How To Travel In Sydney

Sydney is a large metropolitan city, so finding out how to travel in Sydney before you arrive is a wise decision.

You can save yourself a lot of time by pre planning and learning about the most convenient, the cheapest, and the most environmentally friendly way of getting around a new and unfamiliar city.

Whether you are in Sydney on holidays, or are here on a working holiday, I hope you find the following information saves you time and money.

A great way to travel in Sydney.

Sydney city is well serviced with a free CBD Shuttle on Route 555. This service runs every 10 mins and is an excellent way of hopping on and off whenever you want to visit an attraction.

The shuttle runs in a loop from Sydney’s Central Train Station to Circular Quay along Elizabeth Street and George. You can board the bus in either direction but only at bus stops showing the green shuttle logo.

The free shuttle runs from 9.30am to 3.30pm on weekdays (runs to 9pm on Thursday nights). On weekends the free shuttle operates from 9.30 to 6pm.

If travelling further afield than the CBD in Sydney you will need to investigate your options. Bus travel is the more popular option as you will see more of the city than if you were on a train. Please be aware that some of Sydney buses are ‘pre-paid’ only. Here’s where you will find all the info you need for suburban trains: http://www.sydneybuses.info/prepay

Central Station is the Place for Train Travel in Sydney.

Trains leaving from Central Station fan out in all directions. Intercity trains leave from the upper (street) level, and suburban trains leave from downstairs.

The busiest times on Sydney trains coincide with the start of the working day and school sessions, during these times you will probably find the carriages a little crowded and may find standing room only in the middle carriages.

It is a good tip to try the first or last carriage for seats as these are usually less congested. You might prefer to wait for the next train and enjoy a cup of coffee or a cool drink.

For your safety - Always stand behind the yellow line while waiting at a train station. There are emergency help points at train stations or if you feel unsafe you can call 1800 657 926 and a member of the city rail security staff will be on hand to assist. By and large trains in Sydney are quite safe to travel on.

There are no free trains operating in Sydney and trains generally do not operate between midnight and 4.30am. Tickets are available here: http://www.cityrail.info/tickets/which/

Sydney offers two more options to get around the CBD – Light Rail and Monorail. The monorail is a great way to get a different perspective on Sydney as you travel between and overhead various buildings and attractions. The Light Rail system is much like a tram. It is efficient and environmentally friendly. Click on the link for more information on the Monorail and Light Rail Services.

The easiest way to travel from the International or Domestic Terminal at Sydney airport to Sydney CBD is by train. Simply follow the signs to the airport train station after you have checked through customs and collected your bags. The train fare is around $15 into Sydneys CBD and you will need to go to the ticket booth before boarding the train. The friendly staff will tell you which platform to go to.

On your return to the airport, simply go to Central Station and purchase a ticket to the Domestic or International terminal.