Heading to Sydney for the first time? From the iconic beaches to the world-famous landmarks and everything in between, there’s lots to see and do in the Harbour City.
Infused with a captivating vibrancy, there’s always something happening in Sydney. And, with its world-class dining and entertainment scene plus sightseeing, shopping, arts, cultural and outdoor attractions, you’ll want to plan your Sydney itinerary to make the most of your time.
Here, we’ll cover everything you need to know about navigating Sydney like a local from public transport options to other scenic and practical ways to get around the city.
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Arriving in Sydney
Interstate visitors flying to Sydney from Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and Gold Coast will touch down at Sydney Airport – also known as Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport – located just 8km from the Sydney CBD.
Getting from the airport to Sydney CBD
There are myriad ways to make your way from Sydney Airport to the city, including train, airport shuttle, taxi or rideshare services.
The cheapest option to travel to the CBD is via the AirportLink train – a quick 13-minute ride with direct access from the arrivals halls at T2 and T3 terminals to the Domestic Airport station platform. With regular services every 10 minutes, AirportLink offers a convenient connection to all city stations and other train lines.
A single Adult Gate Pass is $17.70 one-way or $15.60 for the Child Gate Pass, plus additional rail ticket costs for peak and off-peak travel to your final destination train station. An adult peak ticket from Sydney Domestic Airport to any city station or Kings Cross can cost up to $22.70 or $18.10 for children aged four to 16 years (kids under four ride for free).
If you tap your preloaded Opal transport smartcard or use contactless payment, the Gate Pass fee is reduced to $17.34 for adults and $15.50 for children.
There are also a few airport shuttle services available, which will set you back around $20 per adult for a one-way bus trip to your hotel or CBD location.
For a direct route to your hotel or accommodation, step out of the T2/T3 terminal to the taxi rank or head to the priority pick-up area to meet your rideshare service for the quick 20-minute trip to Sydney CBD.
Taxi costs can vary according to traffic but the average price from Sydney Airport to the CBD is around $45-$55, plus an additional $5.45 airport toll. Likewise, the cost of an Uber or DiDi will fluctuate according to availability and demand.
How to get around Sydney
While many popular parts of Sydney are compact and walkable, if you plan on making your way through the extensive list of things to do in Sydney, exploring further afield or visiting several locations, here are some of the best ways to get around.
Public transport
Sydney has a well-integrated, reliable and comparatively well-priced public transport network with trains, buses, light rail, ferries and the new Sydney Metro system – all conveniently accessible via the Opal card, credit cards, or mobile wallet payments.
Trains
Sydney’s double-decker Tangara trains are the easiest way to get around town to visit your list of Sydney attractions, with multiple lines crisscrossing the city. It’s also your ticket to Sydney’s inner and outer suburbs and regional NSW centres on the intercity network. Central Station is the main rail terminus for all lines as well as intercity trains. If you’re heading out at night, NightRide bus services replace most train routes between 12 midnight and 4:30am.
If you can’t get where you want to go by train, the bus will get you there. The Sydney bus network has regular routes to popular destinations such as Bondi Beach, Paddington and Coogee and offers top sightseeing options along the city and suburban streets. It also runs NightRide services between 12 midnight and 4:30am.
Some of the most iconic and scenic routes include the 380 bus through Paddington to Bondi Junction and Bondi Beach, the 442 to Balmain and the 199 bus to Palm Beach.
Light Rail
Like the bus, Sydney’s light rail system offers additional CBD street stops, such as Haymarket, Chinatown, Convention Centre and Sydney Fish Market. You can also travel to areas along the harbour not readily serviced by buses and trains, including Glebe and Rozelle in the inner-west and Randwick to the east, on two connecting routes.
A ferry ride to Manly or Taronga Zoo is easily one of the most scenic ways to see the city sights and soak up the harbourside ambience via public transport, spotting major drawcards such as Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House on the way.
The Sydney ferry network operates from the CBD to Parramatta in the west, north to Mosman and Manly and Watsons Bay in the east. The main wharf is situated at Circular Quay near the Sydney Opera House in the CBD. Private fast ferries also travel to Manly, Taronga Zoo and Watsons Bay along with a river ferry from Circular Quay to Parramatta.
Sydney Metro
Sydney’s newest and most accessible public transport option is the turn-up-and-go Sydney Metro rapid transit system, which aims to connect the dots between the CBD and western suburbs. The first Northwest M1 line is now open between Tallawong and Chatswood with the CBD stations on the City & Southwest line due to open in 2024.
Opal cards
You'll need an Opal card to get from A to B on Sydney’s public transport network like a local. This is your ticket to cheaper off-peak fares and seamless connectivity.
The preloaded, reusable Opal smartcard works on all Sydney train, bus, light rail, ferry and metro services and public transport in the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Hunter and Illawarra regions.
To use, tap your card on the Opal card reader each time you start and end your trip.
There is no charge to purchase an Opal card but you need to load a minimum amount before use – $10 for adults or $5 for a child/youth online or $20 for an adult and $10 for a child at ticket machines and retailers, such as convenience stores and newsagencies.
Visitors can also use a credit or debit card or linked device, such as Apple Pay, Google Wallet or Samsung Pay, for contactless payments and the same benefits and cost as an adult fare with the Opal card. Again, always use the same card or device to tap on and off during each journey.
If you don’t have an Opal card or a contactless payment method, you can also buy an Opal single card ticket from ticket or top-up machines at select stations and wharves.
Note: Single tickets are only available for a single trip on metro, train, ferry and light rail services and you’ll need to tap on and off, just like the reusable Opal card.
Sydney public transport apps and resources
For navigation at your fingertips, download these handy Sydney public transport apps.
Opal Travel and TripView apps include a trip planner, real-time travel alerts and access to your fare history to manage travel across the network while on the go.
The Transport NSW website is another useful public transport tool with comprehensive network information, including a Trip Planner and Departures real-time service tracker.
If you’d prefer to take the most direct route to your destination or travel solo, taxi and rideshare options are also readily available in Sydney.
Use a taxi app, such as the Australia-wide 13cabs, to reserve your cab or queue at one of the many taxi ranks dotted around the Sydney CBD, shopping centres and major attractions.
You can also use a rideshare app, such as Uber or DiDi, to either request or reserve a ride.
Driving in Sydney
Want to explore at your own pace or go on a road trip from Sydney to regional areas? Car, motorbike and motorhome rentals are also available direct from Sydney Airport, or you can organise a car rental ahead of time and earn Velocity points. You’ll find a huge selection of popular car hire companies and options, including electric vehicles (EVs).
For those driving themselves, it’s worth knowing that within the city’s complex road network, Sydney Harbour Bridge connects the CBD and North Shore suburbs with the Sydney Harbour Tunnel twin carriageway as an alternative underground crossing.
Cycling and scooters
If you’d like to travel by pedal power, Sydney has e-bikes and bicycles for hire. The Beam dockless e-bike sharing program can be accessed and unlocked via the app – look for the purple bicycles around Sydney to get pedalling.
You can also hire a bicycle or e-bike through one of Sydney’s many inner-city cycle rental outlets. Download the free Sydney cycling map to discover the network of dedicated cycleways, shared paths and low-traffic streets.
Personal e-scooters are only allowed on private property and their use is illegal on NSW roads and related areas. However, Beam shared e-scooters are being trialled at select Sydney locations. Don’t forget a helmet when cycling or scooting in public – it’s the law.
Walking in Sydney
Sydney is a very walkable city with a compact CBD, making it easy to get around on foot. There are also dedicated public pathways around Barangaroo Reserve, Darling Harbour and The Rocks for inner-city harbour views and sightseeing. The Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk is one of Sydney’s best walks and another iconic scenic stroll that takes you right along the coastline of the eastern beaches with spectacular vistas across the Pacific Ocean.
Other forms of transport in Sydney
Coaches
Travelling around in a large group and prefer someone else to take the wheel? A comfy, air-conditioned coach may be more your speed to get around Sydney and regional areas with ease. Minibuses and coaches of different sizes are available for charter and hire from several Sydney coach hire companies. Another option is to book a ticket on the Big Bus Sydney and Bondi Hop-on Hop-off Tour.
Water taxis
Go your own way and hop on a water taxi to see Sydney from the harbour. Sydney water taxi companies will provide transport services or private charters to your harbour destination on a range of vessels suitable for 12 or more passengers. Most water taxis are based at Circular Quay however they will also pick up and drop off at any location or stop on the harbour, such as private jetties, islands and other boats.
Seaplanes
Whether you call it a floatplane or a seaplane, it’s the perfect way to experience Sydney from the air and water. Offering a more scenic than door-to-door transport experience, Sydney seaplane companies provide a selection of scenic flights with guided sightseeing tours and fly-dine packages as well as charter flight options.
Book a 30 minute scenic flight over Sydney
Book your ticket on a seaplane tour for Beach Picnic on Shark Island
Accessible transport
Sydney’s public transport options are accessible for travellers with mobility aids, such as prams and strollers, wheelchairs, walkers and scooters, on all light rail and metro services as well as most trains, buses and ferries.
Sydney Metro and Light Rail services are fully accessible while facilities will vary on trains, ferries and buses. Look for the wheelchair symbol on the front of buses and train carriages for accessible features such as priority seating and wheelchair spaces.
Alternatively, you can use the Transport NSW Trip Planner or the Opal Travel app to see the accessibility information for every journey option in Sydney, including stations and wharves with accessible toilet locations, ramps, lifts and taxi ranks.
Wheelchair-accessible taxis in Sydney can be booked via the centralised Wheelchair Book & Ride service, which connects travellers with suitable rides.
Sydney Airport also offers accessible facilities and mobility services to assist travellers in getting on and off the plane and around the terminals as well as a sensory map for hidden disabilities.
Sydney transport FAQs
Is it easy to get around Sydney?
Getting around Sydney and the suburbs is easy. Sydney has a reliable, extensive and well-connected public transport network with regular bus, train, ferry, light rail and metro services as well as private transport, car hire, taxi and rideshare options.
The Opal pre-loaded smartcard is the easiest and most convenient way to use the public transport network in Sydney and the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Hunter and Illawarra regions.
Public transport maps and information are available at all stops, stations and wharves or visit the Transport NSW website or download the Opal Travel app for trip-planning resources and real-time alerts.
Travellers can also take a more direct route via taxi or rideshare services in Sydney, including water taxis.
Sydney CBD is also a compact and walkable city centre with many major attractions and popular sites conveniently located near each other, making it one of the best areas to stay in Sydney. You can also hire a bike or e-bike and cycle around with bicycles permitted on roads, cycleways and dedicated bike lanes, or hire a car to drive around town.
Do you need a car to get around Sydney?
With a plethora of public transport options available, you don’t really need a car to travel around Sydney. However, if you prefer to travel at your own pace and are visiting multiple different areas or outside Sydney, you might find a car is a more convenient option to get you where you need to go without waiting for transportation.
We recommend organising your car hire ahead of your trip – especially to get great deals and earn Velocity Points – but Sydney Airport has several onsite car rental companies, so you can go straight from the plane and pick up your car, electric vehicle (EV) or 4WD. Rental cars will also have an e-tag installed for use on toll roads and tunnels.
Be aware that parking in the street or carparks can be limited and expensive in Sydney, particularly around the CBD, beaches and busy suburban shopping hubs, with many areas restricted to permit holders only.
How can you pay for public transport in Sydney?
There are several ways to pay for public transport in Sydney. The pre-loaded Opal smartcard is the most popular payment method for seamless use of buses, trains, light rail, ferries and metro with the ability to top-up your card on the go. Simply tap your Opal card on and off for each journey.
You can also use a debit or credit card and linked device to pay the adult fare for each trip by tapping the same card or linked wallet on and off.
Another option is to buy a single Opal ticket, which can be used for a single, one-way trip only and tapped on and off. Paying with cash is not an available option for Sydney’s public transport system.
What’s the best way to get around Sydney with a baby?
Sydney is an accessible city with public transport options that are equipped for travelling with babies and small children such as priority seating and multi-purpose spaces that can accommodate prams and strollers.
Public transport also offers a cheaper way to get around Sydney as children under three years travel for free without a ticket. Kids aged four to 16 years require a child ticket.
All metro and light rail services are accessible for prams and strollers however, facilities may vary at train stations, stops and ferry wharves. You can check the Transport NSW Trip Planner or Opal Travel and TripView apps to see which stations, stops and wharves are pram accessible and offer baby-changing amenities.
If you’re opting to travel around by taxi, rideshare or hire car, the vehicle needs to be equipped with an approved child seat for babies under 12 months. You can request a baby seat ahead of time via the taxi or rideshare app or with the car rental company.
Flights to Sydney
Now that you're basically a Sydney public transport pro, it's time to book that ticket. Virgin Australia offers direct flights to Sydney from major Australian cities, including:
