Sydney Travel Answers

Hi, welcome to VT. What did you hear about Sydney to think it's bad? It's a big city so the usual precautions you would take in any big city apply, but apart from that there's no problem.

We stayed in Kings Cross during our visit to Sydney. We had no trouble at all. There are some interesting characters you might encounter, but nobody disturbs you. Enjoy Sydney :)

Hi I live in Sydney, not far from Kings Cross. Its a very colourful area of the city as its the 'red light' district but its also a very popular tourist area and has many hotels. Sydney is fairly small and the Cross is not far from the centre of the city and the harbour. You should not be concerned and like anywhere just don't wander around late at night by yourself. Its like any major city in the world but the natives are very friendly. I hope you enjoy your stay. Anne

HA! takes me back; when I first arrived in Sydney in late 60s, I heard the same thing about Kings Cross, and I was early 20s, but the city was booked up with a conference, and only hotel space available was there......but it was fine and I never saw anything 'bad'........obviously things change, but as already said, it is the red light district, but very close to Sydney CBD. London has it's rougher sides too of course and I don't think you will have any problem in Sydney.

No - Underbelly has done the place a dis-service!

Having lived near the area for years I don't really feel that there is much to worry about. Take the usual precautions that you would in a big city. There are some amazing restaurants not far from the area. It is colourful and lively - enjoy!!

Perhaps the OP is nervous because of the drug war going on in Kings Cross, and reports like these: au.news.yahoo.com/local/nsw/... dailytelegraph.com.au/news/i... I have stayed at Kings Cross in the past and walked around without problems. But as others said, it surely isn't Sydney's flashest suburb and you have to be cautious at night and best not walk around alone at night.

Hello no not heard anything bad about the place. until i googled it. And it looks and sounds pretty scary place to go? is it mate

> is it as bad as anywhere else is? Where else do you mean? I was in Sydney (alone) for 3 months and never felt unsafe! What a lovely city and friendly folks?! :-) Granted I never went 'soliciting' at King's Cross, I was driven past it once! LOL!

It's as scary as London's Soho.

There was a recent incident in King Cross involving youth driving erratically onto the footpath and police having to shoot at them... however, my experience in this area is that it is like any other town/suburb in the inner city. In the early hours of the morning occasionally you can hear people arguing lol and a few isolated incidents here and there but apart from that it's a place with quite some character!!

I haven't been in the Cross in years but I never had an issue. If you look for trouble it'll find you, as with anywhere else in the world. Exercise the same amount of caution you would on any party street/red light district at night.

"There was a recent incident in King Cross involving youth driving erratically onto the footpath and police having to shoot at them" To put that in context, it's not because Kings Cross is 'bad', the incident could have happened anywhere. Kids from another suburb in a stolen car drove to the Cross and when they tried to escape from the police went onto the footpath, running a woman down. Police fired to stop them.

I agree with @colin - freak incidents can happen anywhere! But I really can't see what the fuss is all about coz OP is visiting her BF and will, therefore, be chaperoned, so to speak - it is not as if she's going to be in Sydney all alone (like I was)!