19 Things You Have To See And Do In Sydney If You Only Have A Weekend

A whirlwind tour of Australia's best city.

1. Have breakfast in Kirribilli.

instagram.com

Compared to the packed cafés in the eastern suburbs, Kirribilli is chill AF. Celcius Coffee Co. is perched right on the water so you've got amazing views to admire while enjoying your coffee and eggs.

2. Stroll around the headlands.

instagram.com

Skip the insanely busy Bondi coastal walk, and instead take advantage of the parklands surrounding the northern side of Sydney Harbour. Between Wendy's Secret Garden, Blues Point, and Balls Head Reserve, there are some truly incredible views of the city across the water.

3. Swim in the pool with the best view of Sydney.

instagram.com

Whether you want to doggy paddle in the slow lane, or do laps with the pros, North Sydney Pool is the place to do it. Grab a coffee from their café on your way out to refuel.

4. Get high at Sky Zone.

instagram.com

Head back over the bridge to Alexandria, where you'll find an indoor trampoline park that your inner child will go crazy for. You can literally bounce off the walls, flip into giant pools of foam, and play tramp basketball.

5. Have lunch at The Grounds of Alexandria.

instagram.com

After all that jumping, fill up at one of the coolest cafés in Sydney. Not only does The Grounds do amazing food, but they've also got market stalls selling things like flowers and baked goods. Oh, they've also get a pet pig. His name is Kevin Bacon.

6. Visit a gin distillery.

instagram.com

Right around the corner from The Grounds is Archie Rose, a boutique gin distillery where you can go on tours and have tastings. There's also a bar where you can hang out and get sozzled on G and Ts.

7. Head to Spice Alley for some dinner.

instagram.com

Located right near Central Station, Spice Alley is like a magical wonderland of delicious food. Styled after hawker food markets in Singapore, there are so many options from Thai and Vietnamese, to Japanese and Malaysian.

8. Catch a film at the Golden Age cinema.

instagram.com

The heritage-listed Paramount Pictures screening room has been transformed into this incredible Late Deco cinema which screens cult films, classics, and new releases. The bar serves up fancy cocktails and delicious nibblies which you can enjoy while you watch.

9. Bar hop your way through Surry Hills.

instagram.com

Surry Hills has some damn cool bars to explore. Whether you hit up Li'l Darlin for cocktails, The Winery for some al fresco vino, Surly's for beer and an American vibe, or Tio's for a Mexican trip, you really can't go wrong. Even if you just stick to wandering down Crown Street, you'll find a ton of cool places to drink.

10. Catch some live music.

instagram.com

See if anyone cool is headlining Oxford Art Factory, a great place to catch up-and-coming bands. If not, Café Lounge is always a good bet, as they usually have live music or comedy every weekend.

11. Enjoy a late-night snack.

instagram.com

After all that drinking and dancing, finish off your night with some greasy food before you head to bed. Golden Century is open until 4am and is always a good choice if you're a fan of simple Chinese. Otherwise, Frankie's serves pizza until 3am, and Mr Crackles offers amazing pork crackling and rolls until 4.30am.

12. Scare away your hangover with some hair of the dog.

instagram.com

Bloody Mary's does a bloody good breakfast spread, but what they're best known for are, you guessed it, their Bloody Mary's. Topped with things like sliders and prawns, you're going to want to try the whole menu. If tomato juice isn't really your thing, their Mimosas are pretty boss as well.

13. Wander around the Botanic Gardens.

instagram.com

Right in the heart of Sydney, this park is a perfect place to slowly meander around while digesting your breakfast. Bring a blanket and lie out in the sun if you're still feeling after-effects from last night.

14. Check out the Art Gallery of NSW.

instagram.com

In the middle of the Botanic Gardens, you'll find this art gallery where you can get your culture fix. Entry is free, and they usually have some pretty good exhibits. If modern art is more your thing, head to the Museum of Contemporary Art at Circular Quay instead.

15. Explore the Rocks Markets.

instagram.com

Though it's sometimes filled with a lot of overpriced junk, the markets are still fun to wander around. The Rocks is the oldest area in Sydney so it's a good place to explore!

16. Relax on a rooftop.

Instagram: @hashtagerman

Elevate yourself above the masses and enjoy the views at The Glenmore Hotel. You have to walk up about a billion stairs to get here, but I promise it's worth it. Just look at that view. If you're feeling a little fancier, the Blu Bar at the Shangri-La Hotel is on level 36 and has truly breathtaking views of the harbour.

17. Head to Watsons Bay.

instagram.com

Rather than getting the ferry all the way over to Manly, instead travel the shorter distance to the picturesque harbour beach that is Watsons Bay.

18. Get out on the water.

instagram.com

In Camp Cove, around the corner from Watsons Bay, you can try your hand at stand-up paddleboarding or kayaking. Sure, you might end up falling face-first into the water but at least you'll get a good Instagram out of it.

19. Have sunset drinks and fish and chips.

instagram.com

The Watsons Bay Beach Hotel is an incredible place to the end your day. Make like a rich housewife and get a bottle of rosé on ice or down an Aperol Spritz while you watch the sun go down.