One of the wonderful things about Sydney is that you can make a trip here your own. Want to just spend the whole time eating?
You’ll never be short of cool restaurants. There are galleries to explore, heritage sites to discover, and plenty of stunning nature where you can escape the bustle. Or, of course, you can just hop from bar to bar – there’s always a new one opening.
In this 48-hour itinerary, there’s a bit of everything. You’ll see the city from the coast to the harbour, with all the unmissable hotspots inbetween.
Day 1
Morning
There’s a reason it’s Sydney’s most famous beach, so let’s start the day at Bondi. On a sunny morning, there’s no better way to wake up than with a quick swim in the surf (and on a cold morning, do it anyway!)
For breakfast, avoid the tourist spots on the main drag and head to North Bondi to the local cafes. You’ll find great food and coffee at places like Speedos Cafe, Porch and Parlour, and bRU Coffee.
From here, it’s time to begin one of Sydney’s best free activities – the Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk. This stunning six-kilometre trail leads you along the sandstone cliffs and past gorgeous golden beaches, with plenty of places to stop along the way for another coffee or swim.
Lunch
At the end of the coastal walk, you may have built up an appetite already. Luckily, the Coogee Pavilion has you sorted, with a variety of dining options in the one venue. Choose from the casual menu on the ground floor, Spanish-inspired tapas at Una Más, or fine dining at Mimi’s where the seafood menu reflects the ocean views.
If you don’t make it to the end of the trail, don’t worry. There are also great cafes and restaurants at Bronte and Clovelly and other spots along the way.
Afternoon
After this morning’s nature fix, let’s shift gears and visit some of Sydney’s excellent cultural institutions. The Art Gallery of New South Wales is always a good place to start, with a diverse collection including some of Sidney Nolan’s Ned Kelly series. Down at Circular Quay, the Museum of Contemporary Art always displays a thought-provoking selection of works in different media, while its cafe has exquisite harbour views. The Australian Museum has recently reopened after an enormous renovation, with detailed exhibitions on natural history, Indigenous heritage, and (a perennial favourite) dinosaurs. Or there’s the new Chau Chak Wing Museum at Sydney University, which has some incredible items from Ancient Egypt to contemporary Pacific cultures.
One of the best things about these museums and galleries is that they all have free entry(although you may need to buy a ticket for any special exhibitions)!
Drink
It’s always nice to relax with a drink after a busy day of sightseeing, and inner-city Surry Hills has seen a renaissance of small bars in recent years.
Sip cocktails of gin at Eileen’s Bar, part of the new Four Pillars microdistillery, or spice things up at Mexican-themed Tio’s Cerveceria. For an elegant wine-bar experience (with an impressive selection), there’s Poly within the Paramount House Hotel –or try some Japanese whiskey at Tokyo Bird.
Dinner
Although there are more great restaurants in Surry Hills than you could ever hope to get through, roll down the hill to Chippendale for dinner and a change of scenery. This former industrial neighbourhood had a facelift a few years ago and has become an evening hotspot.
Spice Alley feels like an Asian food market, with six eateries, including Singaporean and Vietnamese, serving meals on outdoor tables. The same redeveloped precinct also has more formal options, including a degustation menu at Automata. Nearby, another excellent option, Ester, offers a casual atmosphere for intricate dishes.
Day 2
Morning
So much of Sydney’s character comes from its glittering harbour and it would be remiss not to spend some time on the water. Sure, you could take a cruise like the average tourist, but why not spend the morning on a kayak, so close to the water that you can taste its salt.
Hire your kayak from Rose Bay, in the city’s Eastern Suburbs, where you can follow the shoreline to gorgeous little havens like Milk Beach or Parsley Bay. Or paddle over to peaceful Shark Island for one of Sydney Harbour’s best rest stops.
You could pack some breakfast and have a morning picnic at one of the beaches, otherwise stop at the Kiosk at The Boathouse for a tasty start to the day right on the water.
Lunch
Kayaking can be hungry work, so let’s stay in Rose Bay for an early lunch. Charcoal Fish is the brand-new offering from Josh and Julie Niland of Saint Peter and Fish Butchery fame. It only offers takeaway, but that fits nicely with the signature meal of crispy fish and chips that is best eaten in the nearby harbourside park.
If you would prefer something more formal, pop along the coast to Double Bay to try one of Sydney’s biggest restaurant openings of 2021 – Neil Perry’s Margaret, which has oysters alongside burgers, mixing a neighbourhood feel with the fine dining you expect from one of the country’s top chefs.
Afternoon
In the afternoon, you might like to take the opportunity to explore some of Sydney’s heritage, which can sometimes be overlooked amongst all the glitz and glamour of the modern city.
Staying close to the harbour, catch a ferry over to Cockatoo Island, which has free admission to the buildings that were once used as a convict prison and the industrial site of the former naval shipyard. There are also guided tours that give an even deeper insight into the fascinating history of this World Heritage Site.
Another UNESCO-listed part of Sydney’s story can be found at the Hyde Park Barracks, which recently reopened after a huge redesign of its museum to include multimedia presentations and more detailed exhibitions, taking you into the lives of the convicts and immigrants who stayed here.
Drink
For an early evening drink, why not continue the heritage theme at The Rocks, Sydney’s oldest colonial neighbourhood. It’s changed a lot in recent years, though, with ghosts replaced by spirits and classic pubs almost outnumbered by trendy small bars. Drinking dens include the gin-focused Frank Mac’s, rum-obsessed The Keel, a sandstone whiskey bar called The Doss House, and the Hickson House Distillery making artisan drinks in a historic warehouse.
Dinner
From The Rocks, it’s just a short stroll to some of the best new restaurants that have opened in Sydney’s city centre, bringing new life to the business district that sometimes felt a bit cold once the office workers had left for the day.
The hottest table in town at the moment is Shell House, beneath the historic clock tower of the old Menzies Hotel, with an elegant setting and Mediterranean-style menu. Or another new favourite, Esteban, serves Mexican share plates that can be washed down with Australia’s largest selection of mezcal. Meanwhile, the new Crown Sydney at Barangaroo has several excellent dining options, including Italian fine dining with a’Mare and premium steaks at Woodcut.