What are you going to find in this article?
Before going to Sydney There are several things that we must keep in mind in order to make the most of our trip. Sydney It is a young city, with an average age of around 35 years, so it is full of activities to do.
In addition, its good weather provides pleasant days with mild temperatures throughout the year (temperatures in winter are around 3ºC-11ºC and in summer 18ºC-25ºC.
Remember that it is in the southern hemisphere and the warm months are December - January - February while the cold months are June - July - August).
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How to get to Sydney
To get to Australia, it is best to travel by plane. Being an island, access can also be made by boat from a nearby country, but the journey is much longer and is not recommended.
If you want to visit Sydney Coming from another Australian city, you can choose between traveling by plane (something very popular and widely used by Australians), by train or by road.
The nearest airport to Sydney city is the Kingsford Smith Airport (which is the largest airport in the entire country). It is located about 10 km south of the city, and to get from the airport to the center you can take several routes: bus, taxi or train.
The taxi is the most comfortable option, but it is only recommended if you travel with several people, since otherwise the trip can get quite expensive. You can also use the taxi if your plane lands or takes off very early in the morning or very late at night.
The bus is the cheapest option to reach the city and there are lines that make regular routes between the airport and downtown. The best line to get to the center is the 400, which leaves every 20 or every 40 minutes, depending on the day. The bus stop is located at the exit of the terminals and, although you can buy the ticket at the airport, it is advisable to have previously booked your ticket to save time and possible problems.
The train is the fastest option to reach Sydney. There is a line called CityRail Airport Link which makes non-stop trips from the airport to the city center and vice versa. There are trains every 10 minutes and the journey hardly takes 10 minutes, so at most you can find yourself in Sydney in 20 minutes. Tickets for the train are purchased at the airport in vending machines and it is more profitable to get a round-trip ticket (it costs about 17 $ Australia approximately).
How to get around the city
Sydney It is a city that expands around a central estuary flooded with seawater. To move easily around the city Sydney offers several options to tourists and residents as public transport.
Train: Sydney It has a train network called CityRail, which runs through the entire city. It has several lines with numerous stops in the city and several lines with regional connections between Sydney and nearby towns.
Bus: With lines that run throughout the city steadily, the bus in Sydney is widely used worldwide.
Metro: It has 4 lines (City Circle, Eastern Suburbs Line, Airport Line and Epping to Chatswood Rail Link) and it should be noted that not all metro stops are underground.
ferry: Having a large river splitting the city in two, there are ferry routes to cross it regularly. You can also access various nearby attractions by ferry, such as the Taronga Zoo, Darling Harbor, Woolwich, etc.
To save, it is recommended to buy tickets valid for multiple trips during the same day. You can get the Bustripper, valid only for bus trips or DayTripper, which covers the bus, ferry and train (CityRail) services outside.
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What can we see in Sydney
Sydney It is a city full of monuments and attractions, thanks in part to the construction boom carried out for the Sydney Olympics of the year 2000.
On the Sydney pier we find two jewels: One of the most emblematic and photographed places is the Sydney Opera House, which has up to 5 independent rooms. The Sydney Bridge has the honor of being the longest arch bridge in the world and this impressive structure can be visited along with a guide.
Go to the beach: Sydney has up to 50 different beaches spread along the coast that surrounds the city. Each beach is different and has a unique style influenced by different parts of the city. There are beaches for all tastes: from wide beaches with parks and walks to very quiet and hidden beaches, through exclusive beaches for surfing, of course.
Visit the neighborhoods: Sydney is organized in different neighborhoods, each with its own personality. The oldest neighborhood, called The Rocks (Las Rocas) has a good number of old buildings, bars, cafes and art. Here we can find the Museum of Contemporary Art and this neighborhood is, by far, the most European in the entire city.
Chinatown or Chinatown has ceased to be a place of residence for Asians to become a neighborhood full of life, shops and culture. As a prominent place, this neighborhood has a large market (the Paddy's Market) with a great activity during the weekends.
Other neighborhoods also deserve special mention, such as Paddington, with its Victorian houses, its proximity to Centennial Park and its market every Saturday; Newtown, a neighborhood of ethnic mixes where Thailand has a great weight and Kings Cross, full of cheap and popular youth hostels.
Spend the day in Darling Harbor: To get to Darling Harbor we can take a ferry from the city center and admire the views as we approach. In this port we can find public events, such as concerts; beautiful gardens, like the Chinese garden; the National Maritime Museum and the Sydney Aquarium.
Breathe pure air: Sydney has large botanical gardens, called the Royal Botanic Gardens, where a large number of Australian and other countries are exposed. Located in an old port, the botanical garden has great views of the city center, the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbor Bridge.
Video Guide of the City of Sydney
Video provided by Rubén Alonso, you can see more about his videos on his YouTube channel: Rubén Alonso
Documentation required to enter Australia
When traveling to Australia, the necessary documentation varies depending on the nationality. New Zealand is the only country whose inhabitants do not need any type of visa or permission to enter Australia if their stay is less than 3 months.
Carrying your passport with you is essential and, if you want to drive, you must take your driving license.
If you are a citizen of the European Union, then you are in luck. All you need to request is an Electronic Travel Authorization (eVisitor) which is done electronically and whose function is to act as a visa. The maximum stay is 3 months, although the eVisitor has a validity year and you can enter and leave the country freely during that period, provided that the total stay does not exceed 3 months.
If you do not belong to the European Union, then you need an Electronic Travel Authorization, although this time its name is ETA. The ETA acts as a substitute for the visa, although there are certain requirements to obtain it: the person who wants to obtain it must be outside Australia when applying, you cannot travel with the idea of working permanently and the maximum stay is 3 months .
If you want to go to Australia for more than 3 months, then you must apply for a student visa. For this to be approved, you must show that you have enough money to stay during your stay, buy a return ticket and approved medical insurance.
There is one last way to enter Australia and it is through a Work and Vacation visa. This visa is given only to young people between 18 and 30 years with the intention of going to Australia for 1 year, working in temporary jobs and with a maximum study time of up to 4 months. Not all countries offer this option, although Argentina and Chile currently have an agreement with Australia to provide these visas.