Sydney had been on our journey record for a LONG time, however by some means, regardless of travelling the world full-time since 2008, we had by no means made it to Australia till just lately.
We lastly fastened that and spent 5 days in Sydney at first of April. And, I’ve to say, it lived as much as the hype!
Sydney is an enormous metropolis, however a lot of its high sights are surprisingly straightforward to attach on foot, by metro, bus, or ferry. We managed to suit rather a lot into 5 days (together with selecting up my wedding ceremony gown!!) with out feeling like we have been continuously speeding from one attraction to the following.
There are such a lot of issues to see and do in Sydney, but when that is your first journey, I feel 5 days in Sydney is an efficient period of time.
You’ll have sufficient time to see the well-known sights across the harbour, spend a day at Bondi, take the ferry to Manly, eat some nice meals, and nonetheless have time to simply wander round.
Right here’s how I’d spend 5 days in Sydney primarily based on our current journey.
Day 1: Sydney Harbour, the Opera Home & Dinner Cruise
You’ll be able to’t come all the way in which to Sydney and never begin with the harbour!
Head all the way down to Round Quay in your first have a look at two of Australia’s most well-known landmarks: the Sydney Opera Home and Harbour Bridge.
Seeing the Opera Home in individual was a little bit of a “we’re really in Australia!” second for me. We’d seen that iconic white roof in pictures, motion pictures, and on TV for years, so lastly standing in entrance of it felt fairly surreal.
Spend a while strolling round Round Quay and the surface of the Opera Home earlier than making your means in direction of the Harbour Bridge.
When you’re comfy with heights, you possibly can guide the well-known Bridge Climb and truly stroll throughout the highest of the Harbour Bridge…however, that was a tough NO from me!
Fortunately, you may also stroll throughout the bridge usually (totally free), and nonetheless get some implausible views again in direction of the Opera Home and harbour.
Afterwards, make your means into The Rocks. Our native pal informed us we “should” go to Sydney’s oldest neighbourhood…sadly, we solely noticed one road as we weren’t feeling 100%. However, be sure you don’t miss it!
It’s a enjoyable space to discover on foot with historic buildings, slim laneways, pubs, cafés, and outlets tucked underneath the Harbour Bridge. Sydney’s oldest pub is right here as effectively – Fortune of Conflict.
End the Day With a Sydney Harbour Dinner Cruise
To your first night, get again out on the water.
Dinner cruises in Sydney are such an important introduction to the town since you get to see the skyline from a totally totally different perspective.
You’ll cruise across the harbour as the town lights come on, passing landmarks you’ve simply spent the day exploring on foot.
Relying on which cruise you select, dinner is likely to be a multi-course meal or buffet, and a few boats additionally provide dwell music or different leisure. Clearview Glass Boat Cruises provide big home windows with 360° views of the harbour.
When you’re solely going to splurge on one particular night throughout your 5 days in Sydney, I’d make it this one. Click on right here to see the totally different Sydney dinner cruises and present costs.
Day 2: Bondi Seaside to Coogee Coastal Stroll
Day two is all about Sydney’s seashores.
Make your means out to Bondi Seaside within the morning and spend somewhat time trying out Australia’s most well-known stretch of sand.
To get right here, you’ll must take the practice to the Bondi Junction. Then, take Bus 333 at Stand A3 to Bondi Seaside. The journey can take between half-hour to an hour relying on what day you’re travelling, and at what time.
When you’ve watched Bondi Rescue, like I’ve (I’ve been binge-watching it on YouTube!), you’ll instantly acknowledge the seaside and lifeguard towers.
However relatively than spending the whole day on the seaside, set off on the Bondi to Coogee Coastal Stroll.
This was considered one of my favorite issues we did in Sydney!
The stroll is round 6 kilometres and follows the shoreline previous seashores, rocky headlands, ocean swimming pools, and little bays. You’ll move Tamarama and Bronte earlier than finally reaching Coogee.
There are many locations to cease alongside the way in which, so don’t rush it. Watching the surfers at Tamarama was considered one of my favorite elements of the stroll.
I’d begin earlier within the day if doable as a result of a lot of the route is uncovered to the solar. Carry water, sunscreen, and a hat. Correct footwear would in all probability be a good suggestion too…though Nick by some means did the entire thing in flip-flops!
When you attain Coogee, seize one thing to eat and a chilly drink earlier than heading again into the town.
Day 3: Discover the CBD, Botanic Gardens & Sundown Views
After yesterday’s coastal stroll, maintain day three somewhat extra relaxed.
Begin across the Queen Victoria Constructing (QVB) within the CBD. We stayed principally proper throughout from it, so we walked previous this stunning constructing continuously throughout our keep.
Even when buying isn’t your factor, ensure to go inside. The structure alone is value seeing.
From there, stroll over to Hyde Park and St. Mary’s Cathedral. Hyde Park is a pleasant inexperienced escape proper in the midst of the town and a very good place to sit down for a bit in case you’ve already been doing plenty of strolling.
Proceed in direction of the Royal Botanic Backyard and take your time wandering by means of it. One factor I actually appreciated about Sydney was how simply you would go from busy metropolis streets to parks and waterfront areas with out having to stroll very far in any respect.
The gardens finally lead you in direction of Mrs. Macquarie’s Level. Attempt to time your go to for late afternoon as a result of that is the place I’d spend sundown.
From right here, you get that basic Sydney view with each the Opera Home and Harbour Bridge in entrance of you. We watched the solar drop behind the bridge from right here, and it’s a ravishing spot to finish the day.
For dinner, this can be a good night time to discover Sydney’s Asian meals scene.
Since we’d been in Australia for nearly 3 weeks at this level, we’d eaten plenty of extra typical Aussie meals. We have been prepared for some Asian delicacies – we principally went all-in on Asian meals throughout our keep in Sydney and had some implausible meals.
When you’re a ramen fan, Mensho Tokyo was considered one of our favourites. We waited for round quarter-hour to get in, and it was effectively value it.
Day 4: Take the Ferry to Manly
Right this moment, depart central Sydney behind and head to Manly.
Take the ferry from Round Quay – and take into account that the ferry experience itself is a part of the expertise, with implausible views of the harbour alongside the way in which.
When you arrive, stroll by means of the pedestrian space in direction of Manly Seaside.
I wasn’t actually positive what to anticipate from Manly, but it surely ended up being considered one of my favorite locations we visited throughout our 5 days in Sydney.
Bondi will get many of the worldwide consideration, however I really most popular Manly. It had chilled-out seaside city vibes, the seaside was stunning, and there have been a great deal of eating places, bars, and cafés round.
Spend a while strolling alongside Manly Seaside earlier than persevering with across the headland in direction of Shelly Seaside. The water was a lot calmer there after we visited and it’s an important spot for a swim.
You may simply spend many of the day in Manly.
We discovered an reasonably priced Thai lunch particular at Manly Thai Gourmand, had a drink on the Boathouse, and clearly couldn’t depart with out getting gelato from Anita.
If you’re prepared, take the ferry again throughout the harbour in direction of Round Quay.
Attempt to time your return for later within the afternoon in case you can. Coming again into the town by boat is one other probability to see the Opera Home and Harbour Bridge at sundown…however this time, from the water.
Day 5: Strolling Tour, Sydney Tower & Something You Missed
By day 5, you’ll have already got a reasonably good really feel for Sydney, so I’d depart this present day barely versatile.
One choice is to affix a strolling tour.
We virtually all the time take a strolling tour after we’re someplace new since you study so many little issues a few metropolis that you just’d in any other case stroll straight previous. It’s additionally a great way to get restaurant, café, and bar suggestions from somebody who really lives there.
There are each free, tip-based strolling excursions and paid small-group choices round Sydney. This extremely rated tour covers The Rocks neighbourhood, whereas this one takes in The Rocks and the Metropolis and it features a drink.
You may do one earlier in your journey as an alternative, however I really suppose there’s one thing good about doing it in direction of the top. By this level, you’ll acknowledge most of the locations your information is speaking about and might fill in among the historical past behind what you’ve already seen.
Afterwards, head up the Sydney Tower Eye.
We might see the tower poking above the skyline seemingly in all places we went, so it solely is sensible to lastly go up it!
The commentary deck is round 250 meters above the streets and provides you 360-degree views throughout Sydney. After spending the earlier 4 days exploring at floor degree, it’s fairly cool to see all the things from above. Click on right here to study extra and get your ticket.
When you’re braver than me, you may also guide the out of doors Skywalk.
Use the remainder of your ultimate afternoon for something you missed, or just revisit an space you liked.
That’s one of many causes I wouldn’t pack each hour of a Sydney itinerary. There are such a lot of waterfront areas, parks, cafés, bars, and neighbourhoods the place it’s good to simply wander with out having one other sight to see.
The place to Keep for five Days in Sydney
For a primary go to, I extremely suggest staying someplace central.
We stayed within the CBD close to the Queen Victoria Constructing, and the placement made exploring Sydney very easy. We might stroll to a great deal of locations after which use the metro, bus, or ferry after we wished to go farther afield.
Round Quay, The Rocks, Darling Harbour, and the CBD are all handy areas for first-time guests, relying in your price range and the type of ambiance you’re after.
When you haven’t booked your lodging but, try our information to the place to remain in Sydney for our beneficial neighbourhoods and resorts.
Getting Round Sydney
One factor that stunned us was how straightforward Sydney was to get round.
We walked a LOT, significantly when exploring the CBD and harbour space, however public transport made getting farther away fairly easy.
For Bondi, we used a mixture of practice and bus, whereas attending to Manly couldn’t be simpler because of the ferry from Round Quay.
Ferries barely really feel like public transport if you’re cruising throughout Sydney Harbour with views of the Opera Home!
I wouldn’t hassle renting a automobile for this itinerary. Between strolling and public transport, you will get in all places I’ve talked about with out one. And if it’s worthwhile to drive someplace, you possibly can all the time simply name an Uber.
Is 5 Days in Sydney Sufficient?
I feel 5 days in Sydney is a very good period of time for a primary go to.
It offers you sufficient time to see the main sights with out having to cram all the things into two or three exhausting days. Extra importantly, you will get past the CBD and spend time at Bondi, Coogee, and Manly as effectively.
That mentioned, we might’ve simply stayed longer. You probably have a full week, you would gradual this itinerary down, spend extra time on the seashores, or add a day journey exterior the town.
Closing Ideas
After ready so a few years to lastly go to Sydney, I used to be nervous it may not dwell as much as the picture I’d constructed up in my head. Fortunately, it did.
I cherished the mixture of metropolis and seaside, how straightforward it was to get round, and the unimaginable meals scene.
5 days gave us sufficient time to see rather a lot with out fully exhausting ourselves, and this itinerary contains the locations and experiences that stood out most from our journey.
When you’re planning your first go to, give your self at the least 5 days in case you can. Sydney is certainly not a metropolis I’d suggest speeding by means of.