Sydney is Australia’s largest and most cosmopolitan city. It boasts some of the most photographed landmarks in the world, a wonderland of national parks, forest mountains, and historic riverside towns, and is also a bit of an exhibitionist.
Sun-blazed beaches stretch the length of the famous harbor opening up into the Pacific, and glittering views of an impressive city skyline once the sun goes down.
The following is a 5 day itinerary for making the best out of Australia’s favorite city. To explore the surrounds, car hire in Sydney is easy to organize, and you can compare prices and book via companies like VroomVroomVroom. A guide to the top hotels in Sydney can be found at LuxuryHotelsGuides.com.
How To Spend 5 Days in Sydney, Australia
Day 1 – Walking Tour
Kick off your first day in Sydney with a self guided walking tour starting at Circular Quay. Here you can inspect the iconic Harbor bridge up close, and stroll through the historic Rocks District towards the Opera House.
Follow this up with a walk through Sydney Royal Botanic Gardens, enter Sydney’s city centre, and finish your day in Darling Harbor, home to Sydney’s IMAX Theatre, Sydney Aquarium, Wildlife Sydney Zoo and Madam Tussads.
There are a number of museums along your way, including Museum of Contemporary Art, the Sydney Museum, and once you reach Darling Harbor, the Powerhouse Museum and Australian National Maritime Museum.
Sydney is full of incredible walks and hikes beyond the city center, so if you’re interested in getting off the beaten track, and taking an overnight walking adventure, check out Overnight Adventures.
Overnight Adventures are a local small business who give you e-guides for self guided walking tours through the best parts of surrounding Sydney (check out their Blue Mountains Hiking Tours) and also provide equipment (ie backpacks, tents, food packs, sleeping mats etc).
Day 2 – Cruise the Harbor
Taking a cruise on Sydney Harbor should be an essential part of any Australian itinerary – Sydney is, after all, a harbor city.
Numerous cruises are available and travelers can choose between sightseeing cruises, a dinner cruise, a dance cruise, or choose from the multitude of ferries which operate out of Circular Quay to a number of destinations within greater Sydney.
How to do it: To make the most of your visit, you can set sail on an authentic sailing boat to enjoy a dinner cruise in an exceptional atmospere! Departing from the quay of The Rocks, enjoy a 2-hour cruise in Sydney Harbour, and admire a magnificent sunset over the city and its famous sights such as the Sydney Opera House. You can book in here!
Cross the harbor to Manly or head to Watsons Bay for phenomenal seafood. A ferry to Manly is a great way to spend your day – home to Shelly Beach which is one of Sydneys best spots for snorkeling.
You can also Navigate to Cockatoo Island – a historic island now a haunted naval storage facility. The island provides stunning views overlooking Sydney Harbour and is home to the Island bar, famous for its tropical cocktails and wood-fired pizza.
Day 3 – View Sydney
Spend your day taking in breathtaking views of the city. Head to the summit of ‘Sydney Tower Eye’ which offers views across the city to the Pacific Ocean, as well as the Blue Mountains in the west. For those feeling daring, the Sydney Skywalk experience is a moving, glass-floored viewing platform which sits at the top of the Tower.
Book in to climb the Sydney Harbor Bridge – not only is the climb incredibly adventurous and will keep your adrenalin pumping, but you’re greeted with spectacular views over Sydney once at the top.
The bridge climb is relatively expensive – for those traveling on a budget, crossing the bridge on foot is free and offers just as spectacular views and photo opportunities.
Hotels Near Sydney Harbor Bridge
Sydney Harbour YHA
Sydney Harbour YHA is situated in Sydney and offers complimentary Wi-Fi. With views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House, the hostel also provides exclusive amenities and services, including a rooftop terrace.
The Australian Heritage Hotel
Situated close to Wynyard Railway Station, this historic bed and breakfast is a convenient base for those wanting to discover Sydney and its surrounds. It is set in the area’s popular nightlife district, about a five-minute walk from The Rocks.
Day 4 – Australian Wildlife
Australia is known for having unusual wildlife, and Australian animals are unlike any found elsewhere in the world!
From kangaroos and koalas, to platypi (platypus), Tasmanian devils and wombats – Australia has a huge range of wonderful wildlife and exotic species which provoke a sense of wonder and awe throughout the rest of the world. Make sure you get to see them up close!
Taronga Zoo is just a short ferry ride across the harbour from Circular Quay. Australia’s most famous zoo, visitors may marvel at thousands of exotic and native Australian animals. An adult ZooPass (includes the fare of the ferry from Circular Quay) is $45 – and those who don’t want to leave can sleep over! Luxury safari tents with after-hour adventures start at $225 for the night.
Visit Featherdale wildlife park in Sydney’s west or Wild Life Sydney at Darling Harbour for other Australian wildlife encounters.
Day 5 – Go to the Beach
Spend your last day relaxing on Sydney’s most iconic beaches. Particularly in the warmer months, from November – March, Sydney’s beaches are the place to be. Opportunities to partake in water sports are ample – go swimming, surfing, water skiing or simply laze in the sun and tan.
Bondi Beach is Sydney’s most famous – glittering sapphire water, fabulous waves, golden sand; Bondi epitomizes sun, sand and surf. After a 2 hour surf lesson why not take in the spectacular views of Bondi’s sandstone cliffs and coves and complete the Bondi-Bronte walk. This walk is a 1 hour, 2.5km stroll.
Hotels Near Sydney’s Best Beaches
Mad Monkey Hostel Coogee Beach
You can’t get closer to the beach than by staying at Mad Monkey Hostel Coogee Beach. This is the first Mad Monkey hostel in Australia, located steps from Coogee Beach, and is the perfect location for the famous Coogee to Bondi Coastal Walk.
They offer apartment style dorms and private rooms, with amenities which include an onsite bar and restaurant, shared kitchen facilities, live events, and surf equipment rentals.
QT Bondi
QT Bondi provides a comfortable setting when in Sydney. A short walk from Sculpture by the Sea, it offers comfortable rooms equipped with luxury linen, a coffee maker and a kitchenette.
Decided to miss your flight home? There’s more to do! For travelers with more time to spare in Sydney, great daytrip options are available to the north, south and west of the city. Try the Blue Mountains hiking tours in the West or the Hunter Valley wine region in the North.
51 Comments
Excellent article on what to see in Sydney Megan, and almost regard Sydney as our second home. It is a beautiful city with so much to see and do, and as you know we were in Australia and in Sydney on Australia Day, when the Aussies certainly know how to celebrate and put on a party all over the city. This is the way it should be as Australia is a beautiful country and they have much to celebrate.
Great tips Megan, you’ve peaked my curiousity about the “Luxery” tents at the zoo. I’ve never heard of that before. I’ll be keeping this post in my Pintrest bucket list for future reference.
Hey Megan,
Another good article, I guess growing up in Australia its easy to forget how expensive it can be….it really hits home however when you travel. But as you’ve pointed out there are heaps of things to do here on a budget :)
Gotta love Sydney!
Jamie
What great tips – a best of! :) I can’t wait to visit.
It was tough to leave Sydney a couple of days ago. It is clean, it is organized, it is scenic. The only thing I don’t miss is the prices.
But it’s not impossible to enjoy Sydney on a shoestring, either. There’s a twice-daily free walking tour. The return ferry to Watsons Bay is a low-cost scenic option to cruises. The free walk across the Harbour Bridge that you mention is also awesome. I saw assorted wildlife in the natural environment outside of Sydney, including in Blue Mountains, which are spectacular, you’re right. Beaches near Jervis Bay are pretty great if you skip Bondi. The Botanic Garden is also free, as are the Museums of Modern Art, of New South Wales, and of The Rocks. As a fan of microbrews, I really enjoyed craft beers at Lord Nelson (not free, but surprisingly cheaper compared to most places downtown).
The great thing is, all of this doesn’t even scratch the surface of things to do in this wonderful city! A reason to come back…
Cruising the harbor is my favorite! I missed out on the wild life which I will see the next time I visit Sydney. It is an exciting city!
I want to spend 5 days in Sydney
tell me hw can I get visa
Although I’ve been to Sydney but I have done only a few things like the Blue Mountain, Manly beach and yes, I woke up at ungodly hour for the boxing day sale! Madness~ :p I am kinda planning for a trip to Sydney to celebrate the new year. Looks like there are plenty more things I can do without repeating myself. Thanks for the tips! :)
Great summary of the fun things to do in Sydney! You hit on the wide range of fun to be had from urban landscapes to outdoor wildlife. I had a lot of there too!
http://www.backpackingbear.com/blog/category/photos/photos-australia/
This makes me want to go home so badly! I’m from Melbourne but always loved a weekend (or longer!) in Sydney. Great tips! I’ll have to refer back to this when I’m home again!
http://www.katthewanderer.com
Oh cool! I didn’t know Sydney Harbor Bridge Climb opens at night. I thought they only open during the day for tourists. I have been in Sydney for a few times and every time I was there, I always visited Darling Harbor. They have firework every Saturday night. Beautiful restaurants around and great walk to Chinese Garden and China town nearby.
Hi!
I love this post! It gave me some great ideas on how to explore sydney on a budget!
Hey! I absolutely love this!
My favourite place you mentioned is definitely Bondi Beach – I live there!
Thanks for the advice – can’t wait to revisit Sydney again soon!
Thanks for the great post. Really interesting. Just wanna say, Out of all tours One of the best tour i had in sydney is bridge climb.
Hi Meg jerrard, I want to travel to Sydney Autralia, and i found your post in this blog. Thank so much. It help me a lots
Sydney has a variety of attractions and sights to see, including the very famous Bondi and Manly beaches, it’s easy to see why people come here and stay a while—try to stay at least a week if you can. There is a lot to do in Sydney. It’s worth a long stay. Thanks Megan!
I completely agree with your thought. Sydney has a huge places to sightseeing and it’s worth a long stay.
Definitely the best things to do in Sydney if you only have a few days. Luna Park and St Mary’s Cathedral can be added to the list.
The prices that you give us are they the exact price or an estimation?
Hi Megan, beautiful experienced you had.
I also post about How to do vacation in Perth, Australia with Free.
I think Australia is very sweet country :)
I am im awe of the magnificense and grandness of Australia, specifically Sydney. I’m very much interested in experiencing Australian wildlife. I’ve always wanted to see an actual Tasmanian Devil, and a kangaroo, of course.
Super article Megan. Can vouch for Taronga Zoo – stunning views of Sydney and a great way to see some of the harbour!
Nice Article !!! Some Cool places mentioned in this article to visit in Sydney
Great
I dream of visiting Australia – and Sydney in special. They look simply amazing – and we have some friends who moved there and they can’t stop praising everything there ;) Great itinerary!
Sydney has one of the most beautiful natural harbours in the world. First timers in the city should make it a point to ad in their itinerary to schedule to cruise the harbour to have a glimpse of the beautiful city on water.
Some great suggestions here. For families with young children, Darling Harbour is a must. There’s a great playground, with lots of room to run around, and looking at the boats is always fun. Best of all, there are plenty of cafes in the area, so Mum and Dad can grab a coffee while the little ones burn off all that energy.
Interesting tours Meg you shared in your post. For 5 days, you can go around the Sydney. How much more if you explore the whole country. I wonder how many weeks or months it needed to visit atleast the top 2o tourist spots in Australia by a car. It would be interesting idea.
I am very afraid with the heights, but the walking tours I don’t want to miss. We are heading out to Sydney this coming early July by a car. Touring Sydney cannot complete with out cruising around the harbor.
We all love Sydney’s view.
That’s our country neighbors, We are Indonesia.
Such a great post to share.It is a complete travel guide to how to spend 5 complete days in sydney.It can be great help for those who are planning to visit sydney and all the whereabouts when is best for gong there and all stuff.it may also influence some to share their experiences and write them about it
thanks for all the suggestions Megan! Definitely want to climb the Sydney Harbor Bridge once I’ll be in Sydney!!
If you’re looking for high-quality Airbnb properties in Sydney, look out for Cushie properties listed in Airbnb. Cushie manage heaps of properties around Sydney and have a high-standard of cleanliness and service!
What a nice Blog! I really enjoyed reading it. I am looking forward of your next blogs :)
Loved your post! Cool Photos!!
This is first time I am visiting your website and I find this post very very useful thanks for giving such a great information..
You just got me super excited planning my trip to Sydney! !!
Thanks for sharing!
Mick
Hi Megan. Thanks for sharing these tips. I’m from Brisbane and often we think it is too pricey to really explore Sydney. Love the tips and the photos that you’ve shared. You’ve inspired me for my next holiday :)
There are some really cool beaches in this country. You can learn to surf, kiteboard or scuba dive. The best place for water activity! Great article, simple and easy to follow!
Dear Megan,
Thank for posting this online, really helpful. I will be visiting Sydney in May and will include some visit to the many street markets, farmers market, etc. that usually happen over the weekend. Do you have recommendation on which one would be best to visit. I love trinkets, knick-knacks, and local produce.
Thank you again.
Agreed! I followed this along with this post and it was helpful. Looking forward to my next trip to Australia to experience it like a local and following your travels!
really helpful artical.
Amazing Sydney! Thanks for sharing.
A really great article, so much information about the interesting must-see spots in the city. I’m planning on staying in the CBD area but your article, helped me out a lot with my plans.
Very useful tips Meg. I can’t wait to visit.
I’m currently in Sydney and folliwng some steps of your recommendations. It’s really usefull!!! Thanks Megan.
There is only one thing I like to say. Don’t book any tour through CEETIZ as advertisement pop-up in your blog. I booked an Excursion to the Blue Moutains & Visit to the Jenolan Caves departing from Sydney day tour on 2019/2/16. The confirmation said the meeting point was King Street Wharf -Lime St. and actually was Sydney Aquarium – 1 Wheat Rd. Fortunately I managed to catch the bus the last minute. The tour though is fatastic for lazy visitors like us.
Keep on writing, Megan!
I love this post! I am really happy to read this blog and it is very nice information
Sydney is one of the global landmark of Australia; the view of the Sydney Harbor Bridge along with Opera House is bliss. Though it is a big city; it has lot of amazing things to do and lot of delicious eateries to hangout with friends. It has been more than 30 years I am living in Sydney and still can’t get of it.
Every time I read blogs on Sydney; it is a good feel. I am a migration agent in Australia and helps people in moving in and out of this country.
I will be glad to help anyone who comes here reading this.
Thank you for sharing!! My husband and I are planning a trip to the Philippines and just discovered that adding 4 days in Sydney will make the flights $600 cheaper. I’ve never been to Australia and don’t by any means think that 4 days would be enough time to see everything, but do you think it would be a reasonable amount of time to see Sydney? We would be there in July, so winter. We love any opportunity to see wildlife but don’t really love zoos. We prefer to see animals in their natural habitat. We also love scuba diving, but I worry that it wouldn’t be warm enough – and Sydney isn’t really known for awesome diving anyway. What do you think?
Megan Claire, any idea why there are so many red roofs in Sydney?
Sydney is one of our favourite cities in the world! Just wandering through the parks, CBD, coastal walks, it’s all pretty amazing. We loved Geocaching in the city. It takes you through all these beautiful spots and shows you places you might have missed otherwise.
Having a picnic at the tip of the Royal Botanic Gardens (with a view of the Opera House and Bridge) was definitely one of our highlights. We did this on Australia Day and stuck around for the fireworks over the Opera House. Just perfect! Most importantly there is something or the other to see from any student accommodation Sydney.
Hello, Meg Jerrard. Your Blog is very beautiful… Thank you for giving information regarding Sydney travel Spots. Sydney is one of the most beautiful places in the World.