Climbing Sydney’s iconic Harbour Bridge is one of the city’s most expensive experiences — but you can still enjoy it for free. The pedestrian walkway across the Sydney Harbour Bridge offers one of the best free things to do in Sydney at night, with uninterrupted views of the harbour lights, the Opera House and the city skyline. Access the bridge from the historic Rocks district and stroll across at your own pace as Sydney sparkles after dark. The pedestrian walkway is open 24 hours per day and runs along the eastern side of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Access it from Cumberland Street in The Rocks on the southern side, or from Milsons Point on the northern side.

Sydney sunsets are legendary, and few spots rival the views from North Head in Manly, where the harbour meets the open ocean and the city skyline stretches out in the distance. It's one of the best free things to do in Sydney if you're looking for something that's a bit romantic, without being on the tourist radar. This panoramic lookout is a beautiful place to watch the sun dip below the horizon, especially if you pack a picnic and settle in on the grassy slopes for the evening. Getting there is easy. Catch a ferry from Circular Quay to Manly Wharf, then take the 135 bus to North Head Q Station.

With an enviable waterfront location, Sydney’s Domain and the Royal Botanic Garden are ideal for an evening stroll or harbour-front picnic, particularly around iconic viewpoints like Mrs Macquarie’s Chair. As Australia’s oldest botanic garden, it’s one of the best free things to do in Sydney at night, with harbour views that feel especially magical after dark. While free volunteer-led tours run in the mornings, you’re welcome to explore the gardens on your own in the evening.

It isn’t just Melbourne that has a penguin colony — Sydney is home to its own group of fairy penguins living in North Harbour. Each night, these little penguins return to nest beneath Manly Wharf, making this the only breeding colony on the NSW mainland. Friendly volunteers are often on hand to share insights about the colony and how to help protect it, making this one of the most heart-warming free things to do in Sydney at night. Penguins typically come ashore to nest nightly between July and February. To get there, catch a ferry from Circular Quay to Manly Wharf.

Sydney’s beaches are dotted with free BBQs and picnic facilities, and one of the prettiest spots to make the most of them is Bronte Beach, just one kilometre south of Bondi. With golden sand, a free ocean lap pool and grassy Bronte Park backing the shoreline, it’s an easy win for cheap things to do in Sydney in the evening. Fire up one of the many barbecues, claim a picnic table, gather your mates and enjoy a relaxed evening by the sea as the sun goes down.

It’s free to step beneath the eerie, smiling mouth of Luna Park, Sydney’s iconic amusement park inspired by the original Luna Park in Coney Island, New York. While you’ll need to pay to ride the attractions, simply wandering through the park is one of the most entertaining free things to do in Sydney at night, thanks to its glowing neon lights, retro signage and lively atmosphere created by roving performers. First opened in 1935 and added to the State Heritage Register in 2010, Luna Park is just as much about soaking up nostalgia and harbour views as it is about the rides themselves.

Sample the buzz (and bao) of Asia in Sydney’s Chinatown, which hosts The Chinatown Night Market every Friday on Little Hay Street. Come to Chinatown any night of the week to fill up on cheap Asian eats at food courts, dumpling houses, hole-in-the-wall eateries and roadside tables. Browse the aisles of Sydney’s best Asian supermarkets, and hunt for bargains in the markets. Time your visit for during Lunar New Year, and you’ll be treated to all sorts of festivities including dragon dances, lively night markets, dazzling light installations and lanterns.

Simply the best fun and free thing to do in Sydney is to visit the Vivid Sydney festival. Every year, hundreds of light installations and projections transform Sydney into a colourful canvas during a cutting-edge event that has won multiple awards for innovation. Expect spectacular light shows across the city, as well as gigs by Vivid Music and creative talks from Vivid Ideas. Vivid Sydney has hundreds of free things to do at night in Sydney and takes place sometime between May and June every year.

Another fantastic free event in Sydney is the annual Sculpture by the Sea exhibition held in Bondi Beach. During the spring, the coastal walk between Bondi Beach and Tamarama Beach is transformed. Take a stroll into the world’s largest open-air sculpture exhibition. The already pretty stretch of coast is turned into a 2 km sculpture park with unique works of art popping up everywhere from the cliff face to the beaches. More than 100 international artists take part, so you never quite know what will pop up in the sand next. The event usually takes place between October and November. It's easy to reach Bondi Beach by arriving to Bondi Junction and then either walking or taking the bus to the beach.