Is it worth going into the city on a Sydney layover?

Sydney is one of the easier cities to reach on a layover: the airport train runs from both the International and Domestic stations straight into the centre. Whether it is worth doing depends on the hours you have and on what the train costs.

Count your hours first

Start with the gap between landing and take-off, then take away:

• immigration and baggage on the way in, if you arrive on an international flight
• about an hour door to door to reach the city, allowing for the walk to the station and a wait
• about an hour to get back
• the time your airline wants you at check-in or security before departure

What is left is your time in Sydney. With a gap under about ten hours it is rarely enough to justify the fare and the effort, and a room at the airport gives you more rest.

Before you plan anything, check that you are allowed to leave the airport on your passport, and whether your bags are checked through or you have to collect them.

What the train costs

Most of the fare is a station access fee charged at the airport stations, so it applies however short the ride. Trains start at about 04:20 to 05:00 and finish at about 00:30 to 01:00, so check the timetable for a very early or late trip.

Where to base yourself

We list two city hotels, each a few minutes' walk from a station on the airport train. Both are hotels we know.

• InterContinental Sydney: three minutes from Circular Quay station, on the harbour.
• Crowne Plaza Sydney Darling Harbour: three to four minutes from Town Hall station, in the middle of the city.

We found no day rate at either, so expect to pay for a full night.

If you decide to stay at the airport

• International side: the Terminal 1 long-layover list starts with a hotel inside the terminal that sells daytime rooms by the hour.
• Domestic side: the Terminals 2 and 3 long-layover list starts with a hotel a few minutes' walk from the terminals.