Sydney needs little introduction. Who hasn’t dreamt of seeing Sydney Harbour with the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House! With this city’s incredible sights to see, you could easily spend weeks or months discovering it but, you only have one day. If you only have one day to spend in Sydney, then you will want to make the most of your time. And one of the best ways to see Sydney is to spend 1 day in Sydney aboard the Sydney Hop On Hop Off Bus.
In this post, I take us on a journey around Sydney to see the best sights from an open-top bus. If you are short on time in Sydney, the best way to get a taste of the things to see and do in Sydney, is to see them from a Sydney Hop On Hop Off Bus. It is one of the best ways to see Sydney in 1 day as a solo traveler, visiting with a friend or your family to Sydney with kids.
So come on, let’s hop on, and off in Sydney in a day! This is my honest review how you can see everything in Sydney in one day.
Table of Contents
Pros and Cons of going on a Hop On Hop Off Bus in Sydney
Your first thoughts on the hop on hop off sightseeing bus may be that it is too touristy for you! Well, yes, it is a tourist thing to do, but there are lots of pros and cons to going on this type of sightseeing Sydney option. It is a great option when you only have 1 day in Sydney and have a lot on your list to see.
Pros
- You are taken to all the best things to see in Sydney.
- There is a commentary giving you information and history about different places.
- You can hop off and see a place in more detail and then hop back on the bus to the next spot.
- Your transport cost of getting around Sydney is included.
- On a cold day, warm up in the heated bus. On a hot day, cool down in an air conditioned bus.
- You will fit loads of sightseeing into one day.
- Great for people with limited mobility and families with kids saving the kids feet.
- Commentary is translated into other languages.
Cons
- Very touristy, but so what!
- Weather unpredictable upstairs outside – so wear appropriate clothing, particularly sunscreen and a hat in hot weather.
- Time is limited in each spot as you are governed by a bus schedule.
Choose Your Route
Sydney Hop On Hop Off Bus has two routes to choose from. The Sydney route takes you to all the Sydney icons while the Bondi Route takes you to the world-famous Bondi Beach and Eastern suburbs.
1 day in Sydney aboard the Hop On Hop Off bus – best things to see
There are currently 23 stops on the Sydney HOHO bus. Some places you will have heard of and others not, this is why I would recommend you do the complete circuit so you can decide which places you want to revisit and spend more time at. A complete loop will take around 90 minutes, but this can depend on the traffic and can take around 2 hours. And if you catch the first bus at 9am, you will have done the loop by 11am and will have plenty of time to spend more time at other places.
Some of the best Sydney stops include:
Circular Quay – George Street
This is a good place to start as you can end here. There is so much to see and do around Circular Quay during your 1 day in Sydney. I would recommend you walk around the Harbour after doing the circuit.
Sydney Tower / Westfield Sydney
One of the best places for shopping later! And you can go up to the top of Sydney Tower for great views over the city.
Australian Museum
Great place to get off if you like walking around museums. An excellent indigenous collection, amongst other things here. This is also a change over stop for the Bondi Route. If visiting the museum allow 1 hour.
Kings Cross
Lots of backpacker accommodation here. Kings Cross is known for its nightlife with many clubs.
El Alamein Fountain
You can hop off here to discover the back streets of Elizabeth Bay or Potts Point – 2 exclusive suburbs in Sydney.
Woolloomooloo Bay
See the beautiful heritage listed finger wharf at Woolloomoolo and try a pie floater from the famouse Harry’s Cafe D Wheels.
Sydney Opera House
No introduction needed here – get off here to spend more time exploring the Sydney Opera House – there are a number of free and paid ways to see it.
Royal Botanic Gardens
Walk through the oldest gardens in Sydney and enjoy beautiful views of the harbour and sit at Mrs MacQuarie’s Chair.
State Library
Beautiful old building housing many books.
Hyde Park
Beautiful park in the middle of Sydney.
Central Station
No need to get off here unless you want to change to the Bondi route. But see the beautiful old sandstone buildings that is one of the train transport hubs in Sydney.
PowerHouse Museum
Interesting museum close to Darling Harbour.
Sydney Fish Market
Walk around the Sydney Fish Market and see the fish being sold by the fish mongers at the corner of Pyrmont Bridge Road.
Maritime Museum
One of my favourite stops on this 1 day in Sydney is a visit to the Maritime Museum. See the main galleries and plenty of boats.
Barangaroo
This is a lovely newish area offering views of the western side of the Harbour and across to the Anzac Bridge. Easy to walk around the foreshore to the Harbour Bridge and the Rocks.
Dawes Point – Sydney Harbour Bridge (21 Hickson Rd)
Get up close and personal to the Sydney Harbour Bridge here.
The Rocks (11 George St, corner Hickson Rd)
Great place to spend some time and discover the history of early settlement with some sandstone buildings dating back to the early 1800s. You may meet a prince like Mary Donaldson did!
The Bondi Hop on Hop off Bus Route
Bondi Beach – a must see on your 1 day in Sydney itinerary
The Bondi Hop on Hop off bus will wind through the eastern suburbs of Sydney taking you to the world-famous Bondi Beach. If you have time definitely hop off and enjoy this beach-side suburb. You could go for a swim (don’t forget to bring your beach gear) or soak in the area.
Suggested 1 Day Sydney itinerary
Itinerary 1: if only doing Sydney circuit
Morning – do the full Sydney circuit. If you start at 9am you will have done it by 11am. Hop off at Circular Quay and have lunch by the water.
Afternoon – discover the Rocks, maybe climb the Harbour Bridge or explore the Sydney Opera House.
Dinner – by the Quay
Itinerary 2: if doing both Sydney and Bondi circuits
Morning – do the full Sydney circuit. If you start at 9am you will have done it by 11am. Hop off at Circular Quay and have lunch by the water.
Afternoon – after lunch, hop on the bus and head to Bondi. Hop off at Bondi and head to the beach for a swim followed by sitting in one of the many cafes or enjoy some fish and chips on the beach.
Late afternoon / early evening – catch bus back to Circular Quay and enjoy dinner by Sydney Harbour or in The Rocks
Are You Ready to Spend 1 Day in Sydney Aboard the Hop On Hop Off Bus?
Exploring London in just one day may seem impossible, but with the convenience and flexibility of the hop-on hop-off bus, it’s entirely achievable. By following this carefully crafted itinerary, you’ll be able to see the city’s top attractions, snap some great pictures to share with your friends, and create unforgettable memories along the way.
Got more than one day in Sydney? Check out my 7 day Sydney itinerary or make your visit to Sydney part of a 1 month Australia Icons Tour.
I agree that the hop on hop off the bus is a super touristy thing to do. However, that is indeed the best option if you have limited time or want to cover the city at a budgeted cost. Honestly, the only cons I feel is the crowd, nothing else. You have complete freedom to do what you want to.
Absolutely, when short of time and wanting to discover a city, I always get on a hop on hop off bus – so convenient and I see the best bits of that city.
The shop On buses are such a great deal if you can to see a lot of places in a city in a short time. Sydney is so huge that you really need this option to get around efficiently, I love Sydney’s Opera House.
I love the Sydney Opera House also, I’ve visited millions of times during my lunch break and never get sick of it.
I have been to Sydney so many times for work and rarely have enough time to spend as a tourist. I really need to do a trip to just spend time seeing the sights. And I have definitely done these buses in a few places. They are great to get around.
I’m glad to hear you agree – when short of time, or even to get to know a new city, the hop on hop off bus is the go!