Discover Sydney in 2 days and 2 sunsets

Want to see Sydney in two days and don't know where to start?

Here's the perfect guide so you don't miss a thing and enjoy unforgettable sunsets.

Sydney is the largest city on the Australian continent. Therefore, in 48 hours it will be impossible to explore every corner… but you can see the essentials! The truth is, most of its top highlights are clustered around the harbour, Circular Quay.

I was already predisposed to fall head over heels for its charms, I must admit. I had spent my whole life dreaming of traveling to this city, and it didn't disappoint.

If you want to fall in love with Sydney in two days, you're in luck. I've put together this guide rounding up the must-see spots you simply can't skip during your visit.

What to see in Sydney in 2 days

Sydney Opera House

The iconic image of this building never goes unnoticed by any visitor. Its silhouette, like sails hoisted in the wind, has become the city's most emblematic symbol.

Its construction was controversial. The winning competition design turned out to be ten times more expensive than expected and structurally problematic. Such was the chaos that the lead architect ended up resigning, and the project wasn't completed until ten years later than planned.

However, it was all worth it. Today, it is one of the most famous buildings on the planet and draws millions of visitors.

Inside, it houses the main opera hall, a huge concert stage, a couple of theatres, a cinema room, an exhibition hall, and a restaurant.

To see it from the inside, you'll need to catch one of the scheduled shows or book a guided tour. The basic tour costs $37 per adult and is available in English every day from 09:00 to 17:00, every half hour. I recommend booking it online, as they offer a 10% discount. You also have the option to take it in Spanish for the same price on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 15:00.

Is it worth the price? It depends on whether…

• You love architecture. The internal structure is incredible.
• You're interested in learning more about its construction history and prefer hearing it firsthand.

If that's not your thing, just admire it from the outside. Walk around it again and again, take in the angles and the different tones reflected by its roof with every hour of the day. You'll never get tired of admiring it.

Want to know where to enjoy the best panoramic views of the Sydney Opera House and the best time to do it? I've marked everything on the map at the bottom of this page.

• Mrs Macquaries Point – Morning and sunset.
• Sydney Harbour Bridge – Afternoon and sunset.
• Hickson Road Reserve – Afternoon and sunset.
• Bennelong Lawn – Any time.
• Westbound ferry – Any time.
• Water taxi stop next to Milsons Point – Any time.

Sydney Harbour Bridge

This bridge, right by Sydney Harbour, is another of the city's iconic landmarks and will be one of the key spots for your photos; both framing the Opera House from Mrs Macquaries Point and offering you one of the best views of the Opera House at sunset.

It features 8 car lanes, two train tracks, a bike lane (on the inland-facing side), and a pedestrian walkway overlooking the Opera House.

Climbing the top of the bridge has become very popular, always by booking specialized and fully equipped tours. It's quite an expensive activity, but thrill-seekers will absolutely love it. However, if heights aren't your thing, just stick to a stroll along the pedestrian walkway. The views are gorgeous, don't you think?

The Rocks

This is Sydney's oldest neighborhood. Its buildings, now restored, still retain the colonial style characteristic of the early settlements, with a strong English influence.

Here you'll find plenty of restaurants, cocktail bars, and live music. And all just steps away from the harbour, the Opera House, and the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Royal Botanic Gardens

With plants, flowers, and trees from all corners of the globe, and located literally steps from the harbour, this park is a huge haven of peace that you can't miss.

• Have a midday picnic in the shade of its century-old trees.
• Enjoy the views of the Opera House as you stroll along its waterfront promenade.
• Reach one of the best viewpoints in the city, Mrs Macquaries Point.
• Discover exotic flowers and the secrets of the Zen garden.
• Delight in the birdsong that fills this forest.
• Tired from all that walking? Come to the garden, lie down, and relax.

River trip

Want to enjoy a unique perspective of Sydney?

Hit the water!

A great way to do it without breaking the bank is to take a ferry.

All the ones heading east offer spectacular views of the Opera House and the botanic gardens, framed by the bridge and downtown Sydney's skyscrapers.

Among these routes, the most legendary is also the longest: a 30-minute cruise to Manly, a gorgeous surf beach on the far side of the harbour.

A return ticket for the latter costs $15.2. It departs from both ends every half hour.

Beaches

Properly enjoying both the city and Sydney's coast in two days is impossible. On top of that, I had just visited Magnetic Island, Whitehaven Beach, and Lady Elliot Island… No beach was going to beat those wonders. So, I simply focused on enjoying this unique cityscape.

However, if your trip hasn't taken you through beaches quite as heavenly as mine, I'm sure you'll be craving some sunshine. Plus, if you're a surf lover, you're in luck:

• The city's most famous beach is without a doubt Bondi Beach, a surfer's paradise.
• If you prefer, you can get two for one: take a ferry, enjoy the views, and arrive at Manly, the second-best beach for this sport in Sydney.

Sunset in Sydney

If there's one thing to fall in love with in this city, it's definitely its sunsets.

Want to know the ideal spots to enjoy one of the best sunsets of your life?

Well, take a look at the following spots, marked on the map at the bottom of this page:

• Mrs Macquaries Point.
• Opera Bar.
• Sydney Harbour Bridge.
• Hickson Road Reserve.

Clearly, if you're visiting Sydney in two days, you'll have to sacrifice some of them. Which one will it be?

TIP:

Don't even think about leaving the city without watching at least one of these sunsets.

Where to Eat

Food-wise, two days in Sydney don't stretch very far. Still, there is something I'd love to share with you:

Dining experiences: where what really matters is the setting.

Midday

If the weather is nice, I'd recommend grabbing something simple (and cheap) for a picnic in one of Sydney's parks.

My favourite: Royal Botanic Gardens

A great place to buy a sandwich is Little Vienna. Here you'll find a wide selection of breads and fillings to suit all tastes at a great price ($10-$14). And it's all just a few metres from the park!

Mid-afternoon

Treat yourself, have a drink at the Opera Bar, and enjoy the sunset.

Dinner

Do you like fish? If you're willing to pay a little extra for high-quality ingredients in a charming atmosphere, I recommend checking out the restaurant Fish at the Rocks. The fish was delicious, although the portion sizes weren't particularly generous.

To give you an idea of the price, we paid $105/2 people (Australian dollars) for two fish dishes, two glasses of white wine, and a dessert to share.

Where to sleep

My recommendation:

• Visiting Sydney in two days? Stay overnight close to Sydney's city centre so you don't waste time on transport. We opted for the Rendezvous Hotel Sydney The Rocks, which, as the name suggests, is located in The Rocks district. For just over 100€ a night, we got a small studio with a kitchen and dining area, which allowed us to cut down significantly on breakfast and dinner costs. The place was very decent. Without question, the best part was its location, just a stone's throw from Circular Quay.
• Got almost a week? Look for cheaper accommodation in the surrounding areas and you'll save yourself a tidy sum.

And all that's left is to wish you…

Have a great trip and enjoy Sydney!

Budget

• Transport: 19€ (ferry) + 37,5€ (airport taxi) (28€/person).
• Accommodation: 180€ (45€/person/day).
• Food: 136€ (34€/person/day).
• Opera House Tour: 43€ (21,5€/person).

In total, we spent 415.5€ on our two-day visit to Sydney, which works out to 104€ per person per day.

If you're on a road trip around Australia, don't miss other posts about Queensland, the East Coast, and the Great Barrier Reef, such as Cairns, Magnetic Island, the breathtaking Whitsundays, or the natural oasis of Lady Elliot Island. If you're still planning your trip, check out the practical guide to organizing your trip to Australia and find inspiration in the Australia itinerary we followed in September 2015.

And remember, if you need more info on this or any other destination, leave a comment below. I'll gladly help you with whatever I can.

Useful links

• Sydney Opera House, online tour booking.
• Booking deals.
• Flights to Sydney: Trabber, eDreams, and Momondo.
• 5% discount on your IATI travel insurance.

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