Expensive but possible on a budget, Sydney is spectacular for its natural beauty, enviable for a fun, relaxed culture, and relatively easy for solo travelers.
Sydney is a culture hound's heaven and a natural gateway to Australia. It's situated on the largest natural harbor in the world, offering miles of coastline and beaches. The Blue Mountains are about two hours away by train for dramatic hiking trails and small town exploring.
This post will help you eat, sleep, and explore Sydney on a budget. And the timing for the post is right – New Year's Eve is coming soon and Sydney is one of the best places in the world to celebrate. Sydney is known for its fantastic fireworks display over Sydney Harbour.
Best Time to Visit Sydney
Because I don't like humid heat, I try to avoid Sydney in January and February. However, if that's your thing, it's a great time to go. December, the first month of summer is only slightly cooler but worth the heat for things like the holiday season and New Year's fireworks. Fall, winter, and spring are all quite comfortable during the day and drop down during the night. June, July, and August are the coolest months ranging from 17°C (63°F) during the day to 9°C (48°F) overnight.
Getting Around Sydney on the Cheap: Public Transport and More
- Take public transit. To turn Sydney into budget Sydney, start by taking public transit. From ferries crisscrossing the harbor to an extensive subway system to buses, public transit is, after walking, the cheapest way to get around.
- Use your Opal Card to save more. An Opal Card is the tap pass you can use to pay for public transit in Sydney. You can buy an adult pass at most convenience stores and newsagents. You tap in and tap out every time you use transit. With the Opal Card there is a cap on how much you pay: $17.80 a day, $50 a week, or $8.90 on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays. Plus, there's a 30% discount when traveling on weekends, public holidays, and outside of the peak times. Get the full details here.
- A harbor tour for about US$5.00. Tour Sydney Harbour by the ferry transit. Join locals who use the ferry to get around and get a tour of the harbor at the same time.
- Walk and soak in the city. Budget Sydney definitely includes walking, which is great because there are so many wonderful neighborhoods to explore. High on my list are:
- The Harbour Bridge north to Kirribilli and Blues Point which includes the Secret Garden.
- The Harbour Bridge south to the Sydney Opera House (currently celebrating 50 years), The Royal Botanic Gardens, and Art Gallery of NSW.
- The Harbour Bridge south to The Museum of Contemporary Art and The Rocks for shopping (markets Friday, Saturday, and Sunday).
- Neighborhoods such as:
- Surrey Hill
- Chippendale
- Glebe
- Kirribilli
- The Rocks
Sydney on a Budget: Cheap and Free Things to Do
- Take a free tour:
- Sydney Greeters. Whatever your interests, with luck, you’ll get a volunteer tour guide who shares them and will show you their beloved Sydney.
- I'm Free Tours of Sydney. Free tours but it’s important to tip – I think $5 is the minimum.
- Government House. Guided tours run every 30 minutes from 10:30 am to 3:00 pm most Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. The tour takes 45 minutes and is free. Check the website for occasional closures. Identity such as a passport is required.
- Sydney iVenture Card. The Ultimate Sydney Attractions Pass will save you money on a variety of attractions from the Sydney Opera House to jet boating. This link takes you to a full range of Sydney activities.
- Museums. Watch for free visiting times for many of the museums in the city.
- The Museum of Contemporary Art offers free entry to their permanent collection. I like it because it focuses on local artists.
- The Maritime Museum. The permanent collection was free but it seems now there is a charge. It's still an interesting museum that should be considered.
- The Art Gallery of New South Wales. Almost everything is free and it's right near the Botanical Gardens, which are also free.
- The Queen Victoria Building. This isn't a museum but rather a stunning historical building turned into a high-end shopping mall. Go to level 3 to watch the clock chime on the hour.
- The Sydney Opera House. Tickets to the opera in Sydney are somewhat more affordable than in many cities. But there is so much more that goes on at the Opera House, from small lectures to comedians. It's really worth checking out their schedule while you're there. If you want, you can simply take a tour of this fabulous building.
- Go to the beach. Enjoy Sydney on a budget at the beach! There are many beaches accessible by ferry and public transit from Sydney including:
- Manly Beach
- Balmoral Beach
- Bondi Beach
- And many more here.
- Go hiking in the Blue Mountains. Go on a Sunday and the trip will be just $2.50 return. Read Beyond Sydney: Bushwalking in the Blue Mountains.
- Top of the Shangri-la. It's free to enter, buy a drink or not, and enjoy the view of Sydney Harbour. It's especially dazzling at night.
- Top of the Old Clare Hotel. When you're in Chippendale, maybe grabbing a meal at Spice Alley, go to the pool/bar at the top of the Old Clare Hotel for a cold drink.
- Take in a free event. There are events throughout the year and many of them are free. Here are just a few:
- Sydney Festival – January
- Mardi Gras – March
- Biennale of Sydney – March to June
- New Year's Eve Fireworks – December
- Check out What’s On Sydney for events when you're there.
And watch for the Sydney Harbour HighLine coming soon.
Traveler Recommended Things to Do In and Near Sydney, Australia
Dayle – Definitely catch a train down to the Illawarra, Wollongong and Kiama area. Lots of beaches, ocean pools, and walks that are totally free and not as busy as Sydney itself.
Tracy – for a short stay you can do the BridgeClimb of Sydney Harbour Bridge. It was super fun and not as difficult as it may seem. I was 63 when I did it and I was just fine! You can also go to the Taronga Zoo and take in a concert at the Sydney Opera House.
Annette – To explore Sydney on a budget, catch the train to Cronulla then the ferry to Bundeena for a beach day. Or walk along the footpath to Bass and Flinders Point. Or both would be better! You can take the ferry from Circular Quay to Watson’s Bay then walk to South Head for great Harbour views. If you’re into art, there is a great little gallery at Gymea (by train) called Hazlehurst, which has some interesting exhibitions and a good cafe.
Helen – If you have a long haul flight, go straight to Coogee Beach and stay for a few days to recover from any jet lag. The sea air and relaxed vibes work wonders.
Julia – Book a tour of Cockatoo Island. Or, go in winter (late May-mid June) when VIVID is taking place. This festival of lights is a real stunner and much of it is free.
Affordable Dining Options on a Budget in Sydney
- Save on tipping. Tipping is appreciated but not necessarily expected. If you want to tip, 10-15% is considered generous, which is certainly less than in North America. It should be noted that the wait staff is generally better paid in Australia than North America.
- BYO and save. Many restaurants in Sydney allow you to bring in your own wine. They'll likely charge you a corkage fee of $1.50 to $3.50 per head or per bottle. Here's a list of 60.
- Pack a lunch from a specialty store or market. The beach is a big thing in Sydney as are parks and gardens as noted above. Pack a lunch from one of the many specialty food stores or markets and have a picnic in the fabulous outdoors.
- Enjoy a full dinner on a budget in Sydney. Here are a few recommendations by neighborhood.
- The Rocks – The Rocks Markets are held every Saturday and Sunday for great “art, beats and eats”.
- Kirribilli – Pizzeria Rio, Fitzroy Street.
- Blues Point – The Point Deli, Blue Point Road.
- Chippendale – Spice Alley has a wide variety of Asian cuisine in a really fun space.
- Seafood is a must in Sydney. Go to the Sydney Fish Market to see the mongers selling their wares and enjoy a fabulous selection of fresh sushi and other delectables for lunch.
- Time Out's recommendations for cheap eats. Check out Time Out magazine's current list for cheap eats in Sydney here.
On the map below:
- Blue – city features to explore
- Green – hostels recommended by readers
- Purple – hostels and cheap options outside the city center
- Orange – hip or unique hotels
Best Places to Stay in Sydney on a Budget
Budget Recommendations by Solo Travelers
Sydney Harbour YHA The Sydney Harbour in the Rocks YHA Hostel has a great location in a central area in the city with many things that you will want to see and do nearby. The hostel’s rooftop and BBQ area feature a stunning view of the city, the harbor, and the iconic Opera House. The hostel is only a few years old and is quite modern inside. There is a large kitchen for guests with lots of storage space for food. Each bed has its own light and power plug and each bed has its own large-sized locker with a shelf for smaller items. Inside each locker there is also another power plug so you can charge your devices while they are securely locked away.
Sydney Boulevard Hotel For its location in the Sydney central business district you really can't beat the price. You can walk to many of the major Sydney attractions from this hotel, and if you can't, several bus and train stations are within a 5-10 minute walk as well. It's clean, the staff are friendly, it has great restaurants (although a bit pricey at times), and if you want to pay a bit extra for a harbor view room, the view is amazing!
More Accommodation Suggestions for Sydney and Surrounding Beaches
Hip or Unique Hotels
- The Old Clare Hotel (Chippendale)
- The Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel (The Rocks)
- Mrs. Banks Hotel (Paddington)
Where to Stay in Sydney's Great Beaches and Suburbs
Hostels & Budget Hotels
- Coogee Bay Hotel (Coogee Beach)
- Sandy Bottoms Guest House (Manly Beach)
- Blues Point Hotel (North Sydney)
- Cremorne Point Manor (North Sydney)
- YHA Hostels in and Around Sydney (there are many)
