Sydney Harbour icons, blissful beachside moments, and a slice of Sydney history – welcome to three days in the Harbour City you won’t forget. Whether you’re climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge, learning to surf, or discovering the city’s trendiest eateries, this Sydney micro break has something for everyone. Here’s how to plan the perfect three-day itinerary.
Day 1 Heart of the Harbour
See & Do
Map out Sydney from above with BridgeClimb – a unique tour that lets you scale the arched heights of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Choose a day, twilight or evening climb and feel the thrill of ascending this incredible engineering marvel. Prefer to stay grounded? Walk the fenced path across the bridge and get your thrills at Luna Park on the retro Wild Mouse rollercoaster.
Admire the harbour icons on a budget by boarding a ferry at Circular Quay to Manly or Taronga Zoo. You’ll navigate past Sydney Harbour Bridge, gaze back at the city skyline, and cruise by the creamy curves of Sydney Opera House. For guided sightseeing experiences, Captain Cook offers various tours, including hop-on/hop-off services stopping at Barangaroo, Watsons Bay, and Manly.
Great for wildlife fans and curious kids, Taronga Zoo is well worth a visit. Since opening its gates in 1916 in leafy Mosman, it’s enjoyed a prime position on Sydney Harbour. The zoo is home to a remarkable array of native Australian species and exotic animals from around the world. Meet a capybara, watch the Free Flight Bird Show with city views, or sleepover at Roar and Snore.
Much of the wonder of the Royal Botanic Garden is the contrast of lush greenery against the cityscape and its famous neighbours, Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. A rambling oasis of more than 30 hectares, explore the gardens, enjoy a picnic or take a tour. The Aboriginal Bush Tucker Tour takes guests into Cadi Jam Ora garden, explaining the traditional uses of bush foods and their adaptation for modern cuisine.
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Lunch: Grab sandwiches and coffee from Leaf Dept. Cafe, and borrow one of their picnic rugs to relax on the grass.
Where: Mrs Macquarie’s Road, Botanic Gardens Sydney
botanicgardens.org.au/facility/leaf-dept-cafe
Dinner: Try The Collective, a dining district with five venues: The Garden, The Dining Room and Tailor Room, plus timeless favourites Sake and The Cut Bar & Grill.
Where: 12-18 Argyle St, The Rocks
thecollectiverocks.com.au
Drinks: Opera Bar is a magical spot for drinks, day or night. Sit on the edge of the glittering harbour under the imposing sails.
Where: Sydney Opera House, lower concourse
operabar.com.au
Day 2 Surf and Shopping
See & Do
Today we hit the surf! At Sydney’s Bondi Beach, book a group surfing lesson with Lets Go Surfing, or stroll the promenade, scoping out the people-watching scene. Another coastal gem is Clovelly – sheltered in a narrow bay, it’s famed for abundant marine life and European-style concrete terraces where locals sunbake. It’s also part of the six-kilometre Bondi-to-Coogee Coastal Walk, which takes two to three hours.
After a day of surf and sunshine, it’s time for retail therapy at one of Sydney’s largest retail precincts, Westfield Sydney. Boasting more than 280 retail stores — Gucci, Loewe, Piaget, Zara, Tommy Hilfiger and more — it also has proximity to Sydney Tower Eye, a skyline needle 250 metres above the streets offering 360-degree views.
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Brunch: Speedo’s at Bondi Beach is famous for its colourful, Insta-worthy brunch favourites.
Where: 126 Ramsgate Avenue, Bondi
speedoscafe.com.au
Lunch: Refuel with takeaway seafood from Bronte Fish & Chips and eat on the grass overlooking the Bogey Hole ocean pool.
Where: 491 Bronte Rd, Bronte
Dinner: Tonight it’s all about fresh Italian flavours from Sydney’s on-trend trattoria, Totti’s, with venues in Bondi, Rozelle and the city. Must menu item? The famed ‘puffy’ woodfired bread.
merivale.com/venues/tottis
DAY 3 Arts and Culture
See & Do
Spend day three admiring art in grand buildings and tracing Sydney’s captivating history. The Art Gallery of New South Wales is rich with the legacy of grand European masters, Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander artworks and fine examples of Australian modernists. Spend time viewing the latest exhibitions plus star attractions such as Pablo Picasso’s Nude in a Rocking Chair; Paul Cézanne’s Bords de la Marne; and Sidney Nolan’s Kelly series.
Want to understand Australia’s convict past? Visit Hyde Park Barracks Museum, one of the world’s most significant convict landmarks. Inside the UNESCO World Heritage site there’s an immersive self-guided exhibit with cutting-edge technology and more than 4,000 original artifacts, conveying personal tales of convicts, First Nations people and migrants, from their own viewpoints.
Get cultured family style at the Australian Museum with free entry for kids, hands-on creativity in Kidspace, and permanent exhibitions: Dinosaurs, Wild Planet, and Megafauna. Budding palaeontologists will be wowed by the interactive dinosaur displays, where you can make dinosaur roars and see the world from a prehistoric perspective!
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Coffee: The Grounds of Alexandria is scene-stealing selfie wonderland, with plenty of food stands, cafes, whimsical gardens and play areas.
Where: 7a/2 Huntley Street, Alexandria
thegrounds.com.au
Lunch: On the ground floor of the Naala Nura at the Art Gallery of NSW, Crafted by Matt Moran is a sophisticated spot for lunch with seasonal, shareable dishes.
Where: The Domain, Art Gallery Road
craftedbymattmoran.com.au
Dinner: Feast on slow-roasted Greek lamb, tzatziki and village bread under a 50-year-old bougainvillea tree in a sun-splashed courtyard at Olympus.
Where: Wunderlich Lane, 2 Baptist Street, Redfern
olympusdining.com.au
Where to stay
Beach Break: Intercontinental Coogee
The luxury hotel brand opened on Coogee Beach in late 2025, with a coastal chic vibe and premium seafood dining at Rick Stein’s first Sydney restaurant. Deluxe suites enjoy a seamless indoor-outdoor design with outdoor bath and breathtaking beach vistas.
Where: 242 Arden Street, Coogee
Splurge: The Eve Hotel
Inside this boutique hotel every corner feels curated and chic. Ideal for stylish wanderers, take a dip in the rooftop pool looking over the urban backdrop, dine on innovative dishes in design-led spaces or retreat to your decadent room.
Where: 8 Baptist St, Redfern
Harbour Views: Sydney Harbour Hotel
For five-star Sydney Harbour views without the hefty price tag, this hotel is comfortably casual, with a stunning rooftop pool and Sydney’s oldest neighbourhood at your doorstep.
Where: 55 George Street, The Rocks
