Sydney is one of the largest cities in Australia and one of the most popular cities to visit. Sydney is located on the coast, so during the summer months, the beaches are popular. Originally inhabited by the indigenous people, Sydney is now the most populous city in Australia and contains a multitude of sites to see and restaurants to eat in. I recommend spending at least two days in Sydney on any Australia trip.
Want a guided tour to start out your trip and get acclimated to the city? Then check out Guru Walks for a free guided tour. You can book online to reserve your spot and pay what you wish when you get there. Check out the tours in Sydney here.
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Table of Contents
Visa for Australia
In order to visit Australia as a US Citizen (and many other countries), you need a visa to enter. I recommend buying one through iVisa prior to visiting so it will be one less thing you have to worry about.
How to Get to Sydney
Sydney has an international airport where you can catch flights to and from most major countries. There are also a ton of internal flights from everywhere in Australia. Flying is the best way to get around Australia as it is a huge country, and it takes a long time to drive in-between places.
Where to Stay for Two Days in Sydney
TripAdvisor is a great place to start your hotel search. Search for the best Sydney hotels here!
The most centrally located area to stay in is the Central Business District (CDB), downtown by the Sydney Opera House or near Darling Harbor. We opted to stay by Darling Harbor because it was cheaper than the Opera House. We stayed at the Megaboom City Hotel. It was reasonably priced and centrally located. The hotel was a short walk to Darling Harbor and the nearest tram stop. It costs $95 a night to stay here.
Other Sydney hotel options include:
- Hilton Sydney
- Intercontinental Sydney
- Holiday Inn Darling Harbour
- Crowne Plaza Sydney Darling Harbor
- Kimpton Margot Sydney
- Hyatt Regency
- Park Hyatt
- Sydney Harbor Marriott
- W Sydney
- Sheraton Grand Hyde Park
Transportation for Two Days in Sydney
It is very easy to get around Sydney by using Public Transportation. There are trains, buses, ferries, and a light rail. I recommend picking up an Opal Card. This is a reloadable card that gives you a discount on fares, and you can use it on all Public Transportation systems (including the trains). Visitors can get a day pass for $10 or pay $2.25/ride. I recommend getting the day pass as you get unlimited use of transportation. Note that the day pass does not include getting to and from the airport. Read more about how to get to and from the airport here. It costs $9 each way to take the train.
What to See in Two Days in Sydney
GoCity offers a ton of different sightseeing passes for cities around the world. These passes allow you to visit the best of each city for one low price, rather than paying individually for each attraction. I have used it in several cities around the world and would recommend getting a GoCity pass! Check out the options for the Sydney GoCity pass here.
Day 1
There are a ton of cool things to see in two days in Sydney. The following are some of the top things to see.
Sydney Opera House
Cost: Free to view, $25 for a tour, or price varies by performance
Hours: 9am-5pm
Start your day by viewing the icon of Sydney: The Sydney Opera House. This iconic building of Sydney is a performing arts center that puts on a ton of different shows. Around the complex are several restaurants and seating areas that are a great place to relax and grab a drink with a view. If time permits, take in one of the numerous shows at the Opera House or take an inside tour.
Sydney Harbor Bridge
Cost: Free or $107 to do the Bridge Climb
After checking out the Opera House, head to the Sydney Harbor Bridge. This bridge offers more amazing views of the Sydney Opera House. If you are daring, you are able to climb the Sydney Harbor Bridge for glamorous views of the Sydney Harbor. For those less daring and on a budget, take a short stroll across the bridge.
Luna Park
Cost: Free to walk around, $26 for unlimited rides
Hours: Mon-Fri: 11am-5pm, Sat-Sun: 11am-6pm
Walking across the Sydney Harbor Bridge will land you at Luna Park. This is part of an amusement park chain based on the original Luna Park in Coney Island, New York. You can buy a day pass for the rides or pay for individual rides. We opted just to walk around and look through it.
Nando’s
Cost: $
Hours: Sun-Wed: 11am-9pm, Thurs-Sat: 11am-10pm
For lunch, head to Nando’s. This Portugues chain serves flame-grilled chicken with a variety of sauces and numerous sides. Their plates are good for sharing.
Bondi Beach
After lunch, head out to Bondi Beach. This crescent-shaped beach is one of the most popular beaches in Australia. It is located east of the center of Sydney and is a short metro ride away from the city center. During the summer months, make sure to check out the Bondi Icebergs Club. It has a pool right on the edge of the ocean that fills up with seawater.
Vapiano
Cost: $
Hours: Mon-Thurs: 11:30am-10pm, Fri-Sun:11:30am-11pm
Grab dinner at Vapiano for something quick, easy, and delicious. This authentic Italian cafeteria-style place serves a variety of pasta, pizzas, and more. The portions are large, so you can always share!
The Royal Botanical Gardens and Vivid Sydney
Cost: Free
Hours: 7am-6:30pm
If you are visiting during the winter months, check out Vivid Sydney after dinner. Vivid Sydney takes place around the city. All throughout the city are spectacular lights and light shows. There are a ton of locations to see all of these lights, so make sure to check out the map online or grab a map from one of the many stalls set up around the city.
The Royal Botanic Gardens also make for a nice place to walk through. Also, during Vivid Sydney, this is one of the main sites that is lit up. These gardens opened in 1816 and are presently a tranquil oasis in the middle of Sydney’s CBD.
Day 2
Take a Day Trip to the Blue Mountains National Park
For a day of hiking and scenic views, spend the day wandering through the Blue Mountains. These mountains are part of the Great Divide and spread across 1000 miles. It is a super budget-friendly option to journey there on your own, and completely doable in one day! We only spent $48/person during our day in the Blue Mountains.
Catch the Sunset over Sydney
Once you are back from your day trip to the Blue Mountains, catch a sunset at one of the best sunsets spots in Sydney. I do not know about you, but I LOVE watching sunsets around the world.
Darling Harbor
Opt to grab a late dinner in Darling Harbor. This harbor has a plethora of restaurants, shopping, and museums. There is even a mini-train you can ride around the harbor.
Day 3
Depart Sydney for your next Australian destination. I recommend heading up to Brisbane and the Gold Coast, up to Caines and the Great Barrier Reef, or head West to Melbourne.
If you have more than two days in Sydney, check out the Taronga Zoo Sydney. This zoo is home to 4,000 animals and 350 different specials. During the winter months, the zoo is lit up by Vivid Sydney.
Total Costs for Two Days in Sydney
- Hotel: $95/night, $285 total, $142.50/person
- Transportation: $18 to/from the airport, $20 for public transportation, $38 total
- Attractions: $48
- Total: $228.50 spent
2 thoughts on “Two Days in Sydney: A Quick Guide”
Another good article. Pity you did not stay longer in Sydney Francesca. You could spend weeks and weeks there and still only scratch the surface. The food is top class there. You can travel north to Queensland but the food just doesn’t rank. Sydney has the best cuisine (and Melbourne too I might add!!) – if you like Asian cuisine you will be in heaven….Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese and especially Thai with the best Thai being not far from Sydney’s Chinatown a short stroll from Central Station. Also there are more bars, pubs and nightclubs as compared to up north in Queensland, and much more to do and see (Museum of Contemporary Art for example). Don’t forget to see the Rocks too! Kind Regards again from down under
Next time! I did make it to Queensland on this trip too but there is so much more of Australia to see!