Overview Sydney, with a population of almost 4 million, and covering almost 1120 square kilometres (700 square miles), is a remarkably easy city to move around in. An excellent train, bus and ferry service covers all points of the greater metropolitan area. Roadways, although congested in peak hour times, are generally well planned and driving is not too harrowing an experience. Unless visitors to Sydney are specifically seeking out friends in outlying areas, most will have no real need to travel too far away from the central city area and the harbour. Most Sydney tourist attractions are either within the central business district, close to the CBD, or at points around the harbour. The exceptions are Bondi and Manly - surf beach suburbs situated south and north of Sydney Heads. If you`ve only got a week or a few days in Sydney, your time would be best spent by taking a walk around the wider CBD area, visiting The Rocks or spending time on the harbour. The harbour is Sydney and on a warm day, with a clear blue sky, there is no better place on earth. Best ways to get around Taking a City Circle train, the Monorail or walking is the best way of seeing city attractions, while buses and ferries represent the best way to visit points and attractions around the harbour. The government-run Explorer Buses and Sydney Pass service represent an ideal and inexpensive way to see most of the main tourist points around the city and out to Bondi. Sydney Ferries, which are also government run, provide an inexpensive way of seeing the most beautiful harbour in the world. For excursions around the harbour, private operators offer a myriad of harbour cruises that promise more than a just a simple ferry ride. If you`re wanting to take a bus around the broader Sydney area, try Sydney Buses and Sydney Ferries` excellent Tripfinder, an automated search facility that gives route and timetable details. Airport Sydney`s Kingsford Smith Airport is located in Mascot near Botany Bay, about 10 km southwest of the Central Business District and Sydney Harbour. Allow 30 minutes if you`re traveling to the City or Kings Cross by taxi, and 1 hour if traveling by bus. Visas All travelers, except Australian passport holders, must have a visa to enter Australia. Visas can be obtained through selected travel agents and the Electronic Travel Authority in the United States and Singapore. If applying in person, be prepared for a queue at your local Australian High Commission or Consulate. See our dedicated page: Passports and Visas Currency Australian dollar ($A)=100 cents. Most banks convert foreign currency. Click here for currency conversion. Credit Cards Major credit cards, like Visa, MasterCard and (to a lesser extent) Amex and Diners Card, are accepted. Tipping Three-star to five-star hotels, as well as most restaurants welcome tips. Hand over A$1-A$2 to porters per luggage, 10-15 percent of your restaurant bill to service staff in restaurants. For cab drivers, simply round up the fare to the nearest dollar. Useful Numbers Police, fire and ambulance: 000
Sydney Airport Information Line: +02 9667-9111
VISA Lost Card Hotli
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