Sydney is Australia’s most photographed city – with iconic landmarks like the Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge dominating the skyline. We visited Sydney because it was the departure point for a cruise, but it is also often the first stop for people exploring more of Australia. This 3-day Sydney itinerary is a great way to see the highlights of the city before a cruise, or for a long weekend.
Pre-cruise visit to Sydney
Sydney is a very popular cruise port for many different cruise lines. However, most people arrive in the city at least a few days prior to their cruise to acclimate to the time change before their cruise sets sail. For us on the east coast of the US, the time difference is 16 hours. We chose to arrive 3 days prior to our Celebrity wine cruise. Not only to acclimate but to experience as much as we could in the city.
Where to stay in Sydney
When trying to decide where to stay when visiting a new city, for us it is all about location. Especially when crunched for time as we were on this trip. The Sydney Harbour Marriott at Circular Quay was the perfect place to stay. The hotel is modern, beautiful and close to everything.
Just minutes from the trolley, the bridge, the Opera House, shopping and so many wonderful restaurants. We enjoyed being within a short walking distance to everything. The weather was perfect during our February stay and we were happy to be outdoors exploring. The hotel also had dining on-site making it convenient for quick bites and late nights.
The Lurline in Randwick is a great spot if you want a beach vibe instead of a city one. It’s only a short walk from the beautiful Coogee Beach.
Getting around Sydney
Sydney reminded us of San Francisco, with the trolleys and rolling hills. The trolley system is also a great way to get around in the city. We walked a lot, with Darling Harbour and Circular Quay a mere 1.5 miles apart. The various harbour areas make for lovely walking routes and views. There are also buses, and a central train station for travel outside the city.
3-Day Sydney Itinerary Ideas
Day 1: Sydney Opera House + Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb + Sunset Dinner Cruise
Sydney Opera House
No visit to Sydney is complete without a visit to the iconic Sydney Opera House. We were mesmerized by the structure from the moment we arrived. There are many restaurants, cafes and bars surrounding the Opera House. The views of the bridge and the harbor are amazing from here.
We chose a guided tour of the Sydney Opera House and I am glad we did. The history was fascinating and we were able to visit many behind the scene areas as well. Our guide was very knowledgeable and the tour lasted just over an hour. There were steps involved and a moderate amount of walking but nothing extreme. We fell in love with the opera house and booked tickets to a performance in the main theater for our return trip later in the month.
As a violinist and cellist herself, Payton loves to listen to an orchestra perform. To hear the Sydney Opera House orchestra perform live in the Concert Hall was a dream come true for her. The performance was magical and everything she dreamed it would be. There are seven venues in the opera house but if you ever have the chance to see a performance in the great concert hall I would highly recommend it.
Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb
The Sydney Harbour Bridge is the largest single span arch bridge in the world and one of only five bridges in the world that you can climb. This climb was a bucket list item for us.
We chose the Summit climb which lasted approximately 3 hours. After a safety briefing and being harnessed and fitted with all of the necessary accessories, we made our way to the climb base where we were latched in. From here, we walked below the Bradfield Highway road deck until we reached the South-East Pylon. At the pylon we then climbed four ladders to the start of the upper arch. Once we reached the upper arch we could see the summit which was 1,332 steps away.
We climbed up the right side of the arch with the Sydney Opera House on our right. The 360 degree views were amazing. It was literally as if we were on top of the world. After reaching the summit we crossed over the bridge which provided some really crazy views watching the cars speed by below us. At the summit you are 440 feet above the water. After crossing over the bridge we proceeded down the arch on the opposite side. And yes, our legs were trembling going down. Especially going down the 4 ladders at the pylons.
Photos
Cameras, cell phones and personal items are not allowed on the climb for obvious reasons, as you are climbing over cars passing below. Everything has to be attached to your clothing for safety purposes. The guides take photos along the way that are available for purchase at the end. I recommend purchasing the photo package with your ticket as it comes with all photos taken, not just one or two. The sunset climb is the most popular and should be booked well in advance.
If climbing the bridge isn’t for you, why not take a helicopter ride over the harbour?
Sunset Harbor Cruise
Sydney is located on the harbor. It is only natural to take a harbor cruise during your visit to see the city from the water. The harbor cruises can be done as a sightseeing cruise or as a dinner cruise. There are many companies offering this service at various times each day.
We chose the sunset dinner option since we had a limited amount of time in the city and needed to combine more than one activity together. The cruises leave from either Circular Quay or Darling Harbor and you must pay close attention to which one you choose when booking. The two locations are about a 30 minute walking distance from each other.
Captain Cook Cruises
We chose to book with Captain Cook Cruises for the 5:30 sunset dinner option which departed from Darling Harbor. After we completed our tour of the Sydney Opera House at 4:30 we walked over to Darling Harbor and arrived by 5pm. As with most dinner cruises the food was good, but nothing spectacular – we never expect fine dining aboard a dinner cruise.
It is more about the experience and the views from the water. Especially sailing under the Sydney Harbor Bridge with the setting sun. The meal was a 3 course meal with very limited options and there was a bar on board available for additional purchases. The views of the Opera House and the Bridge were spectacular.
Funny story that I have to share. Upon completion of the cruise we arrived back at Darling Harbor. Guests began exiting the boat and we decided to finish our glass of wine as no announcement had been made and no one appeared to be in a hurry. Within just a few minutes we realized we were sailing again! No one said anything but we had left the dock and set sail again. We found it amusing and decided to see where the cruise would take us. The next stop was Circular Quay which was a short 10 minute walk from our hotel. We had no idea it was optional but it worked to our benefit as we were much closer to our destination.
Day 2: Blue Mountains Day Trip + Darling Harbour
Day Trip Option
There are lots of great day trip options from Sydney. We chose to take a day trip out of the city to explore the Blue Mountains, which are about one hour away. The full day tour includes many photo opportunities – the Three Sisters overlook, Scenic World, lunch and shopping in Leura, a visit to the Sydney Zoo and a ferry ride back to the city.
We felt this tour helped us see and do the most variety possible in one full day and included pick up at our hotel in the city.
Darling Harbour
Darling Harbour is a lovely and vibrant area full of restaurants, shops and cafes overlooking the water. The perfect place to grab a coffee, meet up with friends or have a romantic dinner.
Darling Harbour is where the SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium and Australian National Maritime Museum are located. So if you have 4 days in Sydney, spend some more time down here in Darling Harbour.
Day 3: Taronga Zoo + Bondi Beach + The Rocks
Taronga Zoo
Set on the beautiful Booraghee / Bradleys Head in Mosman, over the harbor from downtown Sydney, Taronga Zoo is a great thing to do with the family. This huge and impressive zoo is accessible from the harbour or road and has a gondola up the hill. With over 5,000 animals from over 350 species, Taronga Zoo will take you 3-4 hours minimum to explore.
The easiest way to reach the zoo is by ferry from Circular Quay, or by hop-on hop-off cruise from Darling Harbour.
Bondi Beach
Located about 20 minutes from downtown Sydney, Bondi Beach is an icon of the city. Bondi Beach is world famous for surfing and it is also the only beach in Australia that is open year round. If sand and surf is not your thing there is a large amount of green space just past the sand for lounging as well with great views of the ocean.
Just across the road you will find a large variety of shops, restaurants and cafes. We had no trouble finding multiple options for ice cream during the hot afternoon. If you are feeling adventurous I would recommend taking a walk from Bondi Beach to Coogee Beach, which will take about 1 hour. The cliffs and coastal views are amazing but I wouldn’t recommend going the opposite direction as it is all uphill!
The Rocks
The Rocks is the neighbourhood on the opposite quay from the opera house. It has markets, shopping, historic streets, modern restaurants and great views of the harbor. If gastronomy isn’t your thing, then visit the impressive Museum of Contemporary Art Australia
Where to eat in Sydney
Brunch was our overall favorite meal in Sydney as coffee seems to be a work of art for the local baristas.
- The Rocks Cafe, located in The Rocks, was the best for location, food and atmosphere. We enjoyed a hearty brunch here the morning before our bridge climb as it is just 5 minutes away from check in. This is also a great location for cruise visitors as it is just 1 block away from the cruise port.
- Eggshellent in Randwick was another excellent spot for brunch.
- For traditional Australian cuisine, our favorite spot for dinner was Dead Ringer in Surry Hills.
3-Day / Weekend Guide to Sydney
If you decide to spend a weekend in Sydney on your way to other places, or before / after a cruise, you can still see a lot. There are great transport options, ridiculously gorgeous views and landmarks, and so much to choose from. For a big city, the main attractions are close together too. Sydney excels at great food, iconic sights, proximity to lots of great day trips, beaches and cosmopolitan amenities. When are you booking your trip?
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