Sydney, Canada has a nice cruise port complex and is an easy walk into town. Sydney is big enough to feel like you have docked in a city, but not so huge as to feel overwhelming. It has a good infrastructure for cruise ship passengers and is a pleasant stop on a cruise itinerary.
What is available at the port in Sydney, Canada?
If you want to shop, you literally never need to leave the cruise terminal. The cruise terminal has a huge shopping facility with official shops and local vendors.
The day we were in port there were over 20 local vendors set up in a large room. Each had a few tables set up with everything from jewelry, photography, tartans, winter gear, Christmas ornaments and more. If you want to shop for a souvenir, do it in the port. There is no reason to go walking around with the goal of finding a souvenir.
The port itself also had nice bathroom, seating and a restaurant in case you didn’t want to go to far. You could literally never leave the cruise terminal and feel like you had spent some money and had some local experiences!
Is there a shuttle bus to take you into town?
No, there is no shuttle to take you into town. But the town is not very far away. It’s just a 5-10 minute walk (uphill) to make it into town.
What is within walking distance of the cruise port?
The historic old town is within easy walking distance of the port. You just walk up the hill and then you can walk around the old town viewing the churches and homes of historic Sydney.
There is also a boardwalk around the harbor. It was a gross day when we were there, so it wasn’t the most pleasant walk around the boardwalk. There are some statues and memorials to see and some restaurants and shops selling coffee.
It is an easy walk around the boardwalk. There are no steps, no walking uphill and a wall that is convenient to sit and rest on.
What can you do within walking distance of the port?
There are a couple of historic houses you can pay to go in. These are the oldest houses in Sydney and have been turned into museums. The Jost House and the Cossit House are basically across the street from each other. They are both relatively small historic house museums. Each costs around $5 to go into. If you are interested in colonial history, these are a quick and easy place to spend a little time while you are in Sydney.
There are also plenty of restaurants within walking distance of the port. These are places where you can get some fish and chips and enjoy a meal not prepared by your cruise ship.
Do they take US dollars in Sydney, Canada?
Sydney is definitely set up as a destination for American tourists and it is worth asking if places catering towards tourists take US dollars. However, you can also pay with a credit card. Even the local vendors at the terminal took credit cards.
If you do want to pay in US cash, make sure you know the exchange rate. If something has a price listed and says they will take both US and Canadian dollars – at the same price – they are getting the better deal. Take a look at the exchange rate so you can make sure you are not getting a terrible deal!
What should you expect when your cruise ship stops at Sydney, Canada?
Sydney, Canada is an easy and pleasant cruise port. There is lots of easy shopping in the port itself. The historic old town is an easy walk from the port. The boardwalk is also a pleasant walk.
It’s probably not the type of cruise port you book a cruise for, but it is a nice place to spend a few hours off the ship.
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