There is an advertising slogan that says, "There’s no place in the world like Sydney." That’s true enough, but what’s different about it? It has a harbour and a famous bridge, but so does San Francisco. It has an iconic architectural symbol in the Sydney Opera House, but Paris has one too, in the Eiffel Tower. It has some of the world’s greatest beaches at its doorstep, but so do a few other great cities of the world. So, once again, what’s so different about Sydney.
The temperature has something to do with what makes Sydney special. San Francisco is virtually surrounded by water, just like Sydney, but it’s hard to enjoy it when it’s almost always freezing cold in San Francisco, inside or outside of the water. For most of the year, the water and air temperature in Sydney is ideal for beach and water lovers. Just cool enough to be invigorating and just warm enough to be inviting, it’s no wonder that the beaches in Sydney are some of the best in the world.
There is no denying that Paris is a great city and there is nothing wrong with its being so, well, Parisian. But Sydney is a melting pot of people from around the globe. You can go to a café in Glebe and get great Greek food. In Balmain, you can find dozens of restaurants that serve modern Western cuisine. In Surry Hills, you can find a little café that serves the best Italian dishes you’ll find anywhere this side of Florence. Then there are the Asian restaurants and the . . . . The list goes on and on.
New York is a great city, but you wouldn’t really feel comfortable walking around in NYC in a pair of shorts and a tee shirt. In Sydney, it’s not only accepted, it’s the norm. Among world financial centres, Sydney has to get first prize for being the most laid back and relaxed. That’s not to say they don’t take care of business in Sydney. They just do it Sydney style.
What other large metropolitan city can you commute to from your mountain top retreat? Thousands of Sydney workers commute to the city from the beautiful Blue Mountains every day. At the end of the day and on weekends, they are surrounded by pristine wilderness, while during the week they are part of the action in the dynamic Sydney city centre. As a visitor to Sydney, you, too can enjoy the Blue Mountains. They are just a short train ride away.
Sydney is in Australia. No other metropolis of Sydney’s size can make that claim. Sydney is steeped in Australia’s unique lifestyle. When you visit Sydney, you get to enjoy one of the friendliest, most relaxed cultures in the world.
From your Sydney accommodation anywhere in the city, you can easily enjoy everything this great city has to offer. The public transportation system is extensive and modern. Take the train or the bus anywhere you want to go, from Bondi Beach to the heart of the Central Business District. Don’t worry about changing your clothes. Nobody will bat an eye is you’re walking through the financial district wearing flipflops on your feet and have a beach towel thrown over your shoulder.
Much has been written and said about Sydney’s harbor, and with good reason. The harbor boasts one of the world’s most recognizable views, dominated by two icons in the Sydney Opera House and Harbor Bridge. The area also provides no end of activities and neighborhoods to explore. If you’re time poor, however, it is easy to accomplish a lot in a short time frame or select a few activities that appeal to your own sense of adventure. The following is a short list of things to see and do should you find yourself in the harbor city, spoilt for choice but lacking time.