A weekend in Sydney: 3-day itinerary

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.

Known for being a city of villages, Sydney is the kind of city you could spend days exploring. You can enjoy great cafés and indie shopping in Newtown, explore the local marketplaces of Paddington, or check out the huge array of art galleries and museums dotted all over the city. Wake up, roll out of bed, and grab breakfast before heading to your “village” of choosing.

If you’re keen to keep active during your trip, your Sydney itinerary definitely needs to include a trail to Manly in some form. The Spit Bridge to Manly walk is one of Sydney’s most iconic trails, 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 brunch 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.

Once you’re back in the city, why not enjoy a relaxing spa at one of the city’s many relaxation spots? Grand Royal Thai Massage on Clarence Street has private, singles and couples rooms, and offers a wide array of massage therapies that will be very much welcomed if you’ve been hiking and mountain biking all day!

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.

You'll need to hire a canoe, kayak, stand-up paddle board, or boat (unless you have your own), but sailing along the Sydney harbour is the best way to take in the city. Float along the serene waters with views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House decorating the landscape. 

Sydney-siders love a good bottomless brunch, meaning that there are plenty of options available to you. If you're planning to stay close to the Sydney CBD, Bartolo is a popular destination. You will begin your experience with a signature spritz before you dive into 90 minutes of bottomless wine paired with a three-course feast of signature snacks, Italian classics, pasta and seafood. 

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). Discover the local shopping scene and enjoy some ocean-fresh seafood (if you haven't filled up from brunch) 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 Galleries 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.