Discover Sydney in 2 days and 2 sunsets

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

Here you have the perfect guide to not miss anything and enjoy unforgettable sunsets.

Sydney is the largest city on the Australian continent. Therefore, in 48 hours it will be impossible to visit all its corners ... but the essential! In fact, most of its most outstanding attractions are grouped around the port, Circular Quay.

I was predisposed to fall under its charms, I must admit. I had been dreaming all my life of traveling to this city, and I was not disappointed.

If you want to fall in love with Sydney in two days, you're in luck. I have prepared this guide summarizing the must-see places you can't miss during your visit.

What to see in Sydney in 2 days

Sydney Opera House

The iconic image of this building does not go unnoticed by any visitor. Its silhouette, in the form of sails hoisted in the wind, has become the most emblematic symbol of the city.

Its construction was controversial. The winning design turned out to be ten times more expensive than expected and structurally problematic. Such was the chaos that the architect in charge eventually resigned and the work was not completed until ten years later than agreed.

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

Inside it houses the large opera house, a huge concert stage, a couple of theaters, a movie theater, an exhibition hall and a restaurant.

To see the inside, you must attend one of the shows on the bill or purchase 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 you book it online, as they offer a 10% discount. You also have the option to do it in Spanish, for the same price, on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 15:00.

Is it worth the price? It depends on whether...

• You like the architecture. The internal structure is incredible.
• You are interested in learning more about the history of its construction and you prefer to hear it from the people who built it.

If this is not your case, observe it from the outside. Walk around it again and again, appreciate the angles and the different shades reflected on its roof with every hour of the day. You will never tire of admiring it.

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

• Mrs Macquaries Point - Morning and sunset.
• Sydney Harbour Bridge - Afternoon and sunset.
• Hickson Road Reserve - Evening and sunset.
• Bennelong Lawn - Any time.
• Westbound Ferry - Any time.
• Water cab stand next to Milsons Point-Any time.

Sydney Harbour Bridge

This bridge, next to Sydney Harbour, is another of the iconic elements of the city and will be one of the key points for your photographs; both framed next to the opera from Mrs Macquaries Point, as well as offering one of the best views of the Opera House at sunset.

It consists of 8 car lanes, two train tracks, a bike lane (on the inward-facing side) and a pedestrian shoulder, overlooking the opera house.

It has become fashionable to climb the top of the bridge, always hiring specialized tours and equipped for it. This activity is quite expensive, but will delight lovers of risk sports. However, if heights are not your thing, just take a walk along the pedestrian lane. The views are beautiful, don't you think?

The Rocks

This is the oldest neighborhood in Sydney. Its buildings, now restored, still retain the colonial style of the first settlements, with a strong English influence.

Here you will find a multitude of restaurants, bars and live music. And all this just a stone's throw from the harbor, the opera house and the Sydney Bridge.

Royal Botanic Gardens

With plants, flowers and trees from all corners of the world, and located literally a stone's throw from the port, this park is a huge haven of peace not to be missed.

• Have a midday picnic in the shade of its centennial trees.
• Enjoy the views of the Opera House by strolling along the waterfront.
• It reaches one of the best panoramic points of the city, Mrs Macquaries Point.
• Discover exotic flowers and the secrets of the Zen garden.
• Delight yourself with the song of the birds that populate this forest.
• Are you tired from all that walking? Come to the garden, lie down and rest.

River trip

Want to enjoy a unique perspective of Sydney?

Jump in the water!

A good way to do this, without breaking the bank, is to take a ferry.

All departing eastbound offer spectacular views of the Opera House and botanical gardens framed by the bridge and the skyscrapers of downtown Sydney.

Among these routes, the most legendary is also the longest: a 30-minute sail to Manly, a beautiful surfing beach at the far end of the harbor.

The fare for the latter is $15.2 i/v. It departs from both ends every half hour.

Beaches

It is impossible to enjoy both the city and the coast of Sydney in two days. On top of that, I had just visited Magnetic Island, Whitehaven Beach y Lady Elliot Island... No beach was going to surpass these wonders. So, I just enjoyed this unrepeatable cityscape.

However, if your trip hasn't taken you to such paradisiacal beaches as it did me, I'm sure you'll be craving for sun. Also, if you're a surf lover, you're in luck:

• The most famous beach in the city is undoubtedly, Bondie Beacha paradise for surfers.
• If you prefer, you can do a two-in-one: take a ferry, enjoy the views, and go all the way to Manlythe second best beach for this sport in Sydney.

Sunset in Sydney

If there is something to fall in love with in this city, without a doubt, it is its sunsets.

Do you want to know which are the ideal locations to enjoy one of the best sunsets of your life?

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

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

It's clear that if you go to Sydney in two days, you'll have to sacrifice one of them. Which one will it be?

TIP:

Don't leave the city without seeing at least one of these sunsets.

Where to eat

Gastronomically, two days in Sydney don't give you much to eat. But there is one thing I would like to share with you:

Gastronomic experiences: where the important thing is the environment.

Midday

If it's a nice day, I would recommend buying something simple (and cheap) for a picnic in one of Sydney's parks.

My favorite: Royal Botanic Gardens

A good place to pick up a snack is at Little Vienna. Here you will find a wide selection of breads and fillings to suit all tastes at a great price ($10-$14), all just a few meters from the park!

Mid-afternoon

Treat yourself, have an aperitif at the Opera Bar and enjoy the sunset.

Dinner

Do you like fish? If you're willing to pay a little more for high quality ingredients in a charming setting, I recommend you try the restaurant Fish at the Rocks. The fish was delicious; although the size of the plates was not particularly generous.

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

Where to stay

My recommendation:

• Seeing Sydney in two days? Spend the night near the center of Sydney, so you won't waste time on transport. We opted for the Rendezvous Hotel Sydney The Rockswhich, as its name suggests, is located in The Rocks district. For a little more than 100€ a night, we got a small studio with kitchen and dining area, which allowed us to reduce our breakfast and dinner consumption quite a bit. The establishment was very correct. Undoubtedly, the best thing was its location, a stone's throw from Circular Quay.
• Do you have almost a week? Look for cheaper accommodations in the surrounding area and you'll save a bundle.

And now all that remains is to wish you...

Have a great trip and enjoy Sydney!

Budget

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

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

If you are touring Australia, don't miss other entries about Queensland, the east coast and the Great Barrier Reef, like Cairns, Magnetic Islandthe impressive Whitsundays Whitsundays or the natural oasis of Lady Elliot Island. If you are still preparing your trip, take a look at the practical guide to organize your trip to Australia and find inspiration in the route through Australia we made in September 2015.

And remember, if you need more information about this or any other destination, leave a comment below. I'll be happy to help you in any way I can.

Useful Links

• Sydney Opera Houseonline tour booking.
• Booking offers.
• Flights to Sydney: Trabber, eDreams and Momondo.
• Get 5% off your IATI travel insurance.

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