Everyone knows that Australia is not the cheapest place to visit. In order to help stay under budget, you’ll want to load up your itinerary with as many free activities as possible. Big cities like Sydney are great places to visit if you want to find lots of things to do and see that won’t break the bank. If you’re looking for ways to save money in Australia, here are 15 of the best free things to do in Sydney:
Walk across the Harbour Bridge
Yes, you’ll have to pay if you want to do the walk that goes up and over the top of the bridge. However, there is no fee to use the pedestrian walk across the bridge. For the best views, my suggestion is to get on the bridge at Milson’s Point and walk into the city.
Paddy’s Market
One of my personal favorites, Paddy’s Market is a giant market area with dozens of stands selling all sorts of goods. You can find all of your Australia souvenirs here for super cheap, along with clothing, jewelry, sunglasses, and other wares. Even if you don’t want to buy anything, Paddy’s is a fun place to just experience the madness.
Royal Botanical Gardens
The gardens are a great way to spend some time in the city. Right next to the Sydney Opera House, the Royal Botanical Gardens can’t be beat. Keep your eye in the sky to spot cockatoos and flying foxes!
Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair
While you’re in the Botanical Gardens, make your way out to Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair. This bit of rock carved into the shape of a bench gives one of the best views of Sydney Harbour.
Related » Where to Find Awesome Views of Sydney
Art Gallery of NSW
Located south of the Botanic Gardens, the Art Gallery of New South Wales is a great place to go if you need a little indoor time. There are several different collections of art, which can take a good amount of time to see. Admission may be charged for special exhibits.
Museum of Contemporary Art
This is another good option if you need to escape the outdoors for a bit. With a focus mainly on collections of international contemporary visual art, this museum will have a different feel than the Art Gallery of NSW. Free guided tours are also available.
Related » How to Appreciate Museums [When Museums Are Just Not Your Thing]
St Mary’s Cathedral
Even if you are not Catholic, this is a beautiful place to visit. The incredible sandstone architecture and the stained glass windows make a great stop. Free tours are given Sundays after mass, and you can find an exhibit on the First Australian Catholics in the Cathedral’s crypt.
Opera House Bathrooms
It does cost money to take a tour and see the interior of the Opera House. However, the lobby area is free to enter. Inside is a small gift shop with expensive souvenirs, but the real gem here is the bathrooms. The sinks are pretty cool.
Sticky Candy Demonstration
In The Rocks, locate the Sydney Visitor’s Centre. In this same building is a shop that hand-makes its own candy. Sticky has live candy making demonstrations every day that you cannot miss. It is fascinating to watch them get all those details into teeny bits of candy. Plus they give free samples!
Bondi to Coogee Walk
If you want more of an outdoorsy thing to do, check out the Bondi to Coogee walk. This walkway follows the coastline for 6 kilometres and offers some gorgeous views of beaches, cliffs, parks, and more. Make sure to lather on the sunblock!
Sydney Olympic Park
The Sydney Olympic Park was constructed for the 2000 Summer Olympics. Since then, it has become a place of entertainment. There are several trails to explore, as well as public artwork installations, playgrounds, and athletic parks. Admission to the park is free, but there may be charges for certain events and facilities.
Cockatoo Island
Cockatoo Island is a fun and educational place to visit within Sydney. Just a short ferry ride away, you can learn all about the many roles the island has played in Australian history. If you’re feeling ultra adventurous, try camping on the Island!
Manly Beach
It doesn’t cost a single dollar to lay on the sand and soak up that warm Australian sun. Check out Manly Beach for an easy-to-reach beach location. You can take a ferry from the city.
Free Walking Tours
Walking around is one of the best ways to orient yourself to the city of Sydney. There are several different companies in Sydney that offer free walking tours of the city. Depending on your interests, you can choose from several different routes. Just remember it is polite to tip your guide at the end of the tour.
Queen Victoria Building
This exquisite building was built in 1898, as a concert hall. Over the years, the hall became a library, and office space. Today, you’ll find it filled with high-end shops and restaurants. Even if you don’t plan on shopping, you have to at least walk through the QVB and take in all its architectural glory. It’s seriously gorgeous.
Looking for more to do in Sydney? Check out How to do Sydney in One Day. Or, try taking a day trip out to the Blue Mountains!
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32 Comments
Sydney is such an amazing place to visit! I can’t wait to go back, and love that there are so many free activities to check out, this is such a great list. I missed out on being able to walk over the Harbour Bridge, good tip for where to get the best views!
So those 15 things can take up at least a few days. I love free walking tours. Too bad you didn’t include free accommodation and food, lol!
I wonder why the rock is called Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair – who was that lady? You’ve got me intrigued with the Opera House bathrooms! Do you have a photo?
We like doing free activites as well. We are hoping to go to Sydney in the near future. We will make sure to use this guide as it looks pretty good.
This is a really great list. I could probably entertain myself for about four or five days fitting in only these free things! Sydney is such a gorgeous and fun destination, but I definitely spent too much money last time I was there. Next time, I will definitely squeeze some less expensive activities in, like these.
I think you have done a great job by putting together this helpful list. Sydney is a fabulous place and it really takes a lot of decide to decide on what to do and what you can’t afford to miss. You have penned down the best things possible. Thank you.
I also try to find a free walking tour in every new city I arrive it – sounds like you see some gems and find out some new facts in Sydney! I love the view from Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair – sometimes the best views you don’t have to pay for. If I ever make it back to Sydney I’ll definitely check out Paddy’s Market, as I love wandering through market locations.
Oh! Good suggestion! I like to do free walking tours too, but Sydney is a pretty easy city to figure out on your own 🙂
Great post! We’re all about all the free things to do. Is there a reason it’s called Manly Beach?! Hahaha!!
I’m not sure why they call it Manly Beach, but it is good for some giggles!
I lived in Sydney for 2 years and found lots of free festivals and hikes. So possible to have a blast without spending a dime!
i have been wanting to visit australia for quite some time now! I have a friend who lives there. Bondi beach looks amazing… now better do some research on the visa requirements…
Australia is on my list so I am pinning this for later. I would like to do quite a few things on this list, and, of course, that includes seeing the stick candy demonstration! How cool is that!
I always wanted to visit Australia after watching the movie Dil Chahta Hai, for those of you don’t know about Dil Chahta hai is Bollywood Movie with a Cult Following. I am Visiting Australia for sure and Sydney is Top in the List !!!
Sydney is expensive. Getting to do free stuff is an absolute pleasure. I would love to visit the art gallery at NCW. And definitely explore the queen Victoria building. Waling tours are another great way to see a place and if it comes free, then it is icing on the cake.
I feel like everyone should do a walking tour in a new city! I was pleasantly surprised when I was in Europe how informative they would be. Also by helping you get your bearings on the city! Sydney has definitely been on my list, if I could just make it over there!!
I was in Sydney for a wedding in february last year. The Bondi to Coogee walk was one of my favourite things to do there – we had such fun going to all the different beaches along the way – the coastline is really stunning! Seems like fro your post there was loads more to do that I never got round to!
Woohoo! Now this is what I call as super useful post for budget travellers like me. Never been to Sydney, but bookmaking it for future use…always good to save money while travelling 🙂
My best friend just booked a holiday in Australia last week. I will share these cool ideas with her. She’ll appreciate all your budget-friendly ideas, especially as the exchange rate is not currently in our favour.
These are some great tips. The Harbor bridge looks stunning and we are sure the vistas from the bridge will be worth it too. We always find it fascinating to explore the local markets so Paddy’s market will be our place to saunter around and collect some memorabilia. The view of Sydney harbor from Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair and the St Mary’s Cathedral architecture is remarkable and unmissable
This is such a great list, these are some of my favourite things to see too. though I have never been inside the Opera House and therefore not seen the bathroom and now I am very intrigued!!!!!
Though we have no plans to visit Sydney is near future but it’s great to see there is so much to do in the bustling city. This post is really useful for the budget traveler and glad to see so many free things to do. My friend works there will share this post with her.
Australia is on my list and this is a super useful post for travelers like me. I really need to bookmark this for future reference. To me, the most interesting are Bondi to Coogi walk and Queen Victoria building. This building looks beautiful.
I moved to Sydney last month 🙂 so I saw the most of these places. My favorite one was the St. Mary’s Cathedral and the view from Hyde park. Anyway I went to the Opera House bathrooms as well ahahah, not so bad at all…..anyway the fish & chips there is awful and extremely expensive 🙁 for the rest Sydney is so beautiful
Oh yeah! You never want to buy food around that area if you’re on a budget!
[…] for more to do in Sydney? Check out How to do Sydney in One Day and these 15 Free Things to do in Sydney. Or, try taking a day trip out to the Blue […]
[…] for more to do in Sydney? Check out How to do Sydney in One Day and these 15 Free Things to do in Sydney. Or, try taking a day trip out to the Blue […]
[…] Looking for more freebies? Check out these 15 Free Things to do in Sydney! […]
I’ve always wanted to visit Sydney for years! I was even supposed to be there two Christmas ago but had to put the idea on hold. This post made me rekindle that thought!
Go! Go! Go! It’s an amazing city and I love it dearly! Let me know if you need itinerary planning help 😉
I’m planning a travel to Australia, that incredible country. Thank you for sharing this tips. It will help me to enjoy this amazing place
Enjoy your time! Let me know if you have questions 🙂