Sightseeing in Sydney | A Travel Diary
- Andi Dela Torre Griffiths | Memento Vivere Blog
- Jun 7, 2024
- 4 min read
Updated: Feb 2
Known as the capital of New South Wales and the most populous city in Australia, Sydney is popular among tourists for its vibrant nightlife, beautiful harbors, and stunning beaches. Today, I'll take you with me on a quick trip to what many refer to as the Emerald City.
MEL to SYD
Traveling from Melbourne to Sydney took less than two hours, and it was way warmer in Sydney. I'm glad we went on a weekday because it would have been hectic on a weekend.
We had four days to explore and do sightseeing. It didn't exactly start fun due to a few hiccups and the pouring rain, but well, none of those spoiled the trip for me. Anyhow, join me as I walk you through Sydney in this post. Let's gooo.
Walking Tour | Exploring the City on Your Own
It was already late in the evening when we checked in at the hotel, so we just had sushi and grabbed takeout for dinner.
The next day, we went on a 2-hour walking tour and explored the city on our own. The weather wasn’t cooperative, but the experience was still good because that meant having fewer people in places typically packed with tourists, like the Sydney Opera House and Hyde Park.
As you can see, it's gloomy, but I like how the rain made the surroundings look more cinematic, and I'm grateful for this trip.
What you see below is Kensington Street- this is where you can find a bunch of restaurants, as well as Spice Alley (literally an alley with plenty of Asian food options). They have Japanese, Vietnamese, Indian, Chinese, and more.
Sightseeing in Sydney | Hop On, Hop Off Tours
One of the most efficient ways to see Sydney is to get on a hop-on, hop-off bus or boat. The operators already have an itinerary, and you can see many places in one trip (instead of going on separate occasions). Not to mention, it's fun being on the top deck. There's so much to see.
We got a combo deal for the tours, and the package included a bus ticket that was valid for 24 hours, as well as a sightseeing cruise.
For the bus tour, they provided us with earphones so we could listen to the pre-recorded audio explaining the background of the places we would pass by.
Gallery below, click to view ⬇️
For the sightseeing cruise, there were six destinations: Watsons Bay, Manly, Taronga Zoo, Darling Harbour, Barangaroo, and Circular Quay. We didn’t get off the boat anymore because it was raining hard- yup, even with the sun out. We just made the most of it by staying there for a while and enjoying the boat ride. When it started to pour, we transferred to the enclosed area, where they had complimentary tea and coffee. I had coffee, of course hehe.
Gallery below, click to view ⬇️
At the popular Sydney Opera House.
On our last night, we had dinner with my husband’s cousins and had desserts at Koi. It rained again, but I enjoyed it because it was relaxing, in a way.
Favorite Spots
There are still many places in Sydney that we have yet to visit, but the ones I liked the most were Double Bay, Kensington Street, St. Mary's Cathedral and Hyde Park. I would love to go to the Blue Mountains next time.
Hyde Park during the day.
The Sydney Opera House at night. Beautiful! There were not many people when I took this photo, but visitors started arriving at around 9 PM, with most of them going to the Opera Bar to drink and dine.
Gallery below, click to view ⬇️
Some of the areas we went to reminded me of the business districts in Manila, as well as Intramuros.
Where we Stayed
We stayed at the 28 Hotel along Regent Street in Chippendale, which was a great pick because we were close to plenty of cafes, restaurants, and pharmacies. It is also only two blocks away from the Central Station.
I like how they have a Nespresso machine on the ground floor, with a wide selection of capsules. You can use this to make yourself a cup of coffee anytime. If you’re not a coffee drinker, you can choose from other options, such as hot milk, tea, and hot chocolate. Also, they do not serve breakfast but have plenty of treats in the morning (muesli bars, bananas, and pastries). All of these are free.
Where Else to Stay in Sydney
There are plenty of hotels in Sydney you can stay at, but it is best to book accommodation close to the spots you intend to visit. This way, you save time and money on transportation fees (Uber is expensive; you might as well spend that money on food or activities).
Other options include Mercure Hotel Sydney, YEHS Hotel, ibis Styles Sydney Central, or The Ultimo Sydney.
If you’re visiting New South Wales soon and have plans of sightseeing in Sydney, other places you can check out include the Blue Mountains, Luna Park, Taronga Zoo, Manly Beach, and the Royal Botanic Garden.
That's it for today. Thank you if you've made it to the end of the post.
