In order to make the most out of a trip to Sydney, it’s essential to learn how to navigate the city’s sprawling expanse. Thankfully, like most of Australia’s major cities, Sydney has a robust public transportation system that is affordable and easy to navigate. While you can certainly take advantage of taxis and rideshares or even rent a car and drive yourself around, getting around Sydney with the help of the city’s trains, trams, buses, and ferries will give you a more authentic experience while saving you quite a bit of money. Read on to learn how to navigate Sydney like a local.
The Basics
The first thing any visitor to Sydney should do is purchase an Opal card, which can be loaded up with money and used to pay for rides on the city’s trains, buses, and ferries. Happily, these free cards are available at the Sydney Airport, so securing one can quite literally be the first thing you do upon arrival. If you forget to grab an Opal card at the airport, you can also find them at train and bus stations as well as convenience stores. Once you’ve loaded funds onto your Opal card, you simply tap it when you get on and off of public transportation. You’ll also enjoy special benefits like travel caps where you can ride all day for a set price. For example, on Sunday’s Opal cardholder can travel all day for a maximum fare of $2.80.
Opal cards can be used throughout Sydney as well as in the Blue Mountains, and the Central Coast. In addition to getting the card, visitors to Sydney should also be sure to download the Opal app in order to take advantage of its trip planning and fare estimate features.
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Trains
Anyone who uses public transportation on a visit to Sydney will surely become familiar with the City Circle train, which covers a horseshoe shaped route through the city center. Many of the city’s prime tourist attractions are easily accessed from stops along the City Circle line.
The City Circle train stops at the following stations:
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Light Rail
Sydney’s light rail service runs from Central Railway Station to Dulwich Hill. This service is great for anyone wanting to visit Sydney’s CBD, Chinatown, Star Casino, or Paddy’s Market. The light rail is open 365 days a year from 5am to 1am. Trams generally come every 10 to 15 minutes, but they are at the mercy of traffic and pedestrian crossings, so timetables are not exact.
Bus
Sydney has an extensive network of buses that can take passengers from the city center neighborhoods like Newtown and Marrickville to Bondi Beach and eastern suburbs. Buses are a particularly convenient option for visitors who are interested in beach hopping who appreciate being able to get from Bondi to Coogee Beach in under ten minutes. Buses operate 24 hours a day.
- Another option and one of the best ways to see Sydney are the hop-on, hop-off double decker buses operated by Sydney Bus Tours. The buses operate along two routes – one that covers the center city and one that takes visitors around Bondi Beach and Sydney’s eastern bays. Between the two routes, there are 33 at some of the city’s most popular attractions like Kings Cross, Sydney Tower and Skywalk, and the Sydney Aquarium. Riders are free to get off at any stop to explore for as long as they like before hopping back on and continuing on to another destination.
Tickets for the tour buses are valid for 24 or 48 hours and can be used on both routes. All tours include a guided walking tour. Prices start at $53.10 AUD for adults and $36 AUD for children. Children under five are free, and family discounts are available.
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Ferries
Ferries offer the most scenic option for getting around Sydney. Thanks to the city’s layout, many popular landmarks and attractions are easily accessible by ferry, and the view as you cross the harbour to Darling Harbour Waterfront or Manly Beach cannot be beat. Make sure to have your camera ready in order to capture a shot of the most iconic feature of the city’s skyline, the Sydney Opera House, as you glide by.
The main ferry terminal is at Circular Quay where ferries depart every 25 to 40 minutes. Wharf gates close a few minutes before departure, so make sure to arrive on time for your scheduled ferry ride. One-way fares start at $6.01 AUD and can be paid by tapping your Opal card.
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