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Sydney wasn’t necessarily at the top of our bucket list to visit, but we weren’t going to visit Australia and skip seeing the iconic Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Plus, we love a good city and heard there are plenty of fun things to do in Sydney!
Like every city, Sydney has its popular sights you should see at least once: the Opera House, the harbour, Bondi, and more. But after you’ve checked those off the list and taken your quintessential tourist photos, you may be wondering, “What next?”
The moments beyond sightseeing are when we, as travelers, truly get to know a city. While yes, big cities like Sydney can blend together if you visit several, certain things stand out once you dig beneath the surface. A city really shines once we start finding those fun, unique, or sometimes quirky things to do that are not on everyone’s itinerary and can be tailored to our specific interests. Funnily enough, these are often the most enjoyable and memorable parts of our trip.
So if you are looking for fun things to do in Sydney beyond the usual sights, and you enjoy games, shows, fun cocktail bars, delicious food, and an overall good time, this list is for you!
Quick note: A few of these experiences are best booked in advance, so be sure to keep that in mind when planning. Escape rooms, shows, popular bars, and the harbour cruise can all fill up, especially on weekends.
Visit White Rabbit Gallery, Then Stay for Tea and Scones
White Rabbit Gallery is one of Sydney’s more unexpected cultural stops, especially if you want something beyond the city’s larger museums and famous landmarks. Its exhibitions are unique and fascinating, with artwork that tends to be unusual, thought-provoking, and sometimes unsettling.
Located in Chippendale, the gallery focuses on contemporary Chinese art and regularly rotates its exhibitions. When we visited, the gallery was showing the Black Myth exhibition, and it included some of the most interesting art installations we have seen.
Give yourself enough time to take it in and read more about the artwork so you understand what you are looking at. When you do, you will appreciate the pieces a lot more.
Do not leave right after seeing the exhibition, because one of the best parts is having tea and freshly baked scones in the Tea House on the bottom floor. The White Rabbit Tea House serves Chinese and Taiwanese teas, dumplings during certain times, and their well-known house-made scones with jam and cream.
It is the perfect opportunity to slow down after wandering through the exhibitions rather than immediately rushing to the next attraction.
Planning Tips
- Admission is free.
- Gallery hours: Wednesday through Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Tea House hours: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with dumplings generally served from 11:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Allow for at least two hours to get through the gallery and have tea.
- White Rabbit has two exhibitions each year, so check the current exhibition and any closure dates before visiting.
Sail Sydney Harbour on a BYO Sunset Cruise
Yes, a Sydney Harbour cruise is not necessarily unique, and you can likely find it on most tourist itineraries. But it is true that seeing Sydney Harbour from the water belongs on everyone’s itinerary.
Instead of an expensive dinner cruise or a super touristy sightseeing cruise, we recommend booking a smaller BYO sunset cruise. We did the Sunset and Sparkle Sydney Harbour Cruise, and it was our favorite evening in Sydney.
This is a one-hour cruise aboard a 35-foot catamaran, with a small group of up to 26 travelers. It sails past the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge as the sky changes from sunset colors to city lights. The smaller boat and more relaxed atmosphere made it feel much more personal than a large sightseeing cruise.
The cruise includes a grazing platter, water, and soft drinks. You can also bring your own alcoholic beverages with no corkage fee, which is a great way to enjoy the harbour without paying for an expensive drinks package.
Planning Tips
- The cruise departs from Man O’War Steps, near the Sydney Opera House.
- Arrive 15 to 20 minutes before departure.
- The maximum group size is 26 travelers, so it feels more intimate than a large harbour cruise.
- Cruises operate in most weather conditions, but if conditions are unsafe, guests are offered another date or a full refund.
- A sunset cannot be guaranteed because Sydney weather has a mind of its own, but even an evening harbour cruise with the city lights coming on is a beautiful experience.
If you are traveling with a larger group, you could also look into a private BYO boat charter. But for couples, solo travelers, or smaller groups, this cruise is a much easier and more affordable way to experience the harbour at sunset.
Go on a Sydney Cocktail Bar Crawl
One of the things that moved Sydney up in the ranks for us as an enjoyable city was its cocktail-bar scene. There is no shortage of bars, and many have their own distinct theme, style, or specialty. A cocktail bar crawl can make the night feel a little more special than grabbing a drink at the closest pub.
A few of our favorite cocktail bars in Sydney include The Baxter Inn, Maybe Sammy, Curtains Jazz Club, The Barber Shop, and One Tap.
For more details on where to go, what to expect, and which bars to choose based on the type of night you want, check out our full guide to the best cocktail bars in Sydney.
Planning Tips
- Use our full Sydney cocktail-bar guide as a starting point for planning your bar crawl.
- Keep an eye out for happy hours across the city.
- Find cocktail bars that specialize in your favorite spirit.
- Find cocktail bars within walking distance of each other, which is fairly easy with clusters throughout the city.
- Keep your crawl to two or three bars so you can actually enjoy each place.
- Have dinner before you start, or plan a late-night food stop in Haymarket or Chinatown afterward.
Restaurant-Hop Your Way Through Haymarket
Sydney may not be the first city people think of for one defining local cuisine, but its multicultural food scene is absolutely worth building part of your itinerary around.
If you want a memorable food night in Sydney, head to Haymarket and make an evening out of hopping between different eateries.
Haymarket is one of the best areas of the city for travelers who want to eat their way through multiple cuisines, try foods they may not normally order, and keep the night flexible. You can find dumplings, noodles, barbecue, skewers, hot pot, desserts, bakeries, bubble tea, and plenty of options for a late-night meal.
Planning Tips
- The best planning tip is not to plan too much.
- Our strategy is to search for cheap eats on Google Maps in the area and pick the places with good reviews.
- If you are with multiple people, plan on sharing so you can get a little taste of everything.
- Start with something small, such as dumplings or skewers, before moving on to noodles, barbecue, or another main dish.
- Save room for dessert, bubble tea, or a final late-night snack.
- If one place has a long wait, do not stress. The whole point is that there are plenty of other good options nearby.
Play Pinball and Arcade Games at Beercade Australia
If you love games and a casual, fun night out, Beercade Australia is for you! Beercade is home to a rotating lineup of retro arcade games and pinball machines, including more than 30 arcade and pinball options. They also serve beer and other drinks to enjoy while you play.
This activity is especially good for couples looking for an easy date-night idea and groups of friends who need an activity beyond dinner. It also makes the perfect option for a rainy day.
Beercade is located on Regent Street in Redfern, only a short walk from Redfern Station, so it is easy to reach from the CBD, Surry Hills, Newtown, and other inner-city neighborhoods.
Planning Tips
- Our biggest tip is to go earlier in the night or during a weekday to avoid bigger crowds and actually enjoy playing games.
- You can use $1 or $2 coins, or purchase tokens at the counter with cash or card. Most games cost $2.
- Check current opening hours before visiting, as Beercade is generally open Wednesday through Sunday.
- This is an easy activity to pair with dinner in Redfern, Surry Hills, or nearby Chippendale.
Spend a Day in Newtown and Enmore
Newtown and Enmore are our favorite neighborhoods in Sydney to spend a casual day exploring. There are several cute shops for art, antiques, books, records, thrifted clothes, and other second-hand finds. Walking the streets feels like you are in one of Sydney’s most creative neighborhoods, with independent stores, street art, casual bars, and plenty of personality. It is just the vibe we love.
This part of Sydney is ideal for travelers who like vintage shopping, independent stores, records, quirky gifts, bookshops, creative energy, and the type of neighborhood where you can spend half a day without needing a strict list of attractions. There is also an array of international cuisine options for meals throughout the day.
Planning Tips
- Leave enough time and flexibility for when you stumble across something interesting.
- You can plan a full day in this neighborhood between the cafés, shops, escape rooms, restaurants, shows, and cocktail bars.
- Start at one end near Newtown Station, walk down King Street, and wander around Enmore Road.
- Pair your time here with an escape room at The Cipher Room, especially if you are visiting its Newtown location.
- Check the schedule at Enmore Theatre if you want to turn your Newtown day into a full evening out.
Try One of Sydney’s Next-Level Escape Rooms
Sydney is home to several great escape rooms, and it is one of our favorite things to do when visiting big cities. This is one activity we would absolutely recommend to travelers who want to do something different.
If you are serious about escape rooms, also look into The Game at Next Level Escape, which is regularly recommended by escape-room enthusiasts as one of Sydney’s standout experiences.
Another great option, and the one we went with, was The Cipher Room. This escape-room company has locations in Newtown and St Peters and is home to some internationally recognized rooms.
We did La Rébellion at The Cipher Room’s St Peters location, which ranked No. 67 in the world in the 2022 TERPECA (Top Escape Rooms Project Enthusiasts’ Choice Awards). The Cipher Room was the first Australian company to receive a TERPECA Top Room Award.
The Cipher Room also has other rooms that have been recognized as TERPECA finalists, making it a particularly good choice for travelers who want an immersive experience that feels like more than a standard tourist activity.
Planning Tips
- Book ahead, especially for popular rooms or if visiting on the weekend.
- Give yourself extra time for the safety briefing, photos, and getting there.
- Choose a room based on the theme and type of experience your group will enjoy, not just the difficulty rating.
- The Cipher Room is easy to combine with a day exploring Newtown, Enmore, or St Peters.
Spend an Evening at Fortress Sydney
Fortress Sydney is the place for true gamers. But even if you are a casual gamer, you can rent some board games, grab some snacks, and enjoy some drinks for a chill evening in a themed tavern.
Fortress is somewhere to go if you are after a social atmosphere in a way that is much more interesting than simply going to a pub.
You can play arcade games, rent board games, have a drink at the Tavern, or check out their computer gaming area. Fortress has hundreds of board games available, along with PC gaming, arcade games, food, cocktails, themed drinks, and a full tavern kitchen.
Planning Tips
- This is an easy option for a rainy night, a group outing, a casual date, or a night when you want something more interactive than dinner and drinks.
- Check the current events and programming before you go, especially if you are visiting on a weekend. Some activities, sessions, or themed events may be more popular than others, and you may want to book ahead for a group.
- Fortress Sydney is located on Level 2 of Central Park Mall in Chippendale, making it easy to combine with White Rabbit Gallery, Spice Alley, Haymarket, or Central Station.
- Fortress is a licensed venue. Travelers under 18 can visit with a responsible adult earlier in the day, but minors must enter before 7:00 p.m. and leave before 8:00 p.m.
- This is best for adults if you want to enjoy the Tavern, have drinks, and stay later in the evening.
Catch a Show at the Sydney Opera House or a Nearby Theatre
The Sydney Opera House is one of the most photographed buildings in the world. It is an architectural wonder, and while it is impressive from the outside, many visitors also want to see inside this famous building.
There are guided architectural tours and production-focused tours that you can take to see parts of the Opera House, but the best way to see it in all its glory is by attending a show.
Sydney Opera House typically has a full calendar of performances, including concerts, plays, comedy shows, dance, orchestra, and more. There are multiple performance venues within the Opera House, so there is often a variety of shows happening at the same time.
If there are not any shows at the Sydney Opera House that pique your interest, we still recommend catching a show elsewhere in the city. Enmore Theatre is another great option if you are visiting the Newtown area.
Planning Tips
- This is the best way to combine an iconic Sydney experience with an actual night out.
- Check Sydney Opera House show options online before your trip, especially if you have a short amount of time in Sydney.
- If you are flexible, it is also worth asking at the box office about same-day ticket availability.
- Book Opera House tours in advance if there is a particular time you want, as walk-up tickets can cost more and popular time slots may sell out.
- Pair an Enmore Theatre show with a day of shopping, eating, and exploring around Newtown and Enmore.
Final Thoughts on Finding Fun Things to Do in Sydney
There is nothing wrong with seeing Sydney’s classic sights. We would never tell someone to skip the Opera House, the harbour, or the beaches entirely. But we also think Sydney gets much more interesting when you leave room for the activities that do not appear on every single first-time itinerary.
Activities like those listed above are some of our absolute favorite things to do when visiting a city. The best Sydney itinerary is not about fitting in the maximum number of attractions, but about finding activities that fit your specific interests and that you will genuinely enjoy.
Go to the gallery and stay for the scones. Play some pinball. Book an escape room. Eat your way through Haymarket. Find a cocktail bar with a theme that speaks to you. See a show at the Opera House instead of only taking a photo outside it.
That is how you turn Sydney from a list of landmarks into a trip that feels like your own.
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