5-day itinerary to see the very best of Sydney in style

Morning 

Start your trip by ticking off some of Sydney’s most famous icons. Book a dawn climb on the Sydney Harbour Bridge to see the sun rising over Sydney Harbour with BridgeClimb, or paddle under the famous archway and over to the Sydney Opera House on an eco-certified Sydney by Kayak tour. 

If you prefer a more relaxed morning, take a guided walk with Aboriginal Harbour Heritage Tour, an Aboriginal Bush Tucker Tour of the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney or hop aboard a two-hour wellness cruise with Wellness Afloat, a luxury floating sauna and cold plunge.  

BridgeClimb Sydney, Sydney Harbour

Afternoon  

For lunch, taste the best produce the city has to offer. Slurp Sydney rock oysters at Opera Bar by the Sydney Opera House or dine on local NSW ingredients at BTWN at W Hotel; you’ll have prime views of Darling Harbour as you sample drops from 2025’s NSW Sommelier’s Wine List of the Year. Catch the tram down George Street to find some of Australia's best shops and boutique designers, as well as social media-famous sweets: try TikTok’s favourite French hot chocolate at Manon Brasserie in the QVB or visit Black Star Pastry's city outpost for a slice of the strawberry watermelon cake, said to be the most Instagrammed cake in the world. 

If you prefer to tick off all your foodie must-trys in one go, Taste of Sydney tour with Ultimately Sydney runs every Saturday and is a five-hour, four-course travelling lunch that features some of the city’s best dishes. 

Opera Bar, Circular Quay

Evening 

Head to one of Sydney's city theatres to check out a memorable performance, such as the Sydney Opera House, State Theatre, Sydney Theatre Company or Capitol Theatre. Check our currently showing musicals guide here and our theatre shows guide here. End your night out with drinks at the highest bar in Sydney, Bar 83. This revolving venue within Sydney Tower serves spectacular cocktails against the backdrop of the city’s twinkling lights.

Bar 83 at Sydney Tower, Sydney CBD

Morning 

The leafy suburbs of the inner east are home to some of the hottest bars and restaurants in the city, as well as some of Sydney’s most stylish residents. Start off your journey with a Sydneysider's favourite meal of the day: brunch. One of the most popular places for a long and lazy mid-morning meal is Bills in Surry Hills. Its founder, the late celebrity chef Bill Granger, is credited as the inventor of Australia’s most famous brunch item, avocado on toast. There are plenty more cafe options along Crown Street and surrounds – such as Paramount Coffee Project, Artificer, Cafe Kentaro and Cafe Tanja, the latter also serving delicious north African fare. Or head to its northern end to explore Darlinghurst and Oxford Street; Ampersand is a lovely brunch spot within a bookstore, with more than 30,000 titles on the shelves.  

Avocado on toast at Bills Surry Hills - Credit: Anson Smart

Afternoon

While you’re in Surry Hills, you can hit the shops – including Vampt Vintage for collectable homewares, Zoo Vintage Emporium for funky fashions as well as the high-end fashion boutiques of the neighbouring suburb of Paddington. Alternatively, uncover the treasure-trove of wonderful art galleries in the area, including M2 Gallery and the Sherman Contemporary Art Foundation. 

Break up the day with a long lunch on one of the many rooftop bars in Sydney – The Butler in Potts Point, Light Brigade Hotel in Woollahra or Slims in Darlinghurst are all popular spots with amazing views and enticing menus.

The Butler, Potts Point

Evening 

Theatre lovers could check out what’s on at Belvoir St Theatre in Surry Hills, where the programming proudly focuses on Australian filmmakers and Aboriginal stories. If you’re looking for a local’s guide to the best restaurants in the neighbourhood, join a three- or four-course dining tour with The Sydney Connection.   

Belvoir St Theatre, Surry Hills

Morning 

Sydney’s Inner West is a vibrant community of unique suburbs with treasures hidden in every alley, street and warehouse. Marrickville is famous for its diverse and delicious cafes: try Valentinas for comforting American all-day diner food or Kurumac for a Japanese-inspired breakfast. After fuelling up for the day, discover some of the suburb's funky street art along Faversham Lane, Chalder Street, Marrickville Road and Illawarra Road. 

Take a moment mid-morning to indulge in a wellness treatment at Nature’s Energy Bathhouse with locations in Newtown and Glebe. Voted Australia’s best day spa and Oceania’s best day spa in 2025 for the fourth year running, the spa offers relaxing massages, facials and sauna sessions with a cold plunge. 

Cod roe toastie at Kurumac, Marrickville

Afternoon  

The Inner West is famous for being Sydney’s craft beer hub and you can hop from brewery to brewery to sip on some of the best locally made pints. Marrickville is home to The Bob Hawke Beer & Leisure Centre, Philter and the naturally fermented brews at Wildflower. In Newtown, visit Young Henry’s or Willie the Boatman. Most breweries can also serve you up a feed with your brews. For a complete list of all the area’s many breweries, check out the Inner West Ale Trail.

If you’d like a designated driver to guide you through this hoppy journey, book a brewery tour with Dave’s Tours, which stops in at three of Sydney’s best. 

The Bob Hawke Beer & Leisure Centre, Marrickville - Credit: The Bob Hawke Beer & Leisure Centre

Evening 

Spend the afternoon wandering up and down King Street and Enmore Road in Newtown, where vintage boutiques, design shops and plenty of bars and restaurants create a colourful vibe from day to night. Book entertainment of a different kind at The Imperial in Erskineville. Famous for its starring role in The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, this camp icon is one of the best places to celebrate LGBTQIA+ culture with Drag N Dine, music and cabaret performances. If your perfect night is less about dance floors and more about dessert, cap off your evening with a scoop of award-winning ice cream from Cow and the Moon – the almond affogato flavour was voted world’s best gelato in 2014. 

Cow and the Moon, Enmore

Morning 

Sparkling blue ocean, fun eateries and a laid-back beach lifestyle sums up Sydney’s world-famous Bondi. Brave the winter waves for a morning surf lesson with Lets Go Surfing – there are lessons for beginners and more advanced wave riders. After your time in the water, warm up with a coffee and brunch from one of Bondi’s best cafes – Porch and Parlour serves delicious nourishing meals alongside live music and has a ceramics shop, too.   

Surfing at Bondi Beach

Afternoon  

May to November is whale-watching season in Sydney, and a coastal walk offers the best vantage point for spotting some of the 40,000 humpback and southern right whales that make their way along Sydney’s coastline in their annual migration to and from Antarctica. Head south on the two-hour Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk, where the clifftop track offers incredible views of the crystalline coves of Bronte, Tamarama and Gordons Bay. From Bondi you can also head north and take on part of the epic 80km Bondi to Manly Walk. The section between Dover Heights and Watsons Bay offers panoramic views out to the ocean, and North Head in Manly is known for being whale-watching territory (take the ferry from Circular Quay to speed up your walk!). If you aren't visiting in winter, the views are just as enchanting minus the wildlife. 

Mother and calf whales spotted along the Sydney coastline, Bondi Beach

Evening 

If you’ve ended up across the bridge in Manly, continue your coastal exploration aboard a magnificent 61-foot yacht for a sunset sailing cruise with Manly Sailing. If you’ve made it to Coogee, sample the wine list 400-bottles strong at the Coogee Wine Room and match the beach vibes with a Mediterranean-inspired menu of small plates.  

Coogee Pavilion, Coogee

Morning 

The early riser catches the fish. Start your last day in Sydney at 6:40am with a Sydney Fish Market Behind the Scenes Tours. Access closed-to-the-public areas like the private auction floor and see live demonstrations of tuna filleting, sushi prep and oyster shucking.   

Vendor with a king crab, Sydney Fish Market

Afterwards, hop on the light rail to Haymarket for yum cha. Find a table at one of the famed institutions like The Eight, XOPP by Golden Century, Emperor's Garden or Palace Chinese. Don’t leave without getting a mango pancake from the trolley – a Sydney-invented dim sum dish. Another Saturday morning custom, and a great way to try local produce from all over NSW, is heading to one of the city’s weekend markets. Carriageworks Farmers Market is held just near Redfern Station. Here, stallholders from across the state sell their cheese, cured meats, vegetables, flowers and more. 

Carriageworks Farmers Markets, Eveleigh - Credit: Jacquie Manning

Afternoon  

If you want to continue grazing, Sydney’s Chinatown offers streets and alleyways full of delicious treats from across Asia. Find Taiwanese snacks at Mother Chu's, steaming-hot xiao long bao (soup dumplings) at Nanjing Dumpling or flaky roti from Malaysian favourite Mamak. Learn more about the history of Chinatown and Chinese migration in Sydney and taste some favourite dishes along the way on a tour with Local Sauce Tours.  

Get into high spirits at a workshop at some of the city’s best craft distilleries. Archie Rose makes one of Sydney’s most loved gins – join a workshop at the Rosebery distillery and blend your favourite botanicals into your own mini bottles. Rum haven Brix Distillers in Surry Hills offers cocktail-making classes and rum-spicing workshops or simply explore the distillery on a behind-the-scenes tour. 

Archie Rose Distilling Co., Rosebery

Evening 

Tonight, head for dinner at Burwood Chinatown. This neon-lit food precinct has become a popular spot for late-night snacking, with traditional restaurants and more than 50 street food stalls and eateries hawking everything from guo kui (clay oven-baked flat breads), lamb skewers, sweet egg waffles, bubble teas and more.  

Burwood Chinatown, Burwood