Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Surfers Paradise?
Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Surfers Paradise?
Many travelers spend at least 3 or as many as 7 days in Surfers Paradise during their visit. After all, the thrilling city has plenty to explore such as the beaches, the nightlife scene, and the shops and boutiques.
Surfers Paradise is one of the most popular beach destinations in Australia. It's located along the Gold Coast, and offers access to many amusement parks and wildlife centers. The beaches are lined with high rise resorts and the city has many great restaurants and a huge nightlife scene. There are also weekly beachside markets.
Do you have one or two days to visit Surfers Paradise? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.
Is one day enough time in Surfers Paradise?
Surfers Paradise offers plenty of activities and attractions and remains a top choice for tourists. So with one day, you'll probably feel rushed to relax at the beach, grab some drinks at a bar, browse the shops, and go scuba diving or snorkeling. You really need more time to appreciate everything that the thrilling city has to offer. Many visitors prefer to have at least 3 or as many as 7 days to enjoy the beach and other sights. If you have one day or less, we still have some great ideas for what to do while you're here.
How to spend a day in Surfers Paradise
The beautiful beaches await you in Surfers Paradise, so spend the day (or several, if you can) relaxing on the sand or swimming in the water. It's at the heart of the Gold Coast, and you'll enjoy two kilometers of golden sand and beautiful surf. The beaches are lined with high rise buildings and there's plenty of energy and amenities for visitors. This is a popular tourist destination and there is no shortage of water sports and other activities along the beaches.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Learn to Surf at Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast ($53)
- Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast Jet Boat Ride: 55 Minutes ($57)
- Parasailing Experience departing Cavill Ave, Surfers Paradise ($133)
The nightlife scene is very popular here. After dark, head out to one of the many venues around town. This high energy area is filled with glitzy nightclubs and trendy cocktail bars. There are parties that last until the early morning hours and you'll find the most active nightlife scene along the famous Surfers Paradise glitter strip.
The public transit in Surfers Paradise is fast and efficient. Over the course of a few days, you should be able to explore the city quite easily and affordably. Without a car, you can use the shuttle buses, public buses, and light rail to get around.
Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Surfers Paradise?
A weekend is generally not enough time to experience the beach and other activities of Surfers Paradise. A shorter schedule may leave you with a sense of urgency to enjoy the most popular activities such as the beaches, the nightlife scene, the shops and boutiques, and scuba diving and snorkeling. To genuinely appreciate the thrilling city, a longer visit is recommended so that you can have more time to relax at the beach. Many tourists opt for at least 3 or as many as 7 days here, after all. After all, The very popular city of Surfers Paradise has many activities and attractions for visitors. However, if you're working with limited time, we have some great ideas for making the most of your stay below.
Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast, Queensland (Tourism Australia)
How to spend 2 days in Surfers Paradise
With a weekend (two to three days) in Surfers Paradise, you'll have a bit more time to enjoy everything that the city has to offer.
Shopping in Surfers Paradise is very popular, and it's easy to see why. Spend time exploring the many shops and boutiques to find the perfect gift, souvenir, or outfit. Beachside markets sell local items. There are also large shopping malls that are filled with international fashion brands and boutique shops that sell unique items.
The restaurant and food scene here is top notch, so make sure you spend time at one of the local restaurants where you can taste the delicious cuisine. There's a trendy food scene with a number of award winning restaurants in the area. There are high end seafood restaurants, modern international eateries, and niche food bars that all cater to the tourist crowd.
More Info
If you're looking for more information about Surfers Paradise, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.
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