A Weekend in Sydney: 3 Day Itinerary

If television series such as the late Anthony Bourdain’s The Layover have taught us anything, is that it’s possible to get the very best out of a city in just a few days and create lasting, memorable experiences. You might be surprised by what you can pack into just a weekend in Sydney – after all, it’s easily one of Australia’s most vibrant and exceptional cities.

Whether you’ve arrived by car or by air for your weekend in Sydney, the first thing you will want to do is check in to your Sydney hotel. Once you’ve stayed at an upscale establishment, you’d be surprised by what you’ve been missing out on.

From Club Lounge access in select hotels, to gorgeous pools and fine dining, a luxury hotel – preferably with a king size bed – gives you a supreme place to fall into at the end of a long day exploring Sydney.

If you’re keen to keep active during your trip, your Sydney itinerary definitely needs to include a visit to Manly. The best way to reach Manly from Sydney CBD is to take the ferry from Circular Quay.

Once you arrive at Manly you'll find plenty to see and do. The Spit Bridge to Manly walk is one of Sydney’s most iconic walking tracks, allowing you to take in all of Sydney’s majesty before ending in one of the most desirable places in all of the city.

It’s not a short walk by any means, being around 10km in each direction and taking between 3.5 to 4 hours to complete (one-way), but there are plenty of beautiful lookouts and beaches to cool off at on the way and of course, you can shorten the walk, turning back to your starting point at any stage along the way.

Want to keep the adrenaline pumping? There’s also mountain biking trails at Manly Dam, which can be enjoyed by anyone – from beginners to experts. It may be closed during particularly wet weather, so be sure to check ahead of your visit.

We’re guessing that you’ll likely be quite hungry after your long walk or time spent biking.

There are plenty of great dining spots along the promenade, including Fika Swedish Kitchen with its modest bakery, or you can take in wonderful beach vistas from The Pantry Manly or perhaps Bistro Manly, located at Manly Pacific for ocean views and delicious dining.

If you’re feeling extra fancy, why not consider a long degustation lunch with wine pairings? Several Manly restaurants including The Herring Room and Garfish Manly offer degustation menus that you simply will not forget.

Oh, and you could also pop over to Mrs Jones Bakery located in Freshwater village and enjoy a delicious chocolate thong whilst you stroll down to Freshwater Beach for some sun and sand.

Manly is of course famous for its beaches, so don’t miss the opportunity to cool off after your long walk.

When you’re done frolicking in the waves, you can catch one of the famous ferries back to Circular Quay, returning you to the city.

It’s a great way to unwind and of course a beautiful ride back into the centre of Sydney, particularly if you sit on the back deck with a coffee in hand.

As the evening progresses, it’s always a good time to take in the local music scene. Some great spots to do this are at Enmore Theatre, one of Sydney’s best live gig sites that hosts everything from stand-up comedy to international headliners.

For a more laid-back option, there are plenty of pubs in The Rocks district that let you wine and dine with a musical atmosphere.

We’re starting off our second day much slower by recommending you indulge with some room service from the comfort of your own hotel.

Or, if you don’t mind starting off day two a little early, you can take in the wonderful views and enjoy a breakfast picnic at the Royal Botanic Garden.

Along the east of Sydney, small suburbs dot the coast. Our in-depth guide to the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney is a great starting point for anyone new to the area.

Each suburb is home to the sensational beaches that make Sydney famous, and each beach is perfect for an afternoon stroll with a scoop of ice cream (or two).

A great way to take in the harbour views in Sydney's eastern suburbs is on the Hermitage Foreshore Walk between Rose Bay and Vaucluse. Stop off at one of the hidden beaches long the way to dip your toes in the harbour.

Discover the local shopping scene and enjoy some ocean-fresh seafood before heading back into the city for the evening. 

Returning to the city, you can now spend the evening bar-hopping in Surry Hills.

Start off with cocktails and tapas at Li’l Darlin or, if you prefer, you can party like a Japanese salaryman at Goros. There really are so many bars across Surry Hills that you’ll be spoilt for choice!

We imagine that last night’s bar hopping will have you in bed quite late; we recommend sleeping in late, before heading into the city for some shopping.

First stop: the Queen Victoria Building (QVB), where you'll find pretty much anything you could want, from crafts and games to high-end fashion. Then it's just a hop away to The Galeries, where you'll find one of Sydney's best bookstores: Kinokuniya.

Some may say that it’s just a book store, but we say otherwise: Kinokuniya houses not only books (and sometimes rare ones at that), but also a mini art gallery, pop culture goods, stationery, and an impressive collection of international comics and visual novels.

You can also grab a coffee or bite to eat there at the nearby famed Black Star Pastry, home to some of the world’s most Instagrammed treats.

As Kinokuniya is set over Sydney’s Town Hall station, now is also a great time to enjoy some inner-city shopping. The Galeries are a great place to start for more upmarket wares, whilst the underground halls of the train station itself offer up more casual shopping.

With your new mementos in hand and a busy weekend behind you, you can be sure you got the most out of your weekend in Sydney.