Dulwich Hill

The very tip of the peninsula, where ferries dock and Illoura Reserve hands you front-row harbour views. Tiny, historic and built for a slow waterfront wander.

Cooks River wetlands and a big riverside reserve, with off-leash green close by. Walkable and made for a riverside run.

Antique shops, weekend markets and a peninsula made for slow laps. Rozelle keeps the village feel inner Sydney usually trades away — dog firmly in tow.

Little Portugal of the inner west — custard tarts, charcoal chicken and quiet terrace-lined streets. Low-key, leafy and made for a tart-fuelled afternoon walk.

Sydney's Little Italy of the inner west — bakeries, delis and Federation homes on quiet, leafy streets. Heritage-calm and made for an unhurried, pastry-fuelled lap.

A leafy harbour peninsula of sandstone heritage and waterfront reserves. Quiet, scenic and made for a slow foreshore stroll.

Wedged between Newtown and Glebe, with Sydney Uni's leafy grounds and quiet terrace streets to wander. The inner west's calm achiever — the buzz close by, the pace nicely unhurried.

A leafy inner-west pocket of quiet streets and village calm, with parks close by. Walkable, low-key and easy with a dog.

The Balmain peninsula's leafy tip, with waterfront parks and ferry calm. Quiet, scenic and made for a slow harbour stroll.

Inner-west edge with Sydney Park's off-leash acres on one side and a craft-brewery strip on the other. Industrial bones, Newtown energy and plenty of green to burn off.