A Day In Sydney For Less Than $25

In today’s post, Tim of UrbanDuniya is sharing his one day itinerary around Sydney for less than $25. Sydney is Australia financial capital, and it shows with some of the exorbitant prices you’ll see around the place. But that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy it on a shoestring budget!

Dawn over Sydney Harbour
 Dawn over Sydney Harbour

Some of Australia’s most iconic sights are free, and there are plenty of cheap places to eat in the harbour city. It’s a different experience to Melbourne – while our southern city is arty and understated, Sydney is bright and bold. Rather than the grungy laneways or the eclectic galleries, Sydneysiders take more pride in their beautiful, glittering harbour, their world-famous architecture, their warmer weather and their sunny beaches (in the summer at least!). Come and enjoy Australia’s global city, for under $25 a day!

Accommodation doesn’t come cheap in Sydney, and you would be well advised to consider CouchSurfing (of course, you should also make sure that the concept of CouchSurfing is suitable for you, or that you are suitable for it!!). When we looked, the cheapest backpackers accommodation in Sydney appears to be at Nomads Westend Backpackers, but that’s $18 a night for a dormitory, which already eats up a fair proportion of the budget. However, if you want to stay here, you could always self-cater to cut costs – Woolworths at Town Hall Station in the centre of the city is a great place for stocking up on supplies! Wherever you stay, try to make it close to the city centre, that way you’ll cut costs on transport. So pull on those sneakers and fill a collapsible water bottle with clean tap water, we’re walking a lot today!

Sunbaking in Hyde Park
 Sunbaking in Hyde Park

Start your day like so many working Sydneysiders do with a coffee and muffin. A great, cost effective  option for this is Le Grande Cafe, connected to the Alliance Française on Clarence Street. Not the most authentically Australian introduction to the day, but with a muffin and espresso coffee for $5, we’ll manage!! From here, walk to George Street just outside of the Queen Victoria Building (QVB) – we’ll come back here later in the day. From the QVB, hop on the first free northbound shuttle bus of the day at around 9:30 (it’s the big green bus, route 555). Take this all the way to the end at Circular Quay, the nerve centre of Sydney’s harbour commuter network, and get off along with all the other eager tourists!

Interior of the Queen Victoria Building
 Interior of the Queen Victoria Building

First, walk away from the harbour to Customs House (free), the original processing point for maritime arrivals to the city, and now used as the city’s district library. As you enter the building, the model of Sydney’s city beneath the glass floor is a great way to get your bearings for what will be a big day of sightseeing.

Customs House, Sydney
 Customs House, Sydney

Exiting Customs House, cross the road and walk through the railway station plaza towards the harbour foreshore. Turn right and follow the shoreline around. As you round the corner and pass the waiting ferries, you will catch sight of the marvellous Sydney Harbour Bridge. A great (and free) way to get a birds’ eye perspective on Circular Quay is to take the glass elevator just to your right as you leave the wharf area. The top of the lift is the Cahill Expressway, a controversial road project whose pedestrian  affords great views of the bridge affectionately known as “The Coathanger”.

From the Cahill Expressway glass elevator
 From the Cahill Expressway glass elevator

Back down on ground level continue your walk around the harbour shoreline, until up ahead you spot the Sydney Opera House. The magnificent white sails of this are Sydney’s most beautiful icon, although be warned – the concrete interior is not quite so graceful. You are free to walk around the exterior of the building for as long as you like – it’s a public space and often used for performances of exhibitions in times of good weather, but going inside will cost you either the price of a tour ticket, or the price of an opera ticket. Looking out to the harbour, you’ll spot the white Kirribili House on the opposite shore.

Sydney from Mrs Machquarie's Point
 Sydney from Mrs Macquaries Point

This is the Sydney residence of Australia’s sitting prime minister. Around to the right is Fort Denison, originally built in the 1850s to guard against any reprisal attack by the Russian Empire against what was then a British colony.

Sydney's Town Hall
 Sydney’s Town Hall

As you leave the Opera House, on your right is Circular Quay, and on the left is an entrance to the Sydney Royal Botanic Gardens. Take this, and begin your passage through some of Australia’s most lovely urban parklands! You can get lost in the lines of banyan trees, beds of Australian natives and sweeping harbour vistas When you’re done though, don’t forget to follow your way around the water’s edge to Mrs Macquarie’s Point for the picture postcard shot of the Opera House against the backdrop of the Harbour Bridge.

See also  Top 10 Places To Visit In Paris For Those On A Shoestring Budget

When you’re done with the happy snaps, amble your way back to Circular Quay – we’re about to check out the oldest part of Sydney, The Rocks. Here, you can gain free entry to The Rocks Discovery Museum, full of information about the city’s oldest neighbourhood. In contrast, the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) is full of weird and wonderful creations, but is also free to visit for the permanent exhibitions. Or if you’re looking for something more musical, you will nearly always find talented buskers playing various instruments like the Indigenous Australian didgeridoo by the waterfront.

The Queen Victoria Building
 The Queen Victoria Building

Have lunch at a Sydney institution – Doyles on the Wharf. This fish and chippery began life in the suburb of Watson’s Bay, but has since expanded to this convenient location. A Doyles fish burger with chips ($12.50) in First Fleet Park (in front of the MCA), just watching the comings and goings on the harbour is a great way to ‘feel’ Sydney at lunch time, especially in the warmer months. When you’re had your fill, head back to the bus stand and catch one of the last free buses back to the city centre. (The free shuttle bus finishes at 3:30pm most days, but runs until 9:30pm on Thursdays and 6pm on weekends).

Sunset at Darling Harbour
 Sunset at Darling Harbour

Alight at the Queen Victoria Building, a nineteenth century Romanesque construction which is something of a landmark in the city, and home to three levels of upmarket stores – walk through, admire the architecture, spot at the Royal Clock and the Great Australian Clock suspended from the ceiling, and browse the plush window displays. Exiting at the south end of the QVB, cross the road to admire the Sydney Town Hall, an important sandstone landmark of the same era as the QVB.

Darling Harbour
 Darling Harbour

Walk away from the town hall, along Park Street until you reach Hyde Park. At the southern end of this park you can visit the solemn Australian War Memorial (free), or at the other end the Archibald Fountain with its ancient Greek and Roman inspired statues. Or, if it’s summer, you could do as some Sydneysiders do and just chill out on the grass, flat on your back, sunbaking in the centre of Australia’s biggest metropolis.

Buskers play the didgeridoo at Circular Quay
 Buskers play the didgeridoo at Circular Quay

By now the day will be getting late, and it’s time to walk back down Park Street to Darling Harbour, Sydney’s largest entertainment precinct. There’s always something happening here – live music, public performances, markets, souvenir shopping, fireworks displays – check out www.darlingharbour.com to see what is on when you are visiting. It’s a great place to spend the evening and unwind. With your last few dollars, order some delicious takeaway sushi rolls (from $3.60 a piece) from the fabulous Umi Sushi + Udon in Darling Harbour, find a prime position by the water, and reflect on your day in Australia’s biggest city!

Sydney Opera House Forecourt
 Sydney Opera House Forecourt

Extreme budget travel for less than $10 a day? In Sydney, this means self-catering.

Dine in at Umi Sushi (or take away to save money)
 Dine in at Umi Sushi (or take away to save money)

Go shopping at Woolworths supermarket on the corner of Park and George Streets and pick up some baguettes, cold cuts and fruit at the start of your holiday. Enjoy sandwiches by the harbour and divide the cost of the grocery bill by the number of days you stay in Sydney to work out the overall cost.

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About the author: Tim is our frequent writer whose budget travel tips are priceless! He is not only a talented writer, but also a traveller, journalist, amateur photographer and teacher. Moreover, he is a creator of UrbanDuniya, an online journal featuring independent and alternative news, reviews, opinion and discussion from four major cities across Australia and the Indian subcontinent, so make sure to check it out!

See also  How To Prepare For Long-Term Travel

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Agness Walewinder
Agness Walewinder
Travel freak, vagabond, photography passionate, blogger, life enthusiast, backpacker, adventure hunter and endless energy couchsurfer living by the rule "Pack lite, travel far and live long!"
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64 thoughts on “A Day In Sydney For Less Than $25”

  1. Avatar of Andrew

    for all its faults, Sydney is a great Australian city to go walking around and to take a ferry or too, you can explore for next to nix and have a great day out and take heaps of great photos. nice work Tim!

  2. Avatar of Leanne

    Wow, definitely a beautiful place to go sometime! Is couchsurfing really as convenient and easy as so many people say it is? Can’t wait to see Australia someday!

    1. Avatar of Tim | UrbanDuniya

      You certainly need to be careful with Couchsurfing, but it’s just one way to save money while in Sydney… on a slightly higher budget you could stay in a hostel and use these tips to reduce costs elsewhere!

  3. Avatar of Franca

    Walking, walking and walking is one of my favourite way to explore a new city so I would enjoy the tour you suggested. I have been to Melbourne before, but never to Sydney, so I’d be interested in going especially considering that people keep telling me how awesome it is. Thanks for the tips! :)

  4. Avatar of Vanessa @ The Travelling Colognian

    This post is a very helpful guide to see as much of Sydney as possible in one day. I have been to the city twice in 1993 and 1997 and I would love to go back some time in the future. Such a shame it is so far away from Europe but so much worth the long flight and the costs.

  5. Avatar of Hannah Wasielewski
    Hannah Wasielewski

    Wow, I wish I would have read this before I went to Sydney! Australia is expensive if you eat out all the time and stay in hostels. I stayed with a friend in Sydney and found it to be quite cheap, can you believe beef is cheaper than chicken? I’ve learned so far to always eat in and your budget will thank you!

    1. Avatar of Tim | UrbanDuniya

      Hehehe yes people seem to be astounded when I tell them that beef is often cheaper than chicken in Australia! And yeah, self-catering always saves money :) I hope you can come back to Sydney some day :)

  6. Avatar of Matt

    Yep, Sydney is definitely one of those cities where you can have a full day just walking around. There are so many hidden gems nestled on the edges, including unique perspectives of the Opera House. Tons of beaches within close range worth checking out as well!

  7. Avatar of Constance - Foreign Sanctuary
    Constance - Foreign Sanctuary

    Great list of things to do in Sydney!! I always figured that the place would be expensive but you provided some great tips for dining and a list of free things to see in the city.

  8. Avatar of The Guy @flightsandfrustration.com

    Thanks for sharing your advice and great tips Tim. I’ve been to Sydney a few times but certainly haven’t taken advantage of these great places. One thing I do love which you emphasis is all the free photo opportunities. There are some wonderful harbour and beach opportunities along with some interesting architecture.

    That Queen Victoria Building reminds me of Flinders Street Station in Melbourne.

  9. Avatar of Rachael@safari254
    Rachael@safari254

    $25 only? That is super affordable. Great tips Tim, I’d never imagined that one could get around Sidney and enjoy themselves for only $25

  10. Avatar of Jeremy Foster

    Thanks for sharing your great tips Tim! Even if it’s considered one of the most expensive cities to live/visit in the world, I think that a little bit of planning makes it the perfect destination for backpackers and budget travelers.

  11. Avatar of Michelle

    These photos make me miss Sydney so much! Can’t wait to back there again someday…hopefully to live! :) Australia in general is super expensive, but these are some great tips! I remember drinking goon and eating mostly pasta to save on money haha!

  12. Avatar of Enrico

    Nice post, i like these free attractions on cities, simple and a better feel than posting to go to a lot of museums in one day, you just can’t absorb all..
    Sad tough it’s actually impossible to fulfill the title of the post if you have to pay for accommodation… just checked some places and normal price for a firm is really around 20usd.. guess it will be hard to leave southeast Asia this way hahaha

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