24 Hours in Sydney Itinerary (2023)

Do you have only one day in Sydney? Then here is the perfect 24 hours in Sydney itinerary. But before I proceed further, let me be honest and tell you that you have plenty of things to do in Sydney and 24 hours is a short period of time to explore this amazingly beautiful city.

There are many times where I have visited a city only for a day. I have visited a city just for a day, either because of transit or lack of vacation time. In spite of having very little time, I have stepped out and explored the city. In such scenarios, I have wanted someone to let me know the top sightseeing places that I can visit in that one day.

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Disclaimers:

• The prices mentioned in the post are valid only at the time of publication. Ensure to check the booking websites for up to date information and prices.
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• Ensure to check the relevant websites for up to date information on COVID protocols.
• For any adventurous activities, please note that there is a risk that can be dangerous. Ensure to read the terms and conditions with individual agencies recommended and do them at your own risk.
• For visas, it is best to see the embassy website for any changing rules.

About Sydney

Located on the East Coast of Australia, Sydney is the capital city of New South Wales (NSW) and is the largest city in Australia. Famous for its Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the city is full of life and is vibrant.

Note that Sydney is an expensive city and can blow you out of your budget if not planned well. Do not stress as the city offers many of the free things to do such as watching a Vivid festival during the season, visiting best beaches, or walking some of the best coastal walks such as Bondi to Coogee or Spit Bridge to Manly.

The best time to visit Sydney is in Spring (September till November) and Autumn (March till May) seasons. These months are pleasant and are not too hot or cold. And Sydney is covered with pretty flowers during Spring and fall colours during Autumn.

Are you in Sydney during the winter season? Then read my post things to do in Sydney winters to find all the cool things you can do in this beautiful city.

Local transportation in Sydney

There are four modes of public transportation in Sydney:

• Trains,
• Buses,
• Ferries, and
• Light Rails.

The main train station is Central train station and the city circle includes Central, Town Hall, Wynyard, Circular Quay, St John’s and Museum train stations.

Buy an Opal transportation card as soon as you come out of the airport. This is the transportation card that you can use to travel around public transport. Opal card must be tapped in when boarding and tapped out when offboarding on the platforms.

You can also use your credit or debit card to tap in and out of the public transport. However, Opal cards provide discounts on the fares.

Things to see in Sydney

As I mentioned, Sydney has heaps of things to see and do. Every corner and suburb is beautiful and offers something or the other to its visitors. But since you have shortage of time, I suggest you consider only a few of the things mentioned below.

Taronga Zoo

Officially opened in 1916, the Taronga zoo in Sydney is one of the oldest in Australia. Spread across 69 acres, the Taronga Zoo is a big zoo in the city and has a huge variety of animals (as many as 4000 animals). The zoo is divided into many animal exhibits based on their natural habitat. They also offer the encounters with some of the animals, which are definitely worth the visit. There are educational talk shows, wildlife conservation and research as well.

Ensure to do the ‘Feed the giraffe’ animal encounter. This is really awesome as the giraffes come really up close. Unfortunately, I have not done it in the Sydney Taronga Zoo as it was always sold out but I have done this in Taronga Western Plains Zoo at Dubbo and it was amazing.

How to get to Taronga Zoo?

Located in Mosman suburb of Sydney city, Taronga Zoo is relatively easy to get to. There are a number of ways, you can reach the zoo. But one of the best ways is to take a ferry from Circular Quay to Taronga Zoo.

• Circular Quay is part of the City Circle and hence all the trains that go through the city circle will stop at Circular Quay. There are many trains / light rails that travel between Wynyard and Circular Quay stations. You can also walk between the stations as it is just about 10 minutes walk.
• From Circular Quay, take a ferry to Taronga Zoo. It is one of the beautiful ferry rides providing great views of the harbour and the bridge.
• More up-to-date information can be found on the Transport for NSW website.

Circular Quay

A stroll along the Circular Quay is a must. Circular Quay is a cultural and historical harbour in Sydney. It is a waterfront area and is the common starting point for any Sydney tour. The place is also very close to the Sydney Opera House, Royal Botanical Garden and Sydney Harbour Bridge. The views of these famous landmarks are something to die for, especially on a warm sunny day.

The Rocks

A short walk from Circular Quay leads to The Rocks. The Rocks is a suburb hosting the historic laneways such as Nurses Walk, next to Circular Quay. The area features many restaurants and craft shops, some of them that are really old. There is also a Rocks Market that happens every weekend where local artists showcase their products. It is a local artisan market with around 100 shops.

• The Rocks is a short walk from the Circular Quay station.

Darling Harbour

Darling Harbour is the bustling and busy waterfront precinct in Sydney. This is the place to witness the vibrant and colourful part of Sydney. Most often Darling Harbour has some festival celebration or the other. If not, not to worry, as Darling Harbour has some amazing restaurants, including an Indian restaurant named Zaffran, pubs and bars.

When you are in Darling Harbour, do not forget to take a ride on the Giant Wheel on Darling Harbour. The cost of taking a ride for an adult is just AUD 8.

Also, one of the picturesque walks to do in Sydney city is to walk from Darling Harbour to Barangaroo Reserve. I suggest you do this walk during the sunset for great views.

How to get to Darling Harbour?

• The best way to get to Darling Harbour is by taking a ferry from Circular Quay.
• Or you can also take a train or a light rail from Circular Quay to Town Hall / Wynyard. And then walk down from Town Hall / Wynyard to Darling Harbour.

24 Hours in Sydney Itinerary

Morning – Taronga Zoo / Circular Quay

Start your day early and head straight to Taronga Zoo. You can have your breakfast at the café in Taronga Zoo. Even though the zoo requires one whole day, I suggest you spend a few hours there and get back to Circular Quay for a nice lunch.

If you are not into animals, then start your day at Circular Quay. You can head straight to Sydney Opera House and take an audio tour which is absolutely great.

Afternoon – Circular Quay / Royal Botanical Gardens

After a delicious lunch either at Circular Quay or The Rocks, head to Sydney Opera House for an audio tour. If you have already done the Sydney Opera House tour, then head to the Royal Botanical Garden. There is an aboriginal walking tour at the gardens that you can take. Just be sure to check for the timings!

Evening – Darling Harbour

The best place to spend your evening is at Darling Harbour. With many restaurants, pubs and bars, the place is crowded with people who love nightlife. It is very vibrant and lively. You would definitely want to end your evening at one of these places as Sydney does have a great nightlife.

Is Sydney safe for solo female travelers?

Sydney is relatively very safe for solo female travelers. I have been here in this city for more than 10 years and I have not had any major issues here. However, like any other place, be cautious while traveling alone, especially at night, and always trust your instinct.

Carrying of pepper spray in Australia is illegal. I know this is something that female travelers carry when they are traveling alone but it is not allowed in Australia.

Closing Notes

As I mentioned earlier in the post, the places in Sydney cannot be covered completely in 24 hours. These are only a few things that can be done in a day. Sydney has many more things to do and places to see. I would recommend staying in Sydney for at least 4 to 5 days to enjoy the city and its culture. I am in love with this city and it is one city that caters to all kinds of travelers and tourists.

Also, read

• Sydney in 10 days
• Walking and hiking in Sydney

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