When it comes to transport fares in Sydney there are many options to choose from. What is the best option for you as a tourist? We sort through all the different fare options and present you with what we believe are the best options for tourists. What we present here are based on convenience, flexibility and getting the best value for you travel budget. There is no single option that is ideal for every situation. In Sydney the best option for fares depends on how long you are staying, how far away from the Central Business District you wish to travel and whether of not some of that travel will be by Ferry. For those reasons we suggest a variety of choices to cover different situations, while striving to keep everything as simple as possible.
We will begin with a brief overview. Public Transport in Sydney is overseen by two different entities. The main entity NSW Transport covers CityRail, all Sydney Buses and Sydney Ferries. Metro Transport oversees Metro Light Rail and the Monorail. NSW Transport offers passes called MyMulti that are valid for all of their services plus the Metro Light Rail. Day Passes on the Monorail must be purchase separately. No single pass covers everything. Another factor is that Sydney runs a free bus service up and down the Central Business District for part of the day. See the page on Sydney Buses for more details.
We just show you the fares you need to know as a visitor. Many of the options offered by NSW Transport and Metro Transport are more suited to commuters who travel back and forth between the same two points each day. The tables below show the fares for the My Funday Sunday Pass, the MyMulti DayPass and the MyMulti-3 7 Day Pass plus Monorail Day Passes. All amounts are in Australian Dollars.
| MyMulti and Family Funday Sunday Passes - Valid on CityRail, Sydney Ferries Sydney Buses and Metro Light Rail | Adult | Children 4 to 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Family Funday Sunday Pass | $2.50 | $2.50 |
| MyMulti DayPass | $22.00 | $11.00 |
| MyMulti-3 7 Day Pass | $61.00 | $30.50 |
| Sydney Airport Gate Pass - Trips starting or ending at the airport require an additional gate pass | $12.30 | $9.60 |
| Monorail Fares | Ages 6+ | Family |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Day Monorail Pass | $9.80 | $24.00 |
Option 1: If visiting Sydney for just one or two days and staying and travelling primarily within the Central Business District
For this option we suggest purchasing a one day Monorail Pass and using the Monorail and the #555 Free Central Business District Shuttle Bus to Get Around (see Buses). You can also see a lot by going on our suggested Walking Tours. You may want to purchase a few extra MyBus tickets to have on hand in case you need to travel after the free shuttle bus hours or outside of it's service area. Total Cost per Adult is $9.80 plus any extra bus tickets. The Monorail pass will also entitle you to a discount of 20% or more at many of the attractions located near it's route.
Option 2: If visiting Sydney for two to three days and planning to use the ferries and / or travel to a beach or an outlying attraction
For this option we recommend purchasing a MyMulti DayPass for one or two days. Visit some of the more distant attractions or go for one of our recommended Day Trips. Then use Option 1 above for the additional day or days to see the attractions and sights in central Sydney. Total Cost per Adult will range from $22.00 for 1 day up to $53.80 for 3 days (based on 2 MyMulti Day passes and a One Day Monorail Day Pass). Note: If one of the days you are in Sydney is on a Sunday the best deal for that day is the Family Funday Sunday Fare which is only $2.50 per person and includes the same unlimited travel options as the MyMulti DayPass.
Option 3: If visiting Sydney for at least 3 or more days and planning to use the ferries and / or travel to beaches and outlying attractions.
For this option we recommend the purchase of a MyMulti-3 7 DayPass. This gives you unlimited travel on all modes of travel except the Monorail for a full week. You may wish to purchase a One Day Monorail Pass for any days you plan to explore the attractions along it's route. Remember the cost of the Monorail Pass can be offset by the 20% or more savings it gives you at many of the attractions along it's route. Total Cost per Adult is $61.00 for up to 7 days + $9.80 for one day of unlimited Monorail travel. If you plan to limit your travel close to central Sydney you could get a MyMulti-1 7 DayPass instead of the MyMulti-3. The only difference is a restriction on the distances travelled on CityRail. The cost of of a MyMulti-1 Pass for Adults is $44.00.
Note that even with a MyMulti Pass you must pay an additional Gate Fee for trips to and from Sydney Airport as shown in the table above.
Where to Purchase: Monorail Day Passes can be purchased at any Monorail Station or Sydney Visitor Centre. Sunday Funday and MyMulti Passes can be purchased at City Rail station ticket offices and ticket vending machines. You can also purchase them from many convenience stores including 7-Elevens and newsstands located throughout Sydney. Look for stores displaying a MyZone or PrePay sign. You can view an interactive map to locate individual ticket vendors at NSW Transport Ticket Vendors.
cc licensed flickr photo shared by BeauGiles
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