We’ve been to a lot of cities around the world, and experienced so many public transport systems. It’s always our favourite way to get around a city! Not only is it usually the most affordable way, but it also gives you a real taste of how the locals live. In all the cities we’ve been to, we measure their public transport against our home city of Sydney. We’ve found a few that are equal, but nothing yet that beats it! Let us tell you all about the public transport in Sydney.

Sydney’s public transport consists of trains, buses, light rails and ferries. One of the things that makes it one of our favourites is that the payment system is the same across all modes, making it so easy to swap to get to your destination. The train system covers a large amount of the city and suburbs, and anywhere that isn’t accessible by train is sure to have access by bus. The system is super user-friendly, and it’s perfect for tourists!

We would not recommend hiring a car in Sydney unless you’re planning to head out of the city on day trips. Even then, there are some great day trips you can do using the public transport system! We promise you can get anywhere you need to without a car.

1. Modes of transport
2. Paying the fare
3. Cost of travel
4. How to find timetables and routes
5. Important things to know

Modes of Public Transport in Sydney

Train/ Metro

The first train in Sydney opened in 1855, and since then, the system has grown into what it is today. There are currently almost 200 stations, with more to come on the metro lines over the next 8 years. There are a handful of underground stations in the city centre, but most of the train lines are above ground.

The train and metro systems in Sydney are distinct but connected. The metro is newer, with more modern trains and new lines out to suburbs that weren’t previously serviced (and to the upcoming Western Sydney Airport). The train has existed for much longer, and is probably what most tourists will be relying on.

Trains in Sydney are two storey, with an in-between level where the doors are, and with seating for wheelchairs and prams. Most trains have moveable seat-backs, meaning you can swap the direction of the seats (something that has gone viral on social media a number of times).

One of the downsides of the Sydney trains is that they do not continue running overnight. Most train lines stop services between midnight and 4:00 or 5:00am. This may be a problem for you if you’re planning to go out at night, or are heading to the airport for an early flight. Make sure you plan ahead to figure out alternative options if you’re travelling at night.

Bus

The Sydney bus system is quite extensive, having more than 600 routes and over 25,000 bus stops. The very first bus route in Sydney opened in 1905, and since then the system has been ever-evolving.

Buses numbers are based on the main location they service. Almost every bus route has a 3 digit number, but some also use letters. The letters will usually have a meaning, with X being an express bus, L meaning limited stops, and N being night services.

Most Sydney buses are single storey, although there are a few double-decker buses that run on certain routes. All buses have ample seating, space for wheelchairs or prams, and space for passengers to stand.

Buses in Sydney will not stop at every stop, unless someone wants to get on or off. In multiple spots along a bus, you’ll find ‘stop’ buttons that you can press before your stop. In order to board a bus, you will usually need to signal to the driver by putting your arm out. Most bus stops are serviced by multiple routes, so this saves buses having to stop if you’re waiting for a different route.

Lightrail (aka Tram)

Sydney has an interesting history with the light rail service. It used to be one of the main public transport modes in the city in the early 1900s, and it was actually the second-biggest tram network in the Southern Hemisphere. As buses became more popular, the light rail lines began to shut down and by the 1960s there were none left. One new line opened in the 1990s, which is still running as one of the three current routes. Currently, all three light rail lines pass through the Sydney CBD, however a fourth route is opening in Parramatta in 2024.

The lightrails run over a combination of on-road tracks and specific light rail sections. Light rails have seating and standing room, and also have space for wheelchairs or prams.

Ferry

Boats are the oldest form of public transport in Sydney. They have been used to cross the harbour and travel up the Parramatta river from the time of the first fleet arriving. Until the Sydney Harbour Bridge opened in 1932, ferries were integral to the operation of the city.

Now, there are 10 ferry routes that travel around the harbour and Parramatta river. Of these, 9 pass through Circular Quay. As a tourist, this is the main place you would catch ferries to or from. The most popular routes for tourists are to Manly and Taronga Zoo, both of which can be reached on a direct line (F1 and F2 respectively). This map shows the nine ferry routes that pass through Circular Quay.

There are currently 41 ferries that operate around the harbour, each with a name. There are multiple different sizes and designs of the ferries. All of the designs offer indoor seating, and some will also have outdoor seating areas. One of the designs, ‘The First Fleet’, comprises 11 ferries that share the names of the 11 ships that brought the first round of convicts to Sydney. More recent ferries are named after people of significance to Australia, including Fred Hollows, Pemulwuy, and May Gibbs.

Keep in mind that the harbour can get a bit rough, particularly if you’re heading to Manly as you will travel past the heads. On a windy or stormy day, make sure you’re prepared as the swell can be more than you would expect!

Paying the Fare for Public Transport in Sydney

There are a few ways that you can pay for public transport in sydney. You can simply pay with your contactless card, do as many locals do and get yourself an Opal Card, or buy single tickets if you’re only using the system occassionally.

Public transport for anyone under the age of 4 is free.

As a visitor, the most efficient and convenient way to pay for your public transport in Sydney is with your bank issued contactless card or digital wallet. Similar to London, Singapore and New York, you can use any contactless card to tap on and off trains, ferries, buses and light rails in Sydney.

You will find contactless/ Opal readers at every train station, ferry or light rail stop, and on all buses. For all modes of transport, you will need to tap your card at the start AND end of your journey. Don’t forget to tap off, otherwise you will be charged the maximum fare for one ride, which is much more than the average ride.

Fares charged on contactless are exactly the same as fares charged on an adult opal card. On contactless, the money is withdrawn from your account at the end of each week. This doesn’t suit everyone, as you may need to know how much you’re spending as you go. Although, you can always check the fare for your journey using the trip planner on the Transport NSW website. Make sure you use the same card throughout your visit, as you will only get the discounts and caps if you use the same card every time.

There are some downsides to using your contactless card, especially as a tourist. Firstly, your card issuers might charge you foreign transaction fees. Each person needs their own card, and an adult fare is charged, so this won’t suit everyone. If this option won’t work for you, either an Opal Card or Opal single tickets should suit.

Opal Cards are a prepaid multi-use card specifically designed for Sydney’s public transport system, similar to the Oyster system in London. You can purchase an opal card at many locations, including some newsagents, service stations, supermarkets and transport stations. You can find a full list of Opal retailers here. The card itself is free, but you have to load a minimum of $20 for an adult and $10 for a child (this minimum is $35 at airport stations). Child cards are available for anyone aged 4-15 years of age.

One of the benefits of an Opal Card is that you can reload them as many times as you want. You can also register your Opal Card online or on the Opal app, which means you’ll be able to top up online as well. Once your card is registered, you can turn on an auto top up feature, where it will add your desired funds when it’s running low.

You don’t need to register your card though, as you can still top it up at participating retailers and most train stations. One downside to an unregistered card is that you will need to top it up if it’s running low, as you won’t be able to board any transport if you don’t have sufficient funds. This can be a bit annoying if you’re in a rush and need to find somewhere to top up your card. You also can’t get any remaining funds off the card at the end of your trip.

If you only need to use the public transport in Sydney occassionally, you can use Opal single trip tickets. These will be the best option if you don’t think you’ll meet the minimum $20 value of an Opal Card. Keep in mind though that you’ll pay more per ride on a single trip ticket than on an Opal Card. There is also no off-peak discount when using single trip tickets.

Single trip tickets are available for adults and children. You can buy them at train stations and ferry wharves. Not every station or wharf will have single trip tickets available. You can check whether your station has single trip tickets available here. They are valid for the day of purchase and until 4am the following day. You can only buy up to two adult and two child tickets at any one time, and you can’t buy them on buses.

Opal single trip tickets are definitely the most restrictive way of paying for public transport in Sydney. Unless you are only going to be taking public transport occassionally, we wouldn’t recommend this option.

Cost of Travel

Unlike some transport systems around the world, Sydney’s transport is not charged at a flat fare. The cost of travel depends on what mode of transport you are on, how far you travel, and whether you are travelling during peak times (6:30am to 10:00am and 3:00pm to 7:00pm Monday to Thursday) or not. Whether or not your journey falls during a peak time depends on the time at which you tap on.

Train

There are five levels of train fare for both peak and non-peak travel. During peak times , fares start at $4.20 for a journey up to 10km and go up to $10.33 for a journey of 65km or more. On Fridays, weekends, and outside of peak times, the fares are 30% cheaper. This means they start at $2.94 and go up to $7.23.

The one exception to these if when you are travelling to or from Sydney Airport. Both the Domestic Airport and International Airport stations are privately owned, and incur a surcharge. This surcharge is $17.34 for an adult of $15.50 for a child/ concession. This is added on to the fare for your journey.

Bus and Lightrail

Bus and lightrail fares come in three levels for peak and off peak. During peak times, journeys under 3km cost $3.20, 3-8km cost $4.36 and 8km or more cost $5.60. Outside of peak times, these journeys are $2.24, $3.05 and $3.92.

Ferry

Ferries are the only transport mode in Sydney that do not have peak and off-peak times. For a ferry journey of less than 9km, you will pay $7.13. For more than 9km, it will be $8.92.

Timetables and Routes for Public Transport in Sydney

Google Maps/ City Mapper

One great thing about Sydney’s public transport is that it is full integrated with Google Maps, Apple Maps and City Mapper. No matter which maps app you prefer, you can find real-time data on transport routes.

This is one of the best ways to find your way around, as the best route for your journey may change throughout the day. You can see this in action in the screenshots below. During the time it took me to go through all four map options (including the Transport NSW website below), the best route option and the time for the journey changed, even though it is the exact same route.

Tripview

If there is a particular journey that you want to see the times for, the Tripview app can be very useful. In this app, you can input your start and end station/stop, and it will give you all the upcoming departures. There is a paid version of the app that allows you to save journeys, but the free version is very useful for full timetables.

Transport NSW

The Transport NSW website has a few great features that can help you plan your trip. Using the trip planner function, you can plug in your start and end points to see what public transport can get you to your destination.

• All metro stations are fully accessible.
• Some train stations or platforms do not have step-free access. If you require step-free access, you can search different stations here to find out what they have available. If you need assistance boarding a train, such as a ramp, station staff will be able to assist you to board. They will also call ahead to your destination to ensure a ramp is available for you to alight.
• All buses in Sydney have a ramp that can be lowered to allow for accessible boarding.

• Trains don’t run overnight. Most train lines stop services from around midnight until around 4am. Make sure you plan ahead if you need to travel during these hours. You may be able to catch a bus, or you might need to use a taxi or uber instead.
• Different lines can come through the same platform at a lot of train stations. Make sure you keep an eye on the display board at the platform to ensure you board the train you want. The same thing goes for buses, with different routes coming through the same stops.
• Delays are common on buses and trains. If you have somewhere you need to be or you’re trying to connect between different transport, always allow a few minutes of leeway. Tripview and Google Maps will have live data for arrival times.
• Trackwork on the train network is not uncommon. When it is scheduled, it usually runs from a Friday night to a Sunday night. When there is trackwork, there will be replacement buses. These are always free.

• Unlike many places around the world, you cannot board a Sydney bus via the back door. Everyone must board via the front door. Usually most people will alight via the back door, which makes for a quicker turnaround especially at peak times.