Enjoy Sydney on a Budget: Top Places To Visit for International Students

Sydney, the largest and one of the most popular cities of Australia, is a favorite study in Australia is  destination for many students from different parts of the world. In fact, according to the 2019 QS Best Student Cities Rankings, out of 120 cities, Sydney ranked as the 9th best city for students. This is due to the city’s diverse student community, desirability, and the excellent reputation of its graduates. 

With those good things in mind, is it possible to enjoy Sydney on a budget? In this article, we will list and discuss the places and activities you can do in Sydney without spending a lot of money, especially if you are a student. 

Check Out Sydney’s Museums for Free

Learn more about the city’s culture and the arts by checking out Sydney’s museums for free. You can check out the museum’s official website on the days they are open, and the days visitors can visit them for free. Moreover, if you want to enjoy the exhibits of each museum alone, you can take a self-guided tour. 

There are around 20 museums and galleries in Sydney that you can visit. Below are some of the top museums in the city, that visitors can also enjoy for free: 

• Museum of Contemporary Art at Circular Quay
• The Rocks Discovery Museum at the Rocks
• The Australia History Museum at the Macquarie University
• Australian National Maritime Museum at the Darling Harbour
• Australian Scouts Museum at the Sydney Olympic Park 
• Sydney Observatory at Millers Point
• The Sydney Jewish Museum at Darlinghurst 

Enjoy Sydney’s Beaches

Sydney is surrounded by beaches, so it would be a waste to not visit at least one of them. For example, you can visit the Manly beach, where you can also try some surfing, take a dip at the world famous Bondi Beach and imbibe the famous Australian beach experience, or try a more secluded beach area in Camp Cove. 

Aside from taking a dip in its famous beaches, you can also do other activities there. In fact, during different seasons of the year, you can check out beachside markets, surf carnivals, and even plays. Festivals are also celebrated in Sydney’s beaches. For example, in December, you can check out the Narrabeen Lakes Festival for live music, food, and carnival rides, and Bondi for its Carol by the Sea event. 

Relax at the City’s Gardens and Parks

Sydney has around 400 parks of varying sizes that people can visit to relax, stroll, or do other outdoor activities. You can start, for example, with the Royal Botanic Garden. The garden, which was established in 1816 showcases plants from around the world. You can also take a free guided walk in the garden if you want, just remember that it starts at 10:30 a.m. every day. 

Another place to visit is its more than 37,000-acre park, the Royal National Park. There are walking trails you can follow when you visit this park to make exploring easy. In the park, you can check out coat tracks, camping grounds, beaches, and even a palm jungle track. If you want to take a rest, you can also take a picnic there with your friends and companions. 

Other Sydney on a budget activities that are not discussed above but are still worth mentioning also include: 

• Visiting its old churches
• Joining free guided Parliament house tours
• Checking out Victorian-era workshops in Carriageworks
• Checking out the books and exhibits of the State Library of NSW

Saving your money while studying abroad is important. That’s why aside from checking out affordable places, you should also know how to manage your budget, and learn about your host country’s cost of living. Check out MSM Unify’s article on the Cost of Living in Australia to know more.