Visiting Sydney: 15 Ways to Save Money & Explore on a Budget (2024)

Last Updated: 2/10/23 | February 10th, 2023

As my friends and I drank wine in the shadow of the Opera House, I couldn’t help but be happy — I was back in Sydney for the first time in five years — and I was here for over two weeks!

“Shall we go somewhere else?” my friends asked.

“Sure, let’s get the bill!” I replied.

When our check came, I was reminded of something about Sydney I had forgotten: its high prices. Even with a weak Australian dollar, Sydney was more expensive than I remembered.

With its 10 AUD sandwiches, 10 AUD beers, 17-20 AUD co*cktails, 30 AUD hostels, and outrageous restaurant prices, Sydney can burn a hole in your wallet quicker than an actual fire. It was going to be an expensive two weeks if I didn’t figure out how to enjoy the best this city had to offer on a budget.

Leaving no stone unturned (OK, probably one or two), I found several ways to save big here – all while still filling my days and having a lot of fun.

While Sydney is never going to be the cheapest destination to travel to, there are plenty of ways to save money in Sydney thanks to all the free and cheap things to do there.

Between museums, markets, beaches, nature walks, and some local deals, there are plenty of ways to lower your costs on your next visit!

I’ve divided this blog post into two sections:

Part 1: Free Things to Do in Sydney
Part 2: Cheap Things to Do in Sydney

Just click on the link above and jump to the section you want!

Free Things to Do in Sydney

1. Get an Opal Card

This metro card is free — you just need to load it with money — and is worth using for three reasons: it offers discounted fare compared to purchasing single-use tickets (this varies by distance); there’s a maximum fare charge of 16.80 AUD per day; and on weekends, the maximum is 8.40 AUD except for rides to the airport.

That means you can go anywhere on the transportation system — whether by metro, ferry, or light rail – and you’ll never pay more than the maximum cap. It’s an amazing deal — especially on weekends!

Additionally, after you’ve paid for eight journeys in one week (Monday to Sunday), you earn the “Weekly Travel Reward” which means that for the rest of that week, your fares will be half price!

2. Explore the Free Museums
Australia has a lot of expensive museums, but tons of free ones too. Some worth considering are:

• The Mint (a small exhibit on how they used to make money)
• The Australia Centre for Photography
• The White Rabbit Gallery (Chinese contemporary art)
• The Manly Art Museum
• The Sydney Observatory
• The Rocks Discovery Museum

3. Walk the Sydney Harbour Bridge

The Sydney Harbour Bridge was built in 1932 as a government employment project during the Great Depression. The project took almost 10 years to complete, and at the time it was the world’s largest steel arch bridge. These days, it’s the 8th-longest spanning-arch bridge in the world. Stretching 1,149 meters (3,769 feet) over the water, it’s also the world’s tallest steel arch bridge, making it an impressive architectural accomplishment. To quote the famous travel writer Bill Bryson, “This is a great bridge.”

4. See the Art Gallery of New South Wales

Opened in 1874, the Art Gallery of NSW is one of my favorite museums in the city. There are so many exquisite landscape paintings, portraits, and statues in its collection by Australian and European artists (and even a few by Monet). It’s a really substantial collection.

Some of my favorites were Albert Hanson’s “Pacific Beaches,” Guerard’s “Jebel Cherib” and “Milford Sound,” and Batten’s “Snowdrop and the Seven Little Men.”

They host upwards of 40 temporary exhibits a year too so there is always something new to see. Check the website to see what new exhibitions will be on during your visit.

Art Gallery Rd, +61 2 9225 1700, artgallery.nsw.gov.au. Open daily from 10am-5pm. Admission is free.

5. Visit the Museum of Contemporary Art

Opened in 1991 and housed between a huge art deco building and a new modern wing (which was added in 2012), The Museum of Contemporary Art is another free gallery. Offering over 40,000 works, it features modern international and Australian artists, including works by many Aboriginal artists. While I’m not a huge fan of this type of art (placing bottles on the floor is NOT art if you ask me), the Aboriginal collection was breathtaking. You can really feel the artists’ connections to their land and culture as well as the pain of past attempts to take it away from them.

140 George St, +61 2 9245 2400, mca.com.au. Open Tuesday-Sunday from 10am-5pm. Admission is free.

6. Relax at the Beaches

Sydney is a city famous for its (free) beaches, and there’s no better way to spend one of the city’s many sunny days than by enjoying one of them. Try to avoid going on the weekends, when they fill up and you have to fight for space.

While Bondi is the most famous, be sure to check out some of these other great beaches:

• Manly (wide and beautiful)
• Watsons Bay (nice coastal walks)
• Coogee (fun and lively)
• Bronte (small and quiet; my favorite)

7. Enjoy a Nature Walk

There are a number of stunning public coastal walks that allow you to take in the breathtaking natural beauty of Sydney’s harbor and coastal cliffs. While many people do the two-hour Coogee-to-Bondi walk (avoid it on the weekends), I found Watson’s Bay and the Split-to-Manly walks quieter, more relaxing, and more beautiful.

Some other walks worth checking out are:

• Rose Bay to Watson’s Bay (easy, 2.5 hours)
• Watsons Bay to Dover Heights (easy, 1.5 hours)
• Chowder Bay to Balmoral Beach (easy, 1 hour)
• Jibbon Beach Loop Track (easy, 2 hours)

8. Take a Free Walking Tour

One of the best ways to explore a new city is by taking a free walking tour. These tours introduce you to all the major sights and give you a solid introduction to the city’s history and culture. I always take a free walking tour when I arrive in a new city. It’s the best way to meet people, connect with a local guide that can answer your questions, and see the main highlights.

Best of all, these tours are free — just make sure to tip your guide at the end!

Two suggested companies for walking tours in Sydney are:

• I’m Free Walking Tours – Daily tours of the city center and The Rocks (Sydney’s original settlement).
• Sydney Greeters – This is a free service that connects you with locals who will show you their neighborhood (advanced booking required).

Cheap Things to Do in Sydney

9. Take the Town Hall Tour
Built from 1869-1889, Sydney’s beautiful Town Hall is a picturesque Victorian building inspired by the iconic Hôtel de Ville in Paris. Part of it was actually built on a cemetery, where over 2,000 people were buried. Guided tours take you around the building where you can learn more about its history and construction. Tours last around two hours and need to be booked in advance online (tours are currently on pause due to COVID).

483 George St, +61 2 9265 9333, sydneytownhall.com.au. Open weekdays from 8am-6pm. Tours are by donation (10 AUD).

10. Visit the Markets
Sydney has a ton of amazing markets to walk through. No matter what you’re looking for, from antiques to food to local crafts, you’ll likely be able to find it at a market. I love the Paddington Market and the farmers market the best. They draw an eclectic crowd, and the farmers market makes me want to cook nonstop. Here are some other great markets worth checking out:

• Glebe Market – Vintage clothes and eclectic local handicrafts as well as delicious food stalls. Open Saturdays. (glebemarkets.com.au)
• Rozelle Collectors Market – Home to antiques, clothing, DVDs, and everything in between. If you like to dig and hunt for awesome finds, this is the market for you! Open Saturdays. (rozellecollectorsmarket.com.au)
• Orange Grove Organic Market – Not only will you find great products here but there are some incredible food stalls. Definitely come with an appetite! Open Saturdays. (organicfoodmarkets.com.au)
• Chinatown Night Market – A weekly Asian market featuring work by local designers & artists, plus tons of street-food stalls! (chinatownmarkets.com.au)

11. Attend One of Sydney’s Many Events

Since Sydney has a complex about Melbourne being called the culture capital of Australia, it tries to outdo its rival by hosting over dozens of events each year. It has art gallery nights, concerts, festivals, and much more. Most of them are free and can be found on the Sydney tourism website.

Some of the more noteworthy events are:

• New Year’s Eve – Sydney is one of the biggest New Year’s Eve destinations in the world.
• Lost Paradise – A huge three-day music festival.
• City2Surf – An annual race and fun run.
• Vivid Sydney – An annual light, music, and idea festival.
• Twilight at Taronga – A summer music series.

12. Eat Cheap

Need a cheap meal? The sushi trains around the city offer a filling meal for 15-20 AUD depending on how much you eat (plate prices start around 3.50-5 AUD) and the noodle and dumpling shops in Chinatown offer tasty and authentic meals for less than 20 AUD.

For more cheap eats, check out:

• El Jannah (chicken sandwiches)
• Chinese Noodle Restaurant (homemade noodles)
• Spicy Joint (spicy Chinese food)
• Spice I Am (Thai food)
• Wish Bone (fried chicken and poutine)

13. Avoid Expensive Restaurants (Even if You Want to Splurge)

In many parts of the world, high-end restaurants are worth the price. You can walk away from an expensive meal and say, “That was worth every penny!” However, that’s not often the case in Sydney. I was always disappointed when I splashed out on food and drinks. From co*cktail bars to upscale steak and sushi dinners, I always left hungry, unhappy, and thinking about the lack of value I got.

Stick to beer, wine, and low-end restaurants when you’re in town. You’ll get more bang for your buck!

14. Visit backpacker bars for cheap drinks

Drinking in Sydney is expensive — even beers cost 10 AUD! For a cheap drink, head to the backpacker bars in Kings Cross. You can use the app The Happiest Hour to find the cheapest happy hours in the city. It’s an awesome resource!

15. Ferry to Manly Beach

The ferry ride to Manly offers sweeping views of the harbor, Sydney Harbour Bridge, and the world-famous Opera House. It’s a picturesque 20-minute ride each way that puts you in one of the coolest parts of the north end of the city. Manly is famous for its wide beach, giant waves, surfing, and kick-ass nightlife. Ferry tickets are 9.90 AUD.

Sydney is a vibrant, laid-back beach city with an incredible array of activities. It’s one of my favorie places in Australia.

But if you don’t watch out, it will bust your budget in no time.

Sydney may not be one of the cheapest cities in the world, but there are plenty of free and cheap events to keep you busy during your visit. I found myself with plenty of full days that ended with an even fuller wallet!