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[title]Yes, Sydney is an expensive city. But if you play your cards right, you can easily have a grand ol' time here without spending a pretty penny. Our abundant natural beauty doesn’t cost a cent, world-class cultural institutions and delicious cheap eats keep you busy from dawn to dusk, and quality accommodation is incredibly affordable at the YHA.
With two convenient locations – Sydney Central YHA and Sydney Harbour YHA in The Rocks – YHA is upending traditional notions of hostel living. Sydney Harbour YHA has unbelievable views of Sydney Harbour including a rooftop terrace looking across to the Opera House. Sydney Central YHA occupies a heritage building close to Central Station and Chinatown and boasts a rooftop pool. Both have state-of-the-art facilities, free Wi-Fi and air-conditioning in all rooms, and private ensuite rooms available too.
All the while, YHA maintains that same sense of community and warmth. Chat with fellow travellers in the co-living spaces, use the laundry to wash your gear, reheat food in the kitchen and relax and recharge in between exploring the city.
Read on to see how you can put together an unforgettable two-night stay for the price of a single fine dining meal.
Book an incredibly cheap holiday now.
Photograph: Supplied | Bancho
Day One
Evening: Check into YHA, where you can book anything from shared rooms for solo travellers up to private ensuite rooms for couples and families. Starting at just $25 a night (with midweek specials from Sunday to Thursday) the YHA gives you access to bright, spacious lounge areas for relaxing and mingling, free high-speed Wi-Fi and co-working spaces. Make sure to pick up an Opal Card at any station or convenience store, charging it up with some cash to get you around on public transport.
After dropping off your bags, kick off your stay with some of the best Malaysian food in the city at Ho Jiak, just minutes’ walk from the Sydney Central YHA. The char kway teow here ($20) is spectacular – glossy, charry and heaving with juicy lap cheong.
For a quick nightcap walk around the corner to Bancho, a sleek Chinatown whisky bar worth investing your booze budget in. Try a floral whisky highball ($14) that tops Toki with lychee, lime and soda. Head back to YHA for a good night’s sleep, or even enjoy some BYO beers on the balcony and enjoy the killer views.
Photograph: Supplied | White Rabbit Gallery
Day Two
Morning: Fix yourself a cuppa in the fully-equipped YHA kitchen or take a quick 15 minute stroll up to Chippendale, a growing inner-city hub for food, coffee and art.
Brickfields Bakery is an eternal neighbourhood favourite, known for their incredible bread, pastries and sandwiches. Pull up a window seat for your morning flat white ($4) and a sigh-inducing mushroom melt ($16) thick with gruyere, truffle mayo and piquant slices of jalapeño.
On the same street is White Rabbit Gallery, one of Sydney’s best independent (and free) art galleries. The three-storey temple to Chinese contemporary art exhibits a rotating collection exploring themes such as politics, identity and family.
From there, it’s a 10-minute walk to the Chalmers Street light rail stop for a smooth journey ($2.24) straight to glittering Circular Quay. Walk around the cobblestoned streets and sandstone buildings of the historic Rocks precinct, take in more free culture at the Museum of Contemporary Art or simply enjoy a scoop of perfect salted caramel gelato from Messina ($5.30) by the water.
Afternoon: For lunch walk to Bar Luca, one of the OG spots to spark Sydney’s burger obsession. Try the ‘Blame Australia’ ($18), a hefty handful that pays homage to the classic milk bar ‘wich by adding cheddar, charred onion, beet relish, bacon and meat pie poutine between fluffy milk buns.
You can’t call it a proper vacay without getting some sand between your toes. Take the ferry direct from Circular Quay to Watsons Bay ($6.12) before walking to idyllic Camp Cove Beach. With its sloping shore, calm turquoise waters and cute kiosk, it’s a quintessential slice of Sydney ($2.62 for the bus back).
Evening: After a post-beach siesta it’s out to Marrickville for the night ($2.52), a vibrant inner west neighbourhood that’s one of the coolest in the world. In this epicentre for craft breweries, live music and phenomenal Vietnamese food, start your night at Banh Cuon Ba Oanh, an ever-bustling eatery that specialises in a Northern specialty of silky steamed rice noodles ($11) dunked in sweet and salty nuoc cham.
From there, walk to craft distillery Poor Toms for a strawberry gin G&T ($9) in a smartly converted warehouse before switching gears at nearby Grifter Brewing Co, where their Flaming Galah pink lemonade sour ($8) is a jolt of tartness.
Kick on with cheap live music most nights of the week at venues like the Factory Theatre and the Red Rattler, where tickets to indie, alternative and rock gigs often go for as little as $10. Alternatively, you can head back to YHA for quiet rooftop drinks or a dip in the pool before bed.
Photograph: Supplied | Royal Botanic Gardens
Day Three
Morning: Big one last night? Amble over to Café Cre Asion for a restorative breakfast. This tiny laneway gem serves classic western brekky alongside sumptuous matcha desserts. Start with silky scrambled eggs on toast ($8) accompanied by a roasty, toasty bowl of hojicha latte ($6). Whatever you do, make sure to take away a slice of their cloud-like matcha swiss roll for later ($8).
Cap off your trip with a short bus ride ($2.24) down Elizabeth Street to the Royal Botanic Gardens. Spend the morning in a 74-acre green oasis taking in its harbour views, native gardens and about 20,000 fabulous flowers at the Calyx glasshouse’s In Bloom display. Until next time, Sydney.
Trip total cost (including accommodation): $195.12