Sydney, with a population of almost 4 million, and covering almost 1120 square kilometres (700 square miles), is a remarkably easy city to move around in. An excellent train, bus and ferry service covers all points of the greater metropolitan area. Roadways, although congested in peak hour times, are generally well planned and driving is not too harrowing an experience.

Unless visitors to Sydney are specifically seeking out friends in outlying areas, most will have no real need to travel too far away from the central city area and the harbour. Most Sydney tourist attractions are either within the central business district, close to the CBD, or at points around the harbour. The exceptions are Bondi and Manly - surf beach suburbs situated south and north of Sydney Heads.

If you've only got a week or a few days in Sydney, your time would be best spent by taking a walk around the wider CBD area, visiting The Rocks or spending time on the harbour. The harbour is Sydney and on a warm day, with a clear blue sky, there is no better place on earth.

Sydney Explorer © Sydney Online Pty Ltd

Taking a City Circle train, the Monorail or walking is the best way of seeing city attractions, while buses and ferries represent the best way to visit points and attractions around the harbour. The government-run Explorer Buses and Sydney Pass service represent an ideal and inexpensive way to see most of the main tourist points around the city and out to Bondi.

Sydney Ferries, which are also government run, provide an inexpensive way of seeing the most beautiful harbour in the world. (See map of ferry cruises around Sydney Harbour.) For excursions around the harbour, private operators offer a myriad of harbour cruises that promise more than a just a simple ferry ride.

Use the Trip Planner to work out a travel plan using CityRail services, or a combination of train, bus and ferry services to get you to your destination, then, for low cost travel for the day, on Buses, Ferries and Trains, buy a Day Tripper.

Essential information for visitors to Sydney
MCA site has an excellent panorama view of the Sydney city landscape