This is the age old discussion that travellers have: which is better - Sydney or Melbourne? Before arriving in Australia, we’d heard all sides of the argument - tourists and holiday-makers always tended to vote for Sydney, backpackers and non-conformists always backed Melbourne. The two cities have a natural rivalry despite the fact they are both so different.

As most travellers have a limited amount of time to spend in a country as vast, and let’s face it, expensive as Australia, we want to help you make the right choice for which of the major cities will suit you best.

Which one you consider to be better will largely depend on the kind of traveller you are, so we’ll take you through each city by what it has to offer. We’ll declare a winner for each of the categories to help you make your decision on which to visit. Feel free to let us know if you disagree with any of our opinions in the comments below!

Just so you know, we are Sydney residents and have lived here for over five years. However, we have visited Melbourne many times.

Sydney vs Melbourne which is better for travellers?

Sydney and Melbourne are both on the East Coast of Australia, and on a map they look like they aren’t too far apart. However, Australia is a VERY big country, and they are a 1.5 hour flight or 9 - 10 hour drive apart.

They are in separate states: Sydney is the capital of New South Wales and Melbourne is the capital of Victoria, and both have a huge choice of international flights in and out of the cities.

Natural Beauty

This one is a pretty clear cut case. Whilst Melbourne is no ugly duckling there are few cities in the world that can compete with Sydney Harbour.

That quintessential view of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge will get you every time and we’ve yet to see it rivalled anywhere else in the world. Melbourne has the Yarra River which is particularly photogenic at sunset but really it doesn’t stand a chance against Sydney Harbour.

If we were talking about architectural beauty that’s another matter. Sydney’s CBD is by and large pretty ugly and Melbourne’s city centre and laneways are much more attractive.

Winner: Sydney

Vibe

This one is also going to depend on what you like but despite the fact we live in Sydney, I prefer the vibe in Melbourne. Sydney can feel quite Americanised and a little bit shiny and superficial. If you like a scene which is quite ‘showy’ you are going to fit right into Sydney.

Melbourne is friendlier and more laid back. I find Melbourne a more relaxed place to be and I even love walking around by myself at night because there is always a good vibe on the streets. If you love a big city that still manages to feel pretty chilled, it’s Melbourne.

Winner: Melbourne

Beaches

Sorry Melbourne, but this is another easy one. Sydney’s beaches are definitely prettier than anything you’ll find in Melbourne. The sand is whiter and the settings are more dramatic. Sydney also has way more of them!

One thing that does make Melbourne beaches special though, is the fact that you can see the sun set into the ocean from many of them. Watching an ocean sunset is always magical and we much prefer it to having to get up at the crack of dawn to see a beach sunrise in Sydney. Melbourne also has the cute bathing boxes at Brighton Beach but despite that Sydney wins on this one hands down.

Winner: Sydney

Things to do in the city

This one is a much tougher call. Each city has lots of unique things to do including bucket list experiences (Sydney has the Bridge Climb and you can take a hot air balloon ride over Melbourne). Both cities have world class museums, art galleries and theatres. Sydney has better inner city walks, largely due to the fact that you have the harbour which is more beautiful than Melbourne’s riverside trails.

As a traveller you will prefer Sydney if you like to tick off bucket list items like the Harbour Bridge but if you prefer an experience which feels more local it will be Melbourne. You can compare the things you can do in just two days in our Melbourne itinerary and then in our Sydney itinerary to help you decide.

Winner: Tied

Culture

Neither city is a slouch in the culture stakes with plenty of activities on offer in both. As we mentioned earlier museums and galleries are pretty comparable for both, the main difference that I’ve noticed is when it comes to theatre. Despite Sydney having the world famous Opera House and other smaller venues, Melbourne often gets touring shows before Sydney, and sometimes they don’t come to Sydney at all. I feel like Melbourne puts more emphasis on culture and there’s lots going on all the time.

Melbourne also has a huge street art culture so if you love that kind of thing you’ll have an amazing time exploring all the laneways and checking out the art which is usually pretty amazing.

If you think of culture in relation to sporting events, again Melbourne is far more passionate about it than Sydney and the sports scene is incredibly vibrant.

Winner: Melbourne

Food

Both cities have a great food scene although Sydney’s can be harder to sniff out. I feel like when we first moved to Sydney I had to research pretty hard to find good cheap eats or even great food at the upper end which was all about the food and not about the view.

Melbourne has more cheap eats on every corner and perhaps because it is a more multicultural city you will find a greater variety than in Sydney. Sydney does have lots of different cuisine but you will definitely need to hunt it out.

Both cities have a fantastic brunch and coffee culture, and it will be hard to go wrong there.

I would put Sydney on top if you want a bucket list meal with a view of the harbour but generally speaking I think Melbourne pips it for everything else.

Winner: Melbourne

Bars & Nightlife

If you’re looking for a glamorous evening with big views and a big price tag you’ll struggle to find anywhere better in the world than Sydney. One drink at Blu Bar in the Shangri-La Hotel and you’ll see exactly what we mean.

Those views are jaw dropping and they don’t get old. Sydney’s Opera Bar is another classic which almost all tourists looking for a night out will visit, and it’s another incredible spot. Sydneysiders tend to get really glammed up for a big night out and I find that it is less and less my scene but if you love dressing to impress you’ll fit right in.

Melbourne’s nightlife is a more relaxed affair, I feel completely at home turning up to a bar in jeans rather than feeling woefully underdressed in Sydney. They are big on laneway bars - which Sydney loves to - but Melbourne does them better. It feels more effortless in Melbourne. Melbourne also has a lively bar scene down by the river, I love the Ponyfish Bar which is right on the water with great views and a really chilled vibe.

Sydney’s lockout laws have also made a big dent in the nightlife scene. Areas like Kings Cross are a shadow of their former selves and the choice of places to go out has become more limited. The laws are easing, but there’s little doubt that if you want bars, nightlife and live music, then Melbourne is the better place for you.

Winner: Melbourne

Weather

Absolutely everyone you speak to will probably answer Sydney for this one! Melbourne is known as the city that experiences four seasons in a day and it can definitely get pretty cold. On the other side of the coin though, Sydney has really hot days more often than Melbourne and has much higher humidity. If you love hot weather then Sydney will be your best bet - although you might be surprised to hear it has much more rain than Melbourne!

Because of the unpredictability of Melbourne weather and because most tourists will be looking for a hot holiday in Australia, Sydney wins this one.

Winner: Sydney

Getting around

Again I am looking at this from the perspective as a traveller so I’ll be assuming that you are going to stay predominantly in the city centre and major tourist attractions rather than visiting outer suburbs as a local would.

Firstly, the good news is that both cities are very walkable for the most part. My first year living in Sydney I barely set food on public transport and ditto for the countless times I’ve visited Melbourne.

Both cities have trams, but Melbourne’s are definitely a lot more comprehensive and also atmospheric than Sydney’s (Sydney’s new tram is a major letdown). Melbourne’s tram system has the huge bonus of being free in the city centre too, making it perfect for travellers.

Buses are fairly similar in both cities, but Sydney generally has more traffic so journeys can take longer. Both cities also have a very good train network and a cashless card system which is easy to use and can be used on every form of transport.

The one jewel in Sydney’s transport system are the ferries that crisscross the harbour. Getting between Darling Harbour and Circular Quay could be considered a tourist attraction in its own right, as you go right under the Harbour Bridge and past Luna Park and the Opera House.

The ferry to Manly beach, which is hugely popular with tourists, is just stunning and you might even spot dolphins along the way. A lot of visitors choose to use the Manly Ferry as a harbour cruise, especially as it’s a lot cheaper than the boat operators that cover a similar route.

The fact that few cities in the world have a mode of transport this scenic, means that Sydney wins this one.

Winner: Sydney

Wildlife

In many cities around the world, wildlife isn’t even a consideration - the closest you will get are the animals in a zoo. However, in Australia you are never far away from some kind of iconic animal and both Sydney and Melbourne are blessed with easy access to wildlife, just another reason why we love both cities.

Sydney’s superstars are the migrating Humpback Whales which pass by the harbour every winter. You don’t even have to hop on a whale watching boat, you can often see them from the cliff tops!

Melbourne’s biggest draw are the adorable Little Penguins - the smallest species in the world! They swim into the breakwater at St Kilda every night and seeing them is one of the must-do attractions in Melbourne. Whilst Sydney does have a tiny population of penguins in Manly, they are incredibly hard to see, to the extent that even residents of Manly go years without seeing one.

Both cities have kangaroos pretty close by but Melbourne’s populations are both closer and more accessible than Sydney’s. Whilst neither city has a very local koala population, Melbourne is closer to areas where you are very likely to see one (as opposed to tiny colonies where you don’t stand a chance of finding one as a visitor).

You’ll see lots of birds in both places; including cockatoos, Rainbow Lorikeets and Kookaburras. Whilst we haven’t seen them in Melbourne, if you wander around Darling Harbour or Hyde Park in Sydney you will easily see the iconic white Ibis, a bird that is very quirky with its huge beak, but not quite so beloved by locals. The Aussies have labelled them “Bin Chickens” due to their boldness at foraging in bins for food :-(

Both also have the huge Flying Foxes (fruit bats) which we love watching as they emerge en masse at dusk.

Winner: Melbourne

Cost

The difference in cost between the two cities is less noticeable for a traveller than it is for a resident. As a traveller, you will find both are incredibly expensive and both Sydney and Melbourne regularly feature in the most expensive cities in the world lists.

If you are planning to move to either city then Melbourne is the clear winner for being significantly cheaper.

As a traveller there is less in it because many of the things you will need to buy like food and entrance fees are comparable. Hotels are slightly cheaper in Melbourne so it wins for that reason, but really there isn’t much in it.

Winner: Melbourne

Things to do in the surrounding area

You’ll be pleased to know that both cities have some amazing places to visit in the surrounding area. If you like white sand beaches, wineries, hiking trails and wildlife watching opportunities you are spoilt for choice in both areas.

Whilst Melbourne has great beaches in the surrounding area including those along the famous Great Ocean Road, Sydney is just over two hours from the beach with the whitest sand in the world (truly, it’s in the Book of Guiness World Records).

Wineries are tied for me as I love both the Hunter Valley and the Yarra Valley as well as countless others that surround both cities. For hiking trails you are spoilt for choice in both areas, with mountains, coast and forest walks galore.

Here are tips for things to do near Melbourne and weekend getaways from Sydney.

Winner: Tied

Which is better: Sydney or Melbourne

By our grading system, if each entry is weighted equally then Melbourne wins.

If you are looking for a true city break, with great food, nightlife, museums and a city vibe, then it’s hard to argue against Melbourne being the better of the two cities.

However, we’re going to be a bit contrary, as we don’t believe all these factors are even. We prioritise natural beauty and beaches over food and culture. Melbourne doesn’t have anything that rivals Sydney Harbour, the Opera House, the Harbour Bridge and the stunning beaches.

The truth is, which is better all depends on what you like, and this argument will always divide travellers. We hope this guide helps you identify which city best suits you and what sort of travel experiences make somewhere special for you.

If you’re looking for more inspiration, then check out our Sydney Travel Guide and Melbourne Travel Guide pages, which are packed with tips, itineraries and ideas for that trip of a lifetime!

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