Everything you need to know to get around Sydney this year

06.11.2023 - 07:29 / lonelyplanet.com / Sydney Harbour

Sydney is not the easiest city to get around, but its public transport network is reliable, reasonably priced and way more convenient than driving. But by far, the best way to enjoy getting around Sydney is by taking a ferry or water taxi whenever possible. 

Sydney’s transport network is as complex as its road system, which grew organically, marrying disparate settlements around the harbor. Sydney Harbour Bridge connects the North Shore with the city, taking buses, cars and trains – as well as pedestrians and cyclists – across it, and the Harbour Tunnel is an alternative vehicular crossing. 

Over the summer months, you'll find much of it is also air-conditioned, although there's nothing better than standing on the deck of a ferry crossing Sydney Harbour.

You have three options if you’re not hiring a car from the airport: train, shuttle or taxi. 

Trains depart from beneath the terminal, which is well signposted, but the fare is pretty steep for the short journey into the city, considering you’ll then need to travel onwards to your destination. Airport shuttle buses cost around $22 per person and will drop you at your city-based hotel. If you’re in a group, it may be cheaper to grab a taxi. The fare from the airport into the city center and neighboring suburbs is around $50, which is not bad when split between passengers.  

Sydney's public transport network runs on a ticketing system called Opal. You tap in with your Opal card when you start your trip and then tap out when it's complete. The system calculates and deducts the correct fare. Fares are based on the distance you travel and the mode of transport (ferry, bus, train, light rail). Electronic readers are located at train and metro station gates, inside the doors of buses, on light-rail platforms and at ferry wharves.

Opal cards can be ordered online or bought in person at numerous newsagents and convenience stores across Sydney. They must be loaded with credit (minimum $20/$10 for adult/child; $35 at the airport station, to cover the fee into town). 

Note: you can only get a refund on unused credit to an Australian bank account, so it’s best to keep an eye on your balance and only top up when you need to towards the end of your stay.

Daily (and weekly) fare charges are capped; see the current fare cap online, but in 2023 it's $17.80 on a weekday and $50 for the week. On weekends, the maximum daily fare is half the usual daily fee, which makes weekends the best time to travel further, like Palm Beach or the Blue Mountains.

You can use your contactless credit card or smartphone at the electronic readers, but you may incur additional international bank fees for transactions. 

If you’re making a one-off trip, then you can opt to buy a single-trip Opal ticket