If you’re short on time, or you’re only exploring one city in Australia, you might be wondering…Should you go to Sydney or Melbourne?
If you’ve ever chatted to locals from Sydney or Melbourne, they’ll most likely tell you that their city is the best! There are great parts of both cities, with both cities offering their own unique character.
Sydney: Where the city meets the beach
City break and a beach holiday at once? If you’re after a city break that comes with a slice of sunshine, then visit Sydney!
Sydney’s got plenty of beaches scattered along its cabbage-shaped coastline. Its curving coastline is full of bays, beaches, coves and caves – and it’s all a stone’s throw away from the city. The Northern Beaches of Sydney (like Manly) offer some truly incredible beaches that have great surf.
The food and drink scene in Sydney is truly thriving, with plenty of amazing restaurants, bars and cafes. The coffee in Sydney is equally as good as Melbourne’s, so you won’t be short on places to stop for a tasty caffeine fix.
Why you’ll love Sydney:
Sydney’s beachy lifestyle has made it preferable over Melbourne for many. Sydney has…
- A beachy, surfy lifestyle
- An outdoor lifestyle thanks to warmer weather
- Unique architecture and iconic
- Voted as the most aesthetically pleasing
- Tends to have warmer, sunnier weather
- Access to the Blue Mountains and Thredo during the winter
Melbourne: A melting pot of art, music, coffee and great food
Melbourne is Australia’s cultural capital, and a hub of all things music, art and great food. The coffee scene is thriving, and the restaurant scene is impressive. As the southernmost city in mainland Australia, Melbourne tends to be the coldest city in Australia.
It can get very cold down there, so wrapping up warm is required in the winter! A Melbourne summer tends to have more events.
Why you’ll love Melbourne:
- The coffee scene is thriving
- Art, music, fashion, film, and theatre events happen all the time
- It’s a ’24 hour city’
- The museum scene is strong
- Cool art scene
- Access to the Great Ocean Road, Wilsons Prom, and the Grampians.
Melbourne vs. Sydney: Where should I go?
Where should you go? We’re biased…but both!
If you’re short on time, judge your decision based on what you want to see around the city or the surrounding area.
If you’re after a beachy, sunny city to see the most iconic buildings in Australia, then choose Sydney. It’s a city that truly comes alive in the summer!
If you’re after a city break in a cool, trendy and laid-back city with easy navigation, then Melbourne is your go-to.
