
Sydney suburb guide
From the beaches to the suburbs, get acquainted with the many diverse communities of this city.
By Anna Lavdaras
Sydney is one of the largest cities in the world by area, spanning approximately 12,367 square kilometres (4,775 square miles). It also encompasses hundreds of smaller suburbs, each with their own unique scenes, attractions, and histories. From the famously chilled-out beachside suburbs of the East, to the edgy inner-city and the up-and-coming fringe suburbs. Get to know the diversity that defines this city by visiting these exciting neighbourhoods.
Chippendale

Central Park, Chippendale, Sydney, New South Wales © Destination NSW
Today's darling of urban reinvention, the once gritty suburb of Chippendale is tucked just behind Sydney’s Central Station. Central Park, the area's most recognisable building, is covered by the world's tallest vertical garden. Admire it up close, then wander around the surrounding outdoor sculptures, including Turpin + Crawford's minimalist Halo.
Show moreDarlinghurst

Bills Restaurant, Darlinghurst, Sydney, New South Wales © Tourism Australia
With a past as colourful as the rainbow flags that wave across Darlinghurst, this inner-city suburb has come a long way since being the epicentre of Sydney's underworld during the early 20th century. Now packed with designer boutiques, impressive galleries, lively coffee houses and a flourishing gay pride culture, the greatest danger is over indulging.
Show moreSydney's beaches

Bondi Beach, Sydney, New South Wales © Daniel Boud
Welcome to the lifestyles of (Sydney’s) rich and famous, all located in a pocket that begins at the eastern border of the city and ends at the coastal break of the Pacific Ocean. Just a 15-minute drive from the city, the Eastern Suburbs hold some of the country’s most expensive real estate, designer boutiques, top-end dining and drinking destinations, and of course some of the very best beaches in Australia.
Show moreManly

Beach Club, Manly, Sydney, New South Wales © Chris Court Photography
Nestled between a tranquil beach on one side and the popular Pacific Ocean surf beach on the other, the laid-back character of Manly seems a thousand miles from busy Sydney, yet it’s only a ferry ride away. Whether you like to feed your sense of adventure, your tummy, your curiosity or simply sit back and take it all in, this beachside town has something for everyone.
Show moreSurry Hills

Surry Hills, Sydney, New South Wales © Destination NSW
Once home to Sydney's rag trade, this buzzing inner-city neighbourhood has converted its industrial warehouses into swanky gallery spaces and million-dollar apartments. On the southern reaches of Sydney's city centre, jacaranda-lined streets, upscale boutiques and restored terrace houses contrast with edgy dive bars and colourful characters.
Show morePotts Point

Room 10, Potts Point, Sydney, New South Wales © Destination NSW
Largely occupied by Sydney's well heeled (and well fed), Potts Point is something of an inner-city oasis with a Parisian twist. With spectacular harbour views and leafy streets, this historic neighbourhood, just east of the city centre, is also characterised by a buzzing cafe culture and designer lapdogs out for their daily stroll.
Show moreMarrickville

Poor Toms Gin Hall, Marrickville, Sydney, New South Wales © Poor Toms Gin
Marrickville, a multicultural suburb in Sydney's Inner West, is a great mix of a heaving high street, artisan producers, warehouse converted breweries, and some of the best places for brunch in the city.
Show moreGlebe

Bicentennial Park, Glebe, Sydney, New South Wales © Melanie Shires
Nestled between two universities, this inner-city village, just five minutes from Sydney’s Central Station via bus or car, is home to an eclectic community of students, academics, activists and new-agers. You'll hear them discussing everything from chakras to Che Guevara in its casual eateries, bookstores and pocket-sized bars.
Show moreCockatoo Island

Cockatoo Island, Sydney, New South Wales © Tourism Australia
Here’s something most visitors don’t realise: the best views in Sydney aren’t found in any of its five-star hotels. To wake up to the ultimate knock-your-socks-off views, check into one of Cockatoo Island's various accommodation options, from camping and glamping to apartments.
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