7 days in Sydney

Day by day

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

   Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge, then Luna Park Sydney in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Sydney Opera House

      Bennelong Point · 1–3 hours · mid-priced. Popular performances and guided tours sell out at busy times; book on the official site, especially for weekend shows.

   2. Late morning

      Sydney Harbour Bridge

      The Rocks · 1 hour walk; 3.5 hours to climb · free. BridgeClimb departures, especially around sunset and at weekends, sell out; book ahead online.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Sydney rock oysters

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

   4. 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: The Rocks and Bondi Beach

   The Rocks and Bondi Beach, then Surry Hills and Darlinghurst in the evening.

   1. Morning

      The Rocks

      The Rocks · 2–3 hours · free.

   2. Late morning

      Bondi Beach

      Bondi · Half a day · 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. Evening

      Surry Hills and Darlinghurst

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

3. Day 3: Manly ferry and Manly Beach and Taronga Zoo

   Manly ferry and Manly Beach and Taronga Zoo, then Newtown and Enmore in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Manly ferry and Manly Beach

      Manly · Half a day · low cost.

   2. Late morning

      Taronga Zoo

      Mosman · Half a day · mid-priced.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Flat white

      Independent cafés in Surry Hills, Darlinghurst, Newtown and the CBD laneways; chains are the exception here.

   4. Evening

      Newtown and Enmore

      Pubs, live-music rooms such as the Enmore Theatre, and late-night food along King Street and Enmore Road.

4. Day 4: Day trip to Blue Mountains

   About 2 hours by train each way. Getting there: Train from Central to Katoomba.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Blue Mountains

      About 2 hours by train (Train from Central to Katoomba); about 100 km.

   2. Day

      Blue Mountains

      From Katoomba, walk to the Echo Point lookout, ride the steep Scenic Railway at Scenic World, or follow cliff-top trails around Leura and Wentworth Falls.

   3. Evening

      Back in Sydney

      Dinner: try Smashed avocado and ricotta hotcakes.

5. Day 5: Royal Botanic Garden and Mrs Macquarie's Chair and Museum of Contemporary Art Australia

   Royal Botanic Garden and Mrs Macquarie's Chair and Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, then The Rocks and Circular Quay in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Royal Botanic Garden and Mrs Macquarie's Chair

      Circular Quay · 1–2 hours · free.

   2. Late morning

      Museum of Contemporary Art Australia

      Circular Quay · 1–2 hours · free.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Smashed avocado and ricotta hotcakes

      Cafés in Bondi, Bronte, Surry Hills and Paddington; expect queues on weekend mornings.

   4. Evening

      The Rocks and Circular Quay

      Historic pubs, waterfront bars below the Opera House and rooftop drinks with Bridge views.

6. Day 6: Day trip to Hunter Valley

   About 2–2.5 hours by car each way. Getting there: Car or organised winery tour.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Hunter Valley

      About 2–2.5 hours by car (Car or organised winery tour); about 160 km.

   2. Day

      Hunter Valley

      Drink-driving laws are strictly enforced, so most visitors join a winery tour or hire a driver; staying overnight lets you add a sunrise hot-air balloon flight.

   3. Evening

      Back in Sydney

      Dinner: try Fish and chips.

7. Day 7: Bondi to Coogee coastal walk and Art Gallery of New South Wales

   Bondi to Coogee coastal walk and Art Gallery of New South Wales, then CBD laneways in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Bondi to Coogee coastal walk

      Eastern Beaches · 2–3 hours · free.

   2. Late morning

      Art Gallery of New South Wales

      The Domain · 2–3 hours · free.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Fish and chips

      Beachfront takeaways in Watsons Bay, Manly and Bondi, and the fryers at Sydney Fish Market.

   4. Evening

      CBD laneways

      Basement and laneway cocktail bars around Wynyard, Martin Place and Angel Place, busiest on weekday evenings after work.

Before you go

Reserve timed tickets for Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge before you travel; the rest of this plan needs no advance booking.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 7 nights, Circular Quay and The Rocks keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Darling Harbour and Pyrmont ($$$) suits families, first-timers and food lovers. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 21–32 hours of visiting over 7 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.

More or fewer days

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

Questions travellers ask