Navigating public transport
Sydney has multiple modes of transport—trains, buses, ferries, and light rail (trams), but they are generally mediocre, and service can be slow, especially on weekends. Sydney trains are double decker with reversible seating, designed for long suburban commutes. Some rules of thumb: If there is room, don’t reverse a seat to find yourself staring into a stranger’s face, and if you’re able-bodied, choose a seat downstairs or upstairs; leave the entry level part of the carriage for the elderly, baby carriages, and the Disabled. Sydney has some bike lanes, but they’re sporadic, so be prepared for the one you’re using to suddenly disappear, leaving you to white-knuckle a multi-lane busy road. As for driving, there are tons of speed, cell phone, and seatbelt cameras with hefty fines, so be aware. Plus, random breath testing stations for DUI’s are common.
Dress right
For a relaxed city, there are some head-scratching dress codes in Sydney. Restaurants typically don’t have dress codes (you’ll never be asked to put on a blazer at a silver-service restaurant), but at many city bars and sports pubs, dress codes are enforced: no thongs (flip-flops), singlets (tank tops) and high-vis workwear. Along Sydney’s Oxford Street, on the stretch of popular gay bars and clubs, open-toe shoes are strictly forbidden for both men and women. When it comes to wearing Speedos (a.k.a. budgie-smugglers), once you’re about 300 meters from the sand it’s best to pop some shorts on or wrap a towel around your waist. If you can’t see the water, that just means you’re in your underwear.
Go local
In the last few years, Sydney’s style—minimalist ’90s shapes and slouchy linen suits—have caught the world’s attention and the city is home to a creative pool of talent: Christopher Esber, St Agni, P. Johnson, and Lucy Folk, to name a few. This is the same for restaurants and cafes (Sydney is one of the only places in the world Starbucks failed); there aren’t many chains and for good reason.
Explore beyond the Opera House
Sure, the Harbour Bridge and Opera House are worth seeing, but it would be like visiting New York or London and only visiting Times Square or Piccadilly Circus. One of the greatest pleasures of Sydney is discovering its neighborhoods. From the eastern suburbs to the western enclaves and the north shore and inner-city suburbs, each area has its own vibe, identity, and rhythms worth exploring.
Don’t catch your own dinner
This may seem niche, but Sydney has very protected waters (and wildlife in general). To hook a line or go spear fishing, you must be in designated areas and have a recreational fishing license. Otherwise expect big fines—and, in some cases, to make headline news. (A beloved groper was speared a few years ago, and people still talk about it.) Taking a boat out requires a boat license, and like driving a car, strict alcohol rules apply for the designated driver—and there are water cops.
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