How many days in Sydney is enough? Some would swear by a whole week or more, in order to really get under the skin of this fine city. For others, a whistle stop 3-day escape – just enough to see the bucket-list big-hitters and no more – will suffice. But for our money, the sweet spot lies somewhere in between. Four-to-six days in Sydney is plenty of time to take in a show at the famous Opera House, spend a day at Bondi, scale the Sydney Harbour Bridge, meet cute koalas at the zoo and even take a daytrip or two out of town to the Hunter Valley vineyards or atmospheric Blue Mountains.
But whether you’re staying in Sydney for one day or 60, a Sydney pass from Go City is your friend, allowing you to save $$$s when visiting major landmarks and attractions, as well as on tours, cruises and more. The pass is conveniently stored on your mobile device for speedy scan-in entry at each address. You can choose between the Explorer, which allows you to visit a pre-selected number of attractions over a 60-day period, or the All-Inclusive, where you have a shorter number of consecutive days in which to fill your boots with as many Sydney highlights as you humanly can.
Find out more about the different pass types and get yours here.
Here are some of the great Sydney attractions you might find yourself visiting if you’re lucky enough to have 4-6 days to spend in Sydney, many of which are available on the Sydney pass.
Sydney Opera House
Sydney Opera House
This architectural icon requires no introduction, with its soaring concrete sails that take center stage in any Sydney Harbour snap worth its salt. And there are heaps of ways to see it too. From a harbor cruise (lunchtime sightseeing spectacular or romantic sunset sailing with dinner, take your pick). Or on a fascinating Opera House walking tour. Heck, why not splash out and treat yourself to a classic performance of La Traviata or Madama Butterfly on the hallowed stages here? Opera not your speed? Fear not: there’s a regular roster of rock and pop shows here too; Björk, Nick Cave and Crowded House have all played concerts at the Opera House down the years.
Sydney Harbour Bridge
Sydney Harbour Bridge
In much the same way as the Opera House, there are a few different ways to experience this majestic steel-arch icon. Take in classic views from the river, or hit up some of the best sunset viewpoints: the historic The Rocks neighborhood and Mrs Macquarie’s Chair being among the finest in town. Feeling brave? Then why not go full immersion mode and climb the dang thing? Guided walks to the summit, 440 feet above the river, run daily.
North Shore Beaches
North Shore Beaches
The beaches in Sydney’s (huge) North Shore district are well worth a day trip, whether you’re in town for three or 10 days. Take a leisurely stroll from Queenscliff to Shelly Beach, taking in the eco sculpture trail around Cabbage Tree Bay and pausing to snorkel with seahorses and blue gropers in the calm waters of Manly Beach. More adventurous types can try the much longer Narrabeen Lagoon trail or the ascent to Barrenjoey Lighthouse from Palm Beach.
The Rocks
The Rocks
Apart from the aforementioned harbor views, Sydney’s oldest neighborhood offers – deep breath – Insta-perfect old colonial buildings to fill your social feeds, traditional centuries-old pubs, atmospheric cobbled alleyways, a weekend craft market and (perhaps best of all) one of the world’s most remarkable collections of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islands in the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia. Join a walking tour for an informative and entertaining ride through the district’s storied past.
Wild Sydney
Wild Sydney
No matter how many days you have to spend in Sydney, make time to check out at least one of New South Wales’s great wildlife adventures. Taronga Zoo, on the north bank, is of course the most convenient, but Featherdale offers a fine alternative if you fancy getting out of town, or en route to visiting the Blue Mountains. Both have plenty to see and do, with Featherdale focusing fully on Oz’s ferociously cute native critters, including kangaroos, wallabies, quolls, Tasmanian devils, and the region’s biggest collection of koalas. Cute!
Coogee to Bondi Walk
Coogee to Bondi Walk
Widely regarded as one of the best coastal walks on the planet, this gently undulating seaside route is a mere two-mile meander, taking in stellar ocean views and selfie opportunities galore. Take your pick of #humblebrag backdrops from a near-endless list that includes brightly colored fishing boats, cute seaside cafés, verdant manicured parks and pretty sandstone rock formations. Best of all, in no time at all you’ll be in Bondi, where full immersion in the laidback beach lifestyle and classic café culture is more or less essential.
Read our full guide to the beaches at Bondi and Coogee here.
Al Fresco Pools
Al Fresco Pools
Sydney isn’t short of an ocean pool or 10, and everyone should aim to experience at least one on their Sydney vacation. Hewn into the cliffs overlooking Bondi Beach, Bondi Icebergs is perhaps the most legendary and, if you can manage only one, it should probably be this one. That said, the Maccallum Pool overlooking Sydney Harbour, and the epic Wylie’s Baths in Coogee are no slouches either.
Glorious Gardens
Glorious Gardens
There are plenty of fine green spots to explore in central Sydney. Chief among these is the mighty Royal Botanic Garden, with its 74 epic acres of meticulously manicured greens, vibrant tropical plant species, regal rose gardens, awesome manor houses and heart-soaring harbor views. You can also take a stroll along the famous fig-lined avenues of Hyde Park or, if you’re after something a little more secluded, hit up Wendy Whitely’s (not-so-secret) Secret Garden at lovely Lavender Bay.
Out-of-Town Treats
Out-of-Town Treats
If you’re spending four, five, six (or more) days in Sydney, it would be remiss to not also take a day trip out to one of New South Wales’ other A-grade attractions. We’re talking the bewitching Blue Mountains, where a handy hop-on-hop-off bus tour allows you to pick and choose the best bits if you want to go solo. Or you could take the epic Blue Mountains guided tour from Sydney. A visit to Hunter Valley is manna for oenophiles – book a group tour with multiple vineyards and lunch included to sample as many of the local grape juices, without having to worry about the drive home afterwards.
Both of these fantastic premium experiences are available with a Sydney attraction pass. Hit the buttons below to find out more and choose the pass that's right for you...
Stu caught the travel bug at an early age, thanks to childhood road trips to the south of France squeezed into the back of a Ford Cortina with two brothers and a Sony Walkman. Now a freelance writer living on the Norfolk coast, Stu has produced content for travel giants including Frommer’s, British Airways, Expedia, Mr & Mrs Smith, and now Go City. His most memorable travel experiences include drinking kava with the locals in Fiji and pranging a taxi driver’s car in the Honduran capital.
