On many tourists’ to-do lists when visiting Sydney, The Rocks is one of the city’s most charming areas (other than our beloved home, Newtown, of course). Although we’ve been living in the city for well over a decade, strolls through this harbourside suburb never get old for us.
Whenever we have out of town visitors, its one of the touristy things we just about always join. The Rocks’ historic buildings, cute cafes, charismatic pubs and incredible views of Sydney Harbour.
TL;DR: How we’d plan our perfect day in The Rocks
- Start your day with coffee and breakfast at an outdoor cafe before tackling the Bridge Climb
- Wander through the area’s historic streets and The Rocks Markets, making your way down to George Street
- Pop into Squires Landing for lunch and a drink and take a seat with a view of the Sydney Opera House
- Check out the latest exhibits at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA)
- Treat yourself to dinner with a French twist at Le Foote
- Watch the sun set over Sydney Harbour from Observatory Hill
What to do in The Rocks
Bridge Climb
Where is it? 3 Cumberland Street
Price: From $248
While not cheap, this iconic Sydney experience is worth doing if it fits in your budget. We’ve just done it once, but the experience of climbing high above Sydney Harbour is one we’ll never forget. It’s also a great chance to learn more about the bridge and see it from a perspective you’ve never seen it from before.
There’s a few different options to choose from, including a slightly-more-affordable one-hour climb, or, what we’d consider climbing again for, the Vivid Sydney nighttime experience.
✅ We’ve done it! We did the daytime climb.
Explore the historic streets
Where is it? All over The Rocks
Price: Free
A bit of a living museum, The Rocks has historic points scattered all throughout the area. From Cadman’s Cottage (Sydney’s second-oldest residential building) to some of the city’s oldest pubs, there’s plenty of sites packed into the less-than-one-square-kilometre suburb.
Either wander around yourself and look for placards on buildings or in front of them, or consider joining a guided tour to learn from the experts. There’s even free walking tours available if you’re on a bit of a budget. (Tips are encouraged though!)
✅ We’ve done it! While we haven’t joined a free walking tour, we’ve roamed around the area plenty. We’ve spend a few years working in the area and have spend may lunch breaks wandering the streets here.
See the ruins beneath the YHA
Where is it? 110 Cumberland Street
Price: Free
Beneath one of the city’s best hostels sits The Big Dig, home to remnants of some of the first settlements by Europeans in Australia. While not quite as old as other archaeological sites around the world, these remains from the 18th century are pretty old for us.
✅ We’ve done it!
Fun fact: The YHA Sydney Harbour was actually our first home in Sydney! When we first moved to the city, we took on a work-for-accommodation gig here for a few weeks while we were getting on our feet. This meant we had plenty of time to explore the local area.
Sit down for a drink along George Street
Where is it? George Street, between Alfred Street and Argyle Street
Price: From about $5 for a coffee
Between Alfred Street in the south and Argyle Street in the north, George Street has been changed to a one-way street only, with the north-bound lanes taken over by an extended seating area for the cafes and restaurants that line the street.
Sitting here, you’ll get a great view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the historic buildings along the road here. While there’s quite a few places to grab a drink or bite to eat along here, we can recommend spots like Shuk, Fortune of War and Le Foote. Most of the venues along this stretch have favourable reviews though, and the view will be similar from just about anywhere.
✅ We’ve done it!
Check out the exhibits at the MCA
Where is it? 140 George Street
Price: $20
Lovers of modern art will feel right at home at the Museum of Modern Art (MCA). The gallery features rolling exhibits paintings, sculptures and other pieces of art by Australians and international artists. There’s 4,700 pieces in the gallery’s collection so far, meaning you’ll always see something a little bit different with each visit.
Although previously free, the MCA does now charge for entry. Admittedly, we haven’t been since this change took place, so we don’t know if any major changes have taken place since the entry fee was instilled.
✅ We’ve done it!
Learn about the local area at The Rocks Discovery Museum
Where is it? 2/8 Kendall Lane, The Rocks
Price: Free
If you’re not so keen on art, or are looking for a free museum to visit, The Rocks Discovery Museum is worth popping into. It’s quite small and only requires about 30 minutes or so to explore. But, it’ll teach you a bit about the history of the area, including its Indigenous heritage, discovery by Europeans and how it’s changed over the years.
✅ We’ve done it!
Browse The Rocks markets
Where is it? Jack Mundey Place, Playfair Street and George Street
Price: Free to browse
Friday from 10am to 3pm and weekends from 10am to 5pm, The Rocks turns into an eclectic marketplace packed with stalls selling local goods, unique souvenirs and tasty eats. So if you’re in the market for some things to bring back home, or just love a market atmosphere, The Rocks markets is a great place to grab some trinkets to remember your visit in Sydney.
✅ We’ve done it!
Watch the sunset from Observatory Hill
Where is it? 1001 Upper Fort Street
Price: Free
Okay. We admit it; this one is technically in Millers Point, but it’s so close, and so worth it, that we’ll throw it into our recommendations for things to to while in The Rocks.
*Just* on the other side of Bradfield Highway, which leads to the bridge, Observatory Hill Park features incredible views of Sydney Harbour Bridge, North Sydney and the Harbour on the west side of the bridge. That means you’ll get a great sunset view from here. So, pack a picnic, bring a bottle of wine, and enjoy the view.
✅ We’ve done it!
Where to eat and drink in The Rocks
Le Foote
Where is it? 101 George Street
Cuisine: French
Price: $$
A bistro tucked into Sydney’s oldest neighbourhood, Le Foote took over the heritage-listed building in 2023. The unique space consists of a few different dining areas, offering that perfect cosy, European vibe to match the French-inspired cuisine. If the potato pie comes back onto the menu, order it. We promise you won’t be disappointed.
✅ We’ve eaten here!
The Glenmore
Where it is? 96 Cumberland Street
Cuisine: Pub
Price: $
Featuring some of the best views in The Rocks, The Glenmore is a pub with a little sumthin’-sumthin’. It’s rooftop seating area is easily one of the suburbs’ most coveted spots and boasts views of the Sydney Opera House and harbour. A popular spot, this historic pub serves up cold drinks and classic pub dishes. We recommend booking a seat on the rooftop to guarantee a view, especially if it’s during a prime time. (Reservations aren’t available on Friday or Saturday evenings, though.)
✅ We’ve eaten here!
Shuk The Rocks
Where it is? 121 George Street
Cuisine: Middle Eastern brunch
Price: $
If you’re after a light and healthy, but hearty, lunch, Shuk serves up cafe favourites and Middle Eastern-inspired brunch bites. We enjoyed a hummus-packed plate, but if you’re after something a bit more stock-standard, then toast with eggs and bacon-egg rolls are also available along with pastries. If you’re looking for somewhere you can sit outside, this is a great pick too. It’s located along the George Street strip where one lane of traffic has been replaced with tables for outdoor dining.
✅ We’ve eaten here!
Squires Landing
Where it is? Overseas Passenger Terminal, Circular Quay West (Just off George Street)
Cuisine: Pub
Price: $
With one of the best views in town and prices that are actually quite reasonable, Squires Landing has become our go-to pub when showing out-of-towners some of the best that Sydney has to offer. (Especially when The Glenmore is a bit too busy or we don’t feel like walking up the Argyle steps!) It’s a James Squire brewery with pub-style dining downstairs with plenty of outdoor seating. Upstairs is the more traditional restaurant, Waterfront, with sweeping harbour views. Prices are slightly higher upstairs, but still quite reasonable given the location. Just make sure you come when there’s no cruise ship in port – otherwise, there’s no view.
✅ We’ve eaten here!
Where to stay in The Rocks
Visiting from out of town, or treating yourself to a staycation in one of Sydney’s most historic neighbourhoods?
Luxury: Park Hyatt
Where is it? 7 Hickson Road
Star rating: 5 stars
Best for: Those looking to splash out on the ultimate Sydney stay
Book your stay: Direct with the hotel | Agoda | Booking.com | Expedia
Moderate: Sydney Harbour Hotel
Where is it? 55 George Street
Star rating: 4 stars
Best for: Families after a centrally located stay with a pool for entertaining the kids (on the rooftop, too!)
Book your stay: Direct with the hotel | Agoda | Booking.com | Expedia
Budget-friendly: YHA Sydney Harbour
Where is it? 110 Cumberland Street
Star rating: 2 stars
Best for: Budget travellers, small groups and backpackers
Book your stay: Direct with the hotel | Agoda | Booking.com | Expedia
✅ We’ve stayed here!
Pub: The Australian
Where is it? 100 Cumberland Street
Star rating: 3 stars
Best for: Unique stays that are budget-friendly
Book your stay: Direct with the hotel | Agoda | Booking.com | Expedia
✅ We’ve been to the pub here, but haven’t spent the night.
