My Solo Trip to Sydney: First Impressions and Where I Stayed

Sydney, Australia started with a lot of firsts. My solo travels began in London, where I left a friend to fly back to the States while I hopped on my first Qatar Airlines flight aboard an A380, a double decker aircraft! It was also my first time flying through the UAE with a connection in Doha, and I landed with the best in-flight meals I’ve ever had and some serious jet lag to show for it.

After 22 hours of travel, I was exactly as exhausted as I expected. Which is why I had booked a one night stay right next to the airport. One of the smartest things I’ve ever done.

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Where I Stayed

My first night was at the Holiday Inn Express Sydney Airport by IHG and you guys, what a fantastic introduction to Sydney. I felt welcome immediately and I truly cannot recommend this hotel enough. It was so clean, felt brand new, and had everything I needed. What I loved most was the eco-friendly and locally focused approach throughout. They used as many local brands as they could find and incorporated wood and bamboo everywhere, including my key card. I loved it and would stay again in a heartbeat.

The next morning I woke up, grabbed an Uber, and headed to the flat I had rented in Potts Point. Oh my goodness, friends. I absolutely adored this little space. It was completely darling. The most colorful birds would hang outside my windows and sing all morning. My host was sensational and had left a little welcome bag in the fridge with a pint of milk, cheese, fresh tomatoes, a small baguette, some meats, and an assortment of teas. I drank so much tea that I bought more to refill the supply. It was the perfect area for a solo traveler, though I will note there is a small red light district nearby. The locals are completely accustomed to it and it truly wasn’t a concern.

My third stay came after returning from New Zealand. I spent one night in a completely different part of the city and I’m so glad I did. It gave me a proper goodbye to Sydney. I stayed at the West Hotel Sydney, Curio Collection by Hilton, which had one of the trendiest and most beautifully boho bars I’ve ever had the pleasure of lounging in. The hotel itself was a bit dark but had a great gym which made up for it.

First Impressions

The realization that I was actually in Sydney hit me hard the moment we landed. The pilot made a point to fly directly over Sydney Harbour and the Opera House and I could have cried. Honestly? I might have.

I have wanted to go to Australia since I was little and watch The Rescuers Down Under. It always felt like a dream, too far from home to ever actually happen. So when I got there and every single person I spoke to was kind hearted and genuinely invested in making sure I had a safe and wonderful trip, I think my faith in humanity was restored a little that day.

The views were incredible and the strength of the dollar really helped. I could not believe how large the Opera House was in real life or how vast the Harbour was. I don’t think I can compare it to any other city I’ve visited. It is so uniquely Sydney.

The Neighborhoods

Potts Point may always feel like a home away from home in Sydney since that’s where my flat was. The main drag initially felt more night life focused than I expected but after a few days I realized the locals were so accustomed to the energy that it wasn’t a distraction or a concern at all. Plus, they had the best walkup sushi bar I’ve ever encountered, and I ate there almost every single day. The rest of the neighborhood felt comfortable and familiar, even a little like Seattle. There are some rougher areas but not for one moment did I feel unsafe, even walking alone at night.

Downtown Sydney surprised me. It was a fascinating mix of styles I couldn’t quite place but it still felt completely and uniquely itself with red brick buildings set against glass skyscrapers and beautiful harbour views everywhere. I loved walking through it but left the shopping to the other tourists and wished I had booked a few more excursions outside the city center.

Bondi Beach was another surprise. I had heard so much about it and the art, people, music, and energy absolutely delivered. What I didn’t expect was how small town it felt! Everyone seemed to know everyone and you could walk the entire stretch in about 15 minutes. That said, the people watching was incredible and I loved this neighborhood for browsing, shopping, and the perfect place to learn to surf.

The Food

SUSHI! All day, friends. Okay, not literally all day, but besides the obligatory Tim Tam, I ate incredibly well in Sydney. They do such a wonderful job sourcing food locally and everything I tasted felt genuinely fresh, from avocado toast to Mexican food on the waterfront. Here are a few of my favorite spots:

Maki Sushi – Pott’s Point
Brew Cafe – The Rocks (In Grosvenor Place)
Sushi & Grill @ York Street – NSW

Sydney also makes it wonderfully easy to eat as a solo traveler. I got a table by myself at every restaurant I tried. I made most of my own meals at the flat but it was always easy to grab something to take away and eat at the park or find a comfortable spot to dine in alone. 😊

What Surprised Me

A few things caught me off guard. The first was the spiders. I think I saw the largest spider of my entire life at the Royal Botanic Garden. It was so enormous that I didn’t even stop to take a photo. I just turned and walked away as fast as I could. 🕷️

Beyond that I was genuinely surprised by the sheer size of the country and by how fresh everything felt, especially the air. Clean, wonderful, and alive. And the people were so consistently kind and approachable.

Mostly though, I was surprised by how much fun I had completely alone. I found my love of solo travel again in Sydney. Walking the streets with my audiobook, making friends on tours, sitting on the harbor steps with my eReader. It was a beautiful reminder that you cannot spend your life waiting for someone to join you on your adventures. Sometimes you just have to take the leap. 💕

Would I Go Back

Yes. Immediately. How’s right now?

I truly hope and pray I get to return to this incredible country someday. I cannot wait to share Part 2 of this Sydney series with you, which should tell you everything you need to know about how desperate I am to go back.

Thank you so much for letting me relive these memories with you. Wishing you an extra safe and wonderful travel experience wherever you’re headed next.