The Best Starting Itinerary for Visiting Sydney, Australia

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Sydney, Australia is a bucket list destination due to its iconic landmarks of the Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge, and beautiful coastline. Wondering what else there is to do in this city? Here is an itinerary for your first time in Sydney, Australia. Get outside of the city center and it can truly surprise you!

Looking for the top things to do in Sydney, Australia? Read more here.

The Starter 4-Day Itinerary to Visiting Sydney, Australia

The following itinerary is intended to be a starting point for visiting Sydney. It allows you to balance between seeing the icons and taking in the beautiful coastline within and around Sydney. You should tailor the itinerary to your own interests. The first two days of this itinerary are designed to see the aspects of the city that are the most known and popular while the last two days start to dive into lesser visited activities.

We also know that this itinerary has a lot of walking. You will see that Sydney is an incredibly active city where people are constantly running and focusing on their health and wellness. That being said, if walking isn’t for you, consider spending more time sitting and watching the different icons from the harbor, going on ferry rides, relaxing at the beaches, and more to take in what the city has to offer.

MORNING

LUNCH

AFTERNOON

DAY 1

Free walking tour of Sydney’s Central Business District

Get lunch in the Rocks neighborhood (where the walking tour ends)

Walk across the Sydney Harbor bridge. Start the walk by climbing the pylon at the start of the bridge

DAY 2

Take a bus to Coogee and walk from Coogee to Bondi

Get lunch in Bondi and take in the beautiful pools and beach

Take the bus from Bondi back to the circular quay. Visit the interior of the Sydney Opera House

DAY 3

Take a bus to Split and walk from Split Bridge to Manly Beach

This is a long walk so bring a snack or sandwich and eat on one of the cute beaches along the trail

Walk around Watsons Bay to see the cliffs of Sydney and enjoy the views of the city

DAY 4 (Optional)

Visit Blue Mountains National Park or Hunter Valley wineries with a group or independently for the whole day

Day 1: Getting a Lay of the Land

Free Walking Tour of Sydney Central Business District

To start your time in Sydney, go on a free walking tour of the Central Business District and the Rocks to give you an introduction to the city with I’m Free. It gives you a good understanding of the city center, allows you to see the icons from great vantage points, and gives you the freedom to explore the other areas around Sydney.

The tour ends near the Circular Quay of Sydney’s harbor, adjacent to the Rocks neighborhood. You can walk through the neighborhood to find a nice place to grab lunch. Pubs are common places within the neighborhood to grab some food, including fish and chips, chicken schnitzel (schnitty), or chicken parmesan (parmie).

The Sydney Harbor Bridge

After lunch, you will be in the perfect place to check out the Sydney Harbor Bridge. There are three different options for experiencing the best views from the bridge that range in experience and budget:

- Crossing the bridge by foot
- Going up the pilon
- Going up and over the top of the bridge

After crossing the bridge, consider grabbing dinner in the Central Business District or in Sydney’s Chinatown and explore the international cuisine that adds so much richness to this city.

Where to Stay in Sydney

The Rocks

For those who want to be in the center of the tourism...

A historic neighborhood adjacent to the icons of Sydney and where most tourists stay.

Central Business District (CBD)

For those who have loyalty to a hotel brand...

A business district adjacent to the Circular Quay and full of international hotel brands.

Darlinghurst / Surry Hill

For those who are looking for character...

The first neighborhood outside of the city center full of boutique cafes and restaurants.

Day 2: Exploring the Beach Culture of Sydney

Coogee Beach to Bondi Beach

To get to Coogee Beach from the Central Business District, you can take a bus from the Circular Quay to the start of the walk. (You can pay for the bus with a tap-capable card or purchase a public transportation card at a metro or ferry station. You can only use one card per person.)

The walk between Coogee and Bondi is one of the most popular walks for local Sydney residents who live in the region as it goes along the coast and through different neighborhoods and coves. As you see pools or beaches, feel free to hop into the water to refresh yourself. (People walk along this pathway in bathing suits with cover ups so do not worry about if your clothes are wet as you are continuing along the path.) Most of the pools are free for anyone to use and you can leave your items on the side while you hop into the water without worrying. (Make sure to not bring anything too valuable!)

Note: When walking in Sydney, similarly to driving, people walk on the left side of the pathway and pass slower walkers on the right.

Check out the different baths of Wylie Baths, the McIver’s Ladies Baths (for women and children only at Coogee Beach), the Giles Baths, the Bronte Baths, and the Icebergs (the most famous baths located at Bondi but they do have an entry fee). After walking along the coast, spend some time at Bondi, either at the Icebergs or on the expansive beach. You can also check out the shops along the beachfront and grab lunch at one of the many restaurants here.

From Bondi Beach, you can take a bus to get back to the Central Business District of the city.

The Sydney Opera House

The Sydney Opera House is the icon at the front of the harbor or Sydney. When visiting the city, it is hard to miss as it can be seen from so many different viewpoints. (If you start your visit with the free walking tour mentioned above, you will see the opera house at the end of the tour.)

You can either enter the building for free and see the entrance, ticket booth, and small cafe at the base of the building. If you have more interest in the architecture and history of the building, you can reserve a tour within the building to see some of the halls. And if you still want to see the interior without a tour, consider attending one of their shows during your time in the city.

Day 3: Exploring the Landscapes around Sydney

Spit Bridge to Manly Beach

The walk between Spit Bridge and Manly Beach is a 6 mile walk that winds along the coast of the bay, giving you great views of the city and cliffsides that are so emblematic of Sydney’s harbor. Unlike the walk between Coogee and Bondi, this walk is much less traversed and feels more intimate. To start the hike, you can take a bus to Spit Bridge. We like to use this map on AllTrails to make sure that we are on the right route. If you pay for AllTrails+, you can download the map for the hike and follow the trail without data or service to make sure you are on the right trail. At the end of the hike, you can enjoy the pool at the end of Manly Beach.

To get to the next destination, Watsons Bay, you can take a ferry from the Manly docks. The ferries have beautiful views of the city so you can take them all in.

Watsons Bay Lighthouse and Gap Bluff Walk

This small walk from Watsons Bay, linked here on AllTrails, gives you great views into the immense cliffs that are outside of the bay in which Sydney lies. It’s a smaller walk (out of all the walks on this list) but takes you to the edge of where the city meets the ocean outside of the bay.

After seeing the cliffs, you can walk to the Watsons Bay Lighthouse to get some great views of the Sydney skyline.

Finally, to return to the Central Business District, you can take a ferry from Watsons Bay to the Circular Quay. If you time it up right, you can even catch the sunset over the city.

Different Ways to Get Around Sydney

Public Transportation

The public transportation system includes buses, metros, and ferries. You can pay for the services with a credit card with tap capabilities or a card called Opal where you can load money onto the card. You can only use one card per person so if you are traveling with multiple people on one credit card, you will need to purchase Opal cards and load money onto them. You can purchase these cards at any metro or ferry station, such as at the airport.

Walking

Walking is the best way to explore neighborhoods, appreciate the coastline, and take in all the views. When combined with public transportation, you can get anywhere in the city.

Day 4: A Day Tour Outside of Sydney

Today is the day to get outside of Sydney and discover the unique destinations within a two hour drive of the city. For those who love nature and hiking, consider visiting the Blue Mountains. and For those who love wine and food, check out Hunter Valley, a premier wine destination in Australia.

Visiting the Blue Mountains

You can visit the Blue Mountains independently by renting a car or with a tour group. Using a tour group is a convenient way to explore this unique mountain range. We recommend using Coast Warriors for your tour in this region.

Visiting the Hunter Valley

The Hunter Valley is one of the most famous wine regions in Australia. It has a plethora of wine cellars to choose from along with delicious restaurants that range from casual eateries to fine dining. You can visit this region independently by renting a car or with a tour. You can read more about visiting this region independently or with a tour here.