In Sydney for a short period of time and wondering how best to spend it? Check out this itinerary of how I spent 2 days in the iconic city of Sydney, Australia.
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- Intro
- Getting to Sydney
- Getting Around Sydney
- Where to Stay in Sydney
- Recommended Sydney Tours & Activities
- SYDNEY 2-DAY ITINERARY
- Day 2: Bridge Climbs & Garden Walks
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Intro
When you think of Australia, one of the cities you think of is Sydney, the capital of New South Wales state. Sydney lures visitors in with its harbour views, iconic landmarks, and rich colonial history. If you’re short on time but want to experience the best this harbour city has to offer, then continue reading for my 2-day itinerary of Sydney. It includes a harbour cruise, skyline views, and an unforgettable bridge climb. Of course, feel free to tailor this itinerary to fit your own interests, pace, and/or schedule.
Getting to Sydney
Sydney has its own airport that you can fly into: Sydney Airport (SYD). It is about a 20-25 minute drive from to get into the central Sydney area (i.e., central business district, CBD), and using Uber is the most convenient way to get there from the airport.
Getting Around Sydney
Once you’re in the central Sydney area, you can walk, but some locations can be far. When this is the case, you can simply call an Uber for the most convenient method of transportation. There are also taxi lines near some major attractions where you can just get into the front-most taxi and make your way. These might be a bit more pricey though, especially if the taxi ends up being a luxury one.
Otherwise, if you plan to stay near the Circular Quay area, then most locations in this area, including the Rocks, Opera House, and the Gardens, are all within walking distant. This is what we mostly did for this itinerary and only opted to get an Uber or taxi from locations far from Circular Quay.
Where to Stay in Sydney
Sydney is a pretty big city with several areas you can stay in. For me and this itinerary, I prioritized a convenient location to all the main sights we planned to see. So we opted to stay at the YHA Sydney Harbour Hotel located in the Rocks. We found this hotel’s location worth it since it was right in the Rocks with plenty of restaurants and bars nearby. Not to mention there was also a convenience store right next door to purchase smaller items we did not have on us.
Book the same stay by clicking here or add your dates and click “Search” for availability in the widget below:
Otherwise, search for your Sydney stay in the map below. All points of interest mentioned in this itinerary are also marked for convenience:
Recommended Sydney Tours & Activities
Book unforgettable experiences and check out the below recommended Sydney tours, activities and attractions that are mentioned throughout this post:
SYDNEY 2-DAY ITINERARY
The above map shows all the points of interest mentioned in this Sydney itinerary. The points are color-coordinated as:
- Day 1 Points of Interest → BLUE
- Day 2 Points of Interest → YELLOW
HOW TO USE THE ABOVE SYDNEY MAP:
| Action | Description / Step-by-Step Instructions |
|---|---|
| Click a Colored Star Point of Interest | Shows additional information and details of the selected Point of Interest |
| Click the STAR ☆ right of the “Sydney, Australia“ | Adds the Map to your personal Google Maps account for viewing* |
| Click the Four-cornered Square at the Top Right | Opens the map in a Larger Map view in your personal Google Maps account |
| *To view the Map in your Google Maps Account (computer) | In your Google Maps, Click the “hamburger” Menu at top left → Click “Saved” → Click “Maps” → Locate “Sydney, Australia” → Click it to open the Map |
| *To view the Map in your Google Maps Account (phone) | In your Google Maps app, Click “Saved” on the bottom bar → Scroll to the bottom → Click “Maps” → Locate “Sydney, Australia” → Click it to open the Map |
Day 1: Skyscrapers, Harbour Cruises & Historic Rocks
Morning: Sydney Tower Eye & Pitt Street Mall
Begin your 2-day itinerary in Sydney with panoramic views atop the Sydney Tower Eye located in Sydney’s central business district (CBD). The observation deck stands at 820 feet (250 meters) high where you’ll get amazing 360-degree views of Sydney. You’ll be able to spot the Harbour Bridge and if you’re lucky with a clear day, the Blue Mountains! Starting your Sydney adventure with a bird’s eye view is the perfect way to get your bearings.
Afterwards, descend the tower and walk along the Pitt Street Mall, a busy shopping precinct. Do some shopping and treat yourself to some Aussie apparel!
Sydney Central Business District • photos by Jeanie A
Early Afternoon: Cruise the Sydney Harbour
Next, head towards Circular Quay where you’ll board your harbour cruise boat that starts at 2:30 PM. I recommend getting to the Circular Quay area a bit earlier than the cruise departure time so you can walk along the waterfront and enjoy the atmosphere. We arrived around 2 PM to admire the docked cruise ship and get some amazing views of the CBD high rises.
RELATED: Sydney Harbour Cruise: A Relaxing Way to See the Harbour City – Review
Circular Quay • photos by Jeanie A
Harbour Cruise Tickets
Click here to book a spot on the Harbour Cruise, or click “Book Now” in the widget below. If you’re following this itinerary, then select the 2:30 PM time for your desired date. I found it to be a super affordable way to learn about Sydney and get some amazing views of the Sydney skyline, Opera House, and the Harbour Bridge all in one photo.
Harbour Cruise Boat
The boat has 3 decks total where 2 decks are indoors with chairs and tables, and the 3rd top deck is an open deck with only side benching along the railing. I spent half the time inside (it was a bit raining when it began), and then spent the other half on the top deck (when it stopped raining) and enjoyed amazing views.
If you’re going to sit inside, I recommend sitting on the left side of the boat. The left side is the side closest to the dock in case you have an issue figuring out which side is the front of the boat.
Harbour Cruise Ride
The Harbour Cruise takes 1.5 hours and cruises around the Sydney Harbour, heading first towards the right, then turns around and goes under the Harbour Bridge and makes a left towards the Darling Harbour. It then turns back around, goes back under the bridge and then heads back to the dock from where it first departed from.
During the cruise, a crew member spoke on the PA system and gave information about the surrounding areas and landmarks. This was an unexpected and much appreciated bonus since I love to learn about new destinations every chance I can 🙂
Harbour Cruise views • photos by Jeanie A
Late Afternoon: Relax at the Opera Bar
Then, after your cruise, walk towards the Opera House where you can chill and relax at the Opera Bar right below it! Grab a drink and enjoy the view with two iconic landmarks: Harbour Bridge on the left and Opera House on the right.
Be careful if you choose to eat and also sit outside because the seagulls are relentless! I didn’t get any food – only drinks – but I saw so many people fending the seagulls away so they wouldn’t steal their food. Some were successful though and one flew literally right by my head! They get real close and aren’t scared at all lol. I did notice that food covers are provided to cover plates of food from the sky thieves though, so that probably does some help.
Opera Bar at Sydney Opera House • photos by Jeanie A
Evening: Explore the Rocks & Dinner
After soaking in the views, then walk towards the Rocks. The Rocks is one of Sydney’s oldest neighborhood and has cobbled streets and historic buildings. Some pubs even date back to the 1800s! Some buildings also hold some historical pieces and information that can offer an insight into this area’s colonial past. The hotel I stayed in, for example, had a glass case of historic pieces, and also keeps some of the original foundation on display by building the hotel over (but not hiding) it to preserve it.
Exploring the Rocks • photos by Jeanie A
Anyways, walk around the Rocks and surrounding areas and find a spot to eat here. There are tons of restaurants, and we opted to eat at the Park Hyatt Sydney Restaurant located near Dawes Point. It was a bit of a splurge but we had nice views of the harbour from here. Not only that, we got another perspective of the Opera House right outside on the docks.
Park Hyatt Sydney Restaurant • photos by Jeanie A
Day 2: Bridge Climbs & Garden Walks
Morning: Climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge!
Start your second day of your 2-day itinerary with a literal high point: with a Sydney Harbour Bridge climb! This was such a cool and memorable experience and I was so glad that I did it! I highly recommend experiencing this activity that combines a thrilling activity with amazing panoramic views of the harbour and of Sydney.
For a full guide and review, check out my BridgeClimb Sydney: Is it Worth It & Everything You Need to Know Before You Go.
BridgeClimb Sydney Tickets
To experience the BridgeClimb, you can reserve your spot by clicking here, or clicking on one of the Summit Climb options in the widget below. There are several options throughout the day where you can experience the climb either during the Day, at Twilight (sunset), or at Night.
I recommend booking ahead of time so that you can choose a date and time that best suits your schedule while in Sydney AND time slots do fill up! I chose to book the 10:30 AM slot, and this was a perfect time that allowed us to eat breakfast for some much-needed energy before the climb.
BridgeClimb Sydney Experience
I was a bit nervous at first with all the steps and I’m also not the fittest, but the steps were actually really easy! I actually found climbing the ladders (especially descending) the hardest part, but luckily they actually do a ladder climbing training in the very beginning so you know how to ascend and descend them without getting tangled by your harness rope.
During the climb, there are two staff climb leaders, and there are several stops for photos (which I definitely purchased at the end). You’re not allowed to bring anything with you on the climb and are required to leave everything in the lockers. However, you are able to bring your sunglasses where they provide a sunglasses strap for you to borrow, and a hat is also provided and tethered to you for additional sun protection.
The entire climbing experience is about 3 hours long which includes check-in, gear-up, safety briefing, ladder training, and the climb. The climb itself is 2 hours long and was perfectly paced with plenty of breaks, and you amazingly take a whopping 1,332 steps! At the end, you have an opportunity to purchase the photos they took on the bridge to remember your climb.
BridgeClimb Sydney • photos by Jeanie A
Early Afternoon: Lunch in the Rocks
Afterwards, we had lunch right down the street at the Glenmore. The Glenmore has a cute rooftop patio where if you get to sit along the outer edge, you’ll get amazing views of the towering buildings of CBD and of the Opera House. I got the steak and I actually found the hashbrown-like side to be one of the most delicious things I ate during my Sydney trip lol. So random but it was crazy good!!
Since we felt a bit tired, we then headed back to the hotel (located in the Rocks too) to rest and freshen up from the climb.
Late Afternoon: Explore the Royal Botanic Garden
Then in the late afternoon, head to the Royal Botanic Garden to admire the greenery and more amazing views. Be sure to head out towards the Mrs. Macquarie’s Point where you can get views of both the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge. This point is also considered to be one of the best photo spots in the city too!
Walk along the waterfront and also keep an eye out of wild white cockatoos. When we visited, there were a TON of cockatoos on the ground pecking away at seeds right on the grass. It was so random but I loved seeing them so close! As always, if you spot them, be respectful to the birds and let them do what they’re doing in peace.
Exploring the Royal Botanic Garden • photos by Jeanie A
Evening: Opera House Sunset
After exploring the gardens, you’re likely going to head towards the Opera House. If you’re lucky, you’ll get to it during sunset and get some amazing views! You can walk around the Opera House and take a closer look of the architecture and texture of the building. If you circle around it to the outer edge behind the Opera House, you might be able to spot the resident seal, Benny, sleeping on the steps too!
Views at the Opera House during sunset • photos by Jeanie A
After all the walking, end your Sydney 2-day itinerary with dinner and drinks. We decided to have our final dinner at a nearby restaurant. Here, we tried some kangaroo skewers – definitely a first for me!
Final Words
This 2-day itinerary in Sydney has a mix of must-see sights, hidden hems, and an unforgettable thrilling experience. Hopefully everything was at a good pace to fully soak in and admire what this city has to offer. But maybe you’ll be leaving hoping to come back and spend more time in the lovely city of Sydney! Bon Voyage!
Have you been to Sydney, Australia?
What was your experience like – Let me know in the comments below!
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[…] For more details of how the next 2 days will look like in Sydney, check out my more detailed post Perfect 2-Day Itinerary in Sydney (with BridgeClimb). […]