The Best City In The World For People In Their 20s Is A Vibrant Escape With Iconic Beaches And Outdoor Fun

If you believe the adage that you're only as young as you feel, you probably enjoy cities that appear purpose-built for people in their 20s. In the past, this might have described cities that were cheap and full of hostels, hedonism, bars, and nightclubs. But research suggests Gen Z, the current crop of 14- to 29-year-olds, travels differently, prizing outdoor lifestyles, culinary experiences, wellness, and digital detoxes as much as partying and debauchery. According to a report by the digital entertainment platform BC Game — which assessed cost-of-living indicators, transport efficiency, safety, and access to restaurants, cafés, and entertainment venues in 40 cities worldwide — the best city for 20-somethings today is Sydney, Australia.

I lived in Sydney for a year in my 20s, and despite being broke for most of it, it was a great place to spend a formative period of adulthood. Sydney is multicultural, lively, and has a high standard of living; it feels like a place of opportunity (and not just in the job market). The city's trendy eastern suburbs are fringed by golden sands and waters for bathing, surfing, and snorkeling. Sydney is an active place, where waking up at the crack of dawn for a jog followed by a cold plunge and a flat white is the norm.

But Sydney caters to night owls, too. Hipsters congregate in Newtown's brewpubs and indie haunts, while in the Central Business District (CBD) you'll find multi-story clubs, rooftop pool bars, and swanky cocktail hideouts. The diverse restaurant scene is also exceptional, perhaps second only to Melbourne nationwide. Sydneysiders will be first to tell you theirs is not a cheap city, but it's still a great place to be young.

If 20-something travelers enjoy city breaks and outdoor adventures, then Sydney is a great fit. You've got modern art museums, the resplendent Sydney Opera House, and Aboriginal cultural experiences, but also it's one of Australia's top coastal getaways, with more than 100 beaches threading the Pacific coastline and harbor. Bondi is the most iconic stretch of Sydney sand, attracting hordes of surfers (even if the wave quality doesn't always merit it) and open-water swimmers. For a more casual beach visit, reserve a table with a view at Bondi Icebergs, a tidal pool and swim club. Although Bondi is synonymous with Australian beach culture, I prefer Coogee Beach, around 3 miles to the south — and not only because it was on my doorstep. The waves are less intense, meaning it attracts a smaller proportion of the surf crowd, and there are four rock pools that are great for swimming or snorkeling. 

The nearby bars and restaurants are worth visiting, too. Coogee Bay Hotel's Beach Bar is an institution — and a great place to meet other travelers in their 20s — while Coogee Pavilion is a more laidback space for seafood and schooners. The 3.7-mile clifftop walk between Bondi and Coogee, tracing the contours of Sydney's coves and headlands, is ideal for an active morning. You could stop for a dip along the way at Clovelly Beach, a narrow sheltered bay, or Bronte Beach, which is especially popular when the surfs up.

Serious surfers should also consider journeying into the depths of the eastern suburbs and riding the waves at Maroubra Beach, which benefits from consistent, year-round swells. Beware of strong rip currents — lifeguards are frequently pressed into service. After you've ridden the waves, throw some seafood onto a free-to-use barbecue in Arthur Byrne Reserve, a park beside the beach.

Sydney enjoys more than 2,600 hours of sunshine per year — only slightly less than the sunny, walkable European capital of Athens in Greece — meaning you'll likely spend most of your time outdoors. Try exploring the city on foot. There's Glebe Foreshore Walk, running along Blackwattle Bay and under the gaze of Anzac Bridge; the Barangaroo Reserve to Sydney Opera House route, which shows the harbor in all its glory; and the Hermitage Foreshore Track, which follows the coast of a crooked peninsula and passes through Milk Beach, one of Australia's best-kept secrets. In a city where the bars are alluring and the beers pricey, free activities such as walking and running will do wonders for your bank account.

Twenty-somethings are the fastest growing demographic in the world of yoga, a curative pastime that's also found a following in Sydney. If you like to spend your mornings focusing on controlled breathing and contorting your body as the sun rises, Sydney has lots of yoga classes and meetups to accommodate you. A popular, free class is Yoga Under the Bridge on Sunday mornings at Sydney Harbor. Yoga by the Sea also offers al fresco yoga classes around the city.

Sydney is full of backpackers and nomads searching for companionship, so there are plenty of clubs that mix activities with socializing. I frequently had people suggesting I join a football team, running club, sauna session, or surf dojo. Though it wasn't advice I often heeded, these are great places to meet likeminded individuals. KeepActive lists more than 530 physical activity groups and coaches in Sydney, covering sports of every description, from dragon boating and pickleball to padel, sailing, and futsal (indoor soccer with teams of five). If you're an active traveler in Sydney, it's a good place to start looking.