How to Spend 2 Days in Sydney, Australia – First Time Visitors
In November 2023, my husband and I went on a two-week trip to Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand. Despite spending 6 nights in Australia, we only had 2 days in Sydney. This obviously isn’t enough time to see everything this phenomenal city has to offer, but it was long enough to hit several highlights and leave me falling in love with Sydney. To me, Sydney is as if San Diego were a major city – the weather, culture, and proximity to the beach have a strong Southern California vibe while also feeling very metropolitan. If you find your first visit to Sydney is only 48 hours, you can still leave with so many memories.
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Where to Stay in Sydney
We stayed at the Shangri-La Sydney in a Harbour View room. This was booked through the American Express travel portal to put my $200 annual hotel credit from The Platinum Card from American Express to good use. This hotel is definitely a big splurge (even with the credit), but the views were better than I could have even imagined. We could see from the Sydney Harbour Bridge to the Opera House and beyond!
The room itself was also spacious and elegant. The food was equally impressive and the breakfast was one of the best hotel breakfasts I can remember. One morning we were even seated in the best spot in the restaurant for more amazing harbour views.
Another popular luxury hotel in the area is the Park Hyatt Sydney, located right by the bridge with direct views of the Opera House across the water.
Given the tight timeframe of this trip, you’ll want to minimize transit time. To do so, I recommend staying in The Rocks area near Circular Quay so that the bridge and opera house are both in walking distance.
Here’s a few more affordable options in the area:
Getting Around Sydney
Public Transit
Sydney has a robust public transit system, including overground light rail, ferries, buses, and trains. Google Maps makes it easy to navigate the public transit system and you can tap to pay with a credit card, so no need to visit a ticket kiosk like I did (just be sure to tap on and tap off with the same card). The AirportLink makes it very easy to get between the city and downtown, though it’s surprisingly pricy for public transit.
Rideshare
Uber does exist in Sydney and is just as easy to use as in the US. Uber was faster than public transit, making it more ideal for us because we had such limited time in the city. If we weren’t so rushed, we would have opted for more public transit instead.
If you don’t like Uber, Didi is another popular ride share in Sydney.
Walking
The area of the Rocks is very walkable, so we didn’t take any public transit while we were in this area. We definitely racked up an impressive step count for the day though! I’m also happy to report that we felt very safe everywhere we went in Sydney.
Day 1 Itinerary
Sydney Harbour BridgeClimb
What’ better way to start your trip to Sydney than by doing the iconic Sydney Harbour BridgeClimb?! The BridgeClimb has been open since 1988 and over 4.5 million climbers have made their way to the top, including plenty of celebrities (such as Prince Harry, Katy Perry, and Ben Stiller just to name a few).
There are a few different route options, but we went to the signature Summit climb. This challenge takes about 3 hours round trip, but it’s much more mental than physical. There are a lot of steps (1,332 to be exact including a couple ladders) but they’re very gentle. The hardest part has to be looking down at the cars and water beneath you!
After you put your belongings in a locker, you are given a jumpsuit to put on, a hat (yours to keep), handkerchief, rain shell, and a headset before your group sets out for the climb. Your guide is able to talk to you through the headset and you are safely connected to the bridge the entire time. Once you get to the top, it’s picture time! While you can’t bring any cameras with you (safety hazard!!), your guide will take your photos as you admire the view from the top. And those views of the Opera House and Sydney Harbour truly are insane!
This experience is available to anyone ages 8+ and I recommend it to anyone feeling a little brave.
Lunch at Opera Bar
Sydney has lovely weather year-round, so take advantage and sit outside for lunch. Opera Bar is located right by the Sydney Opera house (convenient since that’s your next stop for the day!) and is a very popular lunch spot serving a variety of dishes, from pizza to ceviche. Click here to check out the menu and make a reservation.
Sydney Opera House Tour
The Sydney Opera House is famous for its incredibly unique architecture, so it’s worth going on a tour to learn more. The tour is 60-minutes long and covers the history and architecture of the building, as well as notable performances that have taken place. We even got to see a ballet rehearsal in progress!
It’s recommended to pre-book your tour because they do sell out. If you have a backpack or large purse, you will have to drop it at coat check and collect it after the tour.
While you’re at the Opera House, check out what performances are going on. You can buy tickets on site if you want!
Tip: If you want to take some photos in front of the Opera House, be sure to stop by early in the morning before the crowds arrive.
Dinner Cruise
If you haven’t noticed a theme for Day 1, it’s “Sydney Harbour.” To keep with the trend, I recommend finishing the evening with a relaxing dinner cruise of Sydney Harbour for a fresh perspective. If your trip happens to coincide with a special occasion, this is the perfect way to celebrate!
Day 2 Itinerary
Bondi Beach
Another iconic spot in Sydney is Bondi Beach. Here you’ll find plenty of people running, surfing, sun bathing, swimming, and more. The soft golden sand will invite you to come and relax, if only for a short while (we don’t have all day!).
And of course, there’s the iconic Bondi Icebergs swimming club, a pool that sits right on the edge of the ocean. If you want to swim at Bondi Icebergs swimming club, you absolutely can – it’s open to the public and admission is only $9 AUD (~$6 USD) for adults.
Click here for more information about Bondi Icebergs hours, admission inclusions, etc.
Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk
If you’re up for a scenic coastal hike, check out the famous Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk. This 7.7 mile out-and-back trail takes about 3 hours, so be sure to bring water and sunscreen. You can also choose to do this hike 1-way and take public transportation or an Uber from there.
Lunch at Promenade Bondi Beach
After that hike, you’ll want to fuel up for the rest of your day. Promenade Bondi Beach is a great lunch and dinner spot, offering delicious views and lovely beach views.
We just stumbled upon Promenade Bondi Beach and were lucky enough to be seated right away, but I recommend making a reservation if you can.
Try Some Aussie Classics
Tim Tams are a classic Aussie treat and a must-try on your first trip to Australia. If you want the full experience, try a Tim Tam Slam. That’s where you bite into opposite corners of a Tim Tam and then try to drink coffee through the hole you’ve created like a straw. I’ll warn you this is super messy, so I recommend doing this in the privacy of your hotel room.
Of course, the other Aussie classic is Vegemite, a salty yeast spread that Aussies most often eat on buttered toast. Start off with only a very small amount because it’s a very strong flavor. It’s a very polarizing food – you likely either love it or hate it. I love it and still eat it often at home. It’s especially good on sourdough toast with avocado and a fried egg!
See a Show at the Sydney Opera House
My husband and I are not typically opera- or ballet-goers but after touring the Sydney Opera House, we impulsively purchased ballet tickets. We really wanted to see a show at the opera house and were open to a cultural experience outside our comfort zones.
We ended up seeing a ballet double feature of The Dream (an adaptation of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream) and Margarite & Armand. While I struggled to follow the story line at time, I really enjoyed the performance. The dancers are so incredibly talented!
Shows at the Opera House are constantly changing. Click here to see the opera house schedule.
If You Have More Time
Blue Mountains Day Trip
If I had had one more day in Sydney, a trip to the Blue Mountains would have been on the itinerary. The Blue Mountains get their name from the distinctive blue haze caused by the oil released from the eucalyptus trees and it’s one of the most beautiful places in New South Wales. At 1.5-2 hours from the city, it’s a perfect day trip!
The Rocks
Although our hotel was in The Rocks area of Sydney, we didn’t have time to explore more of the history. In fact, this is where Sydney was first settled by the British in 1788 (though before that there were aboriginal people on this land). There’s so much history in this space, it’s worth taking the time to explore if you can.
Two great ways to learn more about the history of The Rocks are The Rocks Discovery Museum and a guided walking tour.
Final Thoughts
Sydney quickly captured my heart in just 2 short days. While this city deserves much more time, if you only have 2 days, that’s still long enough to see the highlights. I also believe it’s just a great reason to plan a future trip to return here one day. It’s on my personal bucket list to spend New Year’s Eve in Sydney one day!
Be sure to pin this post for future planning!
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