Sydney

Since Australia is in the Southern Hemisphere, the seasons are completely reversed compared to the Northern Hemisphere. Australian summer runs December through March — which is winter back home for most visitors.

The good news: Sydney is genuinely warm year-round, no matter when you visit.

The summer months (December to March) are hot and mostly dry — which is exactly why we consider Sydney one of the best travel destinations in December and one of the most spectacular places to spend New Year’s Eve.

Spring (September–October) and fall (April–June) can be a little unpredictable — evenings cool down, but days are usually really pleasant. It’s also far less crowded than summer, which makes these months genuinely great for visiting. Sydney is a solid travel destination in April, for example.

The Australian winter (July–August) is probably the least appealing time to go. It’s mild as winters go, but Sydney is a city built around outdoor living — beaches, markets, rooftop bars — and those things are just less fun when it’s grey and cool.

How much time should you plan for Sydney?

We’d say at least five full days — longer if you can swing it.

We spent nearly two weeks in Sydney ourselves and never ran out of things to do. If you’re short on time and just want the highlights, three days is doable — but you won’t really get a feel for the city’s pace and personality. Five days is the sweet spot.

If you like having a printed guide in hand, the Lonely Planet Sydney is a solid choice — well-organized and consistently reliable.

If Sydney is just one stop on a longer east coast trip, the Stefan Loose Travel Guide Australia East covers the whole stretch nicely.

And of course, you’ve got us — everything you need to plan your Sydney trip is right here on 22places.

Honestly, yes — Sydney is not a budget destination. Hotels are expensive, and drinks at bars will make your eyes water.

Food is more flexible. Eat at casual restaurants or food courts and you’ll pay a bit more than you might expect, but it’s not outrageous. The real hits to your wallet are accommodation and alcohol.

Here’s a quick overview of what to budget for:

Flight to Sydney: 700 to 1,200 euros
One night in a good mid-range hotel: 150–250 euros
1.5-liter bottle of water: 1 to 3 AUD
Coffee: 4 to 6 AUD
Metro ticket: 3 to 5 AUD
Dinner at a casual restaurant: 15 to 25 AUD
Food court or food truck meal: 10 to 15 AUD

Australia’s currency is the Australian Dollar (AUD). The exchange rate sits at roughly 0.60 euros per 1 AUD, though this fluctuates.

Cashless payment is completely the norm in Sydney — we went nearly two weeks without touching cash. Card readers are fast, contactless payments work everywhere, and the whole system is super smooth.

If you do want cash, ATMs are easy to find around the city. Just be aware that many machines charge an additional fee of around 2 to 5 AUD per withdrawal, depending on the operator.

One thing to keep in mind: cash is no longer accepted everywhere. In roughly 80 to 90% of shops and restaurants you can pay with cash, but not all — so a credit card is essential. Make sure yours doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees or ATM withdrawal fees when you travel.

Sydney doesn’t require any special gear. Traveling in Australian summer? Shorts and flip-flops are basically the local uniform — you’ll fit right in.

For the full rundown, check out our packing list for city trips.

One thing you’ll definitely need is a power adapter for Australia. We always travel with a universal travel adapter and a multi-port USB charger — covers every country, no thinking required. If you only need something for Australia specifically, this one does the job.

Also: don’t skimp on sunscreen. You can buy it in Sydney, but pack some before you go. The UV index here is seriously intense — stepping outside without protection is not a good idea.

Yes, tap water in Sydney is completely safe to drink.

It is fairly heavily chlorinated, which is harmless but doesn’t taste great to everyone. Some people notice it more than others.

Around the city you’ll also find water refill stations where you can top up your bottle for free. If you get lucky, the water there is filtered and tastes noticeably better — if not, it’ll have the same chlorine edge as the tap.