Cheap Things to do in Sydney in 2025

Looking for cheap things to do in Sydney? We have pulled together 20 things to do in Sydney on a budget so that you can still have a fun time without hitting the credit card too hard!

Before we start exploring, here are some quick money-saving tips I’ve learned as a Sydney local:

• Check the city council’s What’s On page for free events
• Get an Opal card for public transport
• Consider visiting attractions during off-peak times (usually weekday mornings)
• Pack a water bottle and snacks – Sydney cafe prices can be steep

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We present our budget travel bucket list of all the best things to see and do in Sydney without breaking the bank. Combine some of these with our easy to follow Sydney itinerary, and you can spend the savings on a couple of drinks with a view!

If you can think of some places we can add to our list, please pop over and share them in our Facebook Group.

Watch the Sunrise from a Sydney Beach

Starting your day with a Sydney sunrise is a magical experience that won’t cost you a cent. Here are my tried-and-tested spots:

• Turimetta Beach (Northern Beaches): My secret spot for photographers. The rock platform creates beautiful reflections at low tide.
• Bondi Beach: Arrive by 5:30am in summer (7:00am in winter). The Icebergs pool makes a stunning foreground for photos. For a budget breakfast after, try Speedos Cafe rather than the pricier Icebergs.
• Mahon Pool near Maroubra: Less crowded than Bondi, with dramatic rock formations. The local swim club meets here early morning – they’re always happy to chat with visitors.

Once you are done, grab a cheap breakfast and tackle the Bondi to Coogee walk.

Visit the Botanic Gardens

With its waterfront setting, 55 sculptures With its waterfront setting, 55 sculptures and 3,964 trees, Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens are worth a couple of hours of exploration.

• Free guided walks: 10:30am and 1pm Monday-Friday (no booking required, meet at the Garden Shop)
• Best picnic spots: Lawn east of the Opera House (harbour views) or Pioneer Garden (quieter)
• Dont miss:
  • The Calyx – Free exhibitions change twice yearly
  • Palace Rose Garden – Best in spring (October-November)
  • Oriental Garden – Peaceful spot with harbour glimpses

Aboriginal Heritage Tours run on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays (9:30am-11:30am) for $42 – expensive for a budget list, but worth mentioning for the cultural insights.

Ride a Sydney ferry to Manly

Do it late in the week (Fri-Sun) for $9.35 if money is tight. This 30-minute trip will cover a good part of the harbour, and as a bonus, you get to visit one of Sydney’s iconic northern beaches. 

Tip: Take the older green and yellow ferry for the classic experience, and sit on the right side going to Manly for Opera House views. In Manly, skip the tourist traps on the corso – locals head to Manly Fish Market on Wentworth Street for fresh fish and chips.

Find more great things to do in Manly while you are there

Take in some history of The Rocks

Sydney’s oldest area was home to the convict settlers on arrival and continued to house the working classes for the next 100 years. These days it’s mostly home to pubs, hotels, restaurants and shops, but thankfully many of the buildings have been preserved.

Some free highlights to check out:

• The Rocks Discovery Museum (open 10am-5pm daily)
• Foundation Park’s recreated workers’ cottages
• Weekend markets (10am-5pm Sat-Sun)
• Suez Canal stairway – one of Sydney’s oldest surviving structures

Try my self-guided walk around the Rocks to uncover some of the hidden gems.

Have a few drinks with your history lesson in one of these Rocks Pubs

Watch the Sunset from Mrs Macquaries Point

Mrs Macquarie’s Point is THE spot for your postcard shot of Sydney. It’s excellent at sunrise, but it comes alive at sunset. I recommend getting here at golden hour and hanging around for an hour or two. BYO picnic for a romantic date.

Take a walk in a national park

There are four great parks within easy reach of Sydney. If time is short, Sydney Harbour National Park has half a dozen trails within 15-20 minutes from Circular Quay. The Royal National Park and Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park are great options if you have a car. Two of my favourites at the Hermitage Foreshore Walk in the eastern suburbs and the track from Taronga Zoo to Balmoral Beach on the lower north shore.

There are three more national parks you can visit by public transport.

Take in the view from the top of the Sydney Harbour Pylon

For under A$30, you get a what has to be the best value view in Sydney. It’s almost as high as the one on the Bridgeclimb – the bonus here is you can take your camera with you.

A few tips to make the most of your visit:

• Allow about 45 minutes for the visit and museum
• Best time: Early morning for clearest harbour views
• Entry via the eastern pylon on the Harbour Bridge walkway
• Climb 200 stairs to the top (no lift available)

Check out this guide to walking across the Harbour Bridge

Visit an Art Gallery

Either the Art Gallery of NSW and it’s stunning new Sydney Modern or the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) – both are free; I prefer the Art Gallery of NSW because they have a tremendous Australian collection and the most extensive collection of Aboriginal art in Australia, but the MCA is an excellent choice if modern art is your thing.  

Both galleries offer free tours daily, and the Art Gallery of NSW is open late on Wednesday nights.

Here are twenty more museums in Sydney you might like to visit

Check out the secret tunnel at the Hero of Waterloo

One of the city’s oldest pubs, the Hero of Waterloo, is full of stories. Call in for a drink and ask the bar staff to fill you in on the famous underground cells.  You can read up on the history of the pub before you visit.

Stroll through Chinatown and eat a cheap meal

The two main food courts in Sydney’s Chinatown are the Sussex Centre at 401 Sussex Street and the Market City above Paddy’s Market (ground and top floor). Far from the dingy Chinatown food courts of old, these two spaces are clean and offer plenty of seating.

If you want to learn more about Chinatown and Sydney’s Chinese community, book a tour with Local Sauce.

Check out the free Fireworks at Darling Harbour

Along with the big NYE event, Darling Harbour puts on fireworks shows every Saturday night from April to October.    Check their What’s On page for any upcoming shows.

Check out our favourite places to eat in Darling Harbour.

Visit Glebe or Rozelle Markets

Each weekend, schools and church grounds across Sydney turn into markets where you can grab a bargain on a second-hand book or pre-loved piece of clothing.

Glebe and Rozelle are both short bus rides from the city centre. If you are looking for new gifts, try Paddington or Bondi; although these are more expensive, they have a great range of local small businesses.

Take a stroll and check out some excellent street art

These inner-western suburbs host hundreds of murals and are a must for anyone who is a fan of street art. 

There are also interesting shops and plenty of great eats to make this a brilliant way to spend a few hours. I have done a map of some highlights here.

Check out our list of 20 Fintan Magee murals in Sydney

Join a free walking tour of Sydney with I’m Free Tours

I’m Free Walking Tours offer three free tours a day, two general Sydney sites tours and one evening tour that focuses on The Rocks. All are free, although a donation of $10 per person is average.

Take the train to the Blue Mountains for $8.90

Sure, if you have the cash, a tour is an excellent way to see the Blue Mountains and several great tour operators visiting this area, but if you are on a budget, you can take the train and do it yourself for as little as $8.90 return.

Check out my guides on how to choose the Best Blue Mountains tours if you want someone to worry about the itinerary or if you prefer how to visit the Blue Mountains on your own.

Check out a few of the 20 or so pubs in Balmain

Balmain sits on the western side of Sydney Harbour and is a brilliant spot to glimpse Sydney’s historic architecture. While you are there, see how many of the 22 remaining pubs you can visit.

This one, The Exchange, is one of my favourites. The London on Darling Street is also on my list; its wooden bar is beautiful.

Visit South Head Lighthouse and The Gap at Watsons Bay

Take a ferry from Circular Quay to Watsons Bay and explore South Head; one side offers glorious harbour views and on the ocean side sheer cliffs and dramatic rock formations.

Take a walk along South Head to Hornby Lighthouse.

Take a swim at the historic Wylie’s Baths in Coogee

Wylie’s Baths opened in 1907 and has been a local favourite ever since. Besides being a National Trust listed building, it is also a great place to swim. You can find out how to get to Sydney beaches by public transport in this post.

Book a meet up with a Sydney Greeter

By far, one of the best cheap things to do in Sydney is meet up with a local. I am one of the founders of the Global Greeter organisation in Sydney. Sydney Greeters spent a few hours with visitors, showing them around their favourite parts of the city.

In this photo, Alice and Alex from the UK and I spent a few hours checking out street art and craft beer. Cheers, guys, if you are reading 🙂

Make sure you book your greet a few weeks before you plan to arrive, and for the best chance of getting a match, try to be flexible with your availability. We have more volunteers available on the weekends. Apologies for the slightly blurry photo; that’s a chance you take asking a stranger in a brewery to take a picture for you 😉

Check out the view from the Rooftop bar of the Glenmore

Head up on a Monday evening and get a cheap steak with your view.

Save even more with our list of free things to do in Sydney.

If you have not yet decided where to stay, check out of mega list of the best budget hotels in Sydney or if hostels are more your style, the Broke Backpacker has a great round-up of the best hostels in Sydney.

Now, where will you eat?

Have you been to Sydney? Do you have some ideas for cheap things to do 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.