If you’ve been following me for a long time—eleven years, to be exact—you might remember that I spent three months in Australia back then. It was my very first solo trip, the first time I’d traveled that far, and also the first time I’d been away from “home” for that long.

Australia did a lot for me in the best way. I grew so much, learned a lot about myself, and completely fell in love with the country (and honestly, the whole continent). Ever since, I’ve always wanted to come back.

At the time, the furthest I’d ever been was the U.S.—otherwise, I’d mostly traveled around Europe. And while Australia might seem similar to the U.S. at first glance, it’s actually completely different. The energy, the people… It’s just a different vibe. And it was the first time I’d ever experienced something like that.

Even after all these years and so many trips to different places—discovering different cultures—it still kept pulling me back. Australia was always there in the back of my mind.

Fast forward: at the beginning of this year, we spontaneously booked a flight… and four days later, we were on our way to Down Under. Finally.

Back in Sydney After 11 Years

Even though our first stop was Byron Bay, I want to start with Sydney. This is where I spent most of my time eleven years ago—where I basically “lived.” So this place will always feel very special to me.

And by pure coincidence, our hotel for the first few days was only a five-minute walk from the apartment I lived in back then with friends. Of course, I had to go and see it. It was so interesting to realize how some things hadn’t changed at all, while other things felt completely different.

I still loved the area. It’s super local and relaxed, but never boring. There are even more small cafés and restaurants now, more apartment buildings, and it honestly felt like there was just… more happening everywhere.

For the other days, we stayed in Surry Hills—another neighborhood I already loved back then.

And of course, we made it to all the beautiful beaches. Overall, we revisited many places I spent time at eleven years ago—and so much of it still felt familiar. Most of it hasn’t changed much, and I still loved it just as much as I did back then. In some moments, I even felt like I could enjoy it more this time.

So, because it truly made me so happy to be back, I want to share my tips and favorites from our Sydney trip (2026) with you.

Our Top Neighborhoods in Sydney

We still haven’t seen all of Sydney—the city is huge, especially including the outer areas—but we did try to explore as much as possible. And of course, we have a few favorites.

Erskineville and Newtown

Let’s start with Erskineville and Newtown. I already mentioned Erskineville earlier, and simply because I spent so much time there back then (and felt so at home), it has to be on this list.

That said, if you’re only in Sydney for a short vacation, I’m not sure I’d recommend staying here, because it does take a bit longer by train to get into the CBD or out to the beaches. But for a longer stay, it’s such a good base in my opinion.

It’s quiet, green, and you have a great selection of cafés and restaurants. And if you walk over into Newtown, you’ll find even more options. Newtown is also great for going out at night—we did that a few times eleven years ago.

Erskineville gives relaxed “suburb” vibes, while Newtown feels much more lively—with really fun shopping and entertainment options (including movie theaters).

Surry Hills

Surry Hills might have been my favorite because it feels a little more hip, creative, and trend-driven. You can tell immediately: lots of small boutiques, secondhand and vintage shops, and an amazing mix of cafés, restaurants, and bars.

Surry Hills is never quiet—or boring. No matter what time you’re walking through the streets, there’s always something going on. And somehow, that’s exactly what we loved about it.

During the day, people sit outside in cafés, have brunch, or grab coffee, and the energy is honestly contagious. We didn’t do much shopping (our suitcase was already too full, and the trip itself was expensive enough), but we did window-shop—and spotted so many beautiful things, from fashion to interior pieces and decor.

North Sydney

Most of you probably don’t even think of North Sydney, other than Luna Park. When I was in Sydney eleven years ago, I also only went to Luna Park and didn’t really explore beyond that. This time, we changed it.

Besides Luna Park, you can take a really lovely walk along the water, discover historic houses, and get this interesting mix of business district energy and café culture. We spent about half a day there.

We grabbed something small to eat and coffee to go, walked down through the streets toward the water, and then followed the waterfront all the way to the Harbour Bridge. We sat in the greenery and took in the view of Sydney’s CBD, the Harbour Bridge, and the Opera House—one of those simple moments that feel so special.

Manly

Manly was—and still is—my absolute highlight in Sydney.

Even the ferry ride from Circular Quay to Manly (about 30 minutes) is a highlight on its own. And you have to take the ferry back to the CBD at sunset at least once. The view of Sydney as the sun sets and the sky changes color is genuinely breathtaking.

We went to Manly twice. One day, we went in the morning to spend a few hours at the beach. From the little harbor, you have four different beach options within walking distance. We chose Shelly Beach—and I can only recommend it. The walk there is beautiful, and the small bay is perfect for swimming.

Another day, we went to Manly in the evening. We grabbed dinner at one of the cute restaurants and then sat on the beach next to the harbor. The atmosphere was amazing—music playing, little groups everywhere, just relaxing and ending the day in the best way.


Sydney Beaches Worth Visiting

Sydney has an unreal number of beaches. A few are still on my “want-to-go” list, but we visited quite a few this time.

First, we need to talk about Bondi Beach—because it’s probably at the top of most people’s list. And yes: it’s beautiful, and the ocean is great. But it’s also pretty crowded and loud. I’d say it’s worth seeing once, but not necessarily more than that.

So here are the beaches I’d recommend even more:

Bronte Beach & Tamarama Beach

Not far from Bondi, you’ll find Tamarama and Bronte. Both are smaller than Bondi, less packed, and (in my opinion) have a more relaxed vibe. The water is just as beautiful, and the beaches themselves are stunning.

The food options right by the beach are a bit more limited than Bondi, but still totally fine. There are beach showers and public bathrooms, and at Bronte Beach you’ll even find BBQ stations and picnic tables. When I was here eleven years ago, we’d sometimes come in the evening for a BBQ and picnic.

Maroubra Beach

Further away from the center—and much quieter and more local—is Maroubra Beach. We ended up here by coincidence. Otherwise, we probably would’ve never thought to go.

The beach sits right next to cliffs that honestly look like you’ve landed on another planet. And there’s also a pool below the cliffs—the Mahon Pool—where you can swim for free.

We loved the mix of nature and the calm atmosphere. We went in the afternoon and stayed for sunset, had dinner on the cliffs, and watched surfers in the water. It was one of those “this is exactly why we travel” moments.

Shelly Beach

I already mentioned Shelly Beach when talking about Manly—but it really deserves its own moment. I’d always choose it over Manly Beach because it’s smaller, calmer, and tucked into a bay. That means the water feels more protected, the ocean is usually less rough, and it’s just so nice for swimming.

We grabbed food and drinks near the harbor beforehand so we could stay a while, but we also noticed there are café and restaurant options close to the beach if you want to keep it easy.

There’s also a public, free pool right by the ocean, not too far from the beach, plus beach showers—another reason it’s such a good spot.


How Many Days Should You Spend in Sydney?

There’s no one right answer—Sydney has so much to offer. And I honestly believe you only really experience a city once you stay for a few weeks or even months. Even then, you still won’t see everything.

For a first visit, I’d recommend at least one week. That gives you a good mix of sightseeing, exploring different neighborhoods, and having beach days at at least two different beaches.

I didn’t go into everything you can (and should) do in Sydney in this post, because the list is endless—and I wouldn’t even know where to start or stop. My favorite way to experience a new city is to walk around and see where the streets take me.

I usually make a list of neighborhoods and areas I want to explore, then I pick two each day. That way, you see a lot—plus you can always return to the places you loved most and explore them more deeply.