Sydney Travel Tips: What to Know Before You Go

Practical tips for Sydney

• Contactless Visa/Mastercard taps directly on trains, ferries and light rail — no Opal card needed.

• AUD 17.80 daily transit cap + free Sunday transfers (max AUD 2.80) — plan long ferry days for Sunday.

• Swim between the red-and-yellow flags — Bondi rip currents are the world's most-rescued beach.

Staying safe and comfortable

Local emergency number: 000.

• Swim only between the red-and-yellow flags — rip currents kill more visitors than sharks.

• Watch for spiders in shoes at country accommodations (rare in the CBD).

• Emergency 000 for police, ambulance, fire.

Visas and entry

Entry policy: required, typically up to 90 days. All non-Australian/NZ visitors need a visa. Western passports: ETA (subclass 601) via 'Australian ETA' app — AUD 20 service fee, 12-month multiple entry, 90-day stays. EU passports use eVisitor (subclass 651) — free.

Budgeting your trip

Accommodation is the largest controllable cost in Sydney. Compare live rates for your dates and neighbourhood shortlist before locking in flights — the difference between areas is often larger than the difference between travel weeks.