Should you leave the airport on your Sydney layover? It’s a question that I get asked a lot, and the answer is always the same…. that depends! If you have a Sydney stopover and your not sure what you can see with just 6, 8 or 10 hours in the city, well, grab a seat and get comfortable because I am about to give you lots of realistic ideas of things to do on a one day visit to Sydney.
Fully updated 15/9/24
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I lived at Mascot one stop from the airport for several years and regularly made the trip between the airport and the city. I also spent many years working with groups of visitors on short stays, so I got plenty of practice in seeing what could be achieved in one day. What follows are my suggestions based on the amount of time you have available.
Sydney Layover Logistics
If you have a stopover in Sydney, you might wonder:
- Is it worth leaving the airport?
- Do you need a visa to exit the airport?
- What can you see in Sydney in 6-8 hours?
- What are the rules regarding check-in at Sydney airport?
- How long does it take to travel from Sydney airport to the harbour and the city?
- How long do I need to clear immigration for my onward flight?
Well, let’s work out if you have time to leave the airport and if you do, what you can see in your limited time in the city.
Do you need a visa to leave Sydney Airport in transit?
If you are an international passenger in transit and would like to leave Sydney airport, you will need a visa to enter Australia. A free transit visa is available to travellers from some countries that will let you into Australia for up to 72 hours.
This transit visa allows you to leave the airport. Travellers from countries not covered by the transit visa will need to get a visitor visa. There are several types, so it’s best to check the details for your country on the Immigration website.
What is the minimum time needed to leave Sydney Airport on a layover?
The absolute minimum layover required to explore Sydney on a stopover is:
- 5 hours for a domestic connection
- 6 hours for an international flight
Personally, I would want 6 hours regardless. I get nervous about missing flights. However, only you can decide what you are comfortable with. If you miss your flight, it’s on your head lol.
Please plan for worst-case scenarios, such as cancelled trains and long queues at the airport. Then, give yourself enough time to check in before your gate closes.
Does the time of day you land make a difference?
Yes, it does. Sydney Airport has a curfew, meaning flights can not take off or land between 11pm and 6am. This results in an early morning peak hour with dozens of flights landing between 6 and 9am.
Upon landing, you need to pass through immigration and customs. On a good day (and depending on the time of day), this can take 20 minutes, but it is often more like 40 minutes, and it is not unknown for it to be over an hour on busy early morning arrivals.
TripAdvisor forums will highlight many less successful transit times. You can get an idea of how many flights will land at the same time as you by checking the arrivals information on the airport website.
Is there luggage storage at Sydney Airport?
In a perfect world, you would have your bags checked through to your final destination. If not, you can store them with Smarte Carte in the arrivals section of both the domestic and international terminals (near McDonald’s). You will need to factor in time to collect them before you clear customs on return.
What is the best way to get to the city on a short layover?
Take the train to the city; it is the only viable option if you want to save time. Anything else will take longer.
Return train tickets cost $36 for an adult and $30 for a child. The trip to Circular Quay (Sydney Harbour) takes 18 minutes from the Domestic Terminal and 22 minutes from the International Terminal. Yes, there is a cheaper way, but really in such limited time, would you bother?
How long before my flight do I need to be back at the airport?
For international flights, it is recommended you arrive 3 hours before departure. If they checked your bags through, and you have your connecting boarding pass, you could do it in 2 hours. For domestic flights, 2 hours is fine.
How much time do you really have on your layover?
Allow 30 mins of travel time each way. Allow 30 mins extra on the return trip for any unexpected issues, so be cautious, that is 1.5 hours for a return trip. Make sure you also take into consideration the check-in requirements above.
How much time do you have – Sydney Airport layover times
If you already have your boarding pass, you only need to be at the gate by the boarding time listed. However, lines at security and immigration can be long on occasion.
| If your transit time is | Then your time to explore is... |
| 5 hours | 2-3 hours – Only for the adventurous! |
| 6 hours | 3-4 hours – Stick to Circular Quay |
| 7 hours | 4-5 hours – Keep an eye on the clock |
| 8 hours | 5-6 hours – Comfortable |
| 9 hours | 6-7 hours – Great |
| 10 hours | 7-8 hours – Perfect |
Ideas for exploring Sydney in under 4 hours
I suggest you set the alarm on your phone for 30 minutes before your train back to the airport, to make sure you get back to the airport on time.
Must-See Sydney for the time-poor traveller
With less than 4 hours, you only have time to take in the around Circular Quay. You can walk to the Opera House in 7 minutes from the train station. There is no need for an official tour. Just walk around the outside and wander into the foyers if they are open to get a feel for the inside.
Next up, enter the Royal Botanic Gardens and take a short loop of the bottom half before exiting the way you came in. Then, head back towards the train station. As you reach the end of the walkway, you will see a glass elevator that will take you up onto the roadway above the station.
This road is called the Cahill Expressway. Along with being an ugly monstrosity, it hosts a viewing platform that offers a magnificent view of the harbour. This is a top spot to get some Instagram-worthy photos of Sydney.
If you have less than 90 minutes left on the clock, double back the way you came and spend some time exploring the other side of the foreshore and under the Harbour Bridge.
If you still have over 90 minutes left, then keep going. Head along the walkway to the other side, and you will find a staircase that will take you to the back of The Rocks or onto the Harbour Bridge. If you are fast, you can take a quick jog to the middle of the bridge for a quick look.
Now double back into the Rocks and wander the back streets for half an hour before returning to the station if there is time to pop into the MCA Cafe at Tallawoladah for a drink with a view.
If all these suggestions have you scared of getting lost, you could always head straight to Opera Bar for a quick lunch and sit soaking in the view till it is time to head back to the station.
Ideas for exploring Sydney in 5-6 hours
In 5-6 hours, you can see quite a bit. Decide on the best option according to how much energy you have.
Explore Sydney on Foot – Visit the Harbour’s Eastern and Western shores
This itinerary will show you Sydney’s icons in all their glory. First, take the train to Circular Quay and follow the walkway to the Opera House. Then, enter the gate to the Royal Botanical Gardens and continue along the path that hugs the cove. In the end, you come to Mrs Macquarie Point, and from here you can capture the postcard Sydney view.
Retrace your steps and follow the Circular Quay wharves around to the MCA and take the road to the side of the gallery up to George Street.
Cross the road and walk up Argyle Street through the Argyle Cut until you come to the Hotel Palisades (Henry Deane) and the Barangaroo Reserve.
The Palisades is a brilliant spot to grab a beer. They have restored the ground floor bar to its old-world glory and offer delicious counter meals. Head to the rooftop Henry Deane Bar for upmarket share plates, served with spectacular views.
From here, walk into Barangaroo Reserve before making your way to Barangaroo ferry wharf. Depending on how much time you have left, you could take an F4 ferry back to the Quay for a ride under the Harbour Bridge.
Check the ferry timetable before you decide. If you prefer, you can follow the signs to Wynyard Station and take the airport train from here.
Plan B
If you are jet-lagged, a ride on the Hop on Hop off bus, or a harbour cruise is a stress-free way to see the sights in limited time.
- The HOHO bus stops in George Street a couple of minutes’ walk from the station. The bus offers two loops. One covers the city area, and the other goes to Bondi and the eastern suburbs. Each loop takes 1.5 hours.
- A Captain Cook Harbour Cruise takes about 2 hours, and you can get food and drinks on the boat. You could also take the Hop on Hop off ferry, you can follow our one day HOHO ferry itinerary here.
Explore the Harbour on a public ferry
There are so many ways to explore the city by ferry. Below are the ones I think work best on short visits. Next time you are here, you can work your way through a detailed list of my favourite Sydney ferry rides.
Option 1 – The Manly Ferry: Minimum 6 hours
Take the train to Circular Quay. After quick photo stops to capture the Bridge and the Opera House, jump on a Manly ferry. It is a 30 minute trip across Sydney heads to Manly. If you want to get off the ferry and explore Manly, check out our list of things to do in Manly for ideas.
If you’re not hungry, then take the 8-minute walk down the Corso to the beach. Check your timing for the return trip, and if you still have an hour or more up your sleeve, take the 20-minute walk to the waterfront to Shelly Beach.
Alternatively, you might also like to stop in a classic Aussie pub, like the Hotel Steyne on the Corso, for a beer.
Option 2 – Under the Bridge and Back: minimum 4 hours
Take the ferry to Pyrmont (this one goes under the bridge and past Barangaroo to the Star Casino. You can either get on the ferry and explore the Darling Harbour/Barangaroo vicinity or stay on and return to Milson’s Point.
When you arrive back at Milsons Point, get off the ferry and take the pedestrian walkway back across the Harbour Bridge to Circular Quay.
If you have time, you can head up to the Sydney Harbour Bridge Pylon and visit the museum for a bird’s-eye view of the harbour.
Option 3 – Watsons Bay and South Head: 5 hours minimum
Take a ferry to one of Sydney’s prettiest spots, Watson’s Bay in the gorgeous eastern suburbs.
Once you arrive, you can:
- splurge on a special meal at Sydney’s oldest seafood restaurant
- take a walk out to the Hornby Lighthouse on the edge of South Head
- grab some fish and chips from the take away on the wharf to eat on the small harbour beach
- down a few beers in the perfectly positioned Watson’s Bay Hotel
- visit the infamous Gap Lookout
Before you set out, make sure you check the timetable for your return trip to Circular Quay. These ferries are not as regular as others and the bus ride back to the city takes over an hour!
You can also take a bus from here to Bondi Beach and continue exploring.
Sydney Shopping Layover
Spending your limited time on a short stopover shopping is probably an option best suited to those visiting from smaller cities, repeat visitors, or those whose currencies are very strong.
Option 1: City Shopper
Get off the train at St James Station. From here, you can visit Pitt Street Mall, the Strand Arcade, Market Street for luxury brands, and the gorgeous Queen Victoria Building.
Take the train back to the airport from Museum Station OR walk down Pitt Street till you reach Circular Quay and catch a quick glimpse of the Harbour before catching the train from Circular Quay Station.
Option 2: For repeat visitors
If you have been to Sydney before and seeing the harbour is not the key motive, you can take the 350 bus from the airport to either Eastgardens, a large suburban shopping centre about 15 mins from the airport, or Bondi Junction, which is 30 mins away and has more high-end brands.
Traffic around the airport can be quite congested, so take the train to Mascot only ($8.25) and then grab an Uber ($25 on average to Bondi Junction).
Explore Sydney’s Past – minimum of 5 hours
A history lover on a layover in Sydney is in luck. Most of the important structures of colonial Sydney are concentrated in The Rocks, Circular Quay and Macquarie Street.
Historic Sydney walk – The city’s best colonial architecture
Take the train to Museum Station and follow my Historic Sydney walk. The walk takes in Hyde Park, St Mary’s Cathedral, Colonial Sydney Buildings along Macquarie Street including Parliament House and the State Library and leads you to the Botanic Gardens and the Opera House. There is also a shorter walk that includes the Art Gallery and a little less history.
Explore The Rocks – Sydney’s oldest quarter
Start at the Rocks Discovery Museum and then try our self-guided walk around The Rocks.
Start at the Rocks Discovery Museum and the try the self-guided walk around The Rocks. Depending on how long you stop at each place, you can cover this walk in 2 hours and leave time to have lunch or visit some of the historic pubs.
Ideas for an 8-10 hour layover in Sydney
If you are someone who gets their ducks in order before they travel then this suggestion just might suit you!
For the organised traveller – Sydney Harbour Bridgeclimb
Book a Bridge Climb. The climb takes a minimum of 4 hours, and you must book in advance, so this one will take some planning. After you finish your climb have a wander through The Rocks Quarter and finish up with lunch by the waterfront before returning to the airport.
You can also check this list of other places to eat after your bridge climb.
For the outdoor lover – Sydney Harbour Side Walking Tracks
If you want to see the harbour from a different angle, then jump on the ferry to Cremorne Point and follow this harbourside walk to the Zoo. You will see beautiful homes, beautiful gardens and breathtaking views around every corner.
At the end of the walk, you can either make your way to Taronga zoo entry and visit some of our furry friends or jump a ferry back to the Quay and take a ferry ride to another lovely harbourside spot.
For adventure lovers – Surf, Swim, SUP or Kayak
Take a ferry to Manly and get active. You can rent kayaks or SUP’s here by the hour, take a surf lesson, or rent a bike and ride along the coast.
For lovers of street art and urban culture – Visit Newtown
Newtown, Sydney’s subculture capital, is just a short Uber ride from the airport. It has street art, great food and eclectic shopping.
While you can easily wander the main streets and back lanes and uncover fantastic murals and quirky cafes, this self-guided street art walk might appeal to those who like a little more structure.
Just a short Uber ride from the airport is Newtown, Sydney’s subculture capital. Street art, great food and eclectic shopping. While you can easily wander the main streets and back lanes and uncover fantastic murals and quirky cafes this self-guided street art walk might appeal to those who like a little more structure.
Sydney Layover with Kids
Let me start by saying I would not be brave enough to attempt leaving the airport with kids unless I had at least 8 hours. I am not sure I would be brave enough to do it at all lol… but if you are here are some ideas to consider.
Visit Taronga Zoo – Minimum 8 hours
The zoo, sitting on the northern side of the harbour, has fantastic views back across the city, and there is plenty to keep you occupied for 3-4 hours. If you don’t have that much time, then grab a map from the entry and head straight for the Australian animals.
If you have limited time, getting your zoo ticket sorted in advance will save you queueing on arrival. Check the timetable of shows and talks and plan your visit.
Explore Darling Harbour
Darling Harbour is the best place to head if you are in Sydney with kids, with a great free playground and a waterplay area. You will also find Sealife Sydney, Madame Tussauds, Wildlife Sydney and The Maritime Museum. This part of Sydney has plenty to keep kids busy and lots of family friendly dining too.
If you are planning to visit two or more of these attractions, then a combination ticket will save you time and money.
Walk the Harbour Bridge and visit Luna Park
Catch the ferry to Milson’s Point where you will find Luna Park. Stroll through the amusement park, take a photo of the giant face, and perhaps a ride or two.
Just behind Luna Park is Wendy’s Secret Garden, which is a fun place for kids to run around and let off some steam. From here, walk back along the boardwalk and take a ferry back to the Quay.
A full 12 hour Sydney Layover Itinerary
This full day itinerary will guarantee you get a good sleep on the next flight!
Take the train to Circular Quay and walk around to the Opera House. If you need a wake me up drink, grab a flat white. Then, walk back to the ferry terminal and take the F7 ferry to Watsons Bay (usually from Wharf 6).
When you arrive at Watson’s Bay, I suggest you take the Watson’s Bay walk outlined here. But, if that seems too strenuous, you could walk up to The Gap lookout instead.
After you explore the area, jump on the 380 bus to Bondi (pronounced Bond-eye). There is no shortage of great food options here; you might like to check out the Icebergs club for a meal with a view or grab a drink at the North Bondi RSL for some real Aussie culture.
Now I suggest you tackle the Bondi to Coogee coastal walk to burn off some of those calories. This reasonably easy 6km walk takes about two hours to complete.
You could also choose to complete a shorter section. For example, the Bondi to Bronte is only 2.5km and takes about an hour; you can also stop at Clovelly about another 30 minutes along. Buses leave from both beaches back to Bondi Junction train station.
Reward yourself with a beer from the rooftop bar at the Coogee Pavilion if you go all the way to the end of the path. Then, from Coogee jump on the 370 bus back to Green Square station where you are just ten minutes train ride from the airport.
If you decide after your layover that Sydney deserves a bit more time, then check out our five day itinerary for your next visit.
Need help to plan your trip to Sydney? Join our Sydney Expert Facebook Group where you can ask questions, stay up to date with what’s happening in Sydney and meet a bunch of friendly locals just waiting to share their advice!
This is a very useful post with lots of detailed information, which would be extremely useful for someone stopping over in Sydney. I wish that i had a guide like this when i stopped over in KL a couple of years ago.
This is worth printing out or offering as a PDF download.
Hubby is always terrified to get out of the airport for long layovers, while I’m always telling him there’s so much we could do! I’ll definitely show him your useful guide, thank you!
Paula, I commend you for putting together a great layover guide for Sydney! These are exactly what I would also have recommended for visitors. There is so much to see and do within easy reach of Sydney Airport so I definitely support your recommendation to get out of the airport on a longer layover.
Thanks Dave – good idea I will have to investigate putting a PDF version up. I have done 7 KL stopovers in my time, perhaps I should get working on that too 🙂
I hope you get to try it out one day soon. Just let hubby set an alarm for the train ride back and he should be less stressed about it.
This is good information to know. It is especially helpful for someone on a layover. Also, the pictures show me how beautiful Sydney is. Hopefully I get to go one day!
It is great to have all this great information in one location. It’s always a little nerve-wracking leaving an airport during a layover, but sometimes seeing the destination is too hard to pass up.
I hope so too guys!
It is a bit scary sometimes but if you can get a handle on the transit arrangements it can be so worthwhile 🙂
Thanks Anne, it was a lot of work however I get emailed these questions so often I thought it was time I put all the answers in one place! I hope it proves helpful.
I am getting dizzy just reading this. For heavens sake, skip the layover and just stay for a few days. Sydney is such a fantastic place you’ll love every minute of it – and you won’t have to keep stressing about getting back to the airport to make your flight.
Hi Lyn, I agree Sydney is well worth 3 or more days, in fact, my blog is full of reasons why you should stay a week and how you can fill your time 🙂 However many visitors don’t have the luxury of a longer visit. People in town for conferences or business meetings often only have a day or so to see what they can between flights. Visitors who fly through Sydney on their way to New Zealand or another state. I am hoping this article will help them make the most of whatever limited time they do have.
I have never been to Sydney, but if I happen to layover there I have plenty of ideas now. I would love to visit most of the things on your list anyway.
Absolutely love this!! So much detail.
Definitely referring this to my overseas friends when they swing by 🙂
Thanks Holly!
I love how you divided each section based on the time limit for layovers, that’s extremely helpful! I’m with you though, I don’t think I’d risk missing my flight if my layover was really short (5hr or less). I’d just suck it up at the airport and get some work done!
Layovers always bring to the fore questions like what you have highlighted here. Many a time one does not venture out of the airport as you do not have proper information and are paranoid about getting back in time. Your post addresses these issues and the information provided is very valuable for people transiting through Sydney.
I love taking advantages of long layovers! Getting out and getting an introduction to the city is way better than sitting in the airport. I’ll keep this itinerary for if I ever find myself on a Sydney layover.
great photos i love it
Thank you for the post. This is really helpful and I am so glad that I’m able to stumble on this article before I travel to NZ with more than 8 hrs lay over in Sydney. I’ll be traveling this coming June .
Thanks for letting me know Joy! I hope you have a great 8 hours. Sing out if you have any specific questions
Hi great article. apologies for re-posting – not sure if previous attempt to post worked. What are options for a beach transit – somewhere with deck chairs and beach umbrellas for a 5 hr snooze btwn flights? Any ideas much appreciated. Thanks!
Hi Bob, paid deck chairs are not really a thing in Sydney. Your best bet if you really want chairs is at Bondi Beach. Towards the north end of the beach, there is a hire stand that has sun loungers and the like. I have no idea of the prices sorry. You could take the 400/410 bus from the airport to Bondi Junction and then change to a beach bus however you will lose close to an hour doing this. If your budget is not tight perhaps take a uber. Alternatively, head to Coogee and lay on the sand.
A closer beach – with no loungers is Brighton le Sands which is only a 10 min uber ride away.
Eight of us are traveling to Bali this summer with a 10 hour layover in Sydney. We would love to take the kids to see a Koala bear if possible. But was wondering if there was time to do that and to visit the harbor and see the opera house. We
would also love to see Bondi beach. Is it possible to do all? What would you cut out? We are four adults two 15 year olds, and two 12 year olds. Is Featherdale worth the visit?
Hi Denise, Sorry for the delay, I have been off travelling. I don’t believe 10 hours is long enough for a visit to Featherdale. If it was me and the kids really wanted to see a Koala then I would take the train to Wynyward, walk around to Wildlife world down at Darling Harbour, see the kangaroos and koalas there then take a ferry to Watsons Bay (45mins) – this will take you under the bridge and around to Circular Quay to get a good view of the both the bridge and Opera House. When you get off at Watson’s Bay take a quick look around before jumping on the 380 bus to Bondi (10 mins). From Bondi take the bus to Bondi Junction and train back to the airport (change at Central not Town Hall as it is much quicker).
Hi Sydney Expert
I have a 6.5 hour transit (845am – 3.15pm).
Seen the city before. I was thinking we’d jump in uber to Cooge Beach, do the Coogee to Bondi Beach walk, have a quick drink and uber back.
Would that be quicker than using trains for part of route? You reckon I have good time available for that?
Natalie
Hi Nat,
Do you board at 3:15pm or check-in then? Is it a domestic or international flight? Definitely jump in an Uber as there is no direct transport.
845am is when the plane arrives to Sydney, and 315pm when it leaves. Our luggage should be checked straight thru. It’s international flight.
Nat
Hi, Nat so even if your luggage is booked right through you will need to be back at the airport 2 hours minimum before your flight. So I imagine you will clear customs pretty quickly with no luggage – so you could be in an uber 30 mins after landing if you are lucky. Then it will take you 30 mins at least to get to Coogee and 2 hours on average to do the walk to Bondi – make sure you leave Bondi by 12.30 to be safe. It’s tight though. Perhaps from Clovelly instead – you will still see the best bits and it will save some time. You could be rushing quite a bit. Get the airlines advice on landing on exactly what time you need to be back to be sure.
My flight in May gets in at 6:30pm and I depart at 9:30am the next morning. What would you suggest I do in the evening when its dark outside? How late do the ferrys run and how late (as in 10 pm, midnight) is it safe to be walking around town? Thanks for the help, your site is awesome.
Thank Steven. I am glad you have found the site helpful. I think it’s safe to walk around town at 11pm, especially the area around the Opera House. Ferries do start to get limited by that time of night but I am pretty sure you can get one at 11pm and do a return trip.
Your write up was so helpful.. giving us the confidence to execute. A big thank you. Some logistic updates to your description are probably in order. What we found: 1) Smart Carte wasn’t open.. but there was a note that self-serve lockers are located in the parking garage P7 just a 3 minute walk over. Look near the lifts. We used the arrival (ground floor) locker and it worked easily. 2) The train supports Apple and Google pay, significantly reducing the cost to riding to AUD $1 each way.
Thanks for the info Jeff, I really must make a trip to the airport this month and check all the details as they are changing quite quickly at the moment. I am not sure how you got the price down to $1 – that is a trick I would like to know 🙂 Even with Google or Apple pay it should still deduct the total amount at the end of the day. They do a $1 charge to authorise the sale but then add the total at the end of that day when it totals up how much you spent for the full day and charges it at once.
You’re right. I’m a relatively new user of Apple Pay. I only looked at the Apple Wallet transactions (showing that authorization $1 charge). Looking at the credit card website I see the return train cost at AUD $38. [BTW for travelers to Australia, using Apple/Google pay is a way-of-life there. Growing but not as ubiquitous yet in US].
Thank you for this great article. I’m traveling through Sydney next month with an 8hour layover.
Beyond the transit visa issue, are there any COVID requirements to enter the country or re-enter the airport? I have my US vaccination card.
Thank you!
Hi Chris – there are no special covid requirements on arrival. Have a great time!
Thank you for such a detailed post! Definitely going to go with the 5-6 hours plan when I have a layover in Sydney in a couple months.