Sydney sells itself on a single photograph — Opera House, Harbour Bridge, blue water — but the city earns that image every single day. This is a place built entirely around its harbour, where a ferry commute doubles as a scenic cruise and a beach day is never more than a short bus ride from downtown. Add genuinely excellent food, a relaxed outdoor culture, and some of the best urban coastal walks anywhere in the world, and it's easy to see why so many visitors extend their stay longer than planned.