10 Things to Do in Sydney at Night

The city of Sydney in Australia is a destination that has plenty of activities to do and places to discover at any time of the year. The city is composed of a number of recognized tourist destinations and many others that are a secret delight for those who dare to go for more.

Although during the day it has its special charm, at nightfall its potential grows and Sidney acquires new perspectives to contemplate. The best things to see and do in Sydney at night range frombay tours to cabaret shows. You can also take a dinner cruise, climb the Sydney Tower or even take a boat ride around the harbor. Here are the options that I consider essential.

With the sunset in the background and the sea breeze as your companion, you can venture out to sail the waters of Sydney Harbour. During this experience, you will get a different perspective of the city and get to know the harbor full of lights.

One of the best ways to admire the beauty of the illuminated city is aboard a guided night cruise. You can choose between different options, such as a dinner cruise with cabaret show or a sunset catamaran. In any of these options, you will enjoy breathtaking views of the sites around the harbor, such as the Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House.

This kind of experience is not only visual, as you can learn more about the city through the commentary of local guides. The best part is that during the tour you will be able to take unique pictures from a perspective that will surprise you. During dinner, you will enjoy a glass of wine and taste the local gastronomy while contemplating the illuminated skyline.

Interesting information

• Price: the value of the cruise is about 100€ per person.
• Duration: approximately two and a half hours.
• Advantages: you will enjoy a privileged view of the city of Sydney from the water with the moon and lights illuminating the night.

If your plan is to be part of the best tours in Sydney, a visit to The Rocks is a must. Under the moonlight the experience is electrifying. It is one of the first settlements of the city and a walk through its streets is a walk through history.

The Rocks is located in New South Wales, specifically in the southern part of Sydney Harbour, in the northeast area of the Sydney Business District. Being the oldest neighborhood in the city, there is plenty to explore.

Arriving at George Street you will find an area full of charm, historic buildings, stores, cafes and pubs that come to life when night falls. As the tour is free, you can take your time to enter the places that catch your attention. Now, for an educational experience, there are also guided tours of The Rocks. These explore the most emblematic corners, such as:

• The Fortune of War, Sydney's oldest heritage-listed pub.
• Susannah Place, a haunted house, which is a historical museum and heritage site, located at 58-64 Gloucester Street.

After a day discovering the city and visiting its attractions, enjoying a show or taking part in a guided tour at the Sydney Opera House in the evening is a great way to end the day on a high note.

The Sydney Opera House is a masterpiece of modern architecture and presents more than 2,000 performances a year. Of these, more than 300 are operas. In addition, depending on the time of year you visit, you can attend stand-ups, rock shows, orchestras, ballet, art and culture lectures, theater, dance and international concerts.

If you choose to visit, be amazed by the atmosphere of the venue, built by Danish architect Jorn Utzo. In addition, the bay illuminated by the lights of the complex is a spectacle in itself. If to this you add being able to enter and enjoy a show in this expressionist construction, you will be lucky.

Also, if you are an architecture lover, in its restaurant and bar Bennelong you will be able to delight yourself with its structure, added to its gastronomy and drinks.

Information of interest

• Price: the price will depend on the type of show, availability and demand, but it is around 50€ per person.
• Duration: the average duration of a show is between two and three hours.
• Hours: Monday to Saturday from 9:00 am to 8:30 pm and Sundays from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.

If during the day you have decided to get to know the area with a tour from Sydney, when night falls, the city lights up and takes on a magical aura. You can discover this from the heights with a visit to the Sydney Tower to enjoy a 360° panor amic view at 309 meters high.

This is a must-do activity in one of the most popular attractions in the city, which is the third tallest tower in the southern hemisphere. There is even a public observation platform located 251 meters above ground level from where you can see the horizon, the port, the mountains and the ocean.

You will marvel at the spectacle and the contrasts that the sunset provides for a view of the illuminated city. Although you can enjoy the visit all year round, the experience can be more impressive if you are in Sydney at Christmas, because the season brings more sparkle and color to the cityscape.

From the heights you can live a 4D cinema experience, but if you like strong emotions, dare to do the Skywalk, an outdoor walk along the top of the tower. In addition, in this experience you can also taste the local gastronomy while you contemplate the landscape from one of its two revolving restaurants.

Information of interest

• Price: the cheapest ticket is around 25€ per person and the Skywalk has an average of 60€. Children under three years old are free.
• Duration: will depend on the type of activities, but will be at least one hour.
• Hours: Monday to Sunday from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm.

Visiting Sydney with children can be an experience of another level, especially if you go to Luna Park, located in the suburb of Milsons Point, on the northern side of Sydney Harbour. During the evening, the visit is more fun and visually appealing because of the lights turning on, the sea breeze in your face and the view of the sunset from the bay.

Luna Park Sydney is one of Australia' s oldest and most famous amusement parks. It opened its doors in 1935 and since then it receives thousands of tourists every year. It has from roller coasters and carousels to fairground rides and live shows.

After a long day touring the city the fun does not rest, because in this park you have an option to spend a different time. One of the most popular attractions is the Ferris Wheel, a giant Ferris wheel that offers a panoramic view of Sydney Harbor and the city, especially beautiful at dusk and at night.

From the top you will see how the sun sets to give way to the starry sky, which is usually clear during the summer season in Sydney, which will give you a better view of the skyline.

Information of interest

• Price: admission is free, but unlimited passes are required to enjoy the attractions.
• Duration: approximately two hours.
• Advantages: you can enjoy Sydney Harbour in a colorful and lively atmosphere at night for free. What you spend will depend on the attractions and consumptions.

Australia is famous for its wildlife. The Taronga Zoo in Sydney is an example of this. However, there is much more to see as, in the evenings, the cultural scene of this city comes alive and is full of diversity and fun.

Some galleries and museums have options for adults after dark. They include events with shows, drinks and even DJ's. Whether you're visiting Sydney in summer or other seasons, there are activities available to explore all year round.

Some of the museums you could visit during the evening tour include the following:

• The Art Gallery of NSW; one of the most important museums in Australia, with permanent and temporary exhibitions. It also organizes special events at night, such as concerts, talks, cinema and workshops.
• The National Maritime Museum of Australia; where you will learn about the maritime history of the country, with special discounts from 5:00 pm.
• Hyde Park Barracks; a Unesco heritage site located in the heart of Sydney. On Fridays and Saturdays it offers an immersive experience that includes a lantern, audio guide and glass of wine.
• The Powerhouse Museum; dedicated to science, technology, design and popular culture. It has an evening program that includes music, theater, comedy and debates.
• The Sydney Observatory; located on a hill with spectacular views of the city. From there you can admire the night sky with telescopes, learn about astronomy and astrophysics.

Located in the Darlinghurst neighborhood very close to downtown Sydney, the Govindas is a vegetarian restaurant where you can plan a dinner after your daytime itinerary to enjoy a free buffet of Indian food, with vegan and gluten-free options.

It is an ideal and economical plan for those visiting the city for a short time, since in the same night you can explore the neighborhood with its nocturnal contrasts, lights and shadows and taste the international cuisine of this peculiar restaurant.

Beyond its menu, its attraction is that it has a boutique cinema where classic and contemporary movies are shown, with reclining seats and cushions. In this way, the Govindas experience is a different and fun option to enjoy Sydney at night because it combines a healthy and tasty dinner with a unique cinema experience.

Information of interest

• Price: The price of the buffet plus the entrance to the cinema can cost around 20€.
• Hours: Wednesday to Sunday from 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm.
• Advantages: You can enjoy a hearty dinner and movie show for a very affordable price, as well as tasting vegan and healthy dishes.

Sydney has a rich music culture and a wide range of bars to enjoy the city's nightlife, to drink, eat, dance, socialize or just meet and relax. Therefore, going to the bars in the city will allow you to delight your ears with the melodies and rhythms of the best musicians in the country.

Some of the most popular and best rated bars in the city to listen to live music are:

• The Basement, is Sydney's oldest and most famous jazz bar. Artists such as Herbie Hancock, Dizzy Gillespie and Prince have performed there. You can dine while enjoying a concert, or just have a drink at the bar.
• Lazybones Lounge, is a soul, funk, blues and reggae music bar, located in the Marrickville neighborhood. In addition to the bands that perform, it has an original cocktail menu and a cuisine that offers internationally inspired dishes.
• Camelot Loung also located in Marrickville, is a bar offering a variety of live music genres amidst medieval decor.
• The Marble Bar is in the Hilton Hotel and offers live music of different genres and a lively, Victorian-style dance floor.

If as a visitor you have a passion for the urban panorama, then an alternative to observe the city and its lights could be to climb the Harbour Bridge. This is an extreme activity that combines adrenaline with relaxation while appreciating the thrilling view.

The Harbour Bridge was designed by engineer John Bradfield and is one of the longest and tallest arch bridges in the world. It crosses Sydney Harbour connecting the city's financial center with the north shore. The best thing is that you can walk across it, cycle along the paths or even climb one of the four pillars that support it.

So, if you want a higher caliber experience, you can take a tour of the top of the arch. There are 1332 steps that separate you from the top, 134 meters above sea level and from the top, you can take an iconic image of Sydney at sunset. The experience is exciting and fun.

In addition, by opting for the climbing experience, you will have the help of a professional, the necessary equipment and the guide will tell you various facts to learn about the history and curiosities of the bridge and the city.

Information of interest

• Price: depends on the type of ascent. The cheapest ones start at approximately 105€.
• Schedule: every day, at dawn, dusk, day or night.
• Duration: A trip to the top of the arch can take between 1.5 and 3.5 hours depending on the type of ascent.

One of the favorite ways to get another impression of Sydney is to walk through the streets at dusk, accompanied by a camera or your cell phone, to take the best pictures of its corners when it is getting dark.

In this walking tour of Sydney, you will be able to capture panoramic views of various tourist attractions. For example:

• Observatory Hill, from where you will have panoramic and privileged views of the harbor. In addition, there are large old trees that you can take pictures of.
• Sydney Harbour Bridge, where you can go for a short walk and from there take pictures of the bridge structure, cars and panoramic views of iconic places.
• Blues Point Reserve, a place that probably offers one of the best views of Sydney from the north side.
• Milsons Point, another place that will give you beautiful views for postcard photographs.
• Mrs Macquarie's Chair, a city landmark and one of the best vantage points for photographing the Opera House and overlooking Sydney Harbour.

Although you can do it on your own, you could also take advantage of a photo tour of Sydney and take the best shots of the city, with its illumination after sunset. Either way, it is an opportunity for you to play with brightness, reflections, shadows, perspective and the colors that the twilight will give to your lens.