Your Ultimate Guide to Sydney: 4 Day Itinerary
If you’re planning on going to Australia, the odds are high that Sydney is on your list. This was the city that my dad and I flew into to kick start our massive three-and-a-half-week trip down under.
How Many Days Should I Spend in Sydney?
If you’re planning a trip to Sydney, I really don’t think you need more than four days there; make sure you plan to go to some other places in Australia because Sydney is just one part of it.
You need to think of Sydney as Australia’s New York… and there’s a lot more to the states than Manhattan, right?
My dad and I were there for four days… so rest assured – I’ve got you covered.
Let me break down our 4-day itinerary to you…
4-Day Itinerary For a First Time Trip to Sydney
Day 1:
My dad and I took a red-eye on New Year’s Eve from Los Angeles and arrived at around 8 in the morning.
I saw the opera house from the plane…
See the tiny little white specs that look like teeth…? That’s the Opera House!
… I was suddenly, simultaneously hyper and emotional.
I couldn’t believe I was finally here.
Now, everyone handles jet lag differently. For me, I’m the odd one out: it seems to always affect me when I go west instead of east.
Meaning, every time that I come back from Europe… well, let’s just say that breakfast is at three in the morning and bedtime is at six for at least a solid week.
My dad and I are tough cookies; so, we simply showered after our long journey across the Pacific Ocean, and then we were off.
I don’t usually do this when I travel alone, but I was with my dad – and everywhere we went across the country growing up – he would ask the front desk what they recommend… and read books on what to do.
I usually tease him to get with the times, but on this one – he came through.
We walked towards the Botanical Gardens in search for Mrs. Macquarie's Chair.
On our way to Mrs. Macquarie's Chair in Sydney; January 2019
It’s a nice walk where you’ll immediately feel yourself immersed in Aussie culture, especially if you go in their summertime.
Taking selfies with the Sydney Opera House as we walk along Farm Cove!
What is the Atmosphere in Sydney like?
There are runners everywhere. My dad heard from a friend that Aussies live a, “very satisfied” life – and it shows in the way they carry themselves.
Australians are beyond friendly; while my dad and I were walking – a man actually stopped us and asked us if we needed help finding anything… when it’s usually the other way around.
I heard this from many Aussie friends I met in Italy, but didn’t believe it until I got there… Australia really doesn’t get that many American tourists. It’s unfortunate, but it’s most likely due to the distance – because Australia is out there.
Long story short, if you’re an American in Australia: they’ll notice!
Where Can I Get a Good Picture of the Sydney Opera House?
There are several places in Sydney to get a good picture of the Opera House, but personally – I think Mrs. Macquarie's Chair has the best view of the Sydney Opera House.
This is probably the sharpest view you’ll get of the opera house. It’s the quintessential Sydney view you’ve dreamt of. If you’re into photography, this is one of the places I recommend.
The view from Mrs. Macquarie's Chair; January 2019
“The Rocks” and Circular Quay
Afterwards, my dad and I were ready for food. There’s a really cute neighborhood called, “The Rocks” nearby that has tons of both casual and trendy places to grab a bite.
An unreal view of the Sydney Harbor Bridge peeking through the streets of the Rocks.
We found a mediterranean place in Sydney’s, “The Rocks” Neighborhood.
My dad and I then walked by Circular Quay (which is pronounced key… now you know and won’t sound like idiots the way my dad and I did for the first week of our down under trip!) to take a ferry on the Sydney Harbor (but when looking for signs, remember: they use the British spelling of English – so it’ll say, ‘Harbour’).
Circular Quay in Sydney; January 2019
You’ll pass one of Australia’s Luna Parks and get more shots of the stunning Sydney Opera House.
View of Luna Park in Sydney; January 2019
The view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge from the ferry; January 2019
A stellar view of the Sydney Opera House from the ferry; January 2019
By this point, my dad and I were ready for a break before an exciting night ahead of us.
Yes… plot twist: we’re human and we need sleep, too.
My cousin was (coincidentally) in Sydney that night too – and she booked us all tickets to see a show inside the Opera House.
Before that, we went to one of the best restaurants both my dad and I had ever been to.
Where is the best Vegan Restaraunt in Sydney?
The absolute best vegan place in Sydney is called Alibi, and its near Woolloomooloo… and yes, those indigenous Aussie areas are just as difficult to pronounce as they look.
We tried their vegan cheese platter…
Alibi Restaurant in Sydney, NSW in January 2019
… and the pumpkin gnocchi, and the charcoal buns, and some of the cheesecakes, and it was all… heavenly.
We caught our show at the Sydney Opera House afterwards.
What Should I know before going to the sydney opera house for a concert?
It’s like many general admission shows in the states – don’t come in with a bottle with a cap because they’ll take it away from you. However, since it’s the opera house, they do have places to store things for you while you enjoy your show.
We saw a Beatle’s tribute… it was great.
If you’re able to book tickets for a show, I think it’s a must… I mean, once you can say you’ve been inside the Sydney Opera House… you can’t say many more things cooler than that, can you?
There’s an atmospheric bar inside, but be warned – it’s expensive.
I’d show you my pictures of the Harbor Bridge and the Opera House and night… but they’re just awful.
Okay fine… I’ll show you one…
The Sydney Harbour Bridge at night; January 2019
… but it’s awful, right?
It’s truly one of those things that you can only see with your own two eyes.
You’ll just have to book a plane ticket and see it for yourself, one day…
Day 2:
Today was a beach day, for my dad and I. The first one we decided to check out was Manly Beach.
Once again, you’ll be finding yourself at Circular Quay to get there.
Manly Beach; January 2019
Now, I’m not a beach girl… I’m not usually one whose keen to the feeling of sand between her toes, but this… was something else.
Enjoying Manly beach in Sydney, NSW, Australia; January 2019
It was a chill day… and when in Australia, be sure to give yourself some of those… because that’s the exact essence of Aussies themselves.
You’ll hear these words for yourself soon enough…
No worries. It’s alright.
Exploring Chinatown in Sydney
We ended our day with dinner in Sydney’s Chinatown at a vegan Mexican place called, “Bad Hombres.”
They had some really good grilled corn…
Grilled corn at Bad Hombres in Sydney; January 2019
… and some stellar veggie tacos.
Tacos at Bad Hombres in Sydney; January 2019
However, if I were to pick one vegan we ate at in Sydney place over the other – it would still be Alibi.
Day 3:
Today we visited what is perhaps the most known beach to tourists visiting Australia, and one of my favorites…
… Bondi Beach.
The easiest way my dad and I decided to get there was by Uber. It wasn’t too bad when we chose to pool, and it saved us the most valuable time that taking the ferry would’ve taken from us: time.
When you get there, you’ll first be blown away…
Bondi Beach, Syndey, NSW; January 2019
… and then, you’ll want to take a picture of the Iceberg pools, only to find that there not that cool and that you need to pay to go inside.
People in line for the Iceberg Pools at Bondi Beach; January 2019
I mean, when I was hearing the word iceberg, I was expecting some sort of crystal, artsy, unconventional, small body of water that wasn’t open to the public.
Is It Worth Going to the Iceberg Pools at Bondi Beach in Sydney?
No, it’s really not worth paying to go inside the Iceberg pools. It’s a just a hipster, teal swimming pool, and plus – you have the exact same view you would have from the Iceberg pools as you could from the beach itself. Essentially, you’re paying more money to swim in ocean water that’s been contained in a box.
The Iceberg Pools at Bondi Beach; January 2019
Instead of paying to go inside, what you can and should do while you’re at Bondi Beach (if you’re not planning on tanning!) is the costal walk.
When you’re at Bondi Beach, be sure to do the Costal Walk!
What Should I Do at Bondi Beach?
When you’re at Bondi Beach, you have to do the Coastal Walk. This is where you’ll see just how majestic Bondi Beach really is.
Bondi Beach, Syndey, NSW; January 2019
The opportunities for photos are endless…
Bondi Beach, Syndey, NSW; January 2019
Bondi Beach, Syndey, NSW; January 2019
Bondi Beach, Syndey, NSW; January 2019
Afterwards, my dad and I went by BridgeClimb Sydney… but we weren’t too thrilled about the price – as it costs around $250 USD to go up the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
I think one day, when I head back to Australia, I’ll do it – so I can’t give anymore advice right now, but stay tuned for the future.
Instead of doing they bridge climb, we walked across the bridge itself. There are places alongside where you can pay to climb up for views, as well…
… but I got this one, for free.
View of the Sydney Opera House from the Harbor Bridge; January 2019
Afterwards, we went back to the hotel and changed our clothes and got cleaned up before ending our day in the coolest way possible.
Sydney Tower Eye
If you’re new to the blog, you’ll quickly find out that one of my favorite things to do when I travel is research the highest view-points in the city and go up them.
I was set on going up the Sydney Tower Eye.
Now, you can either buy a ticket to the observation deck – or did what my dad and I did all throughout our trip Down Under…
... just make a reservation at the bar (which there almost always is one) at the top, and buy a drink – and enjoy the views for free.
Going to the restaurants on the top floor is a smart alternative to paying for an expensive ticket to the observation deck.
Well, it’s not free – you’re paying for the drink… but this way, you’re getting two things for the price of one.
Is There a Dress Code for the Sydney Tower Eye?
Just be careful, because some of these places have a dress code. Yes, it’s goofy given it’s Australia, and so many things are kept so casual down there, but… they wouldn’t let us in because my dad was wearing open toed sandals; we had to walk to our hotel and back just to change shoes to be admitted.
It was annoying, but hopefully – you can avoid this mistake now… and it was all good, because once we got up there, we enjoyed it.
View of Sydney from the Sydney Tower Eye; January 2019
We snacked on olives and vegetable chips while we soaked up the views of Sydney.
View of Sydney from the Sydney Tower Eye; January 2019
Snacking on olives at the Sydney Tower Eye; January 2019
Most importantly – I celebrated getting to every single city on the back of this shirt in only a year and a half!
I brought this shirt all the way to Australia with me to celebrate!
Day 4:
My dad and I were fortunate enough to have a distant cousin who took us to the Blue Mountains for the day.
Before we started our journey, she drove us across the Harbor Bridge and showed us this view near Milsons Point…
A gorgeous view on the other side of the Harbor Bridge; January 2019
If you want to hear about our trip to the Blue Mountains, click here.
We ended our day with dinner at Darling Harbor.
Darling Harbour in Sydney, NSW; January 2019
Where Should I Eat at Darling Harbour?
We went to love.fish – it was recommended to us at the hotel reception desk. My dad and I can approve; though I’m not going to rave about it. They did have some really good crispy veggies on the menu, though…
Crispy veggies at love.fish at Darling Harbour in Sydney; January 2019
And that was our 4-day itinerary in Sydney before we headed off to Brisbane!
I hope this gave you some ideas on what to do on your upcoming trip to Sydney. If you’re looking for other things to do in Australia, click here.
Last updated: June 5, 2025