Sydney's beloved Vivid Sydney festival will return in 2021 on August 6-28, bringing art, music, and magic to the city.
An annual festival, Vivid Sydney is a "playground of the unexpected." The outdoor gallery illuminates the Harbour City with contemporary light installations and 3D art. A line-up of music acts will be announced soon, as will a variety of thought-provoking talks and discussions with thought leaders.
This festival is a beautiful way to brighten Sydney during the winter months, and more than two million attendees visit the city to marvel at the art projected onto Sydney's iconic buildings, including the Opera House and Harbour Bridge.
The line-up for this festival of light, music, and love will be announced soon, and rest assured it will be a good one, especially since Vivid Sydney 2020 was cancelled for the first time in history. Make sure to plan your trip to Sydney early so you can find affordable accommodations and plan for an unforgettable Sydney vacation!
Home swapping lets you travel to Sydney, Australia on a budget
Don't let the high cost of accommodations stop you from traveling to Sydney for the Vivid Festival. Especially during popular travel times, vacation rentals in Sydney can be cost prohibitive. Accommodations for a week in the city during the festival can cost well over $2,000 in traditional vacation rentals.
But when you home swap, there's no need to break the bank on your trip to Sydney. Apart from the cost of the yearly membership (just $220), enjoy unlimited vacation stays all year with no additional cost. You can explore Sydney, and other parts of Australia, in the most authentic way, living like a local rather than traveling like a tourist.
HomeExchange's travel guarantees have been adapted to the COVID-19 situation, allowing you to plan your vacation with peace of mind. Vivid Sydney 2021 will also be a COVID-safe event and in line with the latest health guidance, according to the event website.
Where to stay for Vivid Sydney 2021
If you're hoping to visit Sydney for the Vivid festival, here are 10 home exchanges with availability during the festival. These homes let you experience the best Sydney has to offer and allow easy access to the city's events, attractions, restaurants, and museums.
1. Sydney vacation home with stunning coastal views
"Ethan's house was stunning and even better than described. The view of the South Pacific greeted us every morning and made our stay even better than we'd hoped. The guest room was spotlessly clean, as was the area of the home which we used...Ethan's home is in a very upmarket part of Sydney with fantastic access to local transport (very close to local bus routes), but we particularly enjoyed the cliff walks to Bondi Beach and Watson's Bay." —Margaret-Mary
2. Welcoming, family-friendly Sydney vacation rental alternative
"We stayed in Anthony's lovely home for 2 weeks over Easter, for a family wedding. We had a wonderful time, the house is very spacious, well stocked, and feels like a lovely family home. We had our 2 kids with us who loved the pool! Everything was clear, and we enjoyed the space." —Elizabeth
3. Chic North Sydney apartment in vibrant neighborhood
"The cosy apartment is in a lovely neighbourhood and perfect to discover Sydney and the area around. Everything was perfect organised and we had a wonderful. Thanks a lot!" —Petra
4. Cozy, modern apartment minutes from the city
"We had the most wonderful stay in Sydney largely due to Merrilyn's comfy apartment and helpful support. I marveled at her ingenuity in converting her "empty nest" home into a perfect accommodation, fitted with everything you could need. Merrilyn also invited us to attend a choral concert which I throughly enjoyed, grabbing some light fare post concert with a pal of hers. Just the sort of outing that makes you remember a city so fondly." —Marianne
5. Spacious, tasteful apartment in Bondi
"Wonderful apartment in quiet street in beautiful Bondi. Very well appointed. Martin and Sue were very easy to deal with and we would highly recommend this Home Exchange to other guests." —Mike
6. Luxurious 5-bedroom home with pool in Mosman
"Just had a wonderful stay at the Sutcliff’s beautiful home. They were very hospitable and the home was perfect. Home is about 15-20 min max drive from downtown Sydney, just on the north side of the Harbour bridge. Nice size bedrooms and newly redone bathrooms. Kitchen is perfect and next to a wonderful downstairs lounge area. I don’t hesitate to recommend!!" —Jeremy
7. Modern clifftop home in leafy Lugarno with valley views
"We have recently returned from a wonderful six-week home exchange with Pat and Bruce. Their home is situated in a quiet cul-de-sac just south of Sydney and is extremely comfortable and well equipped with everything you could need to enjoy the experience. We especially loved their large balcony set high with uninterrupted views and a lush garden." —Anne
8. Contemporary Sydney home with swimming pool
"Who would think of using an outdoor pool in the middle of the Australian winter? Well, if you stay at Gayle and Jim’s wonderful home you also might be tempted to take a quick dip just to enjoy the view of the boats moored across the bay. Alternatively, of course, you could sit in the sunny kitchen and lounge room taking in the same view. A house sunlit by large windows, plenty of seating, large bedrooms, TV room, and study reached by an elegant, curved stairway." —Martin
9. Large suburban Sydney vacation rental alternative
"We had an incredible time with Leanne and Peter, they have a beautiful house near Natural Reserves, parks and the Georgeus River. Leanne and Peter makes us feel like home, they helped us so much in a special moment that was very difficult to us. We will always be very grateful about this. They recommended us many places to visit and have taken us also to incredible places in Sydney. Their home is perfect, very well equipped and full of love." —Carlos
10. Sydney penthouse with pool close to the beach
"The view over the city was amazing, and we sat out on the balcony to enjoy gazing at it while we ate. We come from a rural area, so it was fascinating to be living up above a city space, nine floors up. The apartment suited us very well, with space for the five of us, comfortable beds and two bathrooms. Our grand-daughters used their bedroom as a playroom, enjoying the wonderful toys. They also loved Le Chat, the friendly cat. We all enjoyed their library full of interesting books in French and English, for children and adults. This made bedtime story hour fascinating." —Jill
