Under $100: Sydney

It is the oldest and biggest city in Australia, transforming from a colonial outpost into a cosmopolitan metropolis. With 128 Australian Dollars, here’s how to best spend the day in Central Sydney.

The city’s metropolitan area is well connected and way more than you can do in a day. Public transportation includes commuter rail, busses, ferries and light rail, all of which can be accessed with a MyMultiDay Tripper, a one-day ticket that will get you around the Greater Sydney area for $24.

Australia’s Museum of Contemporary Art during Vivid Sydney © Aiyoshi | Dreamstime

Sydney has two world-class art museums where general admission is free. The Art Gallery of New South Wales has a collection of mostly classical art housed in a beautiful building overlooking Sydney Harbour. The Museum of Contemporary Art is dedicated to more modern works, with a focus on Australian artists. MCA also hosts ARTBAR, which is an exhibition curated by artists that showcases a unique experience encapsulating music, design and performance.

The Royal Botanical Gardens © Dan Breckwoldt | Dreamstime

The two museums are quite close to the Royal Botanical Gardens, a sprawling 30 hectacres of manicured gardens and conservation centers. Free to the public, this is the perfect spot for a mid-day picnic. There are several restaurants and kiosks like The Pavilion that can serve a takeaway lunch from $10–30.

Macquarie’s Chair, Sydney Harbour © Simone Bortignon | Dreamstime

Sydney tourists will no doubt want to get at least one photo op with the Sydney Opera House, which offers fours tours to the public: the basic tour of the opera house, a tour of the Vivid Sydney Festival, a backstage experience tour and a tasting plate tour in the Opera’s kitchen. Tickets are priced at $37. If you want that photo with the Opera House in the background, Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair is a popular spot across Woolloomooloo Bay, giving you a view of the Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge.

© Gordon Tipene | Dreamstime

For dinner, there’s a huge variety of options available in Central Sydney thanks to its incredible diversity. Chinatown in particular has a lot of budget options available, like Emperor’s Garden, known for their barbecued and roast pork.