Hobart
Getting around Hobart: public transport, passes and taxis
Use the bus (Metro Tasmania) for the CBD, Salamanca, MONA and North Hobart; tap on with a Greencard or contactless card and pay roughly A$3–6 a ride (2026 estimate). Rent a car only for day trips beyond the city. Walk the waterfront and Battery Point; taxis and rideshare fill the gaps after the last bus.
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GuideHobart
Key facts
- Best for the city
- Metro Tasmania buses plus walking; the CBD, Salamanca and Battery Point are compact
- Farecheck
- About A$3–6 a ride, tap on with a Greencard or contactless card (2026 estimate)
- MONA
- Ferry from Brooke Street Pier (about 25 min) or a bus to Glenorchy with a walk down; ferry is the scenic default
- Airport
- SkyBus or taxi from Hobart Airport, about 20 min to the CBD
- Carcheck
- Rent only for Richmond, Port Arthur, Mount Field and the Huon; A$60–120 a day (2026 estimate)
- Last buscheck
- Most city routes finish by about 21:00–22:00; check your route
- Rideshare
- Uber and DiDi operate; taxis wait at the airport and Franklin Square
Quick answer
Hobart is a small city with a compact centre. If you stay in the CBD, Salamanca, Battery Point or North Hobart, you can walk most of what you came for and take a bus for the rest. A car is a liability in the centre (parking costs money and fills up) but the only practical way to reach Richmond, Port Arthur, Mount Field or the Huon Valley on your own schedule.
Decide by trip shape: a two- or three-night city break needs no car at all; a four-day stay with two day trips out of town is cheaper and easier with a rental. Everything in between is a bus plus one taxi.
Options at a glance
Prices are 2026 estimates and change with distance, time of day and demand. Fares are in Australian dollars.
- Tap on and off with a Greencard or a contactless bank card or phone where readers accept it (check).
- Buy or top up a Greencard at the Hobart bus mall or a newsagent (check).
- Sunday and public-holiday timetables are thinner; plan the return leg before you leave.
| Mode | Best for | Cost | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metro Tasmania bus | CBD, Salamanca, North Hobart, MONA by bus | A$3–6 a ride (2026 estimate) | 10–30 min in the city |
| MONA ferry | MONA, as a day out in itself | A$25–30 return (2026 estimate) | About 25 min each way |
| Walk | Waterfront, Salamanca, Battery Point, CBD | Free | 10–25 min between sights |
| Taxi | Airport, late nights, heavy bags | A$25–40 airport to CBD (2026 estimate) | About 20 min to the airport |
| Rideshare (Uber, DiDi) | Same as taxi, often cheaper off-peak | A$20–35 airport to CBD (2026 estimate) | About 20 min to the airport |
| Rental car | Richmond, Port Arthur, Mount Field, Huon | A$60–120 a day plus fuel (2026 estimate) | Day trips of 1–2 h each way |
| Bike or e-bike | Intercity cycleway, waterfront | A$30–60 a day hire (2026 estimate) | Varies |
Fares and timetables change; confirm on the operator's site before you travel (check).
Detail by mode
Buses. Metro Tasmania runs the city network from the Hobart bus mall in the CBD. Useful routes cover Salamanca and Battery Point, North Hobart's restaurant strip, the university, and MONA's doorstep at Glenorchy or Bridgewater. Services are frequent on weekdays and thinner in the evening and on Sundays. Tap on and off; a paper ticket is not the norm.
MONA. The ferry from Brooke Street Pier is the default: about 25 minutes on the Derwent, and it lands at the museum's own jetty. The bus alternative is slower and drops you on the road above, with a walk down. Book the ferry ahead in summer and around Dark Mofo (check).
Taxis and rideshare. Uber and DiDi both operate in Hobart, and taxis rank at the airport, Franklin Square and the waterfront. They matter after about 21:00 when buses thin out, and for the airport run. Expect surge pricing on Friday and Saturday nights and during festivals.
Car. Rental desks sit at the airport and in the city. You need one for Richmond (about 25 min), Port Arthur (about 1 h 30), Mount Field National Park (about 1 h 15) and the Huon Valley. Book ahead in summer and at Easter; automatic cars sell out first. Watch for wildlife on rural roads at dusk.
Walking and cycling. The waterfront, Salamanca, Battery Point and the CBD are flat and walkable, with the steep climb to Mount Stuart or West Hobart as the exception. The Intercity Cycleway runs north along the rail corridor and is the easy bike route.
What it costs
A city day on buses and foot is cheap: two or three rides plus a coffee costs less than a single taxi to the suburbs. A rental car only pays off if you are splitting it between two or more people and using it for full days out. Airport transfers are the one place where the choice is close: a rideshare is usually a few dollars under a taxi, but the taxi rank is right outside arrivals.
| Item | 2026 estimate |
|---|---|
| Single bus ride | A$3–6 |
| Day of city buses | A$6–12 |
| MONA ferry return | A$25–30 |
| Airport to CBD, taxi | A$25–40 |
| Airport to CBD, rideshare | A$20–35 |
| Rental car, per day | A$60–120 plus fuel |
| Fuel | About A$2 a litre |
| Bike hire, per day | A$30–60 |
Estimates only; confirm current fares with the operator (check).
Tips
- Stay central and skip the car if your trip is three nights or fewer.
- Check the last bus time for your route before an evening out; after that it is a taxi or rideshare.
- For MONA, book the ferry with your entry and go early; the return sailings fill.
- If you rent a car, check the contract for unsealed-road exclusions before driving to remote trailheads.
- Parking in the CBD and Salamanca is metered and time-limited; read the sign before you walk away.
- A contactless bank card or phone may work as a tap-on fare, but carry a backup card (check).
FAQ
Questions people ask
What is the best way to get around Hobart?
Walk the centre and waterfront, and use Metro Tasmania buses for Salamanca, North Hobart and MONA. Take the MONA ferry for the museum. Rent a car only for day trips to Richmond, Port Arthur, Mount Field or the Huon Valley.
Is there a transit pass for Hobart?
Metro Tasmania uses a reloadable Greencard, and contactless bank cards or phones work on many readers (check). There is no single pass that covers the MONA ferry or airport buses, so pay those separately.
Are taxis or ride-hailing better in Hobart?
Both work. Uber and DiDi are often a few dollars cheaper off-peak; taxis have ranks at the airport, Franklin Square and the waterfront and are easier with luggage or at peak surge times. Expect surge on Friday and Saturday nights.
Do I need a car in Hobart?
Not for the city. You need one for Richmond, Port Arthur, Mount Field and the Huon Valley if you want to go on your own schedule. Otherwise join a day tour or take a bus where one runs (check).
How do I get from Hobart Airport to the city?
SkyBus, taxi or rideshare, about 20 minutes to the CBD. A taxi is roughly A$25–40 and a rideshare A$20–35 (2026 estimate). See the airport transfer page for the full comparison.
How do I get to MONA from Hobart?
The ferry from Brooke Street Pier takes about 25 minutes and lands at the museum. Buses run to the Glenorchy or Bridgewater area with a walk down. Book the ferry ahead in summer and during Dark Mofo (check).
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialMetro Tasmania
- officialMONA – Getting here
- officialHobart Airport
- officialTransport Tasmania – Public transport
- secondaryWikivoyage – Hobart