How many cities have you visited where crystal clear beaches and colorful cockatoos upstage ultra-modern buildings? Four hours couldn’t possibly let you cover all of Sydney’s breathtaking spots, but with a local insider leading the way, you’ll see much more than you bargained for.

From the upmarket inner-city suburbs of Paddington and Balmain to historic George Street and The Rocks, you could explore the city’s most iconic neighborhoods before doing what Sydneysiders do best: getting outdoors!

Whether your style is strolling the lawns of the 200-year-old Royal Botanic Gardens, hiking between cliffs, or enjoying fish and chips on the beachfront in Coogee, get a taste of that iconic city-to-surf lifestyle with your host. 

In central Sydney’s pedestrian precinct, Darling Harbor, you could stroll past the Opera House and Harbor Bridge, or you could head a mile deeper to the historic “inner west” suburb of Glebe, where rows of 19th-century terrace houses exist peacefully among tiny bars, bookshops, and boutiques.

Across the harbor, whether you choose Manly Beach’s golden sand or surf and street murals at Bondi Beach, gliding through crystal clear waters on a ferry is the only way to travel.

And if you’re keen to discover a Sydney that most visitors don’t see, head west to Hunter’s Hill, a leafy pocket neighborhood lined with jacaranda trees and quaint cafes, or venture to the northern beaches, where each beach-side suburb is its own self-contained universe.