For our first day in Australia, we followed a walking itinerary of Sydney's must-see sights in one day . Despite the fatigue from the previous day's journey and the jet lag, I must say that this optimized route was perfect for a day of sightseeing at a pleasant pace and under the sun!
Organization of our Sydney tour in 1 day
Since we had very little time to spend in Sydney , it was impossible for us to visit everything. We had to make compromises.
As usual, I started by consulting my Lonely Planet guide to list the must-see attractions in Sydney . Then, I went online to travel blogs and forums to look at photos and read detailed reviews of these places. This allowed me to carefully select only the ones that appealed to me most, based on my tastes and preferences.
Next, I checked if all these visits were feasible in a single day . Then I organized them into a walking tour to optimize the precious time we always seem to lack!
Here is how our day of visiting Sydney's must-see sights unfolded.
Sydney in 1 day - My must-sees
Here are the stages of my walking tour which took us about 5 hours at a leisurely pace:
- CCircular Quay
- Campbell's Cove and Campbell's Storehouses
- Harbour Bridge
- Walsh bay
- Observatory Hill
- The Rocks
- Museum of Contemporary Art (George St.)
- Opera quays
- The Opera
- Royal Botanic Garden
Sydney in 1 day - Map of my walking route
Click on "More options" in the map to follow the GPS
Sydney Highlights Tour in 1 Day
Sydney Highlights - Circular Quay
Our walking tour started at Circular Quay . I must say, I booked our hotel specifically because of its proximity to Circular Quay. This area is a hub for Sydney's most popular and lively tourist attractions. From our hotel, we walked there in 10 minutes. The area is really nice, with a beautiful view, a relaxed atmosphere, and a few shops, bars, and restaurants…
The walk continues towards Campbell's Cove . This is the photo stop to take a picture of the famous Harbour Bridge.
Sydney Highlights - Harbor Bridge
Then we continue the circuit, turning towards the bridge and climbing onto the Harbour Bridge via stairs and a pedestrian walkway (east side). We reach the Pylon Lookout pillar , from where we have a panoramic view of all of Sydney and, of course, its beautiful Opera House.
Sydney Highlights - Observatory Hill
We head back to Walsh Bay towards Observatory Hill . We climb this small hill from which we get another view of the city of Sydney.
We continue our walk towards The Rocks district.
Sydney Highlights - The Rocks
The Rocks is a small historic district (dating from the beginning of colonization) very close to the port. It consists of a few beautiful buildings, pretty identical houses lined up, cottages with sandstone facades and old pubs.
Sydney Highlights - Museum of Contemporary Art
Small detour to the beautiful Museum of Modern Art (free entry) that we will visit in half an hour.
Sydney Highlights - Opera Quays
This is where we sit down for lunch with a fish and chips on the terrace of a small restaurant facing the quays.
We will continue our tour of Sydney along the quay to reach the famous Opera House.
Sydney Highlights - Sydney Opera House
It is Sydney's most famous and touristic site. Its architecture, which dates from the XNUMXth century, is majestic and allows light to be captured with colors that change according to the time and place from which the photos are taken.
The Opera can be visited inside, but I must admit that I didn't really want to spend $ 42 to see the interior, which I had already seen in photos on the Internet.
Sydney Highlights - Royal Botanic Garden
It is in beautiful gardens that we end our short tour of Sydney's must-sees.
I could have added a few sites that I was planning to visit in Sydney but I preferred to book them for the next morning and thus better enjoy the atmosphere of Circular Quay…
My cheap hotel in Sydney
We spent 2 nights at the City Lodge Hotel (now called Comfort Hotel Sydney City ) – Price per night: 88 Euros without breakfast.
In addition to its very low price, its main advantage is its location . Situated in Sydney's business district, it boasts a very central location with Winyard Station right next door, providing direct access to the airport. Furthermore, located between the two major thoroughfares of Pitts Street and George Street, it's only a 15-minute walk from the iconic Sydney Opera House. From this hotel, you can also walk to Circular Quays, The Rocks, and the harbor in just 10 minutes!
Admittedly, its decoration is a little dated (and the carpet stained) but a kitchen with a dining area is available in the common areas (very practical for the evening when you are too tired to go to the restaurant).
Discover the rest of my stay in Sydney: