Australia · 5-day itinerary
5 days in Sydney
Harbour icons, surf beaches and brunch culture. Here's a 5-day plan that clusters each day by neighbourhood, with real times, so you walk less and see more.
Day 1
Arrive & settle into Sydney
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Arrive in Sydney
Check in at your stay in The Rocks / Circular Quay.
- 12:15 p.m. Lunch
- 6:00 p.m. Dinner · Flat white and smashed avo brunch
Day 2
A taste of the city
9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. · Pyrmont · ~$43
Sydney Fish Market
Oysters and sashimi at the waterfront.
- 12:00 p.m. Lunch
1:15 p.m. – 5:15 p.m. · Manly · ~$14
Ferry to Manly
The best-value harbour cruise, then a beach town.
- 6:00 p.m. Dinner · Fish and chips at Manly
7:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. · Newtown · ~$50
Newtown pubs and live music
Sydney's bohemian inner west.
Day 3
Adventure day
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. · Bondi
Bondi to Coogee coastal walk
6 km of cliffs, ocean pools and beaches.
- 12:15 p.m. Lunch
- 6:00 p.m. Dinner · Modern Australian tasting menu
Day 4
Family fun
- 1:15 p.m. Lunch
2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. · The Rocks
The Rocks historic quarter
Convict-era laneways and weekend markets.
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Evening at leisure
Dinner somewhere that catches your eye, then a stroll or an early night.
Day 5
Farewell, Sydney
9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. · CBD
Royal Botanic Garden and Mrs Macquarie's Chair
Gardens with the classic Opera House photo.
- 12:00 p.m. Lunch
1:15 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Depart Sydney
Check out and head to the airport or station, allowing plenty of time.
- 7:00 p.m. Dinner · Meat pie at Harry's Café de Wheels
Where to stay in Sydney
Shoestring
Surry Hills
Cafés and pubs with good transport links.
Hotels in Surry HillsComfort
The Rocks / Circular Quay
Steps from the Opera House and harbour ferries.
Hotels in The Rocks / Circular QuayLuxury
Bondi Beach
Beachfront stays and ocean pools.
Hotels in Bondi Beach
What to eat in Sydney
Sydney rock oysters
Small, creamy native oysters.
Meat pie
The Aussie hand-held pie, ideally with mushy peas.
Flat white
Velvety espresso and milk; Sydney takes its coffee seriously.
Barramundi
Meaty, mild native fish, grilled or pan-fried.
Pavlova
Meringue with cream and fruit, claimed by Australians and New Zealanders alike.
Lamington
Sponge squares in chocolate and coconut.
Where locals send visitors
Sydney Fish Market $$
Fish market · Pyrmont · Best for lunch
Sashimi, oysters and fish and chips straight from the market.
ReviewsHarry's Café de Wheels $
Pie cart · Woolloomooloo · Best for dinner
The harbourside pie cart serving 'Tiger' pies since 1938.
ReviewsBills $$
Brunch · Surry Hills · Best for breakfast
Ricotta hotcakes and scrambled eggs from the café that defined Sydney brunch.
ReviewsSpice Alley $
Asian hawker laneway · Chippendale · Best for dinner
Southeast Asian hawker stalls in a lantern-lit laneway.
ReviewsMr. Wong $$$
Cantonese · CBD · Best for dinner · Reserve ahead
Dim sum and roast duck in a buzzing warehouse.
ReviewsIcebergs Dining Room $$$$
Italian-Mediterranean · Bondi · Best for lunch · Reserve ahead
Lunch over the Bondi ocean pool.
Reviews
Heads-up: what to steer clear of
- Safety: Rip currents are a leading cause of drowning at Australian beaches. Swim between the red and yellow flags, where lifeguards patrol.
- Safety: The sun is fierce, even on cloudy days. Wear sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses, and stay in the shade at midday.
- Local rules: Tap on and off with a contactless card or Opal card. Fines for not having a valid fare are steep.
Giro's notes, reviewed October 2026. Things change, so check current advice before you go: Government of Canada travel advisories .
Good to know
- Opal card or contactless covers trains, buses and ferries, with a daily cap.
- Swim between the red and yellow flags.
- The sun is fierce, so slip, slop, slap.
Daily budget per person
| Shoestring | ~$174 |
| Comfort | ~$327 |
| Luxury | ~$811 |
A shared double room, meals and local transport. Flights and tickets not included.
Make this Sydney trip yours
Giro rebuilds this plan for your dates, your group and your budget. Swap stops, drag them between days, add your flights and hotel, and share it with everyone coming.
Plan this tripTimes and prices are estimates (prices in CAD at the latest ECB rate). Check opening hours before you go. Place descriptions and photos from Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons, credited on each photo. Giro may earn a commission on bookings, at no extra cost to you.