Getting around · Sydney · Australia
Getting around Sydney
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
Trains, the Sydney Metro, light rail, buses and harbour ferries all use one Opal fare system, and you can simply tap a contactless bank card or phone on and off. The harbour sights are walkable from Circular Quay; the beaches and suburbs need a ferry, bus or train. Not in the city: parking is expensive and public transport covers the harbour, the beaches and the Blue Mountains.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Train
- Airports
- SYD
- Need a car?
- Sometimes
- Travel pass
- Contactless and Opal card
Ways to get around
Train
Sydney Trains run from Central and Town Hall to the suburbs, the airport and the Blue Mountains, with intercity services north to Newcastle and south to Wollongong and Kiama.
Off-peak fares on trains and Metro are cheaper than peak fares, so a mid-morning start saves money.
Metro
The driverless Sydney Metro runs every few minutes through the CBD, stopping at Barangaroo, Martin Place, Gadigal and Central between the North Shore and Sydenham, with a branch to the north-west suburbs.
Ferry
Ferries fan out from Circular Quay to Manly, Taronga Zoo, Watsons Bay, Cockatoo Island and up the Parramatta River, using the same Opal fares as other public transport.
The Manly and Taronga Zoo routes are the most scenic for a first ride.
Tram
Light rail runs along a car-free George Street from Circular Quay to Central and on to Randwick and Kingsford, while another line links Central with Darling Harbour, Pyrmont and the inner west.
Bus
Buses fill the gaps, especially to the eastern beaches: frequent services run from the CBD and from Bondi Junction station to Bondi, Bronte and Coogee.
Walking
The harbour foreshore from Barangaroo through The Rocks, Circular Quay and the Botanic Garden to Woolloomooloo makes a continuous walk of about 5 km, and coastal paths link the eastern beaches.
Ride-hailing
Rideshare apps and metered taxis are widely available; taxis can be hailed or found at ranks at Circular Quay, Central and major hotels.
Fares surge after big events and on New Year's Eve, when extra public transport is usually the better option.
Tickets and passes
Contactless and Opal card
Tap a contactless credit or debit card, phone or watch on and off on any train, Metro, bus, ferry or light rail to pay Opal fares; daily and weekly caps apply automatically, with a lower cap on Sundays.
Child/Youth Opal card
Children aged 4 to 15 pay reduced fares with a Child/Youth Opal card, sold at convenience stores and some stations; children under 4 travel free.
From the airport
Sydney Airport is about 9 km south of the CBD. Airport Link trains from the international and domestic terminals reach Central in about 15 minutes and Circular Quay in about 25, though a station access fee is added to the normal fare. Taxis and rideshares take about 20–40 minutes to the city depending on traffic.
Do you need a car?
Not in the city: parking is expensive and public transport covers the harbour, the beaches and the Blue Mountains. A car helps for the Hunter Valley, Jervis Bay and the South Coast.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Mountains | About 2 hours by train | Train from Central to Katoomba |
| Hunter Valley | About 2–2.5 hours by car | Car or organised winery tour |
| Royal National Park | About 1 hour by train or car | Train to Otford, or train to Cronulla and ferry to Bundeena |
| Palm Beach and the Northern Beaches | About 1.5 hours by bus | Bus from Wynyard, or car |
| Kiama | About 2 hours by train | Train from Central to Kiama |
| Jervis Bay | About 3 hours by car | Car |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Sydney?
Not in the city: parking is expensive and public transport covers the harbour, the beaches and the Blue Mountains. A car helps for the Hunter Valley, Jervis Bay and the South Coast.
+How do you get from the airport to Sydney?
Sydney Airport is about 9 km south of the CBD. Airport Link trains from the international and domestic terminals reach Central in about 15 minutes and Circular Quay in about 25, though a station access fee is added to the normal fare. Taxis and rideshares take about 20–40 minutes to the city depending on traffic.
+What is the best way to get around Sydney?
Train: Sydney Trains run from Central and Town Hall to the suburbs, the airport and the Blue Mountains, with intercity services north to Newcastle and south to Wollongong and Kiama.