Getting around Canberra: public transport, passes and taxis

Canberra was planned around the car, and the distances between the sights are real: the Australian War Memorial, the National Gallery and Parliament House sit in a triangle you can walk, but Tidbinbilla, the wineries and the Deep Space Communication Complex need a vehicle.

The light rail line runs from Gungahlin in the north to Civic, and buses fan out from the town centres. For most visitors the practical mix is: walk and ride the light rail while you are in the centre, then rent a car or book a rideshare for the outlying stops.

Canberra moved to the MyWay+ ticketing system, which replaced the older MyWay card. You can tap on and off with a contactless bank card or phone, or buy a MyWay+ card if you prefer a physical card. Fares are distance-based and there is a daily cap, so a day of several trips will not keep charging you.

Concessions exist for students, seniors and some other groups, but visitor passes are limited: there is no widely sold tourist travel card, so most visitors simply tap per trip. If you are staying a week and using buses daily, compare the daily cap against a car rental before committing.

Children under a certain age usually travel free; check the current age and any school-holiday timetable changes.

Uber and DiDi both operate in Canberra, and taxis are available from ranks in Civic and at the airport. For a short hop between the city centre and a restaurant in Braddon, a rideshare is often faster than waiting for a bus at night.

The airport run is the one to plan: a taxi or rideshare from Canberra Airport to Civic is roughly A$35–50 (2026 estimate), while the bus is much cheaper but slower and less frequent. If you arrive late, book the car.

Surge pricing applies at Parliament sitting weeks, major events and on Friday and Saturday nights. Taxis can be hailed but are easier to book by app or phone.

A car turns Canberra from a two-day stop into a four-day one. The roads are wide and quiet outside peak hours, and the drive to Tidbinbilla, the Murrumbateman wineries or the Deep Space Communication Complex is straightforward. Rental cars are available at the airport and in Civic; expect A$60–120 a day plus fuel (2026 estimate).

Parking in Civic and around the parliamentary triangle is paid on weekdays and often free or cheaper on weekends; check the signs, because inspectors do patrol. Many attractions, including the major national museums, have free on-site parking, which makes driving to them easier than taking a bus.

Watch for kangaroos at dawn and dusk on the roads out towards Namadgi and Tidbinbilla, and carry water on any outback-style drive.

Canberra is spread out, so group your day by area: the parliamentary triangle in one block, Civic and Braddon in another, and the outlying museums and nature sites on a driving day.

Services thin out in the evening and on Sundays. If you are relying on buses, check the last service before you go out for dinner, or budget for a rideshare home.

The city is easy to walk in the centre, and the lake loop is a good bike or e-scooter ride. Summer heat and winter frost both matter: check the forecast before a long walk or ride.