Where to Walk: the 8 Best Sydney Walking Tours

1.Sydney Opera House Official Guided Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 3,770 reviews · from $34Our pick

Spend one hour inside the Sydney Opera House with a local guide such as Sheila, Michael, Laura, or Peter. See two performance spaces, walk elegant foyers, study the shell tiles and white birch chairs, and hear how Danish architect Jørn Utzon’s design became a working venue. Expect about 300 stairs and no entry after departure.

“Ask for Peter as your Guide. A retired Architect who actually worked on some of The Opera House projects. Very very knowledgeable!”

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2.Blue Mountains Tour with Waterfall Walk & Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 2,400 reviews · 10h 30m · from $85

Leave Sydney at 7:30am for a full day in the Blue Mountains with an English-speaking guide such as Zach, Kieran, Ben, or Abbey. Walk to the base of Wentworth Falls, visit several lookouts, hear the Dreamtime story of the Three Sisters, and enjoy a fresh roll made to suit your dietary needs.

“We had a really great day on this tour. Our guide Kieran was absolutely class - so knowledgable, informative, kind and also funny! The tour is so well organised and the waterfall walk really is the highlight of the blue mountains so if you are happy with the walking this tour will be better than a lot of other options. Lunch was also great, as was the breakfast stop and final afternoon stop where we could get an ice cream! Bus was cool, clean and good group size. Highly recommend.”

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3.Sydney The Rocks Guided Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,546 reviews · from $32Top rated

Walk through The Rocks with guides such as Judith, Paul, Michael, and Vickie, learning how convict labour shaped Sydney. The 90-minute route covers about 2 kilometres of lanes, courtyards, sandstone steps, Cadman’s Cottage, the Garrison Church, and harbour viewpoints near Campbells Cove. Expect a small group, lively stories, and some uneven footing.

“Enjoyed this tour very much! Even though it was raining umbrellas were provided and tour guide made sure we stopped to hear information at covered areas. Everyone from adults and children enjoyed tour. Vickie was excellent!! Would recommend to friends.”

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4.The Rocks 90-Minute History Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,092 reviews · 1h 30m · from $32

Walk Sydney’s oldest quarter with an English-speaking guide such as Judith, Anne, Paul, or Vickie. In 90 minutes, you’ll see cobbled lanes, old pubs, courtyards, harbour viewpoints, and places tied to convict-era Sydney. The route is gentle but includes slopes, stairs, and uneven ground.

“Judith was excellent loved her city and brought it all to life”

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5.Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) and Museum Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 616 reviews · 1h 30m · from $23Best value

Spend 90 minutes inside the SCG with guides such as Stuart, Peter, Warwick, and Rod. See the pitch, dressing rooms, media centre, Members Reserve, Walk of Honour, and SCG Museum. The English-language tour suits cricket fans and curious Sydney visitors, though some areas may vary on the day.

“Vanessa was excellent covered everything you need you to know the pace of the tool was great. She can answer all the questions thrown out and kept it very humorous as well.”

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6.City & The Rocks 3.5-Hour Walking Tour with a Drink

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 234 reviews · 3h 30m · from $53

Spend 3.5 hours walking from Customs House through Sydney’s historic centre, Hyde Park, the QVB, Angel Place, and The Rocks. Guides such as Steve, Daniel, Matt, Jake, and Michael bring the city’s colonial, First Nations, architectural, and modern stories to life. Finish at The Squire’s Landing with a craft beer, soft drink, or juice, plus harbour views and a useful local map.

“You would never guess this typical looking australian - long blond hair young surfer dude in wide jeans - has a degree in colonial history, deep knowledge, respect & passion for his country that is very contagious & makes it a fantastic tour! And if you like sports - he can talk for hours on that topic too :) Thank you, Dan!”

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7.Sydney Convicts, History & The Rocks 2.5-Hour Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 181 reviews · 2h 30m · from $36

Spend 2.5 hours with an English-speaking local historian tracing Sydney’s convict beginnings from Customs House to Argyle Cut. Expect sandstone ruins, old pubs, hidden corridors, colonial characters, rum dealers and stories of the Gadigal people. Guides such as Bec, Max and Pete use images and lively storytelling to make the past easier to picture.

“Amazing. A must experience if you wanna really know the origins of Sydney. The tour is a real Sydney boy and has a broad knowledge of the city, while making the visit really enjoyable.”

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8.Spirits of the Rock and Dark Past Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 144 reviews · 1h 30m · from $27

Walk Sydney’s Rocks with an English-speaking guide such as Olivia, Warren, Georgia, or Wazza, hearing stories of mass burial pits, opium dens, sly grog haunts, the Rocks Push gang, and restless spirits. The 90-minute route includes historic pubs and an original cellar, with night views from Observatory Hill.

“Jake our guide was knowledgeable and answered all manner of questions which made our tour enjoyable. Jake was professional in all aspects of the tour despite a couple of people on our group who where talking loudly and being quiet rude on their phones throughout the tour which made it difficult for those of us who actually went on this tour to learn more history and also we have an interest in ghosts. We'll done Jake.”

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