A trip to Sydney is an essential part of any Australian holiday, and the country's largest city is often labeled as one of the most beautiful in the world due to its idyllic balance of architecture, iconic landmarks, beautiful harbor, botanic gardens and impressive skyline.

A truly vibrant city that is full of a consistent buzz and high degree of energy, Sydney will have something to captivate you regardless of whether you're an Aussie visiting from interstate or an international visitor from overseas. The city is so large and full of things to do that there are a wide range of so-called "must see" locations and sights that, if you miss them, mean you will be missing out on some of the unique features that give Sydney its own distinct personality.

Regardless of whether you're exploring the city center and its metropolitan areas, the northern and southern surf beaches that have gained their own fame, popular civic venues, landmarks and scenic spots, there is seemingly a "must see" location around every next corner!

Places to visit in Sydney, Australia

Circular Quay

Begin here for a close-up gander at the great steel arc of the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House's splendid sails. Here too, housed in a restored 1930s-designed building, is the Museum of Contemporary Art, tel: (61-2) 9245 2400, and the Customs House Library, tel: (61-2) 9242 8555. One block on, the Museum of Sydney, tel: (61-2) 9251 5988, is set behind a starkly beautiful art installation that marks initial contact between the British colonizers and the Cadigal people, the area's first Australians.

Bondi Beach

Bondi seduces many a nomad into staying put; chances are you won't hurry to leave. Swim, sunbathe or sign up for a surf lesson — a two-hour lesson at Let's Go Surfing, tel: (61-2) 9365 1800, costs $90. Or take in the spectacular stretch of sandstone cliffs and coves of the Bondi-to-Bronte walk along a one-hour, 2.5-km coastal path. And if you dally past dusk, swing past the White Revolver, on the corner of Curlewis Street and Campbell Parade, a bijou club where Bondi's style set converges.

Sydney Opera House

This is a visually stunning structure inside and out, with six individual venues that stage spectacular musical and dance performances. But you don't have to see a show to experience the Opera House. "Everyone must take the 90 minute tour! The different size venues for different performances makes this facility so alive." The opera house gives tours in several different languages: The Essential Tour costs $35, and the Backstage Tour costs $155. You can also buy tickets to a performance, although you'll need to get those well in advance as the box offices frequently sells out. You'll find the Sydney Opera House overlooking Sydney Harbor.

Sydney Harbour

Many visitors say that the Sydney Harbour is the most beautiful natural harbor in the world, and they just might be right. Blue water laps up to sandy shores over which landmarks like the Royal Botanic Gardens and the Sydney Opera House preside. Also, nearly 150 miles of shoreline encompasses more than 30 square miles of water, adding "humongous" to the harbor's list of superlatives as well.  The Manly ferry for a trip right across the harbor, and great beach-side restaurants.

Sydney Botanic Gardens

The Royal Botanic Gardens are a rarity in that they provide such a cavalcade of natural floral beauty while also being so close to the Sydney CBD and the lovely panorama and landmarks of Sydney Harbour. One of the best ways to simply enjoy nature as the world passes you by all within the midst of one of the the world's busiest cities, at the Botanic Gardens you can absorb amazing views of the harbour while walking through the immaculately-maintained greenery to view the endless array of plants, trees and more all of which are accompanied by signs with detailed information on each species of flora on display.

The trees of the gardens are also often filled with birdlife such as cockatoos, as well as sleeping flying foxes hanging from the branches, adding an extra layer of nature to what is already a spectacular facility and a natural oasis with a size of over 30 hectares in total. Divided up into a series of specialized gardens, each of which emphasize a different area of the world of plant life, from Begonias to Palms, Roses to Ferns, the range of displays on offer at the Royal Botanic Gardens is truly spectacular and changes from season to season so that visiting multiple times throughout the year will often produce a bevy of new natural sights to see.

Spot sea creatures at Shelly Beach

The Sydney Aquarium is pricey but you can see plenty of marine life in its natural habitat at Shelly Beach. Take the Manly ferry and some swimming goggles. Other good places to spot sea life are Clovelly and Gordon’s Bay.

Taronga Zoo

Sydney Harbour resounding with lions' roars? Yes, really. Taronga Zoo, tel: (61-2) 9969 2777, lies on the leafy north shore. Along with thousands of exotic and native Australian animals, it comes with some dress-circle water and skyline views, and draws more than a million visitors a year. An adult ZooPass, including the ferry fare from Circular Quay, is $45; die-hards can sleep over in a luxury safari tent with after-hours adventures for $225.

Jenolan Caves

While not technically "in" Sydney, the Jenolan Caves network is another must-do and still one of the major draw cards for those who are visiting the greater Sydney area. Composed of an amazing mixture of 11 spectacular show caves, pure underground rivers, and amazing rock formations. A remarkable cave system that ranks amongst the finest and most ancient in the world, they can be reached within a reasonable 2.5 hour drive from the heart of Sydney and are well worth the trek. A true display of nature at its grandest, Jenolan Caves is an awe-inspiring display that make for a wonderful place to visit with others, with numerous different tour and cave options that showcase each of the individual caves' key features.

The Queen Victoria Building

For an extremely high-end, elegant and gracious shopping experience, you'd be hard pressed to find a place in Sydney that beats the iconic Queen Victoria Building. While the huge range of variety in shopping options is of obvious appeal, the building itself is an architectural marvel that adds a touch of class to the proceedings with many fine details in its craftsmanship that the discerning eye can appreciate.

Intricate tiling, facades, metalwork, stained-glass windows and its amazing grand staircase are just some of the things that make even simple window-shopping at the Queen Victoria Building a satisfying experience. One of the "proud old ladies" of Sydney architecture, it provides a venue where the old world ornate style of shopping can still be experienced in the hub of a modernized metropolis, with the stores on each level as you ascend increasing in both price and quality (i.e: if you're looking for bargains, the basement is the level you want to be on!), with the highest level having some truly impressive and lavish stores selling suits, jewelry, brand accessories and many other expensive, high-end products that most of us can only marvel at.

Coogee Beach

With its soft, manilla-colored sands and gentle waves, Coogee Beach is a nice spot for sunning and swimming. Plus, the eateries along the shore give beach bums several places to refuel. Although many say Bondi is the best beach in town, others argue that Coogee Beach is their favorite piece of Sydney shoreline. It is such a picturesque beach, complemented by the lovely cafes and restaurants that line all the streets leading to the beach.