Sydney is a fabulous place to take the kids, whether you are visiting for a weekend or a week. Many central attractions are walkable, while the city’s trains, Metro, light rail, buses and ferries make longer trips straightforward.
This guide explains the current ways to get around Sydney with children, including Opal fares, contactless payment, airport transport and the important distinction between Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport and the new Western Sydney International Airport.
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Last comprehensively reviewed and updated: November 2026.
Getting Around Sydney
For most families, the easiest approach is to walk within one precinct and use public transport between areas. A rideshare can still be good value for a family when the public-transport journey requires several changes.
Walking in Sydney
Walking is often the best way to explore individual areas such as Circular Quay and The Rocks, Darling Harbour, Barangaroo or the city centre. However, Sydney’s attractions are spread across several precincts, so allow more than an old “30 to 40 minutes across the city” estimate.
Plan shorter walks around each area and use a train, Metro, light rail, bus or ferry to connect them. Sydney has hills, busy roads and construction detours, so use an accessible route in the Trip Planner if travelling with a pram.
Public Transport in Sydney
Sydney’s Opal network includes Metro, trains, buses, ferries and light rail. You must tap on and tap off with the same Opal card, contactless card or linked device.
Metro and Trains
Sydney Metro provides fast services through the city and connects with the wider train network. The City Circle train stations are Central, Town Hall, Wynyard, Circular Quay, St James and Museum, while Martin Place is served by both train and Metro stations.
Use trains and Metro for longer cross-city trips and for destinations such as Chatswood, North Sydney, Parramatta and the airport line. Check for weekend trackwork before relying on a particular route.
Light Rail
The L1 line runs between Central and Dulwich Hill via Chinatown, the Convention Centre, Pyrmont and the Inner West. The L2 and L3 lines run from Circular Quay through the CBD to Randwick and Kingsford.
Light rail is particularly useful for Chinatown, Darling Square, the Sydney Cricket Ground precinct and the eastern suburbs. Always tap on before boarding and tap off after leaving.
Ferries
Ferries are both useful transport and one of the most scenic ways to experience Sydney Harbour. Services from Circular Quay connect with destinations including Manly, Taronga Zoo, Luna Park/Milsons Point, Barangaroo and Parramatta River wharves.
Check the route carefully when travelling to Darling Harbour or Pyrmont, as the best wharf and any required walk depend on the current ferry service.
Buses
Buses fill the gaps between rail, light rail and ferry routes. They are particularly important for beaches, suburban attractions and late-evening travel.
Use the Trip Planner rather than relying on an old route number because stops and service patterns change. Signal the driver if required and tap on and off for every trip.
How much does Sydney public transport cost?
Fares depend on the mode, distance and time of travel. Rather than using a single price estimate, use the Transport for NSW Trip Planner for the current fare.
As at November 2026, Adult Opal and contactless travel was capped at:
- $19.30 a day from Monday to Thursday;
- $9.65 a day on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and public holidays; and
- $50 a week from Monday to Sunday.
Child/Youth Opal travel was capped at $9.65 Monday to Thursday, $4.80 on Friday, weekends and public holidays, and $25 a week. Children aged three and under travel free; children aged 4 to 15 need a Child/Youth Opal card to receive child fares.
A transfer between different modes within the eligible transfer window attracts a $2 adult discount or a $1 Child/Youth discount. Off-peak travel on Metro, trains, buses and light rail attracts a 30% discount.
The Sydney Airport station access fee is additional and is not included in ordinary daily or weekly travel caps.
How do you pay?
Adults can use an Adult Opal card or tap on and off with an American Express, Mastercard or Visa card or linked phone/watch. Contactless payment receives the same adult fares, discounts and caps as an Adult Opal card, provided you use the same card or device each time.
Each traveller needs a separate payment card, device or Opal card. Children aged 4 to 15 need a Child/Youth Opal card for the reduced child fare. Opal cards are free, but you must add value before travelling.
Avoid card clash by removing the card you intend to use from your wallet. If you tap on with a phone, tap off with that same phone rather than the physical card linked to it.
How do you plan a trip?
Use the NSW Trip Planner or Opal Travel app for routes, accessible options, service changes and fare estimates. I prefer checking the official planner first because it shows current disruptions and costs, then using live mapping while travelling.
For a family, rideshare may be competitive with several public-transport fares and can save time when a trip involves multiple changes. I recommend comparing the live rideshare quote with the Trip Planner fare and journey time.
Taxis are useful at ranks, for larger vehicles and when you want help from a kerbside supervisor. Families with young children should arrange an appropriate child restraint in advance rather than assuming one will be available.
Hop-on Hop-off Buses
Big Bus Sydney now operates daily, rather than only Thursday to Monday. The Red City Route has 15 stops, takes about 90 minutes and generally runs every 30 to 40 minutes. The Blue Bondi and Bays Route takes about 80 minutes and generally runs every 35 to 45 minutes. Check the current service update before travelling.
I am not usually a huge fan of hop-on hop-off buses because the routes are limited and passes are not cheap. However, they remove the stress of planning transport between major attractions and include commentary.
Click here to check current Hop-on Hop-off bus tickets.
Renting a Car
A car is rarely necessary for a central Sydney stay. Parking is expensive and limited, traffic can be slow and several roads are tolled.
If you plan a day trip outside the public-transport network, compare renting only for those days with keeping a car for the entire stay. Confirm how the rental company charges tolls and book any child restraints in advance.
Getting from Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD) to the City
Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport is around 8 km from the CBD. This is the airport served by the T8 Airport & South train line. If your booking says Western Sydney International (WSI), see the separate section below.
For a detailed comparison, see our guide to travelling between Sydney Airport and the city.
Rideshare pickup differs by terminal:
- At T1 International, UberX uses Rank C with a six-digit PIN, while other Uber products use Rank B;
- At T2 Domestic, Uber and other rideshare services use the Priority Pick-up Zone; and
- At T3 Domestic, Uber picks up kerbside on the arrivals level, while other rideshare services use the Priority Pick-up Zone.
Follow the current airport signs and app instructions because construction can alter pickup points.
Taxis have supervised ranks outside each terminal. A fixed-fare trial applies to uninterrupted rank trips from Sydney Airport to a designated CBD area: $60 for a standard or wheelchair-accessible taxi and $80 for a requested maxi taxi or a group of five or more. The fixed fare includes taxes, tolls and airport fees but not a possible card surcharge or cleaning fee. Trips outside the trial boundary remain metered.
Train and Public Buses
T8 Airport & South Line trains run between the airport and city every day from about 5 am to midnight, generally around every 10 minutes. The trip to the city can take as little as 13 minutes.
The airport station access fee is added to the normal train fare. At the time of review, it was $18.61 for an adult and $16.64 for a Child/Youth or concession passenger using Opal or contactless payment. This access fee is outside the ordinary daily and weekly fare caps, although a separate weekly access-fee cap applies.
Adult and Child/Youth Opal cards are sold at the airport stations, but a $35 minimum top-up applies there. Adults can instead use contactless payment. Children need a Child/Youth Opal card for the child fare.
Route 350 connects the Domestic Terminal with Bondi Junction via Mascot, Maroubra and Coogee. Route 420 serves both International and Domestic terminals and connects with Mascot, Rockdale, Campsie and Burwood. The N20 serves the International Terminal and the city overnight. These buses can be cheaper than the airport train but usually require a transfer for central accommodation.
A shared shuttle can be helpful for door-to-door travel, larger families or travellers with substantial luggage. Current pickup points may change during Sydney Airport works, so use the instructions in your booking confirmation.
You can compare the current Con-X-ion shared transfer and Sydney Super Shuttle. Check availability, child-seat rules, luggage limits, pickup instructions and the live price before booking.
Rent a Car
Rental-car desks are available at T1 International and the domestic terminals. A car is most useful if you are leaving Sydney rather than staying in the CBD. Compare parking and toll costs before booking.
Western Sydney International Airport (WSI)
Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport opened to passenger flights on 25 October 2026 at Luddenham. It is a different airport from Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport and does not yet have a direct train service.
The fare-free WSI Link bus runs between St Marys Station and WSI every 30 minutes, from 4.30 am to midnight Sunday to Thursday and 4.30 am to 1 am Friday and Saturday. Five other public bus routes connect WSI with Mount Druitt, Penrith, Liverpool, Leppington and Campbelltown.
A paid Super Shuttle WSI service connects the new airport with Parramatta, Central Station and the domestic terminals at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport. The Sydney Metro connection between WSI and St Marys is planned for 2027.
Check the airport code on your booking carefully and use the current WSI transport guide to plan the correct airport journey.
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Hopefully you’ve found this guide on getting around Sydney helpful. We have other guides to help plan your trip, including things to do in Sydney and where to stay in Sydney with kids.