Looking for ways to experience the best of Sydney on a budget?
Like so many cities, Sydney can be an expensive city.
But, if you know where to look, there are plenty of ways to make the most of your time in Sydney while sticking to your budget.
Whether you’re after low cost things to do or free activities in Sydney, we’ve got you sorted.
Ride the Ferry
…and the bus, light rail, or train! Not a Sydney local or public transport regular? The first thing you’ll want to do is get yourself an Opal card.
When you top up your Opal card, it’s your ticket to Sydney’s public transport – simply tap on and off and you’re all sorted.
The benefits of using an Opal card include daily, weekly, and weekend travel caps, as well as discounts for off-peak travel. Find out more about Sydney’s public transport fares here.
Use your Opal Card to ride the ferry to Manly, the bus to Palm Beach, take the train to the Blue Mountains, and ride the light rail through the CBD.
Visit Trip Planner to start planning your Sydney day out.
Pack a Picnic
Dining out in Sydney can be expensive, but with so many fantastic parks, many with a harbour view, why not pack a picnic and enjoy some casual al fresco dining?
Simply head to:
Hit the Walking Trails
One of the best ways to experience Sydney is on foot… and with an extensive network of walking paths and trails, there’s plenty of fun to be had here.
If beach scenes are what you’re after, take the Bondi to Coogee walk and enjoy a swim at either end.
If iconic Sydney Harbour views is your cup of tea, take the ferry across to Taronga Zoo and walk the coastal track along to Bradleys Head. If you’re really eager, you can carry on all the way through to Manly. This stretch of harbourside bushland is part of the epic Bondi to Manly walk.
For a short but iconic Sydney walk, take the pedestrian walkway cross the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Experience Australia’s oldest National Park when you head out on The Coast Track in Royal National Park.
For a short walk serving up history and views, take the ferry to Watsons Bay and do the South Head Heritage Trail. Enjoy some fish and chips from Doyles or a drink at the Watsons Bay Hotel before heading back into the city!
Experience Art & History
Sydney is home to world-class art galleries and museums.
Here’s a few art galleries and museums you can visit in Sydney for free:
Note, these venues also host paid exhibitions and events as optional additional experiences when visiting.
Swim in the Ocean Pools
There’s nothing quite like starting your day with a swim in the ocean.
The tidal pools alongside Sydney’s harbour and beaches provide an ideal place to enjoy a swim.
For a swim in Sydney Harbour, head to MacCallum Pool at Cremorne on the north side of the harbour, Murray Rose Pool at Double Bay in the east, or Dawn Fraser Baths at Balmain.
For a swim in a beachside ocean pool, head to Bronte Baths in the eastern suburbs, Fairy Bower at Manly in the north, or Newport Rockpool on the northern beaches.
Visit the Beaches
Whether you like to lounge on the sand or swim in the waves, Sydney’s beaches are where it’s at. Pack your sunscreen and towel and get ready to enjoy the sunshine at one of Sydney’s best beaches.
The eastern beaches include Bondi, Tamarama, Bronte, Clovelly, Coogee, and Maroubra. Can’t choose? Walk between them on the Bondi to Coogee walk.
Head south and you can visit Cronulla beach, or one of the beaches in Sydney’s Royal National Park including Garie Beach and Wattamolla.
On the northern side of the harbour you’ll find Balmoral Beach. And heading around the heads to Sydney’s Northern Beaches you’ll come to many fantastic beaches including Manly, Freshwater, Curl Curl, Collaroy, Mona Vale, and Avalon.
Toast the City
For the cost of a schooner or glass of wine, pull up a seat at one of Sydney’s pubs or bars and enjoy the atmosphere… and maybe even a view.
If it’s an iconic Sydney view you’re after, head to the rooftop of the Glenmore Hotel in The Rocks, the Harbour View Hotel also in The Rocks, Watsons Bay Hotel, The Library Bar above the State Library of NSW in the CBD, The Ternary (inside Novotel) overlooking Darling Harbour, or Opera Bar at Circular Quay.
If you like your drinks with a side of history, head to The Rocks to visit the Fortune of War (Sydney’s oldest pub) or The Lord Nelson Brewery (Sydney’s oldest continually licensed hotel and Australia’s oldest pub brewery).
And if you want to soak up a bit of Sydney life outside the main tourist haunts, head to The Old Fitzroy Hotel in Woolloomooloo, the Courthouse in Newtown, or The Newport on the Northern Beaches.