This post was originally published on A Globe Well Travelled in 2018. The content has been revised and updated with fresh information.
In my opinion, Sydney is easily one of the most photogenic cities in the world.
Its sparkling harbour, golden beaches, and skyline of iconic landmarks make it a dream destination for photographers and travellers alike.
Sydney’s good looks are one of the reasons that I love calling it home. I’m constantly finding new angles, hidden lookouts, and colourful neighbourhoods that show off the city’s beauty in different ways.
If you’re chasing the best photo spots in Sydney, want to capture scenic views of the harbour, or are simply searching for beautiful photography locations, this guide is for you. Here’s my suggestions for exploring Australia’s biggest (and in my view, also the prettiest) city with a camera in hand!
Quick summary:
This guide will tell you where to find the best photography spots in Sydney. Discover Sydney’s best photo locations and most scenic views, from iconic landmarks like the Opera House and Harbour Bridge to hidden gems such as Observatory Hill and Newtown.
Recommended tours:
📸 Hire a Photographer in Sydney — Get professional, high-res photos taken at the Sydney Opera House — ideal for solo travellers, couples, or families.
👣 Sydney Opera House Official Guided Tour — Step inside this world-famous icon for a behind-the-scenes look at its history and architecture.
🚢 Sydney Harbour Sunset Dinner Cruise — Sail past the Opera House and Harbour Bridge while enjoying a 3-course dinner at sunset.
🎨 Sydney Street Art & Food Tour — Explore Newtown’s vibrant murals and sample global eats on a small-group walking tour.
1. Sydney Opera House
2. Mrs Macquarie’s Point
3. Botanic Gardens
4. Hickson Road Reserve
5. Pylon Lookout
6. Observatory Hill
7. Harbour Cruise
8. Luna Park
9. Cahill Expressway
10. Bondi Icebergs (not shown on map)
11. Newtown (not shown on map)
12. Darling Harbour (not shown on map)
📸 If you want to capture professional-quality shots of yourself at the Sydney Opera House, I’d recommend hiring a Sydney Photographer for a personalised photo shoot at one of the city’s most iconic landmarks.
Your private photographer will help you pose and send you a gallery of beautifully edited, high-resolution images — perfect for solo travellers, couples, or families who want a keepsake from their trip.
Best Sydney photo spots:
Sydney Opera House (iconic Sydney photo location)
Let’s start with the obvious choice for Sydney photos – the Opera House! This unique building was completed in 1973 and has been an iconic part of Sydney ever since. It’s also one of the best spots for viewing the Sydney New Year’s Eve fireworks.
The best locations to get some shots around the Opera House are on the front steps, or standing anywhere out front (on the city side) of the building. This spot can get very busy with tourists during the day, so go first thing in the morning if you want to avoid the crowds.
👣 If you want to go beyond the classic exterior shots, you can actually step inside this UNESCO World Heritage–listed building on the Sydney Opera House Official Guided Walking Tour.
On the tour, a guide will share stories about its architecture and history while taking you through performance halls and backstage areas usually reserved for ticket holders. It’s a great way to get a few behind-the-scenes photos while learning the secrets of this world-famous landmark (and the internal architecture is really photogenic, too!).
Mrs Macquarie’s Point (best view of the Opera House & Harbour Bridge)
Mrs Macquarie’s Point has some of the best views in Sydney, as it’s the only place near to Circular Quay where you can get a great view of both the Opera House and Harbour Bridge in the same shot. To get there, just walk through the Botanic Gardens until you reach the end of the point.
This place is very popular for Sydney city skyline photography and sunset shots, and you’ll definitely see some other photographers around here getting photos. Just mentally prepare yourself for the busloads of tourists that will probably be sharing the space with you!
Royal Botanic Gardens (scenic Sydney photography spot)
There are plenty of places to get some ‘grams in the Royal Botanic Gardens. Follow the waterfront path around the bay and you’ll walk by a beautiful pond, various flower gardens, as well as a large grassy lawn that has the city skyline behind it.
The photo above, which features a long row of stone arches decorated with greenery, is located just in front of the Botanic Garden Cafe.
Hickson Road Reserve (Harbour Bridge photo spot)
This small park underneath the south end of the Harbour Bridge is one of the best photo spots in Sydney. If you stand or sit along the waterfront, you can frame the photo so that the Harbour Bridge is towering over you.
From here, follow the boardwalk back towards the city and you’ll find a few more great photo spots along the way! My favourite is the boardwalk in front of the Park Hyatt Hotel.
Pylon Lookout (panoramic Sydney city views)
The Pylon Lookout is a seriously underrated attraction in Sydney, in my opinion. For a small fee, you can walk up through one of the pylons of the Harbour Bridge (on the city side) and at the top there is a 360 degree viewing platform that looks out over downtown and Circular Quay. I took tons of photos up here on my last visit!
2025 update: Unfortunately The Pylon Lookout is currently closed for renovations, but it should be reopening sometime in 2026.
Observatory Hill (hidden Sydney lookout with harbour views)
This is one of my absolute favourite scenic views in Sydney as it’s relatively unknown to tourists! Located just behind The Rocks, Observatory Hill is topped with a park that has a killer vista of the Harbour Bridge. Don’t worry, it only takes 10 minutes to climb up this small hill to access the rewarding views.
Because this location requires a little more effort to get to, it’s likely that there will only be a handful of other people around. It’s a nice place to sit in silence and contemplate the views for a while.
Get out on the harbour (top Sydney photo spots from the water)
If you’re looking for Sydney harbour photo spots, I’d suggest that you get out on the water — the harbour is full of angles you simply can’t get from land.
For a budget-friendly photo cruise option, you can hop on either the Manly Ferry or Taronga Zoo ferry from Circular Quay, both of which glide past the Opera House and Harbour Bridge to give you a whole new perspective of the city skyline.
🚢 If you’d prefer something a little more special, book a Sydney Harbour Sunset Dinner Cruise from Darling Harbour. This relaxing evening cruise combines sightseeing with a three-course meal as you sail past Sydney’s most iconic landmarks in the golden-hour light.
Luna Park (fun and colourful Sydney photography location)
Luna Park has been a feature of Sydney’s north shore since 1935 and has a similar aesthetic to New York’s Coney Island. This amusement park is great for whimsical carnival-style photos, and it has the added bonus of having the Harbour Bridge and city in the background.
It’s free to enter Luna Park, which is open late on weekends so try visiting in the early evening to avoid throngs of pram-wielding families and also get some epic sunset shots!
Cahill Expressway (underrated views of The Rocks & Circular Quay)
This is a kind of weird one, as the Cahill Expressway is just an ugly elevated road that cuts right through the middle of Circular Quay. You can access the expressway by taking an elevator located to the right as you exit Circular Quay station facing the harbour, or you can walk up a set of steps that come off Cumberland Street in The Rocks.
Up on the expressway you’ll come across some Sydney scenic lookouts. There’s a viewing platform with epic views of Circular Quay, the Harbour Bridge, and the Sydney Opera House. Walk a little further along towards The Rocks and stop above George Street for the photo above, which shows the historic buildings lining the road and the Harbour Bridge standing proud in the background.
Bondi Icebergs (Sydney’s most photogenic beach pool)
Bondi was once named the most Instagrammed spot in Australia, and it’s easy to see why. This beach is unbelievably photogenic, and even though it’s very popular with tourists, there’s plenty of space for everyone to move around.
Some popular spots for photos are Bondi Icebergs (the famous swimming pools at the south end) and the murals that line the concrete boardwalk which stretches along a large section of the beach. It’s basically impossible to take bad photos around Bondi!
Newtown (street art and foodie photo spots in Sydney)
Newtown is a trendy suburb with loads of amazing street art. I’ve lived in the area around Newtown for years, and I always love going in to see all the quirky shopfronts, colourful murals, and heritage buildings (many with stunning art-deco facades).
Walk northwest along King Street from the train station to see what Newtown is all about. The suburb’s creative, slightly grungy vibe is part of what makes it so photogenic — every laneway has a new surprise waiting to be discovered.
🎨 To dive deeper into the local culture in Newtown (and eat some seriously good food while you’re at it), join a Sydney Street Art & Food Tour. You’ll explore the suburb’s best murals with a small group and stop at four different eateries to sample local cuisines.
Darling Harbour (best Sydney skyline photography location)
Darling Harbour is packed with photography-worthy scenes both day and night. You’ll find reflections of the skyline shimmering across the water and colourful light shows after dark.
One of my favourite activities for daytime shots is to walk across Pyrmont Bridge, which gives you sweeping views of the harbour and the city skyline with Sydney Tower poking out on top. In the evening, wander along the promenade and grab a spot along the water’s edge to capture the city lights sparkling over the water.
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