Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Sydney?

Q: Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Sydney?

To do everything that Sydney has to offer, you'll need more than a weekend, but two or three days does allow you a bit more time to explore. You'll have a chance to experience at least some of the highlights. In addition to the great beaches and fun museums and landmarks, visitors can enjoy the nightlife, shopping, and hiking. By staying a night or two, you'll be able to take advantage of the most interesting activities found here, and we have some suggestions below.

Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Sydney?

Many visitors spend three to seven days in Sydney during their visit. If you're not sure how much time you might need here, we have the answers because there's so much to see and do. This city offers a number of attractions to explore, including the beaches, the museums and landmarks, the big city activities, and the nightlife.

Sydney is the oldest and largest of Australia's cities. It's filled with world famous landmarks and beautiful waterfront neighborhoods. Life revolves around the water here, with Darling Harbour and Bondi Beach at the top of most visitor's itineraries.

Do you have one or two days to visit Sydney? 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 Sydney?

With only one day, you might feel a bit pressed for time when it comes to exploring the main attractions. After all, Sydney, a huge city brimming with sights and attractions, holds immense popularity among tourists. To fully embrace Sydney, a longer visit is better. Most travelers tend to allocate at least 3 or as many as 7 days to relax at the beach, browse the museums, enjoy the city's energy, and grab some drinks at a bar. Nevertheless, if your schedule is limited, we can provide some suggestions to maximize your visit.

How to spend a day in Sydney

When visiting Sydney, you absolutely can't miss the Sydney Opera House as it's one of the most famous places in the world. Make sure you allow yourself enough time to fully experience it.

The nightlife scene is very popular here. After dark, head out to one of the many venues around town. The city is filled with nightclubs and DJ hosted dance parties. There's a huge young crowd that brings together residents, students, and backpackers in a vibrant nightlife scene. Some of the best areas for nightlife are Kings Cross, Oxford Street, Surry Hills or Darling Harbour.

Sydney is a walkable city and easy to explore on foot. With only a day in the city, you'll have no trouble seeing the local sights. The city center and nearby suburbs are relatively easy to walk around. On the western side of the city, the suburbs are much less walkable.

Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Sydney?

To do everything that Sydney has to offer, you'll need more than a weekend, but two or three days does allow you a bit more time to explore. You'll have a chance to experience at least some of the highlights. In addition to the great beaches and fun museums and landmarks, visitors can enjoy the nightlife, shopping, and hiking. By staying a night or two, you'll be able to take advantage of the most interesting activities found here, and we have some suggestions below.

Sydney Harbour, NSW, Australia

How to spend 2 days in Sydney

With a weekend (two to three days) in Sydney, you'll have a bit more time to enjoy everything that the city has to offer.

The beautiful beaches await you in Sydney, so spend the day (or several, if you can) relaxing on the sand or swimming in the water. There are more than 100 beaches near the city with everything from hidden coves to world famous destinations. Bondi Beach is the most famous beach in town and it has all of the tourist sights and activities that you could need. Surfers often head to Bronte Beach, which isn't too far away. Divers and snorkelers love Gordons Bay. Manly is also a nearby suburb with family-friendly beaches that can be reached by ferry.

A few tour suggestions include:

Sea Cliff Bridge, Blowhole, Beaches & Farmlands- Escape the City ($186)
30-Minute Sydney Harbour Jet Boat Ride on Thunder Twist ($56)
Small-Group Sydney's Northern Beaches and Ku-ring-gai National Park Bus Tour ($228)

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 are international restaurants offering impressive dishes from around the world. You'll also find some local Australian favorites around town. Seafood is abundant, as are a number of Asian cuisines. Barramundi is a local fish that you'll find on many menus. Oysters, prawns, and John Dory (a local fish) are also popular.

A few tour suggestions include:

Hickson House Distilling Immersive Gin Tour and Tasting! ($33)
Luxury Hunter Valley Wildlife & Wine Tasting Tour from Sydney ($83)
Hunter Valley Wine Tour from Sydney with Lunch and 3 Cellar Door Tastings ($149)

The public transit in Sydney is fast and efficient. Over the course of a few days, you should be able to explore the city quite easily and affordably. There are a variety of types of public transit in town including buses, trains, ferries and light rail.

More Info

If you're looking for more information about Sydney, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.