WHY I FELL IN LOVE WITH SYDNEY

I haven’t talked to you yet about a city I really adored. It was actually love at first sight!

Imposing yet cute, relaxed yet super dynamic. This is Sydney, the capital of New South Wales and one of Australia’s largest cities. A cosmopolitan city with so many things to do!

I fell in love with this city, as it’s truly seductive, with amazing vibes. I only stayed for a couple of days, after Melbourne, but I managed to get a glimpse of what the city has to offer.

Follow me, check out the images and let me know; how is it possible to just not adore this place?

Sydney Harbour Bridge is one of the most iconic landmarks. It’s located at Circular Quay. It opened in 1932 and its dimensions make it the biggest steel arch bridge all over the world.

Sydney Opera House– of course!! I think I was jumping like a kid when I first saw this magnificent building. I loved it. Loved its architecture, its location, the air of arts and culture around it. Truly amazing!

Visually the Opera House is referencing a yacht’s sails. It has five performance stages for theatre, opera, dance and various concerts.

After you wander around the Opera, just select any of the coffee shops around and enjoy the views. Take a deep breathe and have a look around! You’re in Australia!

Royal Botanic Gardens: Located on the southeast of the Sydney Opera House, they present plants from all over the world and they’re just one more beautiful place to be! It’s so peaceful and a nice escape from all the hustle.

In case you like viewing sea life, then visit the Sea Life Aquarium.

And you have to go to the zoo to see the cutest animals ever, the Koalas! They sleep 19 arounds per day, they eat and they sleep again. And some kangaroos running around, of course.

If you have enough days in Sydney, don’t miss the Bondi Beach! It’s the closest to the city ocean beach and really popular. I didn’t have the time to visit, unfortunately, but next time for sure (cause yes, there will be next time)!

BUT! I did visit Manly Beach and I fell in love (again). A long beach, with waterfront bars and restaurants and amazing houses! Moreover, Manly people are sooo into sports! Yoga on the grass, beach volley, surf, running; everyone, literally everyone, was doing some kind of exercising and outdoor activity.

And the best part? It’s only 15-20 minutes away by boat from Sydney city!

Now, let’s talk about food.

Mr. Wong is one of the most popular restaurants (their duck is a hit) and not without a good reason. The space is super classy and attractive, the food mouthwatering and the service excellent. Make sure to visit!

Sydney is also known for the Speakeasy bars. And I found the best one! (at least one of the best ones). It’s called Baxter Inn and it’s just beautiful, mysterious and the place to be for the whiskey lovers.

I did mention on my Melbourne post, that Aussies take their coffee seriously. Order a Long Black or a Short Black and enjoy!

That’s just a small glimpse of Sydney’s vibes. The city is truly cosmopolitan. It’s home to people from all over the world and its character fascinated me. I walked a lot and discovered cute alleys (yes, in the middle of the city) and vintage shops signs, like this one:

One last thing I want to add that made me really happy. I finally met in person the Greek City Times team! For those of you who don’t know, I write for Greek City Times, a Sydney based website, for about 2-3 years now. The editorial team ‘discovered’ me while I was living in Athens, Greece and since May 2017 I am a Travel & Culture Editor. It’s a collaboration I really enjoy, as I promote anything interesting with Greek roots that’s taking place all over the world. After I moved to Doha, we continued working together and while in Sydney I FINALLY met the team in person! We went for a coffee and then they gave me a tour at their offices, which are WOW. Really happy to be a part of GCT!

Sydney, it was a blast. You’re officially one of my favorite cities I have visited so far and I promise I will come back someday!

xx