Sydney, with a population of almost 4 million, and covering almost 1120 square kilometres (700 square miles), is a remarkably easy city to move around in. An excellent train, bus and ferry service covers all points of the greater metropolitan area. Roadways, although congested in peak hour times, are generally well planned and driving is not too harrowing an experience. Unless visitors to Sydney are specifically seeking out friends in outlying areas, most will have no real need to travel too far away from the central city area and the harbour. Most Sydney tourist attractions are either within the central business district, close to the CBD, or at points around the harbour. The exceptions are Bondi and Manly - surf beach suburbs situated south and north of Sydney Heads.
If you've only got a week or a few days in Sydney, your time would be best spent by taking a walk around the wider CBD area, visiting The Rocks or spending time on the harbour. The harbour is Sydney and on a warm day, with a clear blue sky, there is no better place on earth.
Best ways to get around
Taking a City Circle train, the Monorail or walking is the best way of seeing city attractions, while buses and ferries represent the best way to visit points and attractions around the harbour. The government-run Explorer Buses and Sydney Pass service represent an ideal and inexpensive way to see most of the main tourist points around the city and out to Bondi. Sydney Ferries, which are also government run, provide an inexpensive way of seeing the most beautiful harbour in the world. For excursions around the harbour, private operators offer a myriad of harbour cruises that promise more than a just a simple ferry ride. If you're wanting to take a bus around the broader Sydney area, try Sydney Buses and Sydney Ferries' excellent Tripfinder, an automated search facility that gives route and timetable details.

Arriving in Sydney
The Kingsford Smith Airport is the main international and domestic airport. It is about 10 kilometres (6 miles) south-west of the Central Business District and Sydney Harbour. The Government-run Airport buses run to Sydney City and Kings Cross every 10 minutes, stopping at designated points along the way. Fares are not expensive. Climate
Sydney enjoys a temperate climate with a mild winter, and has more than 340 sunny days a year. Average minimum temperatures in the winter months of June through to August are 9-11 degrees Celcius (48-52 Farenheit). The summer season is from December through to February.
Shopping Hours
Generally 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday; 9am-9pm, Thursday; 8.30am-4pm, Saturday. Shops in tourist areas may be open on Sundays.
Main Attractions
Sydney Harbour Bridge
The Rocks
Darling Harbour
Royal Botanic Gardens
Taronga Park Zoo
Fort Denison
Bondi Beach
Sydney Opera House