A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Sydney vs. Philadelphia for Attractions, Nightlife, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Sydney or Philadelphia?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Sydney or Philadelphia, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Sydney

Sydney is a glamorous , diverse, and energetic city. With plenty of activities and things to do, it's a huge city that draws plenty of visitors. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. Visitors also love the beaches, hiking, and shopping.

Philadelphia

Philadelphia is a cultural, diverse, and historic city. As it's a big city, visitors will find plenty to do, too. It offers plenty of beauty for visitors. Other popular activities here include food, shopping, and museums.

Sydney and Philadelphia: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Sydney or Philadelphia?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Sydney than Philadelphia, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Sydney is more popular for its nightlife, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, hiking, shopping, big city activities, and impressive beauty, while Philadelphia is known for its theatre productions, music, historical sights, and christmas markets. Sydney is more touristy than Philadelphia and is popular for its iconic buildings, world-renowned beaches, colorful nightlife, and cosmopolitan restaurants. It is also home to the Sydney Opera House. Philadelphia is popular for its diverse population, large number of universities, great restaurant and market scene, and its role in American history.

How is Sydney different from Philadelphia?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Philadelphia and Sydney. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Sydney or Philadelphia?

For an educational experience, head to a museum or a notable sight in either Sydney or Philadelphia.

You'll find many recognizable landmarks that put Sydney on the map. The city is filled with iconic and world famous landmarks such as the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. There's also the famous Royal Botanic Garden and the Sydney Tower Eye.

Travelers visit Philadelphia from around the world to see its many world-famous attractions. The city has a rich history with a number of museums and monuments. Popular sites around the city include the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the National Museum of Jewish American History.

Is Sydney or Philadelphia Better for Theater?

Philadelphia is well known for its shows and theatre. However, Sydney is not a theatre destination.

Many visitors plan to see a show while visiting Philadelphia. There are major Broadway shows as well as smaller venues. Head to The Avenue of the Arts along Broad Street for a popular stretch of theaters.

Sydney is not a theatre destination.

Is the Food Better in Sydney or Philadelphia? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Dining out at restaurants in both Sydney and Philadelphia can be an enjoyable experience.

Dining out in Sydney is an experience not to be missed. There are international restaurants offering impressive dishes from around the world. You'll also find some local Australian favorites around town. Seafood is abundant, as are a number of Asian cuisines. Barramundi is a local fish that you'll find on many menus. Oysters, prawns, and John Dory (a local fish) are also popular.

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Philadelphia. It has grown into a well-recognized food destination. It's diversity of cultures and residents have influenced the restaurant scene and you'll find many great places to dine covering a number of international flavors. The city is famous for its Philly cheesesteak and roast pork sandwich. You can also grab some local favorites at Reading Terminal Market.

Is Sydney or Philadelphia Better for Nightlife?

Sydney is a must-visit destination for nightlife and partying. Also, Philadelphia is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its evening party scene.

Sydney is a world class party destination. The city is filled with nightclubs and DJ hosted dance parties. There's a huge young crowd that brings together residents, students, and backpackers in a vibrant nightlife scene. Some of the best areas for nightlife are Kings Cross, Oxford Street, Surry Hills or Darling Harbour.

The people in Philadelphia know how to have a good time. The city's nightlife scene carries late into the evening with many rooftop and outdoor beer gardens. Most of the clubs and bars are found in the downtown area and you'll find places to dance, listen to live music, or sip a trendy cocktails.

Is Sydney or Philadelphia Better for Music?

Philadelphia is well known for its music scene. However, Sydney is not a live music destination.

Music is a popular form of entertainment in Philadelphia. The city's diverse music scene includes jazz, rock, and hip hop.

Sydney is not a live music destination.

Is Sydney or Philadelphia Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Sydney is a nice place to visit for its diving and snorkeling. However, Philadelphia is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Sydney has a few areas where visitors often go scuba diving or snorkeling. There's some good snorkeling and diving nearby with a diversity of marine life and interesting ecosystems. Some of the best snorkeling spots are at Palm Beach, Shelly Beach, and Clifton Gardens.

Philadelphia is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Sydney or Philadelphia Better for Beaches?

Sydney is a must-visit destination for the beache. However, Philadelphia is not a beach destination.

The beaches in Sydney are among the best in the world. There are more than 100 beaches near the city with everything from hidden coves to world famous destinations. Bondi Beach is the most famous beach in town and it has all of the tourist sights and activities that you could need. Surfers often head to Bronte Beach, which isn't too far away. Divers and snorkelers love Gordons Bay. Manly is also a nearby suburb with family-friendly beaches that can be reached by ferry.

Philadelphia is not a beach destination.

Is Sydney or Philadelphia Better for its Old Town?

Philadelphia is a nice place to visit for its historic old town charm. However, Sydney does not have a historic old town.

Philadelphia offers a nice historic old town area. The Old City has a number of Colonial-era sites including Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, the Betsy Ross House.

Sydney does not have a historic old town.

Is Sydney or Philadelphia Better for Hiking?

Sydney is an excellent place to visit for its hiking trails. However, Philadelphia is not a hiking destination.

Many visitors explore the nearby hiking trails while visiting Sydney. The city offers a number of coastal and inland trails that are easily accessible from town. There are short paths as well as multi-day routes not far and pass by stunning landscapes and viewpoints.

Philadelphia is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Sydney or Philadelphia?

Sydney is a must-visit destination for its shopping opportunities. Also, Philadelphia is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its shopping areas.

Known for shopping, Sydney draws large crowds to its stores. There's a wonderful mix of shopping streets, modern malls, and boutique vendors who sell local fashions. For souvenirs or local art, go to The Rocks, which is not far from Sydney Opera House. The Queen Victoria Building and Strand Arcade are also popular shopping areas.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in Philadelphia. With all items tax-free, this city is a great place to shop. It has many boutique shops as well as name brand stores and shopping areas. For a local vibe, head to Reading Terminal Market.

Is Sydney or Philadelphia Better for Christmas?

Philadelphia is well known for its Christmas activities. However, Sydney does not offer Christmas activities.

Visitors come from all around to experience the Christmas activities in Philadelphia. There are a number of holiday events, light shows, and festivals during the holiday season.

Sydney does not offer Christmas activities.

Is Sydney or Philadelphia Better for Christmas Markets?

Philadelphia is a nice place to visit for its Christmas markets. However, Sydney does not offer Christmas markets.

Philadelphia has Christmas markets worth visiting. The city has its own German style Christmas market at Love Park and City Hall. It hosts over 80 vendors.

Sydney does not offer Christmas markets.

Is Sydney or Philadelphia Better for Families?

Sydney is a must-visit destination for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Philadelphia is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

Sydney is an amazing family-friendly city to visit. The city has great beaches where kids can learn to surf, zoos and aquariums with local wildlife, and outdoor activities that take advantage of the city's waterfront location. There's everything from whale watching to visiting the Olympic Park, all of which will fascinate kids of all ages.

Philadelphia is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. The city has many museums and a fascinating history that is interesting to kids and adults alike. Popular activities include a zoo and Sesame Place. Kids also love the hands-on Please Touch Museum.

Is Sydney or Philadelphia Better for Couples?

Sydney is a must-visit destination for its romantic activities. Also, Philadelphia is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for couples.

Sydney has so much to offer for a romantic couple's vacation. It's a romantic city that's filled with iconic landmarks like the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House. There are also award winning restaurants and world class beaches. Wander around the botanical gardens or take a sailing cruise on the harbor. There is an endless supply of romantic activities to choose from.

Philadelphia is a good city for couples to visit. Like many large cities, it is a fun place to explore in the evening as a couple. This is also a great foodie destination with great markets, food trucks, and diverse restaurants that reflect the city's diverse population.

Is Sydney or Philadelphia Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Sydney is a must-visit destination for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Philadelphia is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for backpackers.

With so many budget-friendly offerings, Sydney is extremely popular for backpackers. It's popular for its adventure sports, active beaches, and vibrant nightlife. While it's not a particularly cheap city to visit, there are plenty of hostels around town and no shortage of backpackers to hang out with.

Philadelphia is a good city to visit for backpackers. There are a few good hostels for backpackers and budget travelers to choose from.

Is Sydney or Philadelphia Better for Students?

Sydney is a must-visit destination for its student-friendly activities. Also, Philadelphia is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for students.

Sydney is a great destination for students. Students love the energy and plethora of outdoor activities in this beautiful city. Many international students come not only for the excellent universities but also for the diverse environment and many things to do.

Students come from all over to stay in Philadelphia. With its many universities and diverse population, this city is a great place for international students.

Is Sydney or Philadelphia Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Sydney is a must-visit destination for times when you don't have a car. Also, Philadelphia is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its public transit.

Sydney has a world-class public transit network to take passengers everywhere in the city. There are a variety of types of public transit in town including buses, trains, ferries and light rail.

Many visitors use the public transit system in Philadelphia. The system includes a subway, trolleys, buses, and a commuter rail.

Is Sydney or Philadelphia a more walkable city?

Philadelphia is an unbeatable place for its ease of walking around. Also, Sydney is still popular, but not quite as popular for its walkability.

Getting around Philadelphia on foot is easy. The Old City is particularly walkable, as is Avenue of the Arts, and Rittenhouse Square.

Sydney is very walkable. The city center and nearby suburbs are relatively easy to walk around. On the western side of the city, the suburbs are much less walkable.

For even more information, also check out Is Sydney Worth Visiting? and Is Philadelphia Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Philadelphia or Sydney?

How long in Sydney or Philadelphia?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Sydney and Philadelphia. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Sydney than in Philadelphia. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for Sydney, and 2-3 days is enough time in Philadelphia.

Families should spend more time in Sydney than Philadelphia. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Sydney, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Sydney than Philadelphia. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Sydney that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Sydney than Philadelphia if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Sydney.

One day in Sydney or Philadelphia?

Each neighborhood in Sydney has its own distinct appeal, so there are pleny of areas to explore. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

Many travelers enjoy the live music and food when visiting the big city destination of Philadelphia. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Sydney or Philadelphia?

Sydney is a fun place to experience. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. It will give you the chance to have new experiences. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than a weekend exploring.

Philadelphia is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Don't miss the museums, as that's what most people do. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Sydney or Philadelphia?

Each neighborhood in Sydney has its own distinct appeal, so there are pleny of areas to explore. Hikers are also drawn to this area. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Plenty of people spend five days in the area when traveling. So, five days is just the right amount of time to spend here.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Philadelphia. Don't miss the museums, as that's what most people do. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Sydney or Philadelphia?

Sydney is a popular place to visit. Many people spend one week here. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then one week is just the right amount of time to spend here. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Travelers enjoy the museums and theater when visiting the historic big city of Philadelphia. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Australia, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Australia, The Best 2-Week Tours from Anchorage, and The Best 2-Week Tours from San Francisco.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sydney and Philadelphia, we can see that Sydney is more expensive. And not only is Philadelphia much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Sydney is in Pacific and Philadelphia is in North America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Philadelphia would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Philadelphia and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Sydney would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sydney than you might in Philadelphia.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Sydney Expensive? and Is Philadelphia Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Sydney or Philadelphia?

Sydney has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Philadelphia. When comparing the sizes of Sydney and Philadelphia, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Sydney or Philadelphia?

Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Sydney is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Philadelphia has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].

Should I visit Sydney or Philadelphia in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Sydney as well as Philadelphia. The summer months attract visitors to Sydney because of the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Philadelphia this time of year.

In January, Sydney is generally around the same temperature as Philadelphiain July. Daily temperatures in Sydney average around 23°C (73°F), and Philadelphia fluctuates around 77°F (25°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Philadelphia. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Sydney this time of the year. In the summer, Sydney often gets less sunshine than Philadelphiain July. Sydney gets 236 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Philadelphia receives 273 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Philadelphia. Sydney receives a lot of rain in the summer. Sydney usually gets more rain in January than Philadelphiain July. Sydney gets 116 mm (4.6 in) of rain, while Philadelphia receives 3.9 inches (100 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Sydney or Philadelphia in the Autumn?

Both Philadelphia and Sydney are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Sydney this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Philadelphia for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

Sydney is a little warmer than Philadelphia in the autumn. The daily temperature in Sydney averages around 19°C (65°F) in April, and Philadelphia fluctuates around 56°F (14°C)in October.

It's quite sunny in Philadelphia. Sydney usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Philadelphia during autumn. Sydney gets 195 hours of sunny skies, while Philadelphia receives 202 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It's quite rainy in Sydney. In April, Sydney usually receives more rain than Philadelphiain October. Sydney gets 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain, while Philadelphia receives 1.9 inches (48 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Sydney or Philadelphia in the Winter?

Both Philadelphia and Sydney during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Sydney for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, many visitors come to Philadelphia in the winter for the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine.

Philadelphia can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Sydney is much warmer than Philadelphia. Typically, the winter temperatures in Sydney in July average around 12°C (53°F), and Philadelphia averages at about 30°F (-1°C)in January.

It's quite sunny in Sydney. In the winter, Sydney often gets more sunshine than Philadelphiain January. Sydney gets 208 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Philadelphia receives 152 hours of full sun.

Sydney usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Philadelphiain January. Sydney gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Philadelphia receives 2.3 inches (58 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Sydney or Philadelphia in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Sydney and Philadelphia. Many visitors come to Sydney in the spring for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty. Furthermore, most visitors come to Philadelphia for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months.

In October, Sydney is generally much warmer than Philadelphiain April. Daily temperatures in Sydney average around 18°C (64°F), and Philadelphia fluctuates around 52°F (11°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Philadelphia this time of the year. In Sydney, it's very sunny this time of the year. Sydney usually receives more sunshine than Philadelphia during spring. Sydney gets 240 hours of sunny skies, while Philadelphia receives 216 hours of full sun in the spring.

In October, Sydney usually receives more rain than Philadelphiain April. Sydney gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Philadelphia receives 2.8 inches (70 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Philadelphia and Sydney