Wondering how to spend the perfect long weekend in Sydney, Australia, balancing the best of the most popular attractions with off the beaten path local experiences?  Look no further, this is it!

Sydney, Australia (3 Day Itinerary & Travel Guide)

Sydney NSW, Australia

From the Rocks make your way up George Street, which was Sydney's original high street, or main street, and it remains one of the busiest streets in the city.  It's a great spot to shop, people watch, and get a feel for the city life in Sydney

 After some sunshine, a swim, or a surf grab some lunch at Porch and Parlour: A relaxed café with a focus on fresh, healthy food.

Afternoon:1:00 PM - LunchIcebergs Dining Room and Bar: Stunning ocean views with a modern Italian menu.

After you've had your fill for lunch, you'll probably want to move the legs and burn some of it off.  Don't worry, there is a great coastal walk here that will give you everything you need.

3:00 PM - Explore BondiVisit the Bondi Markets (if available on the day) for local crafts and food stalls. Explore Bondi’s street art and galleries.

If you've got time to kill, get back to the beach and lay out, take a nap or a swim, and enjoy some downtime until dinner.

Day Three: Manly Beach Area & Harbor Experience

Sydney, Australia's history spans millennia, initially inhabited by Indigenous Australians, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation.

European exploration began in 1770 when Captain James Cook arrived, leading to British colonization in 1788.

Over time, the city evolved into a thriving economic and cultural hub, experiencing significant growth during the 19th century, including the gold rush era. 

Throughout the 20th century, it developed into a global metropolis, with iconic structures like the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House.

 The establishment of a penal colony, which later grew into Sydney, marked the beginning of European settlement.

Today, Sydney stands as a vibrant and diverse city, blending its Indigenous heritage with a rich multicultural tapestry, making it a dynamic and globally recognized destination.

Sydney played a crucial role in Australia's federation in 1901, becoming the nation's largest and most cosmopolitan city. 

SYDNEY DAY 1 VLOG

Depending on your style of travel you can either visit Sydney using public transport, which is plentiful and well connected by both bus and an extensive subway system,  or if Sydney is the beginning of a longer trip, book your rental car at the airport using this link for great rates!

Book your flight to Sydney Australia -  get great flight comparisons and discount airplane tickets by booking with this link!

BOOK YOUR FLIGHTS HERE

BOOK YOUR RENTAL CAR HERE

If you choose to use public transport you can catch a commuter train directly from the airport to the center of Sydney.  I recommend downloading the google maps of Sydney for offline use, that way if you don't a have a local SIM card for your cell phone, you won't pay crazy roaming rates. 

Make your way from the airport to your local accommodation,  if arrive early and can't check in to your hotel,  if the weather is nice, head over to one of the local Salt Water Swimming Pools, which are a popular local gathering point for swimming and sun bathing. 

That being said I highly suggest getting a local SIM card,  the easiest way to do that is with an E-SIM or electronic SIM,  compatible with almost all newer phones.  Grab an e-sim using the link below, or pick up a local SIM card at the airport (which will cost a bit more and take about 15 minutes)

E-SIM CARD FOR LOCAL DATA AND CELL COVERAGE

You can securely store your luggage using BOUNCE STORAGE 

or just get in touch with your hotel/accommodation and see if you can drop your bags off.  Just grab a bathing suit and head over to this central pool on the edge of the famous botanic gardens.

BOUNCE STORAGE

After seeing the Opera House, you could grab lunch at the Bennelong Restaurant: Located within the Opera House, offering contemporary Australian cuisine.  

We didn't overthink things, after a great swim and some time in the sunshine, we grabbed our first of many delicious coffees and cafe meals at the local cafe attached to the pool.

Continue a lovely stroll through the Botanic Garden out to one of the best viewpoints in the city,  Mrs Macquarie's Chair.

After admiring the view, head toward the Sydney Opera house while continuing to explore the Botanic Gardens, a great place for a stroll, full of incredible plants, trees, and ferns from around the world (not to mention the resident birds and fruit bats that hang out in the trees during the day and take flight at sunset).

If it's getting hot, you're right next to the Art Gallery of New South Wales and not far off from the beautiful St. Mary's Cathedral.

It's time to check out one of the most recognizable buildings in the world, the Sydney Opera House.

If you want to get the full story on the history of this iconic building, not to mention get a real view of the interior of the building, book a guided walking tour.

It's worth mentioning, that you can also do a guided bicycle tour where you'll see most of the main attractions of central Sydney in a few hour's ride with a knowledgeable local guide.  This one is highly recommended.

SYDNEY BIKE TOUR

Or head over to the neighborhood of Surrey Hills, one of the best restaurant neighboorhood's in the city. 

IF YOU'D LIKE TO SAMPLE THE BEST OF SYDNEY'S FOOD SCENE IN ONE BIG DAY OUT CONSIDER DOING A FOOD TOUR LIKE THIS ONE

EPIC SYDNEY FOOD TOUR

Sydney Opera House

This spot is expensive though, as are most of the more upscale restaurants in this area, so if you want something a bit more affordable and in a more unique location, take a quick walk around Circular Quay to the Rocks (Quay is pronounced Key - it means dock in British English) 

Circular Quay is the central wharf for all the ferries which operate in the Sydney Harbor, and we will get back to those later in the trip.  For now just check out the view as you make your way to the Historic "Rocks" neighborhood where the original colony was founded back in the late 1700s.

The Rocks Market is a series of restaurants and stores built along the old main street, with historic buildings and old passage ways, it's a great spot to get a feel for the history of Sydney, as well as a nice spot to shop or grab a bite to eat. 

Worth a quick detour to check out the Museum of Contemporary Art which is located right next to Cadmans Cottage, an original home from the colonial period.

If you'd like to step things up a notch, consider climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge, yes you read that right!

But probably a better call is to book a sunset cruise which takes you around the Opera House and the Bridge at sunset, with complimentary champagne.

Sunset Cocktail Cruise

It's getting close to dinner by now right?

In need of an afternoon coffee pick me up?

For a less extreme version, climb the Pylon Lookout for a great view of the Bridge, Opera House and Harbour.

Check out Tetsuya's fine dining experience known for its Japanese French Fusion.

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Sydney, Australia (3 Day Itinerary & Travel Guide)

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