How to Spend Four Days in Sydney for the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023™ If You Want to Cross Stuff Off Your Bucket List

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Don't know how to tackle Sydney all in one go? If you're just in town for FIFA Women's World Cup 2023™, there's a lot to see and not much time. You've to got be smart, pick the highlights and plan ahead. Luckily, we've got it all sorted — the best spots to eat, drink and be merry, the walks, even the shopping breaks. It's an itinerary jam-packed with all the greatest hits and up-and-coming spots, new discoveries, cultural adventures. There's even an incredible day trip into the mountains.

Game on, let's go.

Hamilton Lund

DAY ONE — QUINTESSENTIALLY SYDNEY

BREAKFAST AT THE GROUNDS

Kick it off with a trip to The Grounds. The CBD venue beckons with a beautiful vintage-style front, neon signage and warm timber interior features. They serve up every brekkie you could want, from buttermilk pancakes with roast banana, poached pear and ricotta to brown rice porridge with ginger chicken and shiitake. Perhaps you prefer the King Crab omelette with caviar, Turkish eggs or a simple bakery basket of fresh baked goods, preserves and mascarpone. For sipping, there's coffee, house-made sodas, wholesome smoothies and breakfast cocktails. The Alexandria location has a similar vibe, plus a garden and laneway to explore, with regular installation pieces.

EXPLORE THE CBD

Start at Hyde Park, meandering along pleasant paths, avenues of Hill's Figs and towering palms, and past the Anzac Memorial and Archibald Fountain. At the Art Gallery of NSW, wind down to the Botanic Gardens for a waterside wander surrounded by native and exotic plants. Walk to the Opera House and Circular Quay for stunning views to the Harbour Bridge and Lunar Park. Watch the ferries as you make your way towards The Rocks, a historic area with some of the oldest European settlement remains and an open-air archaeological site. Explore winding streets of characterful pubs, cafes and markets. Do you still have some energy to burn? Walk up and over to Darling Harbour and Chinatown, and duck back into the city for the Queen Victoria Building.

DINNER AND DRINKS AT ICONIC LOCALES

Bennelong is Sydney Opera House's grand dining experience, in a soaring, cathedral-like space overlooking Circular Quay and the Harbour Bridge. It's a theatre of the senses, each dish a feast for the eyes. Legendary executive chef Peter Gilmore is inspired by modern European culinary tradition and the flavours of the Asia-Pacific region, as well as the finest, exclusively sourced heirloom produce. Gilmore's menu at this award-winning restaurant changes seasonally. Winter highlights include a mud crab congee and poached yabbies with finger lime. For mains, it's hard to go past the Kurobuta aged pork rack with pink radicchio, pear, pickled onion and prune. Desserts are delightful spins on Aussie classics: Cherry Jam Lamington, The Chocolate Crackle and pav. Oh, and the wine list is an award-winner, too.

For a tipple, head downstairs to the Opera Bar. Their specialty? Cocktails: spritzes, canned, house-made signatures and zero alc. Enjoy free live entertainment and the Euro-chic menu of executive chef Fernando Sanchez, overseen by Matt Moran. Think, pumpkin feta arancini, pizzas, oysters – everything you want for the harbourside high life. For elevated views, head to The Glenmore. It has over a century of history, but the old bones have been spruced up to present a trendy all-day drinking hole and rooftop bar. Snack on share plates of grilled baby octopus and cheesy polenta chips, or finish the night with a chocolate tortilla with banana, peanuts and caramel. With a wine list of Australian and international bangers and the harbour view, you'll be here until the small hours.

Bondi to Coogee Walk.

DAY TWO — BEACHES AND BOUTIQUES

BONDI TO COOGEE WALK

This popular coastal trail can get busy in high summer, so winter is perfect to take it at your own pace. You can walk the whole 6 kilometres to get a real sense of the coastline's scenery or stop off at any of the beaches along the way – including Tamarama and Bronte. Starting at Bondi, walk along the promenade of this iconic beach and follow the path up to the clifftop trail. Stop at lookouts to take in the view, wander past Bondi Icebergs swimming club and Mackenzie's Point, and gaze down at rocky shorelines and crashing waves. Continue on past Tamarama Beach to Bronte's pale sands, blue water and green parkland. You'll find loads of cafes for a quick juice or coffee before you push on to Coogee. Stay for a celebratory drink or head back to Bondi.

BRUNCH AT SPEEDOS

Is this "The World's Most Instagrammable Cafe"? Visit and see. The all-day menu at Speedos has picture-perfect plating bursting with colour, seasonal produce and mouthwatering brunch options. From creamy coconut porridge, chilli scrambled eggs and caramelised banana pancakes to power bowls, crispy chicken burgers and refreshing acai, it's all photo-ready for your gooey egg-shot or eye-catching organic veg dish. Wash it all down with their bold fresh juices or hot bevs stencilled with messages of positivity. With sweeping beach views, cool sea breezes and the scent of delicious food, everything here is geared to make you look and feel good.

SHOPPING AT THE INTERSECTION

Time to hit the shops. Skip the standard Pitt Street stores and instead explore the iconic and historic Intersection at Paddington. Here, you can browse all the best high-end Australian fashion labels and brands in one easy location at the intersection of Glenmore Road and Oxford Street. These charming tree-lined streets are dotted with cosy cafes and hole-in-the-wall art galleries. And just down the road is another massive shopping centre – Broadway Sydney. It's perfect if you need to pick up non-designer fare. By the coast, you can splurge at Westfield at Bondi Junction, a mecca for retail therapy including, well, Mecca! It's also home to M.A.C. and Sephora. Browse the boutiques of Australian designers like R.M. Williams and Peter Alexander, and international luxury brands including Chanel, Dior, Gucci, Prada and Tiffany & Co. Whether you're all about a Swarovski splurge, prefer a sportswear spend at Lorna Jane or opt for tabletop competition at Good Games, it's here. And if you need to take a break from reality, book in for Freak VR.

DINNER IN INNER EAST

You're spoiled for choice with amazing dining in these trendy neighbourhoods. In Surry Hills, there's the internationally acclaimed Firedoor. Chef Lennox Hastie is renowned for his mastery of flame and smoke, using no gas or electricity but celebrating ingredients and techniques. For something more casual, the newly opened B.S. Pasta Palace (formerly Bar Suze) offers fun, New York Italian dining, while Gogyo slings authentic ramen and The Rover serves up oysters, cocktails and British-inspired bistro food. The current stars of Potts Point are innovative yakitori spot Chaco Bar and Dear Sainte Éloise, with its Euro bistro classics and cracking wine list.

Nikki To

DAY THREE — MULTICULTURAL MAGIC

FUN IN THE OUTER SUBURBS

Sydney's more than beaches and the CBD. There are cultural clusters to explore. Head to Harris Park, aka, Little India. Along the main streets, you'll find a cluster of restaurants and cafes, shops for saris, fabric, jewellery and groceries from India and Pakistan. Get a taste of Mumbai at Chatkazz Restaurant and south Indian cuisine at Billu's Indian Eatery to mention just a couple.

Bankstown is one of Sydney's most ethnically diverse areas, a centre of Lebanese culture with other influences including Egyptian, Palestinian, Vietnamese and Turkish. It's home to Sydney's first baklava shop and numerous specialty stores, including Valley View Continental Groceries and Spices. Grab something fresh from one of the Lebanese bakeries and restaurants, such as Khalil's Lebanese Pizza for za'atar-covered manoush and Afandi Cafe for nabulsi knafeh.

Cabramatta, or Cabra to the locals, is a renowned centre for Vietnamese culture and home to food that Australia's best chefs will travel for. Take a food crawl with cuisine from all over Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and China. There's so much pho and banh mi to choose from, and everyone has their go-to spot. Tan Viet noodle house is renowned for its crispy skin chicken, Vinata's Hot Bread for its beloved banh mi, and Phu Quoc for DIY rice paper rolls. Check out the market and Pai Lau gate, and immerse yourself in a little slice of Vietnam.

DAY FOUR — BEYOND THE BORDERS

DAY TRIP TO THE BLUE MOUNTAINS

Sydney is a stone's throw from breathtaking natural wonders, with the Blue Mountains just an hour and a half's drive away. Stop at the Hydro Majestic, built as a health retreat in the early 20th century, and enjoy refreshments at the Boiler House Cafe overlooking spectacular mountains and valleys. Then head back down the mountain to Leura, with its Bygone Beautys Teapot Museum, walks to Leura Cascades and beyond, and numerous spots to eat, including the award-winning Leura Garage. Don't go past Katoomba, famed for Scenic World and its views of the World Heritage Listed Blue Mountains National Park.