Sydney consistently ranks as one of the safest cities in the world — 6th in Berkshire Hathaway Safest Cities Report 2026 and 5th in the Economist 2021 safe cities report. Locals interviewed for this FAQ have not been robbed or had their phone stolen.
Yes! The sun in Australia is incredibly harsh, even when it appears cloudy. You can look up the UV index every day, but it is highly likely if you’re outside without sunscreen you will get burnt.
Call 000 for emergency Ambulance, Fire, Police.
Most likely not, cards are widely accepted. $1 USD is (approximately) AUD 1.5. Tap pay (“Apple pay”) is accepted everywhere you can pay by card.
The city has many chemists and pharmacies and will sell standard medication over the counter. For others, you may require a script from a doctor. There are many doctor clinics (GPs) in the city, a short visit 15 minutes will cost between $100 – $150.
The easiest option is your Visa/Mastercard, tap on the sensors (for bus, train, metro and ferry), and make sure you “tap off” when getting off, or else you will be charged the maximum trip length. You can also purchase “Opal Cards” at a station or 7 eleven. If you do not need to commonly use transport/want a souvenir, you can also purchase one time trip tickets at machines.
For the train, bus, and metro networks, there is an app called Tripview which will tell you what to catch to get from x to y. No need for the paid version, the free one gives you live information on the network. Otherwise Google maps is pretty reliable for transport info as well.
The public transport “Opal” network extends throughout most of the state, so if you plan to visit the Blue Mountains or any other nearby attraction, you can likely get there using public transport.
The train from the airport to the city is AUD 18 and 25 minutes, get off at Museum Station if staying near Park Royal.
Uber is between AUD 30-50 depending on the time of day, about 25 minutes.
Tipping is optional as there is a high minimum wage. It’s not expected at most mid-to-low tier Cafes or restaurants (those that expect it will explicitly say so). If you get very good service and stay for a while, tips are not obligatory, but also not offensive.
Pr[bitten by a snake or spider] ≤ 1/p(n) . Only if you go out of your way to try.
Chances are these are huntsmans/tarantulas. While scary to look at, they are harmless, and probably just as scared of you as you are of them. If you are feeling adventurous, you can trap them with some sort of container and move them outside. Otherwise, they will probably disappear on their own. If you are staying at a hotel, the front desk will be able to help you with this.
Within Sydney, Featherdale Sydney Wildlife Park and Koala Park Sanctuary Sydney are two places you can probably do this. Wild Kangaroo’s are abundant in the bush and near Canberra (our capital, 3 hours drive away)
Raw Kangaroo is available at the supermarket; a few restaurants in the city serve it (Australian Heritage Hotel, Pony Dining, Meat & Wine Co). Australians rarely eat Kangaroo, they are our primary means of transport.
Yes, in-fact you can eat a “Coat of Arms” pizza at the The Australian Heritage Hotel.
Bondi Beach is the most famous beach to visit. It’s about 50 minutes by public transport or 20 minutes by uber from the city. Manly Beach is spectacular and a beautiful scenic ferry ride from circular quay (near the opera house). Closer to the city, the Barangaroo Harbour Pool is near the harbour bridge and a good place to cool off, or Andrew Boy Charlton Pool is a swimming pool with a great view (about 15 minutes walk from the city through the botanical gardens)
For Australian food in the city. Mid-range options are The Gidley, Rockpool Bar and Grill, Cafe Paci (Newtown). Top end options include Bennelong (at the opera house, you can sit at the bar for cheaper!), Margaret (outside the city). For an afternoon drink, Opera Bar at the opera house has a great view, or The Lord Nelson! Solid bakeries in the city include Bourke St Bakery in Barangaroo and AP town bakery, Lode pies, Loulou.
This is a great list: https://www.broadsheet.com.au/sydney/guides/coffee-cbd
Sydney is home to so much good food! https://haveyoueaten.co is a locally made website with lots of filters for type of cuisine, vegetarian options, and even a randomized option. It’s curated by people in-the-know and most places are winners. The city is filled with different Asian cuisines, Thai from every province, Hot Pot on every corner, Chinese Dumplings, Korean BBQ/KFC (Korean Fried Chicken), Japanese Sushi/BBQ/Tempura/Pub, Google what you’re looking for and within your budget.
Tim Tams, Macadamias, halloumi…
Please don’t spread it like Nutella, ease into it. Butter a slice of toast or cracker then very lightly spread vegemite.
You can order a “Schooner” at 425ml or a “Pint” at 570ml
Here are a few great introductions to Australian slang