13 Things To Do in Sydney for $15 or Less This Summer

Budgets are tight in Sydney. But even if you’ve got a little less spending money this year, it doesn’t mean you can’t have fun. Everything on this list costs $15 or less – from $1 oysters to happy-hour Martinis and free outdoor cinemas – so there’s no reason not to enjoy our spectacular city on a budget.

Watch a film outdoors (free)

Sydney and outdoor cinemas go together like bread and butter. The Rocks Laneway Cinema sweetens the deal with free showings. Tucked in the heritage square at Atherden Street, you’ll find beanbag chairs and deckchairs set up on the cobblestones every Wednesday night until the end of February. Bring a picnic, grab a bucket of popcorn or choose snacks from nearby eateries. The January lineup is a series of movie marathons: Happy Gilmore and 50 First Dates; I Know What You Did Last Summer and The Craft; Mean Girls and Jaw Breaker (a pet-friendly screening); Friday and The Barbershop.

Catch a gig in an architecturally designed space (free)

Chippendale’s somewhat under-the-radar performance space, Phoenix Central Park, is putting on free gigs from January to April. Enter the ballot draw for tickets to shows by Aussie artists making waves in the alt rock, indie, jazz, R&B, electronic and classical scenes. Grab a feed from nearby Spice Alley to round out your evening on a shoestring.

Tackle an ambitious coastal trail (free)

Nearly everyone has done the Bondi to Coogee walk. That spectacular and very approachable trail is famous with locals and out-of-towners alike. At 80 kilometres long, the Bondi to Manly walk is a more ambitious hike, but the variety of beautiful tracks and coastal views makes it well worth the trip. Break it into sections or complete the whole trail at your own pace – don’t forget to pack your swimmers for a dip at the start, the end and along the way.

Check out the symphony (free)

Sydney Festival takes over the city throughout January. On January 17 the annual Symphony Under the Stars, a free performance by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, returns to Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour. Plus, there’s a bunch of free exhibitions, artist takeovers and other events that’ll cost you zilch.

Stay up late at a leading gallery (free)

If an evening stroll around one of Australia’s most impressive art galleries sounds like your vibe, head to AGNSW. Until 10pm every Wednesday, gallery-goers can browse the collections, see classic films, join workshops and catch live performances. If you’re keen to see one of the ticketed exhibitions, you can get more bang for your buck with a two-for-one ticket offer currently available for Dangerously Modern and Ron Mueck during Art After Hours. There’s also a free shuttle bus that runs every 20 minutes from 7pm to 10pm from the art gallery to public transport hubs at Town Hall, Martin Place and Wynyard.

Visit another gallery (free)

Interesting – and free – exhibitions are showing at several of Sydney’s independent galleries all summer long. At White Rabbit, there’s group show from artists considered trouble-making misfits by the Chinese state, including Ai Weiwei and his half-tonne porcelain sculpture Sunflower Seeds. Camperdown’s Chau Chak Wing Museum is showing a darkly humorous exhibition about growing up on the internet. And over at Darlo’s Nas Gallery, SEARCHERS is intentionally blurring the line between graffiti and fine art. Prominent graffiti writers are spraying new work directly onto the walls, plus you’ll get to see early works by Khaled Sabsabi, Reko Rennie’s use of aerosol as a decolonising tool and video works by Shaun Gladwell about reclaiming public space. Read more on these three shows and more.

Take a dip (free)

Whether it’s a rough rock pool fed by the crashing waves of the ocean or a more sedate, saltwater affair with a good view, we’re spoilt for choice when it comes to swimming. For a bracing dip in a proper ocean pool, try Mahon Pool at Maroubra for free. Or, if you’re happy to fork out a few bucks, the historic Wylie’s Baths in Coogee will set you back just $6.50. Further west, you can splash in the charming heritage-listed Dawn Fraser baths in Balmain for just $6.90. Over the bridge in Cremorne, Maccallum Seawater Pool is free and oozes 1920s style.

Eat oysters and/or wings at the pub

Redfern’s The Bat & Ball has cemented itself as one of Sydney’s best pubs since re-opening in August last year. Almost every day of the week sees some sort of wallet-friendly menu offering from the team – $1 oysters on Saturdays might just be the best deal. Chicken lovers can also cash in on Fridays with wings going for $1 a pop all day long.

Happy hour at a party bar ($7)

Herbs Taverne, the best new openings this year, has had a mild rebrand. When the doors opened in May, it was all about the Negroni. Now, the team has deepened the roster of cocktails, mixing Martinis (including Gibsons and Espresso Martinis), Cosmos and more in the divey digs, now known as Bar Herbs. From 4pm to 6pm everyday, you can sip on a $13 Martini or a $7 beer with a complimentary bag of cheesy popcorn.

Hit the (pool) pop-up of the summer ($7.90)

Coffee, snacks, good reads and a swim – welcome to Kiosk at Andrew (Boy) Charlton pool. Surry Hills cafe Artificer has teamed up with Lune and Newtown bookshop Btwnlns for the pop-up of the summer. Casual entry to the pool is $7.90 for adults, leaving you with spare change for a croissant after a few laps. Peruse a selection of books and magazines in the shop. There’s no laptops or loud phone calls allowed.

Keep cool with granita ($8)

Mapo Gelato’s new Oxford Street outpost has you covered for hot days. A rotating menu of different ice-gold granita flavours is made fresh daily, just for Darlo. We’ve already seen zingy watermelon and lime, and now there’s almond on the board. A small will run you $8, and large $10. There’s an option to add a swirl of mascarpone soft serve or any flavour of gelato on top for an extra $4.

Grab a slice at Sydney’s hottest new pizzeria ($10)

AP Bakery and Cicerone joined forces to open Appizza in the old Cafe Freda’s spot on Oxford Street just as the calendar turned to summer. The team serves New York-meets-New Haven-style slices for $10 each – the twist is that each slice comes from a 22-inch pizza, so you’re sure to get your fill. Perch on the bright-red milk crate-style tables and make your way through the menu of king-sized slices while sipping on spicy, icy Margarita slushies (if you want to splurge a little more).

Spend Tuesday night at the club ($15)

Redfern residents are clued-in on the $15 bowl of veggie pad thai available on Tuesdays at Baptist Street Rec Club. If you’ve got spare change, you can add chicken, prawns or smoked duck to your dish. Tuesday is also music trivia night in the Trophy Room. Bring up to six pals with you for a battle of the brains delivered in themed rounds backed by a playlist of pop, rock, hip-hop, indie, R&B, country and everything in between. If you’re tied up on a Tuesday, head down on Locals’ Night (Wednesday) for $15 pad see ew and complimentary spring rolls for Locals Night. Happy hour drinks start at $7, 4pm to 6pm from Tuesday to Saturday.