Brash and beautiful, Sydney sits nestled in the sandstone cliffs overlooking Sydney Harbor, basking in its role as a gateway for travelers, a mecca of culture and a playground for tourists and its 5 million residents alike.

The Rocks region has evolved in truly contemporary fashion, from the site of Australia's first permanent European settlement to its current incarnation as a leading shopping venue that offers some of the city's finest gifts, souvenirs and native crafts. It's also renowned for great restaurants and cheerful pubs. History continues to abound in adjacent Victorian suburbs, where a stroll through the cobbled streets and alleyways gives a visitor a sense of the former seaport region's rich colonial past.

Home to the Harbourside dining and shopping complex, the National Maritime Museum and the Sydney Aquarium, Darling Harbor invites visitors to meander as they enjoy free music and entertainment on weekends. Outlying beaches stretch for miles, and visitors join locals on the sparkling sand.

Vast and blue, Sydney Harbour is truly the city's jewel, crowned by the Sydney Opera House. Designed by architect Joern Utzon in 1955, the majestic structure seems to say, Welcome to Sydney. Prepare to be swept away.