Sydney was on my bucket list for a very long time. Now I’ve finally been there for two days and loved it! I know two days are not a long time, but still, I want to share my impressions and favorite spots with you because it’s absolutely worth it! But I’ve noticed most people don’t spend much time in the Australian city anyway.

One reason is that the country is so huge and there is so much more to see. The other reason is the fact, that for many travelers Sydney is just a stop of their road trip.

But no matter if for a short or long stay – Sydney is a city you should visit once in your life. And even 48 hours are okay to visit the beautiful spots of Sydney. Of course, you can’t do or see everything in such a short time, but here you find a little collection of places that I loved and already gave me the Australian spirit – even in just two days!

 

 

Sydney Day 1

Royal Botanic Garden

There’s nothing better than starting the day with a walk through the enchanting Royal Botanic Garden. It’s an oasis right in the middle of the city with thousands of plant species and animals. In addition, it offers a fantastic view of Sydney Harbor, the Opera House, and the Harbor Bridge. The entrance to the garden is free, so you can enjoy it for as long as you want.

 

 

Opera House

Everybody knows the famous Opera House. Especially on New Year’s Eve, the picture with the opera and the fireworks in the background is a memorable image for everyone. The Opera House is not just Australia’s most iconic landmark situated in a great location at the harbor, but also THE must do in Sydney. If you visit the famous building, you should definitely take a picture on the steps of the opera by day and enjoy the evening in one of the restaurants or bars near the opera.

 

 

 

Manly Beach

Just a few steps from the Opera House away, you can find the Circular Quay. I recommend taking a 30-minute ferry from there to Manly Beach where you can relax for a bit. Once there, you will also be rewarded with a postcard-worthy shot of the Harbor Bridge. Ferries run every 20 minutes (from 6.20 am – 12.20 am at weekends/5.30 am on weekdays).

 

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Chinatown

Further south of Circular Quay you will find the big archways of Chinatown. From there you can go and try out the delicious, lovely scented food and the great markets. You will not only find there some of the cheapest food in the city but also an interesting place to visit.

 

Darling Harbor

The stylish Darling Harbor is a great spot to end your day. Situated in the heart of Sydney at the beautiful waterfront, it offers a variety of pubs, nightclubs, restaurants, and cafés. Besides drinking cocktails and enjoying fine dining there, the harbor gives you also the opportunity to visit one of the many attractions such as an aquarium, the Powerhouse Museum, or the IMAX theatre.

 

 

Sydney Day 2

Beaches

With over 40 beaches, Sydney offers various places to relax, to get tanned, or to go surfing. Bondi Beach is definitely the most famous one – for a reason! You can expect there golden long sandy beaches with a beautiful view of the ocean. But it can also get very crowded at the same time. So make sure you check out other beaches as well, such as Tamarama Beach or Bronte Beach. Both are just close to Bondi Beach and also very beautiful.

 

Iceberg Pool

Right next to the Bondi Beach, you will find the Bondi Icebergs Club with the historic Icebergs Pool. It’s not just open for members, but also for guests. So everyone can swim there all year round, have some lunch or dinner at the Icebergs Club Bistro and enjoy a fantastic panoramic view of the beautiful Bondi Beach.

 

 

The Rocks

After a morning at the beach, it’s time for picking up some unique souvenirs. The Rocks is the perfect place for that! This lovely urban part of the city offers pubs, cute little shops, and a weekend market which is great for having a look at special and unique things. It’s open from 10 am – 5 pm. If you want to save money, you can still do window shopping which is worth it, too.

 

Harbor Bridge

If you are not afraid of heights and still have some money left, climb on the Harbor Bridge and enjoy a breathtaking view over Sydney and the harbor. No matter if in the morning, afternoon or dusk, there are plenty of different bridge climbs available for every type of fitness level. For those who just want to get a taste of the world-famous bridge, you can also find sampler climbs going halfway only. It takes 1.5 hours and is the perfect chance for a short stop in Sydney.

 

 

About Sydney

Sydney is the capital of the state of New South Wales and at the same time the largest city in Australia with 5.5 million inhabitants. Not only the good location near the Blue Mountains but also the beautiful coastline with its numerous bays and sandy beaches, make Sydney very attractive. In addition, several major institutions have already classified Sydney as one of the world’s most livable cities.

With warm summers, cool winters, and balanced temperatures, Sydney has a temperate climate. Though, during the summer months, the dry desert winds can cause heatwaves with temperatures over 40°C (104°F). In addition, you should avoid the crowds around Christmas and New Year. So the best time to go to Sydney is from October to November and from February to March. July and August are the coldest months, but still with moderate temperatures.

 

 

If you need more information about Sydney, please let me know in the comments below. Also, I would love to hear if you have already been to Sydney and what experiences you have made there. I’m always up for inspiration for my next time! Speaking of inspiration: check out my post about why you should visit Cairns or learn more about the Great Barrier Reef. You see, Australia has so much to offer!

 

 

I just wanted to let you know that this page contains affiliate links. If you decide to buy something using one of these links, I will earn a small commission. Don’t worry that’s at no extra cost to you, but it does help to fund my travels and keep the website running. Thank you!