Sydney is at its best in summer, with harbour experiences, beaches, festivals, outdoor events and plenty to explore across the CBD. From Darling Harbour and Chinatown to Circular Quay, the Royal Botanic Garden and Sydney’s eastern beaches, many of the city’s top summer attractions are easy to reach from Metro Hotels’ central Sydney locations.
Summer is one of the best times to explore Sydney, with long days, warm evenings and plenty happening around the harbour, CBD and beaches.
Some of the best things to do in Sydney in summer include Sydney Festival, Lunar New Year celebrations, outdoor cinema by the harbour, coastal walks, ferry trips, Darling Harbour attractions and, of course, Sydney’s famous New Year’s Eve celebrations.
With four Metro Hotels and Apartments across the Sydney CBD, you can stay within easy reach of many of the city’s biggest attractions, entertainment precincts and public transport.
Sydney’s summer calendar brings some of the city’s biggest annual events to the CBD.
Sydney Festival takes over venues and public spaces across the city each January, with theatre, music, dance, visual arts and free events. It has been a fixture of the Sydney cultural calendar since the 1970s and continues to be one of Australia’s major annual arts festivals.
Later in summer, Sydney Lunar New Year brings celebrations, food, performances and cultural events to Chinatown, Haymarket and other parts of the city.
If you’re staying at Metro Hotel Marlow Sydney Central, Chinatown is only around 350 metres away, Paddy’s Markets is around 450 metres away, and the George Street light rail is approximately 100 metres from the hotel.
That makes it an easy base for exploring Haymarket, Chinatown, Darling Square and the southern end of the CBD on foot.
Darling Harbour is particularly good in summer, whether you’re travelling with kids, planning a weekend away or simply looking for somewhere to spend a warm evening.
The precinct brings together waterfront dining, harbour walks, family attractions and regular events. Darling Harbour also hosts fireworks throughout the year, including summer displays, although schedules can change and are best checked before visiting.
For visitors staying around the western side of the CBD, many attractions are within a few minutes’ walk.
From Metro Apartments on Darling Harbour:
Nearby Metro Apartments on King is also within approximately 100 metres of SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium and Madame Tussauds, with Pitt Street Mall around 550 metres away and Circular Quay around 1.3 kilometres away.
That makes both apartments convenient for exploring Darling Harbour, Barangaroo, the CBD and Sydney Harbour without needing a car.
Summer is also a great time to add a show, musical or live performance to your Sydney itinerary.
Capitol Theatre is one of the city’s best-known theatre venues and Metro Hotel Marlow Sydney Central is directly opposite, approximately 70 metres from the theatre.
The hotel is also around 550 metres from Central Station, making it easy to reach other entertainment venues throughout Sydney.
For shows and events around Darling Harbour, Metro Aspire Hotel Sydney is a convenient option, located close to both Sydney Lyric Theatre and ICC Sydney. It’s an easy walk to major musicals, concerts, exhibitions and events across the precinct, while still being tucked away in a quieter part of Ultimo.
For shows at Theatre Royal Sydney or the State Theatre, both Metro Apartments on Darling Harbour and Metro Apartments on King are within easy walking distance. Both venues host a year-round program of major musicals, plays, concerts and live performances, making the apartments a convenient base for a city stay and show night.
Outdoor cinema has become part of the Sydney summer experience.
Westpac OpenAir returns to Mrs Macquaries Point in the Royal Botanic Gardens each summer, with the Sydney Opera House, Harbour Bridge and city skyline forming the backdrop to the screen.
It is a particularly Sydney way to spend a warm evening and can easily be combined with an afternoon exploring Circular Quay, the Royal Botanic Garden or the harbour foreshore.
Outdoor cinema programs change each summer, so it is worth checking individual event websites before your stay.
You don’t need to book a harbour cruise to enjoy Sydney from the water.
One of the easiest ways to explore is simply to catch a ferry from Circular Quay. Popular trips include Manly, Taronga Zoo and destinations around the lower harbour, with the ferry ride itself offering some of the best views of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge.
Guests staying at Metro Apartments on Darling Harbour or Metro Apartments on King are approximately 1.3 kilometres from Circular Quay, making it easy to walk through the CBD or connect by public transport.
You can also explore the city on foot via Barangaroo, The Rocks and Circular Quay for a longer harbour-side walk.
A Sydney summer trip wouldn’t be complete without some time by the ocean.
Bondi is the obvious choice for first-time visitors, but Sydney’s eastern beaches also make it easy to turn a beach visit into a full day out.
The Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk connects some of Sydney’s best-known beaches, bays and ocean lookouts. Alternatively, take the ferry to Manly and combine the harbour journey with swimming, shopping and a walk along the beachfront.
Staying in the CBD gives you the flexibility to choose a beach depending on the weather rather than committing your entire stay to the coast.
For food, markets and late-night activity, the southern CBD is another easy summer option.
Chinatown is approximately 350 metres from Metro Hotel Marlow Sydney Central, while Paddy’s Markets is around 450 metres away.
From Metro Aspire Hotel Sydney, Paddy’s Markets is around 650 metres away, the Chinese Garden of Friendship approximately 850 metres away, and Darling Harbour about 1 kilometre away.
Darling Square sits between these precincts, making it easy to wander between Haymarket, Chinatown and Darling Harbour rather than planning each as a separate trip.
Sydney Harbour is one of the world’s best-known places to welcome the New Year, with fireworks centred around the Sydney Harbour Bridge and harbour foreshore.
There are dozens of official vantage points around the harbour, with a mix of free and ticketed locations. Transport arrangements, road closures and viewing-area access can change each year, so visitors should always check the official Sydney New Year’s Eve information when planning their night.
Staying in the Sydney CBD also means you can leave the car behind and make use of Sydney’s public transport network.
Choosing the right part of the CBD can make a big difference to how much you can explore on foot.
Metro Hotel Marlow Sydney Central is a good choice for Capitol Theatre, Chinatown, Haymarket and Central Station, with Capitol Theatre just 70 metres away.
Metro Aspire Hotel Sydney is located in Ultimo, around 650 metres from Paddy’s Markets, 850 metres from the Chinese Garden of Friendship and 1 kilometre from Darling Harbour. It also offers onsite parking, which can be useful for guests driving into Sydney.
Metro Apartments on Darling Harbour puts you close to Barangaroo, Cockle Bay and Darling Harbour’s major attractions, including SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium and WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo.
Metro Apartments on King offers apartment-style accommodation close to the same waterfront precinct, with Wynyard Station approximately 500 metres away and Pitt Street Mall around 550 metres away.
Whether you’re planning a quick Sydney city break, a family holiday or a few days of shows, shopping and sightseeing, staying centrally means many of Sydney’s summer highlights are within walking distance or a short public transport trip.
From harbour days and beaches to theatre, festivals and long evenings around Darling Harbour, there’s plenty to fill a Sydney summer itinerary.
Book your Sydney accommodation direct with Metro Hotels for our best available direct rates, exclusive offers and eligible Qantas Frequent Flyer benefits, and take a look at our latest Sydney hotel deals before planning your stay.
Popular summer experiences include Sydney Festival, Lunar New Year, Sydney Harbour, Darling Harbour, outdoor cinema, beach days, coastal walks and New Year’s Eve celebrations.
Metro Apartments on Darling Harbour and Metro Apartments on King are both in the western Sydney CBD, within easy walking distance of Darling Harbour, SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium, WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo, Barangaroo and Cockle Bay.
Metro Hotel Marlow Sydney Central is directly opposite Capitol Theatre, approximately 70 metres away.
Yes. Metro’s Sydney CBD hotels and apartments are close to train, light rail and bus services, with many major attractions also accessible on foot.
Image credit: Destination NSW
