OT Travel Itinerary: How To Spend Two Days In Sydney

If the defining image of Australia for you is the Sydney Opera House then that’s no surprise. The city reigns as Australia’s most-visited destination among international tourists, welcoming over 3.1 million visitors in 2023 according to Statista. This popularity extends beyond foreign travellers, spanning various traveller segments from domestic holidaymakers to business visitors. Sydney is among the most liveable cities in the world, thanks largely to its stunning landscapes, which include its beaches and national parks, a vibrant multicultural atmosphere, glorious architectural gems like the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge, a creative arts and culinary scene, and a rich heritage due to the fact that Aboriginal Australians have inhabited the Greater Sydney region for at least 30,000 years. In fact, Sydney is often referred to as Gadigal country, a group of Aboriginal people whose traditional lands are located here.  

While two-days are simply not enough to experience all that Sydney has to offer, here’s how to make the most of your 48 hours in the city.

Day 1

Morning

Start your trip with a visit to the icon of the city—the Sydney Opera House. The performing arts centre is widely regarded as one of the world's most famous and distinctive buildings because of its shell-shaped roof, and has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998. At the Opera House, you can go on a guided tour to discover its history and architecture. On Saturdays, a special architectural tour journeys into the minds of Jørn Utzon and Peter Hall, the architects who designed the building. Besides this, you can take advantage of the many dining establishing at the Sydney Opera House, including the House Canteen, The Lounge, the Opera Bar and Bennelong, to name a few.

Next, check out the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Established in 1816, it is Australia's oldest botanic garden and oldest living scientific institution. Situated across 30 hectares on the edge of the iconic Sydney Harbour, the grounds are home to a collection of more than 27,000 plants from around the world. Encompassing 15 themed gardens, including an Australian Rainforest Garden and a Tropical Garden, it is a living testament to the beauty of nature and one of Sydney’s top attractions for tourism and leisure. Take your time and explore themed plant areas, the Cadi Jam Ora storyline and the horticultural plant displays in The Calyx. Before you leave, head to Mrs Macquarie's Chair, an exposed sandstone rock cut into the shape of a bench. This is because the area around it, called Mrs Macquarie's Point, is a popular lookout position for views of the northwest of the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Afternoon

If you want to get a good look of Sydney from above, consider making the journey to the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge for 360-degree views. The structure is one of the world’s longest steel-arch bridges, spanning an impressive 500 metres. The three-hour-long summit will involve walking up 1,332 steps along the upper arch of the bridge on the South side. On your way to the top, you will learn about the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the city’s history. Those who are keen for more can consider doing the South to North and back again route, which is 3.5 hours long and involves 1,621 steps. You will reach the summit twice on this route and have bragging rights about completing the full length and breadth of the bridge.

Deciding on where to eat in Sydney is a tough ask because of the sheer number of quality establishments. Within the central business district (CBD), you can choose from Mr Wong for Cantonese cuisine, Restaurant Hubert for French meals, the Mexican restaurant Esteban, the Planar Restaurant for modern Australian food, the Italian restaurant Lana and The Spice Room for Indian cuisine, to name a handful of joints.

Evening

Darling Harbour is a buzzing waterside precinct and family-friendly destination with fascinating museums, thrilling wildlife and delicious dining options. Originally named Long Cove, the locality extends northwards from Chinatown, along both sides of Cockle Bay to King Street Wharf on the east and to the suburb of Pyrmont on the west. Whether you want to see celebrity likenesses at Madame Tussauds, marine animals at the Sea Life Sydney Aquarium, walk through the Chinese Garden of Friendship, or interact with the exhibits at the Australian National Maritime Museum, your evening will be fun and engaging through and through.

For dinner, head to The Rocks Market, a suburb, tourist precinct and historic area in the CBD. The proximity to Circular Quay, the views of the iconic Harbour Bridge and the historic nature of many of the buildings make The Rocks very popular with tourists. It features a variety of souvenir and craft shops, as well as many themed and historic pubs. During the week, shopping options include galleries exhibiting Australian artists, clothing and opal shops. Eat and drink at the Harbourfront Seafood restaurant, Caminetto, the Pony Dining steakhouse, the Tayim Restaurant and Bar, the Fortune of War pub (Sydney’s oldest) and Pancakes on the Rocks.

Day 2

Morning

Sydney, and Australia more broadly, is known for its spectacular beaches so your final day will feature plenty of sand and surf. Start with Bondi, a picture-postcard arc of golden sand and sparkling blue ocean. You can learn to surf year-round at one of the accredited surf schools or check into the Bondi Icebergs, one of Australia’s oldest swimming clubs. The 50-metre pool and wading pool for kids are open to the public. Visitors are also welcome at the bar, bistro and elegant dining room.

Between May and November, you can easily spot whales during their annual migration from one of the spectacular vantage points along the Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk, a six-kilometre track which links four pretty beaches. Its top attractions include Bondi Beach, Tamarama Beach, Bronte Beach, Clovelly and Coogee Beach, which take about two to three hours to traverse one-way.

If you forgo the walk, consider heading to Manly Beach, which has a cosmopolitan buzz and a relaxed vibe. It's a short yet incredibly scenic ferry ride from the CBD and boasts a vibrant coastal atmosphere, with its Norfolk Island pine-lined promenade and fantastic oceanfront eateries. The snorkelling and stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) experiences at the Shelly Beach section are fantastic, and the pretty Fairy Bower Pool is popular with families. You can hire a bicycle from Manly Bike Tours and Hire and discover hidden harbour coves and beaches, such as Little Manly Cove and Collins Flat Beach. The 10-kilometre Spit Bridge to Manly Walk rewards you with fantastic views across the harbour. You can also explore ancient Aboriginal rock engravings at Grotto Point.

Afternoon

In the afternoon, visit the Barangaroo Reserve, a spectacular, six-hectare headland open space that was once an industrial site. The reserve is car-free and the perfect spot for a walk, picnic or cycle. Climb up to Stargazer Lawn for the best views across the gardens and into the harbour, or follow the Wulugul Walk, which links Walsh Bay and Darling Harbour and runs through the reserve. More than 75,000 native trees and shrubs have been planted here, replicating the foliage that would have been on this site prior to European colonisation. Native bee colonies have also been introduced to help pollinate the native plant species. Join one of the regular Aboriginal Cultural Tours to learn more about these plants and the site’s significance to the local Indigenous population. The guides also share the stories of Australia’s First Nations People and, in particular, the clans of the Eora Nation.

Time for some shopping. Begin your journey at the Queen Victoria Building, which was built in the 1890s and beautifully restored in the 1980s. There are three levels to explore, from high-street fashion to antique jewellery and everything in between. From there, follow the underground arcade lined with fashion boutiques to reach Pitt Street Mall and Westfield Sydney, home to more than 250 stores. Two of the city’s most beautiful arcades are just off Pitt Street Mall. Even if you don't buy anything from the bespoke designers, jewellers and artisans housed here, you will want to explore the 19^th-century Strand Arcade and The Dymocks Building. Nearby, on the corners of George, Park and Pitt streets, is a more modern shopping experience called The Galeries. Here you'll find several floors of fashion, food, books and technology. Sydney’s flagship department stores, David Jones and Myer, sit just a few blocks from each other and stock fashion, cosmetics, toys, electronics, homewares and more. In the shiny new streets of Barangaroo, you’ll find cool independent stores, bespoke tailors and sleek bookstores. At the city's southern end, you’ll find quirky boutiques in Chinatown, outlet shopping at Market City and the multi-level World Square shopping centre. Don’t miss Paddy’s Markets, a sprawling warren of stalls selling souvenirs, clothing, sporting goods and electronics.

Evening

Sydney is a city that likes to stay up late. Make the most of your final evening by putting on your party hat and dancing and socialising to live music. Home the Venue, Candelaria, Chinese Laundry, the Ivy Sydney, the Flamingo Lounge, the Oxford Art Factory, the Soda Factory, The Stonewall Hotel, The Imperial Erskineville, The Cliff Dive, Goros and Club 77 are all thrilling places to wrap up your Aussie adventure.

Getting There

There are direct flights from Bengaluru and New Delhi to Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD).