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Getting around
Getting between the Sydney Airport terminals: T1, T2 and T3
You cannot walk between the international and domestic terminals. Here is how the free bus, the train, bus 420 and taxis compare, and why it matters for your hotel.
Sydney Airport has three terminals, and they are not all joined up on foot. If you are connecting between flights, arriving at one terminal and leaving from another, or staying at a hotel on the wrong side, it helps to know how to get from one to the next.
Times and fares below come from the airport and the operators, and change, so check them before you travel.
The layout
- T1 is the international terminal.
- T2 and T3 are the domestic terminals, about a five-minute walk apart.
- You cannot walk between the International and Domestic terminals.
Option 1: the free Terminal Transfer Bus
The airport runs a free bus between T1 and the domestic terminals. It runs about every 15 minutes, roughly 05:30 to 22:30, and takes about 10 minutes. It boards on the arrivals level, outside Arrival Hall B at T1 and outside each domestic terminal. Allow extra time, because you may wait for the next bus.
Option 2: the train
The Airport Link has one station at the International terminal and another at the Domestic terminals, about two minutes apart. Frequent trains run from about 5am to midnight. The catch is the cost: airport stations add a station access fee on top of the fare, and the Opal 60-minute transfer does not apply there. Check the current fee on the Transport for NSW site. For a short hop between terminals, the free bus is usually cheaper.
Option 3: Bus 420
Sydney Buses route 420 runs between Mascot and Burwood and stops at the arrivals level of each terminal. Normal Opal fares apply, with no station access fee. It is cheaper than the train, but check the timetable first.
Option 4: taxi or rideshare
Taxis queue at ranks at every terminal, and rideshare apps pick up from signed areas at each one. Pick-up points differ by terminal and have changed before, so follow the signs on arrival.
Why it matters for your hotel
The terminal you leave from decides which hotel is easiest.
- At T1, Aerotel is inside the terminal and Rydges is 181 steps from check-in. Rydges is linked to T2 and T3 by the free Terminal Transfer Bus.
- At the domestic side, Mantra and ibis budget are a short walk from T2 and T3.
- If you are flying from one side and arriving on the other, pick the hotel next to your departure terminal, and use the bus for the arrival leg.
Tips
- Allow extra time between T1 and the domestic terminals, especially with luggage.
- If you have a very early or very late flight, check the bus and train times, because they do not run all night.
- Keep a taxi or rideshare as a back-up.
To compare hotels at T1, check Rydges on Booking.com or use the button below.
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