Why visit
Sydney is the Opera House and Harbour Bridge, Bondi and Manly beaches, the Blue Mountains, and a harbor city where ferries beat taxis for most routes.
Sydney at a glance
City population
5.4 million
Elevation
58 m
190 ft
Time zone
UTC+10 (UTC+11 DST)
Australia/Sydney
Airport
SYD
Kingsford Smith
Founded
1788 (first European settlement)
Getting around
Trains, light rail, ferries (iconic Manly/Taronga), buses
Signature dish
Meat pie, lamingtons, barramundi, flat white (invented here)
Neighborhoods for travelers
BondiSurry HillsNewtownDarling HarbourThe Rocks
Australia at a glance
Country center
-27.0°, 133.0°
Coast
Has coastline
Country area
7,692,024 km²
2,969,906 mi²
Country population
26.6 million
3/km²
Subregion
Australia and New Zealand
Currency
Australian dollar ($)
AUD
Dial
+61
Language
English
Demonym
Australian
Internet
.au
UN
Member state
ISO code
AU / AUS
Where in the world
-27.0° · 133.0°
Australia
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Did you know
- Sydney Harbour has 240+ km of coastline and is one of the world's great natural harbours.
- The Sydney Opera House has over 1 million roof tiles and took 14 years to build.
- Sydney was the site of Australia's first European settlement in 1788.
- Australia is the only country that occupies an entire continent.
- The Great Barrier Reef is the largest living structure on Earth: visible from space.
Traveler notes
- BridgeClimb over the Harbour Bridge
- Bondi to Coogee coastal walk (6 km)
- Day-trip to Blue Mountains (90 min)
Plan checks
- Build a three-day plan before extending. Most travel cities are easy to undersell to yourself.
- Check seasonal timing: high season can triple costs on some coastal destinations.
- Verify swim safety, ocean conditions, and water-quality reports by month.
- Reserve top restaurants 2–4 weeks out and plan two standout meals per city.
Explore more
Frequently asked about Sydney
What currency is used in Sydney?
Sydney uses the Australian dollar ($), ISO code AUD.
What languages are spoken in Australia?
The primary language is English.
What is the international calling code for Australia?
The calling code is +61.
What airport serves Sydney?
Kingsford Smith (IATA: SYD).
Other Oceania destinations
Queenstown
Queenstown is New Zealand's adventure capital. Bungee (where it was invented), Milford Sound day-trips, ski resorts, wineries at Gibbston, and Lake Wakatipu's setting.
Rotorua
Rotorua is Maori culture + geothermal landscapes. Te Puia geysers, hāngī feasts, redwood forest MTB trails, and Whakarewarewa living Maori village.
Auckland
Auckland spans two harbors and 48 volcanoes. Waiheke Island wineries, Piha's black sand, Rangitoto's lava fields, and a Polynesian-influenced food scene.
Nadi (Fiji)
Nadi is Fiji's international gateway and the hub for Mamanuca and Yasawa island-hopping. Small itself, worth a day before heading to the islands.
Australia
Australia is continental travel. Sydney Harbour, Great Barrier Reef, Uluru, Great Ocean Road, Tasmania's wilderness, and wine country at Margaret River. Distances are American-scale.
Fiji
Fiji is 330 Pacific islands. Yasawas and Mamanucas for beach-bungalow travel, Taveuni for rainforest, and some of the friendliest welcomes on the planet.