7 Free Things to do in Sydney

Sydney is one of the best cities in the world; amazing art scene, a cultural centre, and a foodie capital. It can, however, be quite an expensive city to explore, and for this reason we pulled together our favourite free things to do in the city.

1. Sydney Botanical Gardens

An amazing way to escape the hustle and bustle of the city is to go for a walk in the Sydney Botanical Gardens with the harbour providing a beautiful backdrop to the lush greenery of the gardens.

There are free tours for you to take whilst here, or if you prefer to explore at your own pace, you can visit the tropical palm house, find a picnic spot surrounded by some of the local wildlife including cockatoos and ibises (be careful they don't nab your lunch) and enjoy the harbour views.

2. Bondi to Coogee Beach Walk

This is a perfect walk to enjoy the sea views from, whilst visiting some of the most iconic beaches in the world.

The entire walk is about 4 miles long, and goes via amazing beaches, clifftop lookouts, parks and cafes where you can take a rest and fuel up if you need to. You can sunbath or go for a swim at one of the many beaches along the route, take a dip in the Bronte beach swimming pool or explore the Gordon's Bay snorkel trail.

Sunscreen and a hat is highly recommended on a sunny day, as there is no shade on the trail.

3. Explore the Art Gallery of New South Wales

It is one of Australia's premier art galleries, featuring a range of contemporary and classical pieces from European masters, as well as Asian, Aboriginal, colonial and Australian art.

General admission to Sydney's main art gallery is totally free (however some exhibitions are ticketed), and it is great to spend the day exploring its many galleries and beautiful art.

4. Stroll the Sydney Harbour

As far as recognisable landmarks go, Sydney Harbour is one of the best in the world; featuring the beautiful Sydney Opera House, as well as the Harbour Bridge, the focal point of the annual New Years' Eve fireworks.

Walk around the Sydney Opera House, admire its beautiful architecture and its iconic sails overlooking the harbour. Take a stroll through the Sydney Rocks, the oldest part of the city featuring many historic buildings as well as some of Sydney's oldest pubs. Finally, take the walk across the Harbour Bridge, admiring the beautiful views across the harbour and the city.

5. Soak up the Sun at Bondi Beach

This one is a must; head to Bondi Beach with a towel and some suncream and soak up the rays on the white, powdery sand.

You can take 333 bus from downtown straight to the beach and enjoy it in all its glory. Go for a swim, sunbath or watch the surfers riding the waves. Whilst its does get quite busy, especially on weekends in the summer, you will still be able to find yourself a great spot on the sand and enjoy this amazing beach. You can also head to the iconic Bondi Icebergs Pool, although to swim here you do have to buy a day pass for $9 (AUD).

If you want to cool down in the heat, head to Anita Gelato, where they are serving up delicious ice cream in the most amazing flavours. (try the Boysenberry or the Salted Pretzel)

6. Luna Park

This isn't exactly free, per say, but it still a cool place to visit if you are in the neighbourhood.

The entrance to this eclectic theme park is free, however you will have to pay to get on any of the rides. Even if you are not a fan of rollercoasters, it is worth going inside and exploring the park, where you will find vintage arcades, tasty food stalls and generally cool vibes all around.

5. Visit the Royal National Park

If you enjoy spending time outdoors, you will be delighted to hear that Sydney has some amazing National Parks just a short train ride away.

We explore the Royal National Park, the second oldest national park in the world. It is easily accessible from Sydney on the Illawarra train line, alighting at Loftus, Engadine, Heathcote or Waterfall or via the ferry to Bundeena. Once at the park there is so much to explore; take one of the amazing trails, head to Bundeena or Audley for a kayaking adventure, see the park using your bike or visit one of the many beautiful beaches.

If you guys have any other great things to do in Sydney, for free, we would love to hear about them in the comments.

Happy Wandering!