The back story
Getting around Sydney: trains, metro, ferries and Opal
From the airport by AirportLink, then the metro, Sydney Trains, light rail and the harbour ferries, all on Opal or a tap of your bank card: how to move through Sydney.
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Takeshi Aida · CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia CommonsSydney’s public transport runs on one ticket: tap on and off with an Opal card, or with a contactless credit or debit card or phone. Fares are capped at $19.30 a day Monday to Thursday, $9.65 on Fridays, weekends and public holidays, and $50 a week (transportnsw.info, adult fares). Sydney Airport’s station access fee is not included in the caps.
From the airports
From Sydney Airport (SYD), AirportLink trains run from the domestic and international stations to Central, Museum, St James, Circular Quay, Wynyard and Town Hall; tap on with Opal or your bank card. Western Sydney International (WSI) opened to passengers on 25 October 2026.
In the city
Sydney Metro runs driverless trains under the harbour; Sydney Trains cover the suburbs; light rail runs down George Street; ferries leave Circular Quay for Manly, Taronga and Watsons Bay.
Out of the city
Intercity trains reach the Blue Mountains, the Central Coast, the Hunter, the Illawarra and the Southern Highlands on Opal; NSW TrainLink regional trains, such as the Canberra service from Central, must be booked ahead.
Tap on and off with the same card or phone every time, or you pay the default fare.
Our advice: on a Friday or at the weekend, the daily cap is half price, so it is the day for ferries.
Why it's on our list
- From the airports
- In the city
- Out of the city
Location
The map comes from Google Maps, which sets its own cookies once it loads.
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