Sydney Flights and Travel Guide

Sydney, the capital of New South Wales and arguably Australia’s most famous city, continues to bustle about with new businesses. Tourists booking flights to Sydney are headed for one of the most cultural cities in the world. Sydney is home to the Sydney Orchestra, the Sydney Opera House, the Sydney Jewish Museum, the world famous Australian Chamber Orchestra, and is host to the Australian Ballet.

While Sydney is the major focal point of Australia, it is also one of the most economical cities to visit. Sydney flights can be expensive, but compared to other major international cities, Sydney is one of the best cities for frugal travelers. Hotel rooms are generally less expensive than other major international cities like New York and Paris, and food, public transportation and attractions are generally cheap. In many cases, senior and student prices are almost always available. It’s possible for travelers to spend an entire week just touring Sydney. Thankfully, organized tours are available for those wanting to see the best of the city in a small amount of time before boarding a flight to another city in Australia.

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Sydney Climate

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When to Fly to Sydney

There is no bad time to book flights to Sydney and experience life "down under."

Peak Season:

The Sydney festival starts just after New Year’s and runs through January. The beaches are busy and plentiful — there are more than 20 beaches along the oceanfront and more around the harbor.

The summer Surfing Carnivals bring crowds to watch the surfing and other water-sport competitions. There is yacht racing on summer weekends, and the start of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race is on Boxing Day (December 26).

Off Season:

Comfortable to visit any time of year, Sydney is particularly enjoyable in fall and spring. There is a greater chance of rain in spring, but it usually clears quickly.

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Getting Around Sydney

Some of the best sightseeing is from Sydney’s buses and ferries. The By Sydney Explorer Buses stop at over 20 places of interest, By Bondi Explorer buses loop around harbor bays and beaches, and there’s Jetcat service to Manly.

Harbor taxis are a quick and convenient way to get to waterfront restaurants and harbor attractions, and they can be chartered.

State Transit operates the city's buses and the ferry network, CityRail runs the urban and suburban trains, and Sydney Ferries runs the public passenger ferries. A monorail connects the city center to Darling Harbour, and a light-rail (tram) line provides access to Chinatown, Paddy's Markets, Darling Harbour, the Star City casino, and the Sydney Fish Markets.

Driving is not necessarily a good option in the city itself—the one-way streets are confusing and parking is difficult. Taxis however are abundant and easily hailed.

Many enjoy the walk across the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and you can catch the CityRail train back into town. For the adventurous, a Bridge Climb tour takes you across catwalks and ladders to the top of the main arch for 360-degree views.

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Sydney Insider Information

• Lots of tourist activities in Sydney are all about the views such as climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge. There are panoramic views from Mrs. Macquarie’s (wife of Governor Macquarie) Chair, in the Royal Botanic Gardens (free to enter). The Open Air Cinema is close to the Chair. The big screen has the Sydney City Skyline, Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge as a backdrop.
• Taronga Zoo was opened in 1916 and sits on high land along the waterfront overlooking the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Cove and the Opera House. The zoo is just 12 minutes by ferry from the central business district. The Sky Safari cable car runs between the zoo wharf and the top of the zoo.
• The Rocks is Sydney's oldest preserved colonial area. It is where the first settlers from England landed in 1788. Today, having undergone a makeover, it is a thriving area of galleries, museums, restaurants, cafes and shops. Staying with settlements, Fort Denison was an unhappy place of punishment and confinement … for the convicts. It’s part of Sydney Harbour National Park and is open for guided tours.
• Take the Manly Ferry. Hop on at Circular Quay and cruise the seven nautical miles (takes about 30 minutes each way) to Manly, the suburb by the sea. There’s a lot to do there apart from going to the beach: several heritage walks, galleries and museums, regular festivals and more than 80 restaurants.
• For a view of the city and beyond, visit the Sydney Tower, 820 feet above the streets. High-speed double-decker lifts rocket up to the observation desk in just 40 seconds.
• And beaches. Don’t forget the beaches: Bondi, Manly, Coogee, Balmoral, Tamarama and Palm.
• The flight time from most international departure cities to Sydney is almost 18 hours. Travelers looking for cheap flights to Sydney should book flights on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Peak travel times -- during festivals or around the New Year -- will cause flights to Sydney to increase. For the ultimate traveler looking for cheap flights to Sydney, book flights on a lesser known airline (Air Canada, Gulf Air and Air New Zealand all fly to Sydney) or better yet, book a flight to Melbourne and make the trek to Sydney via bus or car.

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Sydney Airports

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