Sydney Australia is considered the gem of the Pacific Ocean, and there are many reasons why. Sydney is one of the most cutting edge and progressive cities in the world. From its brilliant architecture to its British beginnings, Sydney is surprisingly rich, and full of depth. Sydney is easily Australia’s most popular city, and has traditions that date back thousands of years with the Aboriginal culture, that is still vibrant today. Exploring all of the treasures that the city holds could easily be a lifelong endeavor, but if you want to visit just a few of the best attractions in Sydney, read below.

The Sydney Opera house

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It is nearly impossible to overstate the beauty and majesty of this Jørn Utzon designed structure. Once the project was completed, Sydney screamed into the forefront of the modern cities. The care and design that went into everything from the unique outside to the unparalleled acoustics of the facility are simply amazing. The Opera house supports 12,000 employees and instantly revitalized the entire area. Over eight million people visit annually and bring nearly a billion dollars into the economy. The opera house has tours, supports operas obviously, but is a highly sought after venue for traveling bands and theater productions.

The Sydney Harbor Bridge

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While you are out exploring the wonders of Sydney, not far from the Opera House is the world’s largest steel arch bridge. The bridge is not only for driving from point A to point b however (though the view from a car is beautiful.) A bridge climbing program that started in 1998 also offers a view that is impossible to find anywhere else in the world. When you are climbing, convince yourself to go to the peak of bridge called Pylon Lookout and enjoy the world from what seems like the upper atmosphere.

Australian Museum

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The aboriginal culture, as touched on earlier, is an integral part of modern Sydney, and Australia as a whole. The Australian Museum in Sydney has a wealth of information concerning the impact of Aboriginals in Australia. Explore the fishing traditions and learn the names of tribes and their ancient and shared culture. The Museum and culture center has many more things concerning Australia and its history also. The Lizard Island research has information on corral research, the Pacific collections focus on history, and the archaeology of the continent. The vertebrae and invertebrate collections are top notch as well.

The museum offers research and information on subjects as varied as Egypt and the dreams of the indigenous people of Australia, to art and the history of body art. The museum is great for a brief visit to see the city and countries claims to fame, and is suitable for a multi-day affair for those performing research or want to make the museum a knowledge-seeking destination.

Sydney is the port of destination for lovers of fine art, as well as adventure seekers. Sydney is one of the few cities that encompass all of the culture and fine art of a land locked city, the history and mystery of a city like Egypt and the coastal attractions of a city like San Diego. Though the sites pointed out in this article are all worth your attention, it will not be hard to find many out of the way and off the path attractions that will ensure your visit to Sydney is one of your most memorable.

Author Bio: Diane Johnson graduated from the University of Utah with a degree in political science. When she’s not traveling she enjoys writing articles about online degrees, reading books and shopping.