Of all the places to visit in the world, Australia ranks high on the list of many travelers. If you plot out your itinerary like most people, chances are good you’ll be starting your trip in Sydney.
As one of the most vibrant cities in the world, it has plenty of cool spots worth exploring. We partnered with Expedia.com.au to bring you tips of the coolest neighborhoods and activities you can’t miss while you are in Sydney:
Central Business District
If you love neighborhoods that have plenty of energy and vitality, check out Sydney’s Central Business District on a Friday afternoon.
The feeling of release after a long work week is palpable at places like The Baxter Inn and Stitch Bar, where craft beer, cocktails, and wine flows freely.
Shoppers will find plenty of high-end shopping at QVB, which is home to retailers like Michael Kors, L’Occitane, and Swarovski, and foodies will love dining at top-end restaurants where the power brokers of Australia’s business community eat regularly.
Est Restaurant is a favored spot for these professionals, as its four-course menu features expertly cooked dishes such as pork jowl and spanner crab.
The Rocks
If history is important to you, spend a significant amount of time exploring The Rocks. Counting convicts and world explorers among its first residents, this neighborhood is home to the oldest building in Australia (Camden Cottage, built in 1816), cobblestone streets, weekend markets, pubs, and boutique shops.
If you aren’t fortunate enough to be around to check out the weekend markets, you can still check out the MCA museum to satiate your appetite for art.
With paintings, drawings, photography, sculptures, and other forms of visual art, it will tune you into Australia’s cultural side of the Land Down Under.
Balmain
Searching for a quiet but cool Sydney neighborhood where you can settle down in for a while? Take a long look at flats in Balmain.
A quick ferry ride from the centre, this inner-ring suburb has evolved over the years into a hub for those looking to lead an inspired urban lifestyle.
Along its main drag, you will find everything from hipster-filled coffee shops to delis and restaurants that focus on organic and whole foods.
Bondi Beach
Want to immerse yourself in Australian surfing culture? There is hardly a better place in Sydney to do this than at Bondi Beach.
In addition to watching surfers shredding up Bondi’s consistent swells, there is also plenty of room to work on your tan and to participate in the vibrant social scene for which this neighborhood has become famous.
If chilling out on the beach isn’t enough, there are plenty of bars, pubs, and nightclubs in the streets behind the beach to keep the party going after the sun has set.
Kings Cross
If you are searching for a more intense nightlife experience, you needn’t look any further than King’s Cross.
Though it does harbors a reputation for being a Red Light District, things have calmed down in recent years.
The days of organized crime’s involvement here may have passed, but you will still find venues such as The World Bar and Club and Hugo’s Lounge that will be absolutely packed on weekends with boisterous revelers.
Rocking out until the small hours of the morning, King’s Cross is heaven for dedicated club kids.
