What type of breakfast is offered and what are the serving hours?

Continental breakfasts are available daily from 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM for a fee of approximately AUD 12 for adults and children.

What are the standard check-in and check-out times?

Check-in time is from 14:00, and check-out time is until 10:00. A late check-out fee may apply, and requests for early or late check-in/check-out can be made upon arrival.

Where is the property located in relation to key landmarks?

The property is located in Sydney (The Rocks), within a 15-minute walk of Circular Quay and Sydney Harbour Bridge. It is 0.3 km from The Rocks Markets, 0.4 km from the Museum of Contemporary Art, and 0.5 km from the Overseas Passenger Terminal.

What are the policies for guests staying with children?

Children are allowed at the property, but the minimum age for children to stay for free is not specified.

YHA Sydney Harbour Hostel Stay

Average nightly price at YHA Sydney Harbour by month, last 12 months (USD)
Month	Average price
January	$177
February	$227
March	$204
April	$142
May	$150
June	$144
July	$140
August	$188
September	$167
October	$205
November	$193
December	$205

What guests think

At YHA Sydney Harbour, travellers praise the unbeatable The Rocks location near Circular Quay and the spectacular rooftop views of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge, alongside generally clean, simple rooms and friendly, helpful staff creating strong value for many.

Guests like the shared kitchen and laundry, the casual rooftop bar, and the on-site archaeological ‘Big Dig’ displays. Common drawbacks include basic rooms with limited in-room amenities, mixed air conditioning control and temperature comfort, some noise, a hilly walk from Circular Quay, scarce parking, and a simple breakfast many find limited. A few guests report occasional maintenance or cleanliness lapses, and harbour views can be blocked by cruise ships at times. Expect a well-run, social, no-frills base with standout views and location.

Facilities

Cleanliness

Rooms

Service

Location

Dining

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Facilities

The standout facilities are the rooftop terrace/bar with iconic harbour views and extensive shared amenities (guest kitchen, laundry, lockers/luggage storage), plus interesting on-site archaeological displays. A few note limited or expensive parking and occasional lift issues.

Related guest reviews

10

Shianne

Jul 24, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The best place to stay, walk to everything, great value for money, clean kitchen to cook meals/ breakfast… best view from rooftop bar

10

Hope Zinnia

Apr 24, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Brilliant location and incredible views! All very clean and all the necessities are provided, plus a very comfortable bed. The rooftop bar was great and there are plenty of activities and excursions which you can join for free if you want to.

10

Natalia

Mar 25, 2025

·

Stayed 5 nights

This hostel is in the best location imaginable with walking distance to the Opera house, train station that can take you all the way from/to the airport, harbor with big cruise and small local ships and stunning views from the rooftop bar/eating area. It also has a historical value with the archaeological ruins underneath with see through floor to explore. Next door is archaeological educational center as well. Nice common kitchen with everything you need to cook, store, and keep cold. Big common dinning area with booths to work on a computer too.

10

Douglas

Aug 24, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Awesome bar on the top floor terrace overlooking Sydney Harbor.

10

Alec

Feb 20, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Can’t beat the location price. Rooftop bar was great, had early luggage storage and had a quick shower before checkin. Definitely can get loud warm in summer.

10

Alexander

Jan 15, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Pros - rooftop bar and view of bridge and opera house. - clean comfy room. - TV with Netflix etc. - great well equipped kitchen to self cook. - easy location to go anywhere in Sydney. Cons - AC can’t be controlled so was a bit cold. - lift a bit dodgy so had to use stairs but only 4 floors.

10

Debbie

Aug 21, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

There was an archaeological dig going on on the ground floor. Very cool to see. Had never stayed in a hostel before but was very pleased with all the amenities that were offered (large, full kitchen, laundry, comfortable private rooms and cafe.

10

Suvarna

Feb 10, 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

It was my first time staying in a shared dorm, so i was hesitant at first. The YHA exceeded my expectations. Staff were friendly. Facilities were great. The bed was comfy, room clean, bathroom spacious and clean also. I had friendly room mates. There is also a reading light and plugpoint next to each bed. Spacious lockers also with a charging point in them. The location is very convenient, but i found it difficult to walk to the hotel with my baggage from Wynyard station because it is uphill. So i took a short uber ride from the station to the hotel which was fine. Going back to the station was easier because it was downhill. If you are carrying big luggage, take an uber to/from the nearest station. The place itself is easy to find and access is easy.

8

Eddie

Jul 4, 2023

·

Stayed 3 nights

I like the location,close to everything I want to go, bad part is...no parking facilities in the hotel, too bad,you need to walk fair distance to get a suitable parking.

10

David

Mar 19, 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

Loved the location (minus the steps to get to the property). The Rocks within walking distance to everything (Opera House, Bridge, Wharf, restaurant, bars, etc.) Property is no frills, but an economical place to lay your head down every night. Has a rooftop bar with good views of Sydney and economical dinners on certain nights (i.e. taco night, and bbq nights when we were there).

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Cleanliness

Many guests find rooms and common areas very clean, with housekeeping maintaining tidy spaces. However, a minority report issues like mouldy bathrooms, inadequate shared-bathroom cleaning, missed bins or stained linens, and a rare bedbug complaint.

Related guest reviews

2

Karen

Oct 19, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Disgusting. The bathroom shower grout is black with mouls, floor filthy $400 a night an no clean towels. Never replaced the coffee mugs. Im disgusted never again. Hard to find. Staff admitted google directions incorrect. Took an hour to fined it from a 6 minute walk from circular quay.

8

Rachelle

Oct 26, 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

We stayed in a private “Opera Harbour View” room. Check in went well, but when we got to our room we noticed the garbage pails hadn’t been emptied, there was a questionable brown streak on the wall and the next morning we found a small spot of blood on the bed sheets. We alerted the staff who promised to do a deep clean of the room while we were out for the day. When we got back the room had indeed been well cleaned. The brown streak was gone as were other scuff marks that had been on the wall, the sheets had been changed and the garbages emptied. The hostel is part of the Big Dig and there are lots of fascinating artifacts to see, sign boards to read, not to mention it’s located above an excavated site which they’ve left stairwells open so you can easily see the excavated area below. We’d stayed at the hostel last year because the price was amazing but they’ve since done renovations and the price has gone up. Although still cheaper than other places, I didn’t feel like we’d received as much value for our money this time as we did the year before. Also a caution about the Opera Harbour View rooms: the view is nice…as long as a cruise ship isn’t in port. Then your Opera Harbour View becomes a Cruise Ship View. Usually not a problem because the ship is only there during the day, but they will sometimes be there overnight.

4

Blaire

Sep 9, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

While the staff were very kind, the quality of our stay was quite low. Unfortunately there were quite a few issues with our hotel. Issues were as follows: Toilet smelt terrible and made whole bathroom smell quite rotten. It smelt like a public toilet that hadnt been cleaned in a long time. Toilet brush was broken so couldn’t be used. Shower head was broken and sprayed across the whole bathroom. Shower curtian was either mouldy or still dirty, was hard to tell as there were brown splatters across it. No cooling in the room so got very hot and had to leave the window open which let in mosquitoes and a lot of the city noise. Room was lacking, one chair, small table, no mini fridge or anything. Wasnt really 2 user friendly. All in all it was a disappointing stay, especial for the money we paid.

8

Michelle

Jan 7, 2026

·

Stayed 11 nights

We had a great stay here in December. The room was clean, as well as the entire facility. The continental breakfast was a great way to start the day. The staff was all very friendly and helpful. We enjoyed meals there, especially the wonderful Christmas Eve dinner they offered, it was such a fun evening. The location was great, and the rooftop area was such a bonus to have, it has a great view! We would highly recommend staying here.

10

reylette

Apr 23, 2025

·

Stayed 7 nights

Great hostel. Our room was spotless. Amazing view of the opera house and harbour bridge. We had the king ensuite. It was big, clean and bathroom waa large. Great facilities and location. Close to public transport. Love the rooftop, amazing view of the sunset and iconic sights. Staff were friendly and helpful. Highly recommended. Will be back

10

Heather

Dec 29, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

lovely clean rooms which were serviced daily, great access to city and transport, happy to cruise sailing port, access to cafe and restaurant. Very helpful staff.

10

Nereda

Nov 2, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Great staff, very helpful. Room was clean and tidy

8

ASAKI

Oct 20, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

部屋のトイレやシャワールームの清潔さはイマイチであったが、ルームメイトの使い方による部分もあると思う。頻繁に掃除をしてもらえたら良かった。立地は最高で、スタッフの方もとても親切でした。あとはルーフトップがかなり良かったです。

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10

lisa

Dec 18, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Spotlessly clean. Great air-conditioning. Comfortable beds. Great hot water and water pressure. Awesome view over the harbour from the rooftop.

10

Jane

Sep 28, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

The staff were great. Everything was exceptionally clean and well managed. It’s great that you can access the rooftop at any time. Awesome view and location.

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Rooms

Rooms are simple and functional, with many noting comfortable beds and some private ensuites; several offer standout harbour or Opera House views, though cruise ships can occasionally block them. Downsides include limited in-room amenities (often no fridge), variable temperature control, and some noise from other guests or the street.

Related guest reviews

10

Duncan

Nov 3, 2023

·

Stayed 5 nights

Amazing! We had a Queen Opera View ensuite room. It was very comfortable and quiet. Outstanding value in a great location. Friendly staff and the cafe was great - yummy brekkie wraps and coffee were a treat to eat on the rooftop. Thanks for a great stay.

8

Oscar

Nov 19, 2023

·

Stayed 4 nights

It was right in the centre near circular quay so brilliant transport links and close to the main attractions. The room was reasonably priced next to hotels but on the expensive side for a hostel (you pay for the location don’t forget). Air Con is set at one temp and turned on by request so you have to ask reception each day which was painless and they are always willing to do. We were in the queen room which had towels provided, I’m assuming in a bid for eco friendliness these are again only washed on request which is fine just something to bare in mind. We did ask for a do not disturb sign which was promised but never came through, I’m not a fan of people in and out of my room with my valuables left in there but they were only emptying the bins which again is a positive thing so I can’t complain again. Overall very positive, good facilities, everything worked and it seems everything was well thought out and executed. The biggest thing to remember is that it’s a hostel not a hotel, but it’s a very nice hostel with that being said. Would definitely stay again as it’s location and roof top terrace is a massive advantage.

8

Joselle Gema

Apr 27, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Location is the greatest asset! But walls too thin! I could hear conversations from outside and every little noice at the city down the from my room.

8

Rachelle

Oct 26, 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

We stayed in a private “Opera Harbour View” room. Check in went well, but when we got to our room we noticed the garbage pails hadn’t been emptied, there was a questionable brown streak on the wall and the next morning we found a small spot of blood on the bed sheets. We alerted the staff who promised to do a deep clean of the room while we were out for the day. When we got back the room had indeed been well cleaned. The brown streak was gone as were other scuff marks that had been on the wall, the sheets had been changed and the garbages emptied. The hostel is part of the Big Dig and there are lots of fascinating artifacts to see, sign boards to read, not to mention it’s located above an excavated site which they’ve left stairwells open so you can easily see the excavated area below. We’d stayed at the hostel last year because the price was amazing but they’ve since done renovations and the price has gone up. Although still cheaper than other places, I didn’t feel like we’d received as much value for our money this time as we did the year before. Also a caution about the Opera Harbour View rooms: the view is nice…as long as a cruise ship isn’t in port. Then your Opera Harbour View becomes a Cruise Ship View. Usually not a problem because the ship is only there during the day, but they will sometimes be there overnight.

8

Paddianne

Feb 7, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

I enjoyed my stay here, nice location, clean room, friendly staff The only bad thing is that the rooms could do with some kind of cooling system, either a personal fan in each bunk of the shared rooms or air conditioning in the rooms which can be controlled in the room

10

Christopher

Oct 3, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Clean room, spacious with ensuite. Great view of harbour. Walking distance to all the tourists sites. Will definitely stay again. The only trade off/difference between here and the Central location is a swimming pool. The view more than made up for it though!

10

reylette

Apr 23, 2025

·

Stayed 7 nights

Great hostel. Our room was spotless. Amazing view of the opera house and harbour bridge. We had the king ensuite. It was big, clean and bathroom waa large. Great facilities and location. Close to public transport. Love the rooftop, amazing view of the sunset and iconic sights. Staff were friendly and helpful. Highly recommended. Will be back

10

Judith

Feb 12, 2026

·

Stayed 2 nights

Huge private rooms with amazing views of the Opera House. The roof top bar was great, again with the views. It was in a walkable position.

10

Malin

Apr 16, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Veldig bra og sentrums nært! Gå avstand til alt,eneste jeg har å pirke på er at det fort ble varmt og dårlig luft da man ikke fikk åpnet vinduet nok og det ikke var aircondition. Men ellers veldig bra.

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10

Allison

Oct 17, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

I did not look up YHA before going to Sydney, Australia so I had no idea I had booked a hostel. We did have a private room and bath. Room was spacious and clean. There was no refrigerator in the room, but again; I did not know it was a hostel. Plenty of power outlets. Staff were friendly and VERY helpful. Location was great- easy walk to Sydney opera house and bridge. Beautiful views from the rooftop bar. Did not eat breakfast, but it looked very nice. Did not use the kitchen facilities or cafe. I was very pleased with the entire stay and would recommend as well as stay again.

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Service

Staff are widely praised as friendly, welcoming and helpful, with quick problem-solving and useful local advice. A few mention delays at check-in or slow app responses, but overall service is well regarded.

Related guest reviews

8

Noel

Mar 7, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

The only negative were waiting for our room to be cleaned almost an hour after check-in time of 2PM, and a lift with a door threatening to fail and lock us in. There were many positives, not least the terrace view, the 'Big Dig" access and info, the cleanliness, and spaciousness.

10

MARY

Jan 31, 2026

·

Stayed 3 nights

Everything was perfect. The location, the rooms, the breakfast, but especially the wonderful friendly staff.

8

Michelle

Jan 7, 2026

·

Stayed 11 nights

We had a great stay here in December. The room was clean, as well as the entire facility. The continental breakfast was a great way to start the day. The staff was all very friendly and helpful. We enjoyed meals there, especially the wonderful Christmas Eve dinner they offered, it was such a fun evening. The location was great, and the rooftop area was such a bonus to have, it has a great view! We would highly recommend staying here.

10

Fabienne

Jan 22, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Great location, very close to the rocks, view of the opera house from the roof top terrace. Had a little issue with the first room (guest not obeying house rules) but was moved to a different room immediately. Friendly staff.

10

Jorge

Apr 12, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Staff was amazing and the location couldn't be better. I will be back!

10

Heather

Dec 29, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

lovely clean rooms which were serviced daily, great access to city and transport, happy to cruise sailing port, access to cafe and restaurant. Very helpful staff.

10

Diane

Apr 8, 2024

·

Stayed 7 nights

Location is perfect. When communicating through the Goki application, response is very slow.

10

Ri

Jun 12, 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

Super helpful staff, very friendly. Very clean facilities, ample seating with chargers. Convenient breakfast options - good value. Fantastic location.

10

Nereda

Nov 2, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Great staff, very helpful. Room was clean and tidy

10

Jane

Sep 28, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

The staff were great. Everything was exceptionally clean and well managed. It’s great that you can access the rooftop at any time. Awesome view and location.

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Location

Outstanding location in The Rocks, a short walk to Circular Quay, ferries, and major sights, with easy public transport access. Some note a steep, stair-filled approach or tricky directions from Circular Quay, but most find it very convenient.

Related guest reviews

2

Karen

Oct 19, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Disgusting. The bathroom shower grout is black with mouls, floor filthy $400 a night an no clean towels. Never replaced the coffee mugs. Im disgusted never again. Hard to find. Staff admitted google directions incorrect. Took an hour to fined it from a 6 minute walk from circular quay.

8

Lois

Nov 15, 2024

·

Stayed 5 nights

Pricey for a basic room - obvs paying for location in The Rocks. Lots of stairs to navigate in the area, but with that in mind it is close to ferries, Opera House.

10

Anna

May 21, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Location is superb

10

Kylie

Jan 21, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Perfect location and price for a quick weekend getaway to see the main sites of Sydney. Less than 10min walk to Circular Quay which is the gateway to access to ferries, trains and sights of the bridge and opera house. Lots of great food options around also.

10

Judith

Feb 12, 2026

·

Stayed 2 nights

Huge private rooms with amazing views of the Opera House. The roof top bar was great, again with the views. It was in a walkable position.

10

Preben

Mar 7, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Super beliggenhed. Meget centralt med udsigt til operahuset og sydney bridge fra tarasseområdet. Tæt på toget. Kan kun anbefales. Meget venlige ansatte. God stemning. Ingen larm.

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10

David

Jun 25, 2024

·

Stayed 5 nights

All the main Sydney highlights are within easy walking or public transport access.

10

Guadalupe

Feb 16, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Great location, price and staff. Will return!

10

Caroline

Sep 23, 2023

·

Stayed 5 nights

Great spot close to the action

10

Sherwin

Jun 26, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

A great place to stay in the Rocks. Close to transport, quiet and chilled.

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Dining

Breakfast feedback is mixed: several praise it as convenient and good value, while others find it basic or limited, with few protein options. On-site cafe and rooftop offerings (coffee, wraps, occasional budget dinners) add convenience.

Related guest reviews

10

Ruby

Jul 24, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Most of ut was excellent, only the continental breakfast has no variety of cereal and jams for toast

10

Duncan

Nov 3, 2023

·

Stayed 5 nights

Amazing! We had a Queen Opera View ensuite room. It was very comfortable and quiet. Outstanding value in a great location. Friendly staff and the cafe was great - yummy brekkie wraps and coffee were a treat to eat on the rooftop. Thanks for a great stay.

10

ALLISON

Oct 9, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Visited with 2 young children. Staff were friendly, the place was clean and convenient. Easy walk to circular quay/opera house as well as darling harbour area. Beautiful and fantastic location. The breakfast was simple but there was lots to eat, although no protein options other than yogurt.

10

MARY

Jan 31, 2026

·

Stayed 3 nights

Everything was perfect. The location, the rooms, the breakfast, but especially the wonderful friendly staff.

8

Michelle

Jan 7, 2026

·

Stayed 11 nights

We had a great stay here in December. The room was clean, as well as the entire facility. The continental breakfast was a great way to start the day. The staff was all very friendly and helpful. We enjoyed meals there, especially the wonderful Christmas Eve dinner they offered, it was such a fun evening. The location was great, and the rooftop area was such a bonus to have, it has a great view! We would highly recommend staying here.

10

Joseph

Sep 15, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Friendly professional staff. Super location. Very good food to purchase. Excellent breakfast.

8

Donna

Oct 21, 2025

·

Stayed 6 nights

The morning buffet was very poor, kept clean but limited items on it. The place was great and easy for walking down the steps to the rocks. The upper bar on the roof was with a beautiful view of the opera house , harper bridge.

10

zhongsheng

Oct 26, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Healthy but limited

10

John

Jul 12, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

YHA Sydney was a great place to stay. We didn’t really have any expectations but were pleasantly surprised to find we had a full view of the Sydney Opera House from our room window! The rooftop is spectacular with views of the Harbour Bridge, Opera House and Sydney’s center. The breakfast was good. The staff helped in every area. The room itself was clean and comfortable. We definitely recommend this hotel John and Candace

10

David

Mar 19, 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

Loved the location (minus the steps to get to the property). The Rocks within walking distance to everything (Opera House, Bridge, Wharf, restaurant, bars, etc.) Property is no frills, but an economical place to lay your head down every night. Has a rooftop bar with good views of Sydney and economical dinners on certain nights (i.e. taco night, and bbq nights when we were there).

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
1	2	3	4	5	6	7
8	9	10	11	12 $151	13 $129	14 $469
15 $105	16 $166	17 $113	18 $263	19 $190	20 $638	21 $524
22 $114	23 $122	24 $110	25 $187	26 $158	27 $461	28 $422
29 $136	30 $114

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
		1 $124	2 $192	3 $112	4 $554	5 $459
6 $107	7 $152	8 $222	9 $136	10 $136	11 $709	12 $593
13 $159	14 $381	15 $138	16 $108	17 $110	18 $375	19 $359
20 $94	21 $95	22 $95	23 $95	24 $95	25 $455	26 $421
27	28	29	30	31

YHA Sydney Harbour

Prices for YHA Sydney Harbour

Monthly average prices

About this property

Location

Room options

Bed in 6-Bed Female Dormitory with Ensuite

Bed in 6-Bed Mixed Dormitory with Ensuite

Queen Plus One with Ensuite

King Opera Harbour View Ensuite

King Plus 2 with Ensuite

King Plus One with Ensuite

Queen Room with Ensuite

Bed in 4-Bed Mixed Dormitory with Ensuite

Entire 4-Bed Dormitory Room

Queen Opera Harbour View Ensuite

Bed in 4-Bed Male Dormitory with Ensuite

Bed in 4-Bed Female Dormitory with Ensuite

Guest reviews of YHA Sydney Harbour

Who stays here?

What guests think

Property Policies

Check-in instructions

Good to know

Optional extras

FAQs about YHA Sydney Harbour

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