How to Spend One Day in Sydney

Welcome to our local’s guide on how to spend one day in Sydney like an absolute boss!

Australia, The Land Down Under, The Lucky Country, ‘Straya, The Land of Droughts and Flooding Rains.

Whatever you like to call us there is no doubt the name will give you visions of sunshine, happiness and endless landscapes.

For a lot of you travellers out there, this is exactly the reason so many of you spend a good part of your life savings just to come over here. The question that people have the most trouble with is, where to start?

Well, much to the dismay of people from Melbourne, the answer to that question for most tourists is to start in Sydney and keep going with the adventure from there. It’s really not hard to see why.

Sydney is without a doubt one of the most beautiful cities in the world and has enough attractions to keep a traveler busy for a long time.

Check out our guide on the best free things to do in Sydney!

The Best Way to Spend One Day in Sydney

But what if you don’t have a long time? Whether you’re a budget traveler or in the city on business you might only have a day to see as much of the city as possible.

Luckily for you, we have put our heads together and decided on a short list of must-see areas if you only have one day in Sydney, and want to hang out in the city centre.

First up you’ll have to sort out where to stay in Sydney. Once that is figured out, the city is pretty much your oyster.

Royal Botanic Gardens and Mrs Macquaire’s Chair

A great way to start your day in Sydney is to head down to the Royal Botanic Gardens which are to the east of the CBD and just take your time wandering around the gardens during the morning when all of the wildlife is the most active.

READ MORE: Here’s our Australia travel guide to help you plan your next trip.

Originally the Botanic Gardens started as the farmland for the convict settlement and as the colony expanded they were turned into the gardens you see today.

There are several guided walking tours throughout the day and it’s worth checking out the park’s website to find out times.

While roaming through the roses and jungle areas the best place to head towards is Mrs Macquarie’s Chair which has some of the most epic city views on the planet.

From this one point on the harbour it’s possible to see the CBD, the Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge, a good part of the Harbour and across to Taronga Zoo.