Canberra airport to city centre: trains, buses, taxis and costs

Canberra Airport sits about 6–7 km east of Civic (the city centre), so every transfer is short. The trade-off is frequency and hours rather than distance: taxis and rideshares run whenever you land, while public buses stop in the evening and on weekends.

If you are two or more people with bags, a taxi or rideshare usually costs about the same as bus fares for everyone and takes half the time. Solo travellers arriving in daylight on a weekday can save money on the bus.

The taxi rank is outside the terminal; rideshare pick-up points are signed nearby. Both take 15–20 minutes to Civic in normal traffic, longer in the morning peak on Parkes Way. Expect A$35–50 for a taxi and slightly less for a rideshare (2026 estimate).

Surge pricing applies at busy times, and late-night rideshare waits can reach 15 minutes because the airport is small. If your flight lands after midnight, book a taxi or pre-arrange a ride rather than relying on the app.

Transport Canberra buses connect the airport with Civic and other town centres, but service is limited: roughly every 30–60 minutes on weekdays, with few or no evening and weekend services. Check the current timetable before you fly; the trip takes 30–40 minutes.

You need a MyWay card or a contactless tap-on if available; a single fare is about A$5 (2026 estimate). Buy or top up a card at the airport or a newsagent in Civic. Buses are the cheapest option but the least forgiving if your flight is delayed.

No. Canberra Airport has no railway station and no rail link to the city centre. The nearest train station is Canberra railway station in Kingston, about 10 km south of the airport and not connected by a direct bus.

If you are arriving by train from Sydney, you will arrive at Kingston station, not the airport. From there, take a taxi or bus to Civic. Allow 20–30 minutes by taxi (A$25–35, 2026 estimate).

Prices below are 2026 estimates for one person unless stated. Two travellers sharing a taxi usually pay less per person than two bus fares plus the MyWay card deposit.

Allow 20 minutes for the transfer plus buffer if you have a flight to catch; Canberra traffic is light but Parkes Way can slow at peak times.

If you land after 19:00 or on a weekend, assume the bus is not running and budget for a taxi or rideshare.

Rideshare pick-up at Canberra Airport is signed; follow the signs rather than waiting at the taxi rank.

For a group of three or four, a taxi or rideshare is almost always cheaper and faster than the bus.