2 days in Sydney

Day by day

1. Day 1: Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge

   Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Bondi Beach and Manly ferry and Manly Beach, then Luna Park Sydney in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Sydney Opera House

      It sits on Bennelong Point at the eastern edge of Circular Quay. Guided tours take you inside the concert hall and theatres, but the best way to experience it is at a performance, from opera and symphony to comedy and contemporary music. Walking around the forecourt and the outer promenade is free.

   2. Late morning

      Sydney Harbour Bridge

      Walking across on the eastern footpath is free, takes about 20 minutes and looks straight down on the Opera House. The Pylon Lookout in the south-eastern pylon has a small museum and a viewing platform, and BridgeClimb leads guided ascents to the top of the arch.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Sydney rock oysters

      Sydney Fish Market at Blackwattle Bay, oyster bars around Circular Quay and seafood restaurants in Watsons Bay.

   4. Afternoon

      Bondi Beach

      At the southern end the Bondi Icebergs ocean pool sits right above the surf, and Campbell Parade behind the beach is lined with cafés. In summer it is crowded and lively; from May to November you may spot migrating humpback whales from the headlands.

   5. Late afternoon

      Manly ferry and Manly Beach

      At Manly, The Corso leads to the ocean beach, and a short path around the headland reaches Shelly Beach, a sheltered cove in the Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve popular with snorkellers.

   6. Evening

      Luna Park Sydney

      Walk across the Harbour Bridge to Milsons Point, finish at Luna Park, then take the ferry back to Circular Quay.

2. Day 2: Taronga Zoo and Royal Botanic Garden and Mrs Macquarie's Chair

   Taronga Zoo, Royal Botanic Garden and Mrs Macquarie's Chair, The Rocks and Bondi to Coogee coastal walk, then Surry Hills and Darlinghurst in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Taronga Zoo

      Its Australian animals, including koalas, kangaroos, platypuses and echidnas, are the main draw for overseas visitors, alongside big cats, primates, a seal show and a free-flight bird show with the harbour as a backdrop.

   2. Late morning

      Royal Botanic Garden and Mrs Macquarie's Chair

      The harbour path leads to Mrs Macquarie's Chair, a sandstone bench carved by convicts in 1810 for the governor's wife, with one of the best views of the Opera House and the Bridge together. Entry is free.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Meat pie

      Bakeries across the city, Harry's Café de Wheels in Woolloomooloo, and at any rugby league or AFL match.

   4. Afternoon

      The Rocks

      Small museums and galleries tell the area's story from Gadigal country through the convict era, and The Rocks Markets fill George Street with craft, design and food stalls at weekends.

   5. Late afternoon

      Bondi to Coogee coastal walk

      It takes two to three hours with stops, and every beach has a café or kiosk. In late spring, Sculpture by the Sea usually lines the Bondi to Tamarama section with outdoor art.

   6. Evening

      Surry Hills and Darlinghurst

      Small bars, cocktail lounges and the LGBTQ+ venues along Oxford Street, which come alive during the Mardi Gras season.

Before you go

• Sydney Opera House: Popular performances and guided tours sell out at busy times; book on the official site, especially for weekend shows.
• Sydney Harbour Bridge: BridgeClimb departures, especially around sunset and at weekends, sell out; book ahead online.

If it rains

• Swap in Art Gallery of New South Wales (The Domain): Walk the short path between the two buildings and finish on the newer building's outdoor terraces, which look across Woolloomooloo to the Finger Wharf.
• Swap in Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (Circular Quay): Pair it with a wander through The Rocks next door; it is also the obvious shelter when a summer thunderstorm rolls in.
• Swap in Australian Museum (Hyde Park): Combine it with a walk across Hyde Park to St Mary's Cathedral and the Hyde Park Barracks on Macquarie Street.

Where to stay for this itinerary

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 18–27 hours of visiting over 2 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 9.9 hours in June to 14.4 hours in December, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

Getting between stops: Train. Sydney Trains run from Central and Town Hall to the suburbs, the airport and the Blue Mountains, with intercity services north to Newcastle and south to Wollongong and Kiama.

More or fewer days

• One day in Sydney
• 3 days in Sydney
• 4 days in Sydney
• 5 days in Sydney
• 7 days in Sydney

Questions travellers ask