Discover Authentic Sydney: A Local Travel Guide by Mercure

Most city guides are written by people who've never lived there. This one isn't. Recommended by the team at Mercure Sydney. The Sydney picks below are theirs — the spots they'd send a friend to, updated as the city changes. Use the interactive map to find your way, and check the FAQs for what guests ask us most.

Top 5 Things to Do in Sydney

Chinatown & Paddy’s Markets

Dumplings, barbecue pork and market stalls a few minutes from the hotel. Paddy's Markets runs Wednesday to Sunday and is as much about browsing as buying.

Surry Hills

A short walk or ride south, this is where locals go for coffee and a mixed food scene that punches above its size. Bourke Street Bakery, on Bourke Street since 2004, is a fixture for a reason.

Newtown

King Street is the spine of it — vintage shops, street art, and a genuinely eclectic strip of restaurants and cafés. A short train ride from the centre, and worth the trip.

Darling Harbour

An easy waterfront walk from Haymarket, with restaurants, harbour views and space to just sit for a while.

Surry Hills Market

Held on the first Saturday of every month at Shannon Reserve on Crown Street, 8am to 4pm — around 60 stalls of second-hand, recycled and handmade goods.

Explore Sydney's Best Local Spots with Our Interactive Map

Where to eat
Chinatown, right by the hotel, is the easy first move — steamed buns, noodle houses, and Paddy's Markets for produce and souvenirs alike. For something different, Surry Hills mixes Middle Eastern, Japanese and American barbecue in a few dense blocks, while Newtown's King Street is a proper eat street in its own right.
Haymarket, then further out
The hotel sits in Haymarket, right on the edge of Chinatown and a short walk from Darling Harbour. Surry Hills and Newtown both require a short trip — walk, bus or train — but they’re close enough to fit into a single day if you plan it that way.
Right outside your hotel
Mercure Sydney sits on George Street in Haymarket, steps from Chinatown and Paddy's Markets, with Central Station and Darling Harbour both an easy walk away.
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FAQ

Wednesday through Sunday — it’s a short walk from Mercure Sydney in Haymarket.

It's a short train ride from the central city — not walkable, but an easy trip.

Mercure Sydney is on George Street in Haymarket, directly bordering Chinatown, so you’re a few minutes’ walk from it.

Where to Sleep in Sydney

See Mercure hotels in Sydney, all within reach of these picks.

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Where to sleep

See Mercure hotels in Sydney, all within reach of these picks

View hotels