Most visitors arrive at Sydney Airport, about 9 km south of the centre. Regional trains and coaches leave from Central Station, which is also the hub of the suburban network.
Routes at a glance
| From | By | Time | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney Airport (SYD) | Airport Link train | About 15–20 min | To Central and the city stations. A station access fee is added to the fare. |
| Sydney Airport (SYD) | Bus | About 40–60 min | Cheaper, slower buses run to nearby suburbs and Bondi Junction. |
| Sydney Airport (SYD) | Taxi / ride-hailing | 20–40 min | Depends on traffic. Use the official ranks. |
| Melbourne | Flight / XPT train | About 1 h 30 / 11 h | One of the world’s busiest air routes; the train runs daily. |
| Brisbane | Flight / XPT train | About 1 h 30 / 14 h | Frequent flights; the train is slow but scenic. |
| Canberra | Coach / train / car | About 3–4 h | Several daily coaches and trains; about 3 hours by car. |
Times are typical and fares change — check current timetables and prices before you travel.
Getting around Sydney
Trains, the Metro, buses, light rail and ferries share the Opal system: tap on and off with an Opal card or a contactless bank card or phone. Fares are capped daily and weekly, with lower caps at weekends. Ferries from Circular Quay are the best way to see the harbour. The centre is walkable, but the city is huge, so use public transport for the beaches.
Onward from Sydney
Trains reach the Blue Mountains, the Central Coast and Newcastle on the same Opal fares. See the NSW transport guide for regional trains, coaches and flights.
