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Sydney Airport to the city: train, taxi or rideshare
The train has a station access fee, taxis have a fixed fare to the CBD, and rideshare prices move with demand. Here is how the three compare and which suits you.
Getting from Sydney Airport to the city comes down to three choices: the train, a taxi or a rideshare. The right one depends on how many of you are travelling, how much luggage you have and what time you land.
Fares and rules below come from Transport for NSW and the NSW Point to Point Transport Commissioner, checked on 12 October 2026, and the questions below on 21 October 2026. They change, so check them before you travel.
The train
The Airport Link runs on the T8 Airport & South Line. From the International and Domestic airport stations it stops at Mascot, Green Square and Central, then runs on through the city stations. Transport for NSW says trains run frequently from 5am to midnight, seven days a week.
The catch is the cost. Airport stations add a station access fee on top of your fare, and the Opal 60-minute transfer does not apply there. Transport for NSW currently lists the adult fee at $18.61 per trip, with a weekly cap of $37.75. That fee is charged before the normal fare to your destination, so use the Transport for NSW trip planner to see your total.
Mascot station is one stop from the Domestic station. If you can get there another way, such as bus route 420, which stops at each terminal and charges normal Opal fares, the fee is worth checking against your total.
A taxi
Taxis queue at ranks at every terminal, and drivers may only pick up from the ranks. A fixed-fare trial has been running since 3 November 2025. It sets the fare at $60 for a standard taxi, and $80 for a maxi taxi you request or a trip with five or more passengers. It applies to trips from the airport ranks to a designated area of the Sydney CBD.
Two things to check. The trial is described as an 18-month trial, so confirm it is still running when you travel. And the fixed fare only covers the designated area, so a destination outside it is metered. The taxis page has the same details.
A rideshare
Uber and other apps pick up from signed areas at each terminal, and the price is set when you book. At T1, leave through Arrival Hall A and follow the Rideshare signs. At T2, follow the green Priority Pick-up signs. At T3, Uber has had its own kerbside zone.
At T1 International, Uber uses a PIN system. You get a code when you book and show it to your driver in the designated kerbside zone. The NSW Government made the system permanent in October 2025. Pick-up points have changed before, so follow the signs when you arrive. The fare depends on the time and demand, so compare the quoted price with the $60 taxi fare before you choose.
Which should you pick?
- One or two people with light luggage, and no rush: the train, once you add up the station access fee and fare.
- Three or more people: the fixed-fare taxi is worth a look. Four adults pay about $74 in station access fees alone, before any fares, against $60 for the taxi.
- Lots of luggage, small children or a late arrival: a taxi or rideshare. The train stops running at midnight, and you do not have to carry bags up and down stairs.
- A very early flight: trains start from about 5am, so check the first one against your check-in time. See where to stay for an early morning flight.
Common questions
Do children pay the airport station access fee?
Children aged 4 to 15 pay the concession rate of the station access fee, and children aged 3 and under travel free, according to Transport for NSW. The fee sits outside the usual Opal daily and weekly caps, so check the trip planner for the exact amount for your group.
Does the $60 fixed taxi fare include tolls and airport fees?
The NSW Government announcement says road tolls and Sydney Airport ground transport access fees must not be passed on to you on top of the fixed fare. If a driver quotes extra for either on a trip covered by the fixed fare, ask them to explain before you set off.
Does the fixed fare apply on the way back to the airport?
Not as announced. The trial covers trips from the airport taxi ranks to the CBD, and the NSW Taxi Council has asked for it to be extended to trips back to the airport. For the return journey, ask for the likely fare before you get in, or compare a rideshare quote.
Can I take a bus from the airport to the city?
Not directly. Route 420 runs between Mascot and Burwood and stops at each terminal, so it does not go into the CBD. You could use it to reach Mascot station and take a train from there, because the station access fee is charged at the airport stations. Add up the bus and train fares in the trip planner first.
If you are staying near the airport first
If you are flying in and heading to a hotel near the airport rather than the city, you may not need any of these. Rydges is 181 steps from the T1 check-in counters, and the free Terminal Transfer Bus links T1 with the domestic terminals.
To compare prices, check Rydges on Booking.com or use the button below.
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