Sydney Travel Guide

Sydney Travel Costs

Hostel prices – Hostels in Sydney are very expensive. Cheaper hostels can be found in the King’s Cross area. An 8-bed dorm starts around $26 AUD ($20 USD), while a 4-bed dorm starts around $33 AUD ($24 USD). Private rooms range between $80-120 AUD ($57-85 USD) per night depending on things such as location and whether the bathroom is shared or private.

Budget hotel prices – Hotel prices vary greatly in the city. If you want to stay in the center, you’re better off getting a private room at a hostel as the hotels are too expensive downtown. Most budget hotels begin around $90 AUD ($64 USD) per night for a single, and $150 AUD ($107 USD) for a double, and get more expensive the closer you get downtown ($200+ AUD/$142 USD). Check out Airbnb to rent from a local and get better value for a great location. You’ll find a lot better deals and, on a per person basis, be able to work out cheaper deals if you’re with a group. On Airbnb, a shared room in a home averages about $33 AUD ($24 USD) per night. You can find whole apartments starting around $105 AUD ($75 USD) per night.

Average cost of food – Cheap meals like sandwiches, burgers, and sushi can be found for under $14 AUD ($10 USD). If you cook your meals, expect to pay around $100 AUD ($71 USD) per week for groceries that will include pasta, vegetables, chicken, and other basic foodstuffs. An average restaurant meal will run you about $20-28 AUD ($14-20 USD) for no-frills eating. If you are staying in hostels, most offer family style meals each night for around $8 AUD/$6 USD (some offer “free” dinners but it’s usually crappy hot dogs and sausages).

Restaurants on the harbor will cost a bit more because of all the tourists and great views. Fast food is around $15 AUD ($11 USD) for a meal. The sushi trains around the city offer a filling meal for $10-20 AUD ($7-14 USD), the noodle and dumpling shops in Chinatown offer tasty and authentic meals for less than $10 AUD ($7 USD), and Lentil as Anything (a vegetarian restaurant in Newtown) offers meals on a “pay as you feel” system. Another cheap place to eat is the food court in the MLC Centre.

Backpacking Sydney Suggested Budgets

Sydney isn’t cheap, but since it’s the largest city in the country, there’s something here for every budget!

On a backpacker budget, you can do it for about $77 AUD ($55 USD) per day. This is a suggested budget assuming you’re staying in a large hostel dorm, cooking most of your meals at the hostel, and using the public transportation to get around. There’s also plenty of activities you could do within this budget, including visiting one of Sydney’s many museums or touring the town hall, or you can take advantage of free activities like hanging out at the beach.

On a mid-range budget of about $230 AUD ($165 USD), you’ll be able to stay in a budget hotel, grab some burgers and other western food (or eat lots of tasty stuff in Chinatown!), do more with your Opal card (like a ferry ride to Manly), and enjoy more expensive activities like the Sydney Zoo or a tour of the Opera House.

On a “luxury” budget of $505+ AUD ($360+ USD), you’re able to sleep at a ritzy 4-star hotel, eat all your meals at nice restaurants, do more extravagant activities (like the Sydney Sky Walk), and hire a rental car to get around!

Sydney Travel Guide: Money Saving Tips

Sydney is one of the most visited places in Australia and the prices are steep.

• Attend free local events – “What’s On Sydney” has a list of free and cheap current events. Check it out for the most up-to-date details.
• Walk the bridge for free – Taking a Bridgeclimb is $174 AUD ($124 USD) but you can walk across this icon for free!
• Couchsurf – Accommodation in Australia can be quite pricey. If you plan ahead, you can usually find really nice Couchsurfing hosts all throughout the country. This way, you not only have a place to stay, but you’ll have a local host that can tell you the best places to go and things to see.
• Work for your room – Many hostels offer travelers the chance to work for their accommodation. In exchange for a few hours a day of cleaning, you get a free bed. Commitments vary but most hostels ask you to stay for at least a week.
• Get an Opal card – This metro card is free – you just need to load it with money. It’s worth using for three reasons: first, it offers discounted fare compared to purchasing one use tickets (varies by distance); there’s a maximum fare charge of $15 AUD ($11 USD) per day; and on Sundays, a maximum of $2.70 AUD ($1.90 USD). That means you can go anywhere in the metro system on a Sunday and you’ll never pay more than $2.70 AUD ($1.90 USD)!
• Free walking tours – I Am Free runs a free daily tour of the city center and The Rocks, Sydney’s original settlement. Additionally, you can use Sydney Greeters (advanced booking required!), which is a free service that connects you with a local who will show you around their neighborhood!
• Visit the markets – Sydney has many amazing markets to walk through. At Paddington Markets (Oxford Street; open Saturdays after 10am), the fish market (Bank Street and Pyrmont Bridge Road), Bondi Farmers Market (Campbell Parade on Bondi Beach), the flower market (Parramatta Road), and a whole lot more seasonal markets, it’s really easy to spend a lot of time wandering and shopping. I love Paddington Markets and the farmers market the best — they draw an eclectic crowd, and the farmers market makes me want to cook nonstop.
• Explore the free museums – Australia has a lot of expensive museums, but it also has a ton of free ones. Some free museums worth considering: The Mint (a small exhibit on how they used to make money), Australia Center for Photography, White Rabbit Gallery (beautiful art), Manly Art Museum, Sydney Observatory, and the Rocks Discovery Museum.
• Get a phone plan – The telephone company Telstra has really improved their service and offers great phone packages that have great coverage throughout the country. Their call/text rates aren’t that high either, so the credit will last you a while. Vodafone has amazing deals (sometimes better) too but they have more limited coverage around the country.
• Drink goon (box wine) – Goon is infamous on the Australian backpacker hostel trail. This cheap box of wine is the best way to drink, get a buzz, and save a lot of money at the same time. 4 liters typically costs $13 AUD/$9.25 USD (compared to a six pack of beer for the same price). Drink this before you go out and save on spending money at the bar (where it is about $10 AUD/$7 USD per drink). Also, blow up the bag when you’re done and have a little pillow to rest your head on!
• Get free internet – The internet in Australia is painfully slow and expensive (just ask any Australian how they feel about this), but libraries and McDonalds have free WiFi that you can use.
• Cook often – The best way to reduce your costs is to cook as many meals as possible. ALDI is the cheapest supermarket in the country, followed by Coles and then Woolworths (though sometimes you don’t get a choice at which place you can shop it! Some small towns only have one!).
• Drink at backpacker bars – Drinking in Sydney is expensive – with beers costing up to $10 AUD ($7 USD) each – but the backpacker bars are where to go for a cheap pint. World Bar and Ivy Hotel have backpacker specials for 4-7 AUD, and the Peter Pan Travel Agency in Kings Cross has free drinks on Tuesdays!
• Save money on rideshares – Uber is way cheaper than taxis and is the best way to get around a city if you don’t want to wait for a bus or pay for a taxi. The Uber Pool option is where you can share a ride to get even better savings (though you can get your own car too). You can save $15 USD off your first Uber ride with this code: jlx6v.

Where To Stay in Sydney

Some of my favorite hostels in the world are in Sydney! Here are a list of my favorite places to stay in the city:

• Wake Up!
• YHA Rocks
• Base Sydney
• Asylum Sydney Backpackers Hostel

Avoid the Jolly Swagman! It’s a horrible place to stay.

For more hostel suggestions be sure to check out my list of the top ten hostels in Sydney. And, to find out exactly where in the city you should stay, here’s a post that breakdowns the best neighborhoods in Sydney.

How to Get Around Sydney

Sydney’s transport system is made up of trains, buses, and ferries. It’s easy to get around!

Bus – Like other major cities in Australia, bus fares depend on the number of zones you travel with adult fares beginning at $2.80 AUD ($2 USD). Fares also vary slightly based on the time of day and the number of passengers. The bus system is very comprehensive – many travel from Wynyard and Circular Quay and beyond. To get to Bondi Beach you have to take the 380 or 333.

You have to get an Opal card (or an Opal single use card) to use the system, but if you get a longer pass you’ll save money on each trip (for example, starting fares with an Opal card are $2.20 AUD/$1.55 USD). The card is free, you just have to load it with money, and there’s a maximum fare charge of $15 AUD ($11 USD) per day; and and on Sundays, a maximum of $2.70 AUD ($1.90 USD). That means you can go anywhere in the metro system on a Sunday and you’ll never pay more than $2.70 AUD ($1.90 USD)!!

Train – The City Circle is Sydney’s train that runs in a loop, stopping at Central, Museum, St. James, Town Hall, Wynyard, Circular Quay and Martin Place. It’s the best way to get around the city center! Like the bus, you can use Opal to pay for your ride.

Train prices are slightly more expensive than the bus. A single fare starts at $4.40 AUD ($3.13 USD), or $3.54 AUD ($2.52 USD) with the Opal card. Off-peak prices are lower, starting from $2.47 AUD ($1.76 USD).

Sydney also has a light rail that goes from Central Station to Dulwich Hill, and is good to use when you want to check out Chinatown or Darling Harbour. A single fare starts from $2.80 AUD ($1.99 USD) or $2.20 AUD ($1.57 USD) with the Opal card.

The airport express train is $18.70 AUD ($13.32 USD).

Ferry – Ferries run around Sydney Harbour from Circular Quay to a handful of destinations, including Manly, the Olympic Park, and Taronga Zoo. You can use your Opal card for ferry services (just the public ones), and fares start at $7.40 AUD ($5.25 USD) or $6.01 AUD ($4.28 USD) with the Opal card. Otherwise, you can purchase tickets from the wharf.

Bike share – There are a number of bicycle sharing programs in Sydney, including Mobike, oBike, and Reddy Bike. These companies allow you to use a mobile app to locate a bike share station and then use it for short distances. Prices vary, but the average is about $2 AUD ($1.40 USD) per 30 minutes.

Car rental – You can find a small car to rent in Sydney starting from about $50 AUD ($35 USD) per day. You’ll find all the usual car rental services here, like Hertz and Enterprise.

Taxi – Taxis are fairly easy to flag down but expensive. UberX has become a really popular form of transportation around the city and is about 40% cheaper than a taxi. You can save $15 USD off your first Uber ride with this code: jlx6v.

When to Go to Sydney

September to the end of November and March to May are the best months to visit Sydney. These are the shoulder seasons, when temperatures are pleasant and you don’t have to contend with the huge tourist crowds. Airline prices are also cheaper during this time.

September to the end of November is right before peak season, so there will be some crowded places. But overall the temperatures are between the low 50s°F (10°C) to the mid-70s°F (24°C). Fall season (March-May) is much the same, so you’ll want to pack a light jacket for those chillier days.

The high season in Sydney is December through February, which is Australia’s summer. Temperatures are often in the high 70s°F (high 20s°C) each day, so people flock here to take advantage of the heat. This makes it a very expensive time to visit!

How to Stay Safe in Sydney

Sydney is safe, even if you’re traveling solo, and even as a solo female traveler. People are quite friendly and helpful and you’re unlikely to get into trouble.

When in doubt, always trust your instincts. If a taxi driver seems shady, just stop the cab and get out. If your hotel or accommodation is seedier than you thought, leave and go somewhere else. Make copies of your personal documents, including your passport and ID, before you travel in case of an emergency. Also, forward your travel itinerary to friends or family so they’ll know where you are just to be safe.

As a general rule, if you don’t do something at home, don’t do it when you’re in Sydney. Follow that rule and you’ll be fine.

Most incidents around here tend to occur because visitors are not used to the Sydney’s unique climate, so be sure you have plenty of sunscreen, and stay as hydrated as possible. If you’re venturing out in the suburbs, you’ll have to take heed to wildlife. Be on the lookout for snakes and spiders, and if you’re bitten, seek immediate care. (Don’t worry though – all those horror stories about giant spiders and vicious animals are pretty rare!) Furthermore, if you’re swimming, heed the red and yellow flags. Yellow flags indicate swimming conditions may be dangerous; red flags mean the beach is closed. If you’re swimming in the ocean between November to May, only swim where there is a beach stinger net otherwise you risk getting stung by jellyfish.

The most important piece of safety advice I can offer is to purchase good travel insurance. Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. You can use the widget below to find the policy right for you:

Sydney Travel Guide: The Best Booking Resources

Below are my favorite companies to use when I travel to Sydney. They are included here because they consistently turn up the best deals, offer world-class customer service and great value, and overall, are better than their competitors.

• Momondo – This is my favorite flight search engine because they search such a wide variety of sites and airlines. I never book a flight without checking here first.
• Skyscanner – Skyscanner is another great flight search engline which searches a lot of different airlines, including many of the budget carriers that larger sites miss. While I always start with Momondo, I use this site too as a way to compare prices.
• Airbnb – Airbnb is a great accommodation alternative for connecting with homeowners who rent out their homes or apartments. The big cities have tons of listings! (If you’re new to Airbnb, get $35 off your first stay!)
• Hostelworld – This is the best hostel accommodation site out there, with the largest inventory, best search interface, and widest availability.
• STA Travel – A good company for those under 30 or for students, STA Travel offers discounted airfare as well as travel passes that help you save on attractions.
• Rome 2 Rio – This website allows you to see how to get from point A to point B the best and cheapest way possible. Just enter your departure and arrival destinations and it will give you all the bus, train, plane, or boat routes that can get you there as well as how much they cost. One of the best transportation website out there!
• EatWith – This website allows you to eat home cooked meal with locals. Locals post listings for dinner parties and specialty meals that you can sign up for. There is a fee (everyone sets their own price) but this is a great way to do something different, pick a local’s brain, and make a new friend.
• I Am Free – I Am Free runs a free daily tour of the city center and The Rocks, Sydney’s original settlement.
• Sydney Greeters is a free service that connects you with a local who will show you around their neighborhood! Advanced booking is required.
• World Nomads – I buy all my travel insurance from World Nomads. They have great customer service, competitive prices, and in-depth coverage. I’ve been using them since I started traveling in 2003. Don’t leave home without it!

Sydney Gear and Packing Guide

In this section, I’ll give you my suggestion for the best travel backpack and tips on what to pack when you visit Sydney.

The Best Backpack for Sydney

What’s the best backpack for traveling around Sydney? I recommend the REI Flash 45 Pack. It’s light and comfy, front loading, and fits perfectly in an airplane’s overhead bin.
Size: 45-47L
Straps: Thick and cushy with compression technology that pulls the pack’s load up and inwards so it doesn’t feel as heavy.
Features: Removable top lid, large pocket at the front, hydration compatible, contoured hip belt

If you want something a different backpack, refer to my article on how to choose the best travel backpack with more tips, advice, and backpack suggestions!

What to Pack for Sydney

Clothes

• 1 pair of jeans (heavy and not easily dried, but I like them; a good alternative is khaki pants)
• 1 pair of shorts
• 1 bathing suit
• 6 T-shirts
• 1 long-sleeved T-shirt
• 1 pair of flip-flops
• 1 pair of sneakers
• 8 pairs of socks (I always end up losing half)
• 5 pairs of boxer shorts (I’m not a briefs guy!)
• 1 toothbrush
• 1 tube of toothpaste
• 1 razor
• 1 package of dental floss
• 1 small bottle of shampoo
• 1 small bottle of shower gel
• 1 towel
• Deodorant

Small Medical Kit (safety is important!!!)

• Band-Aids
• Hydrocortisone cream
• Antibacterial cream
• Earplugs
• Tylenol
• Hand sanitizer (germs = sick = bad holiday)

Miscellaneous

• A key or combination lock (safety first)
• Zip-lock bags (keeps things from leaking or exploding)
• Plastic bags (great for laundry)
• Universal charger/adaptor (this applies to everyone)
• LifeStraw (A water bottle with a purifier.)

Female Travel Packing List
I’m not a woman so I don’t know what a woman wears, but Kristin Addis, our solo female travel guru, wrote this list as an addition to the basics above:

Clothing

• 1 swimsuit
• 1 sarong
• 1 pair of stretchy jeans (they wash and dry easily)
• 1 pair of leggings (if it’s cold, they can go under your jeans, otherwise with a dress or shirt)
• 2-3 long-sleeve tops
• 2-3 T-shirts
• 3-4 spaghetti tops
• 1 light cardigan

Toiletries

• 1 dry shampoo spray & talc powder (keeps long hair grease free in between washes)
• 1 hairbrush
• Makeup you use
• Hair bands & hair clips
• Feminine hygiene products (you can opt to buy there too, but I prefer not to count on it, and most people have their preferred products)

For more on packing, check out these posts:

• What I Pack For My Travels
• The Ultimate List For Female Travelers
• How to Choose and Buy the Right Backpack

Sydney Travel Guide: Suggested Reading

In A Sunburned Country, by Bill Bryson
It’s hard to pick just one book by Bill Bryson that’s good, because they all are. He’s one of the most prolific and recognized names in travel writing. This book chronicles a journey through Australia and takes you from east to west, through tiny little mining towns, forgotten coastal cities, and off-the-beaten-path forests. Bryson includes lots of trivia in his tale as he travels around in awe — and sometimes in fear (thanks to box jellyfish, riptides, crocs, spiders, and snakes) — of this enormous country. This is the book that inspired me to go to Australia.
 
 
The Thorn Birds, by Colleen McCullough
This is an Australian classic, originally published in the 70s, which follows the epic saga of a family living in sheep country in the Australian Outback. The story focuses on two main characters: Meggie Cleary with her forbidden love, and Ralph de Bricassart – a parish priest whose passion for Meggie haunts him. Even if this isn’t your type of book, it’s a really awesome insight into life in the Australian Outback (especially during the 70s).
 
 
 
A Long Way From Home, by Peter Carey
Irene Bob loves to drive fast, and her husband is the best car salesman in southeastern Australia. Together they decide to enter the 1954 Redex Trial – an endurance drive that circumnavigates the entire country. Willie Bachhuber, a failed schoolteacher, joins them. If they win their lives will be forever changed – but first they’re led out of the comfortable Australia they know so well and into an unexpected adventure full of twists and turns. Peter Carey is a two-time Booker Prize winner, and one of Australia’s most well known writers. Read this book!
 
 
Tracks: A Woman’s Solo Trek Across 1700 Miles of Australian Outback, by Robyn Davidson
This is Robyn Davidson’s memoir of her incredible journey 1,700 miles through the Australian desert to the sea, accompanied only by four camels and a dog. Davidson fends off sweltering heat, poisonous snakes, and dangerous men – all while wrangling her temperamental camels. It’s definitely one of those transformative stories that allows you to get super invested in the author as well as the severe Australian desert landscape. It has also been made into a great documentary!
 
 
 
The Songlines, by Bruce Chatwin
You can’t come to Australia without learning a little bit about the country’s Indigenous Australians. This is part travelogue and part autobiography, and one of Chatwin’s most famous books. Here, Chatwin searches the Australian Outback for the source of the Aboriginal “dreaming tracks,” the invisible pathways from which the Aboriginals’ ancestors sang the world into existence. The Songlines was an instant best-seller when it was published, and nowadays it’s a classic.
 

My Must Have Guides for Traveling to Sydney

How to Get Free Flights

This book shows you how to easily collect and redeem travel points so you can get free airfare and accommodation.

Conquering Mountains: The Guide to Solo Female Travel

Kristin Addis writes our solo female travel column and her detailed guide gives specific advice and tips for women travelers.

How to Teach English Overseas

This book features interviews with dozens of teachers and detailed information on how to land your dream job and make money overseas.

How to Travel the World on $50 a Day

My best-selling book will teach how to master the art of travel so that you’ll save money and have a more local, richer travel experience.