Best Walking Tours in Sydney (Updated 2023)

published: 3/10/2023 | March 10, 2023

Sydney is the most famous and largest city in Australia. If you visit the country, you will visit here. Home to 5 million residents (about 20% of the total population), it has plenty of things to see and do, from its famous Opera House and Harbor Bridge to its stunning beaches and plentiful museums (many of which are free).

Being the largest city in the country and the most popular destination for tourists, there is a lot to do here. In addition to the typical sites, museums, and activities, there are also plenty of great walking tours that give you a feel for the people and culture of the city.

I love walking tours for this reason. Led by a local, they give you information you wouldn’t find just walking around on your own. You get someone who can answer your questions and share their insider advice.

There are plenty of walking tours in Sydney to choose from. To help you avoid some of the best walking tours in Sydney, here is a list of the best walking tours in Sydney:

While these may be the best paid and free tours in the city, Sydney has a lot to offer, no matter your interests. Here are nine other fun, insightful, and educational rides!

1. Sydney True Crime Tour

If you are looking for a tour that explores the more picturesque side of the city beyond the standard tourist spots, this is the place for you. Over the course of 90 minutes, you’ll walk through the historic areas around The Rocks neighborhood and learn about common criminals and infamous crimes (after criminals colonized the country). The tour takes you down narrow alleyways and into secret nooks as you discover Sydney’s underbelly. It’s very cool.

Tours start at $34 AUD.

2. Sydney Incognita

Sydney Incognita is a fun walking tour company that offers casual three-hour outings where you’ll learn everything you’ve always wanted to know about Sydney (it really packs a ton of information; writer Calvin Trillin called it “sneaking in the facts.”). On this tour, you’ll hit all the major sites and enjoy stories about the region’s oldest known history up to the 21st century.

Tours start at $49 AUD.

3. City fit

If you want to take a nature based tour this is a good tour. This company runs a 4.5 hour hiking tour around the Manly Heads. During the 11-kilometre (7-mile) trek, you’ll get some stunning views and learn a lot about the surroundings from the local guide. The trip culminates in Manly (one of my favorite neighborhoods in the city) where you can stroll the area’s charming streets, and refresh yourself with well-deserved food and drink. Fit City also offers walking tours and a harbor tour.

Tours start at $97 AUD.

4. Walk in the architecture of Sydney

You don’t have to love buildings and their different styles to have a great time on a tour with Sydney Architecture Walks. Led by actual architects, these tours are jargon-free adventures that give visitors deeper knowledge beyond why certain buildings are beautiful. This two- or three-hour small-group tour focuses on the patterns and forces that have shaped the look of contemporary Sydney, making it suitable for anyone looking to learn more about the city’s history and design.

Tours start at $49 AUD.

5. Ghost Lantern Tours

For a spooky tour around town, check out Lantern Ghost Tours, Australia’s largest ghost tour company. Their tours continue on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights and take curious travelers around the gruesome sites where hair-raising crimes took place and spirits still haunt the residents. Tours last 90 minutes.

Tours start at $36 AUD.

6. Walking trip

This tour company offers a few themed walks, but what you shouldn’t miss is a 2.5-hour walk around convict-era Sydney, where guides lead up to 14 guests around the city’s notorious colonial beginnings (focusing mostly on the rocky area). ), when Sydney was a playground for British convicts. You will hear many great anecdotes and stories that may inspire you to explore more on your own. The tour is a must for history buffs!

Tours start at $36 AUD.

7. Secret Food Tours

Secret Food Tours takes visitors on a delicious jaunt through the Surry Hills section of Sydney, stopping to sample some great Vietnamese cuisine and learn how Gold Rush-era immigration by Italians, Portuguese and Greeks helped shape the cuisine here. You’ll dive into the craft beer scene, visit a butcher, nibble on some sweet treats, and even taste a “secret dish.” All of this makes for a fun three hour tour with never more than 10 people.

Inquire about flight prices as fares vary.

8. Harbor Aboriginal Heritage Tour

On this tour, you can tour the harbor area with an Aboriginal guide who will share with you the history and culture of the area from an Aboriginal perspective. The one-hour walk not only focuses on the past but also regional flora. You will learn what specific flowers, plants, herbs and trees mean to the Gadigal people and how they have traditionally used them for various purposes. I highly recommend it. It adds a lot of perspective to the city.

Tours start at $30 AUD.

Sydney has plenty of walking tours that can help you save money, see the sights, and introduce you to all that this wonderful city has to offer. Whether it’s a food-related outing, an Aboriginal-led walk, or a history-packed bike tour, you’ll leave Sydney with a deeper appreciation for the place than when you arrived.