Where is the best area to stay in Sydney?
By Klyte Longeron. Aug 10, 2021
Sydney is one of the most beautiful cities in the world – positioned on the magnificent harbour, the city offers unparalleled harbour and city landscapes. Sydney is a destination for all – there are beautiful beaches, iconic monuments, world-class restaurants, historical sites, fantastic shopping, and most of all, the friendly people.
Sydney CBD is the best area to stay as you can visit all the main tourist sites by foot. The CBD has everything you need for a stunning stay – some of the best hotels, restaurants, museums, incredible shopping and interesting and fun attractions for families, are all within easy reach.
To experience other parts of Sydney, there are many appealing inner city suburbs to stay, where you won't need a car, as you can explore by foot. For families, Darling Harbour is definitely the spot to stay – with all the best attractions for kids and adults. For the arts, nightlife, fashion and a hip vibe, Surry Hills, Darlinghurst and Potts Point are the places to stay.
If you'd prefer a more relaxed, beach holiday, then head out of the city to Manly, Coogee or Bondi Beaches. For business travellers, Mascot near the airport, or Darling Harbour with the Convention Centre, are perfect bases. Randwick, to the east of the city, is ideal for horse race lovers with the Royal Randwick Racecourse at it's heart.
Sydney is the most visited city in Australia. The most famous icons, rising from the harbour, are the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House. Stroll from Circular Quay to the Opera House, you will find harbourside bars and restaurants, perfect for a cocktail or meal with spectacular views. Take a guided tour, or see a performance, at the Opera House.
Darling Harbour is a hotspot of entertainment and dining and the best area to stay for families with children. A short walk from the CBD, this is where you will find all the main family tourist attractions - the three main attractions are the Sea Life Sydney Aquarium, Wild Life Sydney Zoo and Madame Tussauds.
Surry Hills is an inner suburb of Sydney and is a great place to stay for people interested in the arts, culture and nightlife. It has a dynamic, artistic and hip village vibe and it's tree-lined streets are filled with funky cafés, bars, restaurants, galleries and boutiques.
Darlinghurst, an inner Sydney suburb, is a hub of activity and entertainment day and night. By day, browse through the boutiques and eclectic shops along the suburb's main street – Oxford Street. You will find recyled luxury fashion, independent boutiques, art galleries, as well as excellent cafés and restaurants. By night enjoy the electric nightlife, the area being one of the most lively night spots in Sydney.
With the once notorious « red-light » area Kings Cross at it's southern end, to grand mansions and trendy restaurants, Potts Point, 2 km East of the city, is a habourside suburb popular with the rich and famous. Potts Point is Sydney's first deliberately built suburb and is rich in history. There are fashion boutiques, art galleries, book shops and theatre spaces to explore, and for history buffs, a visit to Elizabeth Bay House is a must. Elizabeth Bay House was, in the 1830's, known as « the finest house in the colony ».
Australia's most famous beach, Bondi Beach, is a 1 kilometre stretch of golden sand, a 30 minute bus ride from the city centre. Bondi is synonymous with surf and surfers can be seen catching waves from before sunrise to after sunset. Hire a board and try your luck at catching the waves. Other beach lovers watch the sunrise from the sand with coffee in hand, or from one of the sea pools during a refreshing early morning swim.
For a more relaxed family beach destination, Coogee is the perfect spot. 8 kms from the Sydney CBD, Coogee Beach is less crowded than Bondi Beach and offers calmer surf and four seawater pools for safe swimming with children. Due to it's calmer waters, it is also popular for snorkelling and scuba diving. Wedding Cake Island – a rock platform1 km out to sea off the south end of Coogee Beach - protects the beach from big swells.
Manly Beach is in the Northern beaches area of Sydney, a 30 minute scenic ferry ride from Circular Quay in the CBD. From the ferry, the Manly Corso pedestrian mall, lined with a huge variety of shops, from Aboriginal art galleries to ice-cream, surf and souvenir shops, takes you to the main beach. Stretching 2 kms North to South, Manly Beach is renowned for surfing and was the site for the world's first surfing contest in 1964.
A 20 minute bus ride to the south-east of the inner city, Randwick is well known for its Royal Randwick Racecourse, which hosts the famous Australian Derby and Spring Racing Carnival. If you love horse racing, or the just enjoying a glamorous day out at the races, this is the perfect place to stay. Randwick is also home to the heritage listed Ritz Cinema – built in 1937 it is one of the last art deco cinemas in Sydney and hosts everything from independent films and film festivals to the latest Hollywood blockbusters.
If you only have a short stay in Sydney, or you are in town for business, Mascot is the ideal place to stay. With good hotel and accommodation options, conveniently close to the airport for flights and with fast and efficient transport links to Sydney CBD and all the tourist attractions, Mascot is a good base for business or pleasure stays.
Parramatta is counted as the second CBD for Sydney, with many local and international companies having set-up offices there, making the city perfect for business travellers. Parramatta is also a fabulous cultural melting pot and offers delicious dining experiences with choices from all over the world from a myriad of cafés and restaurants.
Klyte Longeron
WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE PLACE TO STAY?