on First Nations’ connection to the sky. Illume premieres at the Joan Sutherland Theatre before a national tour.

Sydney Philharmonia Choirs

Sydney Philharmonia Choirs have 7 shows on their performance schedule this year. With tickets starting at $58

Outdoor Activities in Sydney

Make the most of your time outdoors with these great offerings

Beyond the Blacktop Hikes

If you have always wanted to go hiking in the Blue Mountains but feel you don’t have the experience to do it alone then Beyond the Blacktop is a great option.

Blue Mountains locals, Steph and Paul have recently started offering guided hikes of some of the best trails in the mountains including:

• Grand Canyon at Blackheath – 4 hours
• Round walk – Katoomba – 2 hours
• Butterbox Point – Leura – 3.5 hours
• Overcliff/Undercliff trail at Wentworth falls – 3 hours

All four walks offer you a chance to step off the tourist trail and learn more about the region from your guides.

Troll Tours

Jump on the back of a Harley or ride in style on a three-seater trike while you explore one of Troll Tours popular routes

• The Three Bridge
• Eastern Panoramas
• City Viewer

To book one of these or design your own day out (charges are by the hour), contact Troll Tours on 9568 3082.

Manly Kayak Centre

Hire a kayak or paddleboard and explore the north of the Harbour or paddle around to Store Beach for a swim. Manly Kayak Centre is right by the wharf and offers a range of options.

Eco Treasures

Eco Treasures offer paddleboard, kayak and snorkel hire and tours at both The Basin in Ku-ring-gai National Park and Manly.

Things to do in Sydney when it rains

Strike Bowling

Strike Bowling Locations at King Street Wharf, Chatswood, Castle Hill and the Entertainment Quarter.

Climb Fit

Climb Fit indoor climbing centres. There are centres at Kirrawee, St Leonards and Macquarie.

X-Golf

If the rain has you off the course you can still get your fix at X-Golf Indoor Golf Entertainment Centre. Suitable for golfers of all levels this could be a perfect time to see if you are a golfing natural. Casual play, comps, coaching & heaps of fun!

Holey Moley

Mini-golf Venues at Darlinghurst, Chatswood, Alexandria, North Strathfield Castle Towers and Penrith.

Meet the Animals

• Taronga Zoo – Taronga operates two zoos the harbour front zoon in Mosman and the safari style zoon in Dubbo.
• Symbio Wildlife Park – Symbio Wildlife Park
• Sea Life Aquarium – Explore the Sea Life Aquarium at Darling Harbour
• Featherdale Wildlife Park – Featherdale in western Sydney is a fantastic place to see native Australian animals.
• Wildlife Zoo Sydney – Planning a day in Darling Harbour? Pop this small zoo on your list
• Sydney Zoo – Sydney Zoo in Western Sydney is a great option for families.

Check out our detailed guide to animal and wildlife experiences in Sydney to help you decide which one to visit.

Find more great things to do in Sydney

• 33 Lookouts in the Blue Mountains
• An ABC of Gardens in Sydney
• The Best Day Trips from Sydney
• 21 of the Best Picnic Spots in Sydney

Have questions about things to see and do in Sydney?
Head over and join our Facebook Group and we will be happy to help.