Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport is located just five miles from the city centre. There are separate domestic and international terminals at the airport connected by a free shuttle. As Australia’s main airport, nearly all major international air carriers fly regularly into Sydney.

Both of the terminals provide all the essential amenities any traveller will need upon arriving in Sydney. ATMs, currency exchange kiosks, bars and restaurants can be found in Arrivals and Departures areas. There is also a useful tourist information desk near the Baggage Claim area.

The Sydney Airport Train Link provides a great way to get from either terminal into the heart of the city. This train stops at several central stations, but is best for travellers with little luggage. Kingsford Smith Airport Coach is another good option if you don’t want to hire a taxi. There are bus stops outside each terminal, and the coaches will drop you off directly at your hotel.

Taxis provide the most convenient yet expensive door-to-door transport. Taxi lines are often very long at Sydney’s airport and drivers have been known to encourage passengers to share the ride with others.

Travellers can easily get to Sydney by plane, train, bus, cruise ship or car. Countrylink interstate trains arrive and depart from Central Station in the downtown area to a few other regional cities. Greyhound coaches are the best choice for long-distance travel as they cover every town in the country. They arrive and depart from the Sydney Coach Terminal next to Central Station. Drivers can enter Sydney via major Australian highways which cover all directions.

The city’s public bus and ferry network is operated by State Transit, while the urban and suburban trains are run by CityRail. There is also a tram line which runs between Central Station and Pyrmont’s Wentworth Park, as well as a monorail connecting Sydney’s downtown to Darling Harbour.

Public buses are reliable and cover most of metropolitan Sydney, but a better choice for tourists is the Sydney Explorer Bus. These red buses travel an 18-mile loop stopping at 26 sites of interest such as the Royal Botanic Gardens, The Rocks and Darling Harbour. Buses leave every 18 minutes from the transport hub of Circular Quay from 08:40 until 17:20. You can jump on the bus anywhere you see a red Sydney Explorer sign, and hop off at whatever attraction you like.

A similar concept is the Bondi Explorer Bus. Its 19-mile circuit takes passengers around the coastal beaches and bays along the eastern harbour. This bus also departs from Circular Quay every 25 minutes from 09:15 until 16:20.

The elevated Metro Monorail connects the downtown business district with Darling Harbour every day from 07:00 until 22:00. Sydney’s trams are a good way to get to Chinatown, Darling Harbour, the Star City Casino and the Fish Markets. Trams run every 10 minutes between Central Station and Wentworth Park.

Water taxis, pubic ferries and Jetcats offer a unique transport option if you are travelling around the harbour area. The main ferry terminal is located at Circular Quay, and boats operate from 06:00 until midnight. Taxis can be found everywhere, and there are special taxi ranks at Circular Quay and in front of most hotels. Tipping is not necessary.