Sydney is one of the most popular destinations in Australia and has many amazing sights. Do you want to see all of Sydney in a day? It is possible, but due to the many ways of getting around the city, it will be challenging! From the Sydney Opera House or the Harbour Bridge to Manly or Bondi Beach, there is a lot of ground to cover but it is worth it! After all, Sydney is one of the most liveable cities in the world and has the views to prove it.
Getting around Sydney is not always straightforward as the city is sprawled out across a large distance. With a variety of buses, trains, and ferries to take, it can be daunting to figure out the best way to navigate Sydney sightseeing. In this article, we are exploring the best ways to explore Sydney and take in all the sights. We know you don't want to miss out on any of it!
We will look at why public transport might not be your best option if you want to see as many Sydney sights in a day as possible, why a Sydney day tour could be a great idea and why riding a bike is a cool alternative that you might have not considered before!
Sydney Sights by Public Transport
Did you know that you can't take the train to any of the Sydney beaches? Public transport is the most popular way to get around the city but it's not always the most convenient. Many locals even opt to take an Uber instead of taking public transport as frequent transfers are not uncommon.
It also takes a while to figure out the myriad of trains, buses, and ferries in the city. Many people joke that Sydneysiders tend to stick to their own suburb. Ask any local about the Manly or Bondi Bubble and they will tell you how leaving their suburbs is just too much of a hassle. Neither Bondi nor Manly are connected to the city by train. Coincidence? You tell me! Besides, both suburbs have a lot to offer anyway, so why ever leave?
That being said, we do highly recommend getting on at least one of the ferries because the view of the harbour is simply breathtaking! To ride the ferry or any other kind of public transport in Sydney, you can either get an Opal card, which pays for all public transport, or you can tap on with your American Express, Mastercard or Visa credit or debit card.
Discover Sydney By Car
Having a car in Sydney is often necessary. This makes Sydney very different from other big cities in the world, such as Singapore, New York or London, where public transport is so well organised that you don't need a car. Due to the sheer size of the city, having a car in Sydney can make your life a lot easier, unless, as we mentioned before, you stick to your suburb, you can easily get to a train or you live close to the CBD.
For visitors of the city, we would never recommend getting a car as most of the sightseeing is done close to the CBD and around areas where it is difficult, dare I say, impossible, to find a parking space (unless you pay a pretty penny in one of the CBD parking garages). If you are only in the city for a day or two, getting a car is not going to be your best option.
Bike Riding Through Sydney
The CBD of Sydney is very walkable. You can easily walk from the Botanic Gardens to the Sydney Opera House and on to Darling Harbour if you have a reasonable level of fitness. If you would like to see any of the beaches or more local areas such as the Inner West (which has great craft beer breweries), bike riding through Sydney is a great option!
One of the reasons we love living in Sydney so much is due to the amazing vistas that we have on offer. You'll be amazed at the breathtaking landscape within a 10km radius from the Sydney Opera House. Riding a bicycle offers you a great way to stop along the way to take in these beautiful views!
Here at Urban Legends Tour Co we actually offer our own Sydney bike tour where we take visitors around the most popular sights. On this day tour, we ride along one of the many mountain bike trails in Sydney. Riding past the Sydney Opera House, the Harbour Bridge, the Sydney Fish Markets and take you into more local areas such as Blackwattle Bay (one of our favourite sunset spots) and much more.
Sydney's Hop On Hop Off Buses
While public transport buses might take you a little longer to get from hotspot to hotspot, a great alternative can be a Sydney Hop On Hop Off Bus. The concept is simple, you can 'hop on and hop off' as much as you like along a predetermined route that goes past all the important Sydney sights. This allows you to see the maximum amount of sights at your own pace, often being the most efficient way to discover a new city.
Get on a Private Bus Tour
We’ve said it before, Sydney is not the easiest city to go sightseeing. This is due to it being the largest Australian city, meaning that the sights can be far as 10km apart! For those traveling in a large group, a private bus tour would be our recommended way of exploring Sydney. A guided bus tour allows you to talk to your operator, sometimes even tailoring the tour to your needs.
When choosing the tour of your choice, make sure that you have a look at where the company is taking you, where you are going for lunch (there are touristy stops and there is also a great variety of local restaurants that are an experience in themselves) and whether the pick up and drop off spot is convenient.
We might be biased in loving our own Sydney private bus tours as we tailor the tour to whatever you would like to see. We take you to the best lunch locations and throw in a few epic local spots that you might never have found yourself.
What is the best way of getting around Sydney in a day?
So now that we have covered all of the different ways of getting around Sydney in a day, you might wonder, which one is the best? Well, we can't make that decision for you. It really depends on the type of travel that you prefer and the number of people that you are travelling with.
Do you want to experience a local way of seeing Sydney and step off the beaten track? Consider one of the Sydney bike tours.
Travelling in a large group and don't want to invest too much time into finding out where to go? A private bus tour or the hop on hop off bus is perfect for you.
Travelling by yourself and have a bit more time to explore? Get on one of the Sydney ferries and see Darling Harbour, the Harbour Bridge and Manly beach alongside the commuting Sydneysiders. It's quite the experience!
Whatever you choose, Sydney is a breathtaking city and we're confident you will have an amazing time. Dig your toes in the Sydney sand and take in the incredible vistas!
