If you’re looking for a way to spark romance in Sydney, you don’t need to look far, there are lots of fun romantic things to do in Sydney. As one of the most beautiful cities in Australia, there are plenty of ways to celebrate love from harbour sunsets to waterfront dining.

There’s nothing quite like putting in some effort to create a romantic evening or day out for your significant other, especially for an anniversary, but sometimes the pressure of creating the perfect date overwhelms. Well, don’t worry; we’ve got some great ideas that will help make the most out of this special occasion!

Whether you’re looking for a romantic date night, a get to know you first date idea or something to reignite the passion, we think you will find something in this beautiful city to suit.

We hope our romantic date ideas inspire you and who knows perhaps lead to you needing to read this article next 😉

1. Put a smile on your dial at Luna Park

For a date with a sense of fun, Luna Park has been a choice for Sydney’s lovers since the 1930s. It’s hard not to smile as you head through the famous face and into this harbourside amusement park. It’s the perfect romantic date location because it has a little something for everyone. 

The sparkling lights, the nostalgia of Coney Island with its wooden slides and the thrill of winning your loved one a ridiculous stuffed toy at the carnival games. 

What could be more memorable than walking through Luna Park with your significant other, taking in all the bright lights, sights, and sounds? 

Top off the night with a cuddle on the top of the Ferris wheel with the Opera House and Harbour Bridge sparkling below. 

Local tip: For a daytime, date take a picnic lunch and enjoyed it at Wendy’s Secret Garden.

2. Eat fish and chips on the “island” at Balmoral Beach

A simple but romantic thing to do in Sydney is to enjoy fish and chips by the sea. Bottom of the Harbour seafood at Balmoral is our favourite place for fish and chips. They offer both the decedent battered stuff and plenty of healthy fresh seafood options.

Once you have chosen your delights, head across the road to the beach and out onto Rocky Point Island. The island is connected to Edwards Beach by a bridge. From here, you have outstanding views of Middle Harbour.

Up the romance by taking one of Sydney’s most beautiful harbour walks to get there.

3. Wander the paths of the Royal Botanical Garden

A perfectly romantic thing to do in Sydney is to stroll through the Royal Botanic Gardens with your partner. When you enter the gardens, you’ll forget that you’re in one of the most populated cities in the country. 

The gardens are a calming oasis with plenty of hidden nooks to sneak a kiss. The views of the Sydney Harbour are hard to beat too! There are thousands of plants, birds, water dragons, and fruit bats that you can observe as you wander the many paths. 

Local tip: On-site restaurant, Luke Nguyen’s Botanic House offers a fun sharing menu for two

4. Spend the day, or the night at Taronga Zoo

What could be a better date for animal lovers than to visit one of the most beautiful zoos in the world? Taronga Zoo offers visitors picturesque views of the harbour and the privilege to see native and rare animals. While a day at the zoo is fun, you can add to your memories with either the Wild Ropes climb or a special experience like a koala encounter.

Dial-up the romance by booking the overnight glamping experience. This laid-back romantic date lets you and your date learn all about the species at the zoo, sit in on informative shows, or even pay to sleep in the zoo overnight. The glamping experience includes dinner, breakfast, and drinks. 

Tip: If glamping is not your thing they have stunning onsite accommodation that comes with a fine dining experience and up-close animal encounters 

5. Explore Australia’s oldest national park

A day walking in the Royal National Park, just 30km south of the city centre makes a fun date for lovers of nature. This park is the oldest national park in the country and offers an enormous variety of tracks that suit everyone from beginners to those who love a challenge. 

Find a secret waterfall, challenge yourself on the 26km Coast Track, discover a secluded beach or kayak at Bundeena. This park is huge and there is so much to do that we are sure you will find yourself heading back time and again. Check out our Royal National Park guide to plan your visit.

6. Climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge

If you and your partner are adrenaline junkies, climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge is sure to be one of the most romantic things to do in Sydney.

You’ll climb over 1,000 stairs while enjoying views of Sydney that you can’t get anywhere else. Choose from one of several climbing packages. There are daytime climbs, a twilight climb, and special occasion climbs that include food and beverages.

While this experience is a little pricey, it’s the perfect date to celebrate another year with your thrill-seeking partner. Check out these places to eat after your Bridgeclimb for a perfect end to the date.

Tip: Planning to propose? Let the staff know and they will help make it perfect.

7. Visit Carriageworks Farmers Market

You don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars to make a date romantic. A visit to the Carriageworks Saturday Farmer’s Market is the perfect day date that won’t cost you a cent unless you buy something. Mind you, resisting a purchase is tough, there is so much deliciousness on offer. 

You can stroll hand in hand with your partner, enjoying the many taste tests, chatting to the passionate vendors about their products and when you’re are done checking out the neighbouring Carriage Works arts venue in the historic railway sheds. If you’re looking to add a little more romance to your date, why not buy your date a bouquet of fresh flowers. 

The farmers market is the perfect mini-date too. You can spend time stopping at different vendors and choosing different products for an afternoon picnic 

8. Spend an evening dining and sailing around the Harbour

A classic romantic evening, fine dining by the water, but on a dinner cruise with Captain Cook Cruises, it comes with a harbour sunset and ever-changing view. This two hour dinner cruise takes you through the harbour while you enjoy a marvellous three-course meal.

This great couple activity in Sydney will allow you and your partner to enjoy a glass of champagne or your choice of other beverages while dining on delicious local food. 

Alternatively, book the GH Mumm Champagne Harbour Bar that includes a bottle of G.H. Mumm Grand Cordon Champagne to share between two and a seafood platter of Australian prawns, oysters, smoked salmon blinis and calamari to share.

Tip: Dial it up with an overnight harbour stay on a luxury yacht with Sydney By Sail. We can’t recommend this enough! 

9. Visit The Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA)

For art lovers, going to the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) is a great rainy day activity. Art has a way to captivate people, and you can talk about the works while learning more about your partner and how they view the art.

Admission to the permanent collection is free but exhibitions carry low or no charge. When you are done exploring pop up to the rooftop cafe where the menu is usually themed to match the current exhibition. The view from up here is pretty fabulous too. 

Tip: Keep an eye out for the MCAs Late program that offers rooftop DJ sessions and night viewing of their exhibitions. 

10. Take is a show at the Sydney Opera House

If your date has never been to the Sydney Opera House, taking them to a show will give them an experience they’ll never forget. 

There are different shows almost every night of the week. From ballet to concerts, and more, visiting the Opera House is a great way to make romance come alive. Be sure to snap a picture of yourself and your date with the opera house in the background for a special memento. Who knows, one day you may show it to your grandchildren! 

11. Spend the day at one of Sydney’s harbour beaches

For an easy and inexpensive date, you can spend a few hours at one of Sydney’s gorgeous beaches. Enjoy the relaxing sound of waves and the warmth of the sunshine. Consider strolling on the beach at sunset as one of the most romantic things to do in Sydney with your partner. 

You can have a picnic in the evening to watch the sunset or go the traditional route and have a full-blown beach day. Just don’t forget to pack snacks, water, and sunscreen. Many of Sydney’s beaches can be reached by public transport.

12. Learn to cook seafood

Last year we did a fun cooking class at the Sydney Seafood School. So many people do not know where to begin with cooking seafood. This class was loads of fun and we went home with 4 new recipes under our belt. 

After watching a demo, you head into the cooking stations with a few new friends and get to work cooking the dishes you have been shown. The school is at the Sydney Fish Market just on the edge of the Sydney CBD. 

13. Take a small bar tour

Sometimes booking as a couple on a tour can be a great first or second date. Being part of a group can relieve some of the pressure you may feel to talk straight up and you can plenty of conversation starters as you have someone else sharing stories and facts as you go. 

We love Local Sauce’s tour of Surry Hills. You visit 4 bars and learn the history behind Surry Hills and its sly grog scene of the 1930s. Even as locals, we have discovered new bars on these tours and met some really fun people too! 

14. Join a sunset photography class

No special equipment is required, these smartphone photography classes will teach you how to get the best out of your phone’s camera and help you discover the best sunset spots in Sydney. What could be more romantic than pastel skies and selfies with your hot date?

You will have plenty of chances to get up close while finding your best selfie angle and with someone else calling the shots you don’t get a chance to be shy! 

15. Spend a night at the theatre

From a blockbuster musical to a small independent production after the pretty horrid couple of years, we have had the arts community really needs our support. A lot like a movie date, you will have something to discuss after it’s over, but there is something a little more special about a live performance and it’s not something we do every day so that elevates it too. Check our What’s on pages for the current listings.

16. Explore a new suburb together

Sydney has a fantastic range of ethnic food and by day-tripping to another suburb, you can discover the food culture of its residents that can mimic the overseas trip you may be yearning for. It may also give you an insight into how adventurous your date is. Are they open to new things? 

Taste Tours is a non-profit that offer guided tours with an expert who knows the culture and food of the places your visit. Learn what to eat and the best places to find it from a local who shares their secrets.

17. Go horse-riding at Otford Farm

Escape the city and enjoy the beautiful views of the Illawarra Coast at Otford. The rainforest ride at Otford Farm is just south of the Royal National park. Take a rainforest ride to Kelly’s Falls in the park for 2 hours of fun and fabulous views.

The ride includes some river crossings and coastal lookouts, experienced riders also get a chance to gallop on the hills. Beginners can book a 1-hour ride or a lesson to test their feet.

18. Share cocktails with a view

Sydney has a growing number of rooftop bars where you can grab a drink and take in the view. From low key suburban rooftops to the swanky new Skybar at Crown Sydney, there is something special about drinks with these panoramic views. 

19. Stroll the inner harbour beaches on the Hermitage Foreshore Walk

Down on the waterfront at Rose Bay is a patch of bushland that hides some very cute little harbour beaches. The Hermitage Foreshore Walk is a 2km partly board walked stroll that winds around the shore to Vaucluse. 

Milk Beach is a lovely spot to stop for a picnic and a lovely place to watch the sunset behind the Harbour Bridge.

20. Do a gin lab masterclass

Gin seems to be the hottest drink in Sydney these days. The Four Pillars Bar in Surry Hills offers a Gin Lab Masterclass or a Gin Cocktail Class. Either choice will see you learning all about this timeline drink and having fun at the same time. 

For a more chill tasting head to Poor Toms in Marrickville where for $20 you can taste four of their gins and get a discount off any bottle, you buy at the end of your visit. Archie Rose Distillery in Rosebery and Manly Distillery also offer tasting experiences. 

21. Get the adrenalin plumping on a jetboat ride

Departing from Circular Quay a ride on Oz Jet Boats is sure to get your dates heart racing and set the mood for a fun date in Sydney.

Departing from Circular Quay the 30 minute Shark Attack Thrill ride is a great way to get your date off to an exciting site.

22. Find treasure at Glebe Markets

Fossicking the second-hand books and discover what interests your date as you go. It’s easy to strike up a conversation while shopping and who knows what interesting topics it might lead to. Not into books, Glebe Market offers treasure just waiting to find a new home. When you have finished shopping grab some lunch and enjoy the free performances by local musicians.

23. Cycle around Centennial Park

Hire a tandem bike and practice your teamwork. The park offers over 3.8km of dedicated cycle paths to ride around and plenty of lovely picnic spots to rest and recover. If you are not the organised type, there are five onsite dining spaces you can visit. 

Alternatively, if you prefer the open road you can take a bike ride in Manly – rent your bike from Manly Bike tours and hire on Manly Beach front. 

Tip: Centennial Park is home to Moonlight Cinemas the biggest of Sydney’s outdoor cinemas which run from summer to autumn. 

24. Dine at Darling Harbour

The new foodie hub at the southern end of Darling Harbour has loads of fun new dining options and there is something for every budget. Often on weekend evenings, there is free entertainment in the square and the atmosphere is usually buzzing.

Grab a drink from Bucket Boys and take a seat on the beanbags in the square while you decide which of the many restaurants to dine at. 

25. Take a ferry ride

Meet at Circular Quay and jump on the ferry to Cockatoo Island, Manly or even Parramatta. Sydney Harbour from the deck of a ferry is hard to beat.

We think this is the number one cheap date idea in Sydney. Check out our list of the top ferry rides in Sydney for some great days out.

26. Afternoon drinks at Opera Bar

Even locals love taking in the views of Sydney’s iconic landmarks at Opera Bar. The views never get old and the cocktail menu is great too. There is almost always afternoon and evening entertainment, so get here early, grab a seat and settle in to watch the sunset. 

Tip: Check out Badu Gili – the projection each evening on the eastern shell of the opera house. 

27. Take a sunrise swim in a Sydney ocean pool

Being on the east coast means very few Sydney beaches offer a sunset view, sure you get the pretty colours but unlike the west coast you can’t watch wake up in time. 

From Icebergs at Bondi Beach to the pretty picket fence pool at Bronte or the rustic Mahon Pool at Maroubra there are Ocean Pools all along the Sydney Coastline. Why not swim them all! 

28. Look up and discover Sydney’s best buildings

Take a stroll through Sydney’s CBD and see how many of the city’s finest architectural wonders you can find. Use our map to find them all.

Chat, observe, and see who is best at following directions.

29. Order in a romantic dinner for two

Whether you chose a meal that arrives hot and ready to serve or you decide to show off your culinary skills with a meal you need to add finishing touches to you will win brownie points with a fine dining experience at home.

30. Walk Australia’s Grand Canyon

Tackling the beautiful Grand Canyon bushwalk along the bottom of the Grose Valley in the Blue Mountains is a fun challenge for an active couple to complete together. It’s not an easy walk with quite a lot of stairs but it will deliver both spectacular views and lots of secluded romantic spot

Tip: if bushwalking is not your thing you could ride across the Jamison valley at Scenic World. 

Perhaps make a weekend of it and spend the night in one of the Blue Mountains most romantic hotels.

31 Take a coastal walk on Sydney’s Northern Beaches

Bondi to Coogee walk gets all the guidebook love but some of the most beautiful beaches in Sydney are actually on the other side of the Harbour Bridge. From Manly to Palm Beach there are 16 beaches and 14 rockpools.

You can string a bunch of them together on one of the many gorgeous beach walks so pick a beach and walk until you find somewhere that sings romance to you.

32. Unleash your inner artist at a boozy painting class

For a low-key but truly unique date, take a boozy art class. There are several sip and paint studios throughout Sydney to choose from. You can even do these virtually. This date idea is perfect for an anniversary date or even a first date. 

Sipping on wine as you paint will help reduce self-doubt for any nervous artist. During the class, you learn the basics of painting, and if you are anything like us you laugh, a lot! Enjoy the atmosphere while creating your masterpiece, and have conversations with your date in a fun and relaxing environment. 

Even if you’re not overly interested in learning to paint, this unique and fun anniversary idea in Sydney is going to be more memorable than a simple dinner and movie night. 

33. Learn about the Southern Skies at the Sydney Observatory

Stargazing in the night sky is another romantic activity. If you are in Sydney, then a visit to the Sydney Observatory is a top choice. However, if you are happy to take a drive west there is a fabulous tour offered in the Blue Mountains.

34. Book a Mystery Picnic

A romantic picnic with the added element of the fun of hunting down your picnic ingredients. AmazingCo has made a great game of the simple picnic. Choose from a number of different picnic settings and book your experience on their website.

Looking for a date idea for today? Check out our favourite picnic spots in Sydney in these beautiful parks across the city. Just throw a picnic blanket in your backpack and you are set to go!

35. Check out a comedy show

When it comes to fun date ideas sharing laughter comes pretty high on the list. 

With these simple but romantic things to do in Sydney, you’ll show your partner how much you cherish them on a day made for the two of you.

Want more ideas for romantic couples activities in Sydney?

See our list of 100 things you can do in Sydney at night