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How to get from Canberra Airport to City Centre

Canberra, Australia’s proud capital, is filled with exciting events, stunning natural attractions and rich culture. You can fill your days with bush walks, hot-air balloon rides, wine tastings, museum hopping or world-class hiking. There’s truly something for everyone in Canberra.

There are two different modes of transport from Canberra airport to the city; taxi or public bus. Taking a Canberra airport taxi is the fastest option as it takes just 11 minutes to reach Canberra and costs around €17 (AUD 25). A great budget option is the public bus, which costs just €3.50 (AUD 5) one-way, but takes at least 20 minutes to reach the city. 

Welcome Pickups offers meet and greet services and a friendly introduction to Canberra at the same price as a regular taxi. Click here to see the cost.

Comparison of the options

PRICE FOR 2PASSENGERS
OPTION PRICE DURATION AVAILABILITY
Taxi €17 11min 24/7
Bus €7 20min 05:58–21:28

How to get from Canberra Airport to the City by Taxi

Taking a Canberra airport taxi is the quickest and most comfortable way to travel from Canberra airport to the city. Taxis are available 24/7 and take just 11 minutes to get into the heart of Canberra. The average cost for a taxi is around €17 (AUD 25), based on a taximeter.

How much is a taxi from Canberra Airport to Canberra City?

The cost of a taxi ride from Canberra airport to Canberra city will be around €17 (AUD 25). However, this is not a set fare. The local taxi drivers will use a taximeter to calculate the cost of your journey.

If you’d prefer to take a ride with a set rate fare you can rely on, we recommend pre-booking your Canberra airport transfer with Welcome Pickups.

Cost

€17 (AUD 25)

Trip Duration

11 Min.

*Prices may vary unless booked in advance.

Convenience
Safety
Value for Money

Taxis are available 24/7 at Canberra Airport.

Where do I find a taxi at Canberra Airport?

Taxis are easily located just outside of the arrivals hall exit doors. As soon as you make your way out of the Terminal building, you will see the line of taxis in front of you.

Convenience

Whether you’re travelling with a lot of luggage, small children or in a group, taking a taxi is the quickest and easiest mode of transport from Canberra airport to the city. You won’t need to wait in line for a ticket or for your ride to arrive, and you can make your way directly to your hotel in Canberra in just 11 minutes.

Editor’s Note

Splitting the cost of a Canberra taxi between 4 people lowers the cost to almost the price of the public transport option.

Useful Tips

Watch to make sure your driver resets the taximeter to the base fare before you begin your journey.
Canberra taxis can take 4 passengers as standard.
Tipping your taxi driver isn't expected in Canberra, but always appreciated.

How to get from Canberra Airport to the City by Bus

Transport Canberra runs the ACTION Bus route Rapid 3 from Canberra airport to the city every day from 05:58 to 21:28. The journey time is around 20 minutes and the cost is just €3.50 (AUD 5) one-way, making it a great transfer option for those travelling on a budget.

How much is the bus from Canberra Airport to Canberra City?

The cost of a one-way adult ticket on the Rapid 3 bus from Canberra airport to Canberra city is €3.50 (AUD 5). You can purchase your tickets from the self-serve Transport Canberra ticket machines located on the Ground Floor of the arrivals hall.

Cost

€3.50 (AUD 5)

Trip Duration

20 Min.

There's a waiting time of 15 minutes during the week and 30 minutes on weekends for the Rapid 3 bus.

Convenience
Safety
Value for Money

The Rapid 3 bus runs from 05:58 to 21:28.

Where do I find the bus at Canberra Airport?

The Transport Canberra buses can be found on the Ground Level of Canberra airport. Simply follow the signs for ‘Ground Transportation’ and look for the Rapid bus number 3.

Convenience

Taking the Rapid 3 bus is a great option if you’re travelling on a budget. The travel time is a respectable 20 minutes and the cost is extremely reasonable. However, if you’re travelling in a large group or with large luggage items, you may find taking the bus a little stressful as there’s not much space onboard.

Timetables

Editor’s Note

Unfortunately, as the Rapid 3 bus is a public bus, there's no luggage storage onboard, if you choose this mode of transport from Canberra airport to the city, be sure to travel light.

Useful Tips

If you plan on using the Transport Canberra buses while in the city, you can purchase day-passes to save money on multiple journeys.
Most of the Canberra bus fleet offers easy access for hearing, vision and mobility impaired users.
Try to arrive 5-10 minutes before you bus departs to get a seat.

Welcome Pickups has a Net Safety Score of 99 of 100

We’ve introduced a metric indicating how safe travellers feel when using our services during the COVID-19 pandemic. After every ride, we ask each traveller to leave a review.

  • 20 minute gap between transfers

  • Regular Car Sanitisation

  • Contactless ride

  • Sanitiser in every car

Read More

Frequently asked questions

What’s the average Canberra airport to city taxi fare?

The average cost of a taxi from Canberra airport to the city centre is around €17 (AUD 25) based on a taximeter. If you’d prefer to have a set rate fare for your journey into the city, we recommend booking your Canberra airport transfer in advance with Welcome Pickups.

Is there a Canberra airport shuttle bus to the city?

The Transport Canberra’s Rapid 3 bus runs from Canberra airport to Canberra city every day from 05:58 to 21:28. The cost is just €3.50 (AUD 5) and the journey time is 20 minutes.

What’s the distance from Canberra airport to Canberra city centre?

The distance from Canberra airport to the city centre is 9.5 km. Taking a Canberra airport taxi will take just 11 minutes to reach the heart of the city, while the Rapid 3 public bus will take 20n minutes. 

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