Sydney Airport Guide

Sydney Airport Terminal 1 International

For many tourists to Australia, Sydney IS Australia - and Sydney will be their first port of call. This isn't such a bad idea - Sydney Airport is situated approximately 9 kilometres (just 5 miles) south of the city, and transport is good. Indeed it is one of the closest airports to a major city, and if you land from the north, the view of the harbour is amazing. However, ground transport is really not great, with either an expensive taxi, or train. The one bus service to the airport goes nowhere near the city.

Sydney Airport was upgraded for the 2000 Sydney Olympics with a view to improving services and accessibility, however, security and border control restrictions have also increased, with the potential for long delays. Ensure that you have left plenty of time to meet your flight, particularly if you are making a transfer between the international and domestic terminals.

Sydney Airport is the longest continuously operated commercial airport in the world, and the busiest airport in Australia (with 35 million passengers a year), and yet all three terminals are large clean and modern, with good facilities. No planes arrive or depart between 11pm and 5:30am, due to noise restrictions, and the airport terminals are firmly closed.

Sydney Airport Terminal 3 Qantas Domestic

Sydney Airport has three passenger terminals.

Transfer between domestic terminals T2 and T3 is on foot: it is an easy short walk across the car park. However, the Domestic and International terminals at Sydney Airport are located in separate buildings on opposite sides of the runway, 4km apart. Sydney Airport transfer International to Domestic is a well coordinated nightmare. From International you have to clear immigration and customs, and then transfer between Sydney International T1 and T2/T3 by road, using the T-bus ($6) which takes about 10 minutes, and runs every 20 minute. A marginally better option is the train, which takes 2 minute journey between Domestic and International stations, and runs every 10 minutes. However, if you are Airside at Terminal 3 (Qantas Domestic) there is an airside shuttle is available if you are connecting through with a through ticket. Head to the shuttle seating area near the airside museum, and look for the Qantas Seamless Transfer signs.

Sydney Airport Terminal 1 International

Sydney Airport International Terminal - T1

Sydney Airport International Terminal 1 handles all international flights, and now it has gone through a mid-life revamp, it isn't quite the zoo it used to be. Alas, many of the seating areas airside have made way for shops, but it still has a pleasant atmosphere inside. However, there is no getting away from it being two terminals merged into one, with a long walk from the 'Qantas' side to get to the old 'Star Alliance' pier C. A major problem with the Sydney International Terminal is that there are only two bars airside, and both of these shut early in the evening. If you are after a beer at the airport, it is much better to get a beer landside, in the open air beer garden and bistro by check-in Bay A on the departure level. There is also a better and cheaper choice of food before going through security.

Sydney Airport Terminal 2 Virgin Domestic

Sydney Airport Domestic Terminal 2

Sydney Airport Terminal 3 Qantas Domestic

Sydney Airport Domestic Terminal 3

Sydney Airport Domestic Terminal 3 handles Qantas domestic flights, including the intense shuttle services to Brisbane and Melbourne (with a wide body departing every half hour in the morning), plus the long domestic haul flights to Perth. The airport terminal is long and thin, with just a small food court to one side. Terminal 3 also has the famous Sydney Qantas Museum on the upper level, which isn't to be missed if you like aircraft. Admission is free.

Airport Pay in, First & Business Class lounges

Note that there are no arrivals lounges at Sydney airport, and no international lounges can be accessed on arrival. If you arrive internationally and have an ongoing domestic flight, you must access the domestic lounge.

Airport Terminal Map

Sydney Airport transportation

Transport between Sydney airport and the city centre can be expensive, thanks to heavy restrictions on what services companies can offer. In particular, it is very hard to get a bus. Travellers should know that many bus, limousine and shuttle bus services operating to and from Sydney Airport usually require pre-booking.

Sydney Airport Trains

Sydney Airport train

Sydney Airport Trains

Sydney Airport suburban bus services

Sydney Airport taxi services

Car Hire at Sydney Airport

Sydney Airport Hotels

There is a grand total of one Sydney airport hotel which is in walking distance of the international terminal. Rydges Sydney Airport Hotel is just over the road from the terminal and check in area. There are 318 rooms, good views over the runway, and an OK bar. It also has a free shuttle to domestic. There are no hotels at either domestic terminals, but it is only a 15 minute walk along O'Riordan Street to the nearest hotel, the Stamford Plaza (which has the La Boca Argentine Restaurant), or the Quest Mascot. Another 10 minutes up the road is the Ibis Sydney Airport.

Sydney Airport Bars and Restaurants

Ifg you want to eat or drink - Sydney is the place for you. That is, unless you are on a late evening flight, when many outlets close.

Sydney International Bars & Restaurants

Woe betide you if you are on a late night flight out of Sydney International. Most of the restaurants and bars close by about 8.30pm: if you are on the 10pm Cathay flight for example, you won't find anywhere to eat or drink before the flight. Also beware that drinking oppotunities are poor airside: if you want a beer, have it before you go through passport control. However, things are changing, with the opening of a new Heineken bar in departures, and a Coopers Alehouse in arrivals.

Terrace Bar Sydney Airport

Terrace Bar

The Terrace Bar at Sydney Airport is one of the best places to drink at the airport. It is before security, and perhaps because of that it has a nice vibe, with a contemporary style offering. The beer selection is remarkable, with 12 on draft and a further 15 in bottles. It also has a large outdoor area - near the observation deck. If you have time and want to wander, you can take a beer up in the lift, and watch the planes take off and land. Food is pretty good here too, with a general Asian influenced style, plus some (rather expensive) pizzas.

Heineken House

The brand new Heineken House at Sydney International Airport is the brand's very first flagship venue in Australia, hot on the heels of the similar bars in Dublin, Dubai, Hong Kong, and Amsterdam. The Sydney Airport Heineken bar has as you would expect all the beers, including Extra Cold and Heineken 3 (86 calories per bottle, 3.3% ABV). The new venue, which features an eight metre high bottle wall and floor-to-ceiling window, also sells food, including wood-fired gourmet pizzas.

Studio Mode

Pier B, Terminal 1 International.
As the name suggests, this is a modern and achingly trendy drinking and dining experience, right in the centre of the concourse. Main products are martinis, G&T, & champagne. Downside is service, which is curt to the point of being direct. Food is pretty good, with ham and eggs benedict a delight. The club sandwiches are pretty good too, and make a decent breakfast. Open 0600-2200

Slipstream Cafáé Bar

Pier B, Terminal 1 International.
Not one of my favourites, but it has an amazing view over the runway with the city beyond. Melt-in-the-mouth cakes, Turkish pockets and a salad bar which is ok. A choice of bistro style hot meals, plus a good selection of Aussie beers. Decent food with New York style pizza, and a full cooked breakfast. Open 0600-2200

Santos coffee Bar

Pier B, Terminal 1 International.
A pretty standard airport coffee bar with gourmet sandwiches, focaccias and baguettes. Open 0600-2200

Sydney Domestic Terminal 2 Bars & Restaurants

There are some very good bars around the food court for the main Virgin Australia Terminal.

Terminal 2 Taphouse Sydney Airport

Terminal 2 Taphouse

Veloce Sydney Airport

Veloce

Movida Bar Sydney Airport

Movida Bar

Movida Bar Sydney Airport

Bistro Bar 2020 Sydney Airport

Bistro Bar 2020

Not one of my favourites as it is right in the busiest part of the terminal, but Bar 2020 is a bit of an institution and it has an amazing view over the runway with the city beyond. There is what the bar says is 'up-market pub dining' including a decent fry up, and fish and chips. The wine list is worthy of note, with a decent drop or two.

Sydney Domestic Terminal 3 Bars & Restaurants

With so many passengers having QantasClub access, there aren't as many bars as you would expect airside in the main Qantas domestic terminal at Sydney airport.

Velocity Bar Sydney Airport

Velocity Bar

Tobys Bar Sydney Airport

Toby's Estate

Cometto Bar Sydney Airport

Cometto Bar

Coopers Alehouse Sydney Airport

Coopers Alehouse

In the middle of the southern arm of the terminal is a real Coopers Ale House, and pretty good it is too. It may seem a little odd tucking in a decent beer or two at 5 in the morning, but when you are there the nicely atmospheric bar takes away the tedium of the Virgin gates. The bespoke bar features the full range of Coopers brews, together with an assortment of local and imported beers, fine wines, pre-mixed drinks and a bar snacks and meals menu.

Sydney airport SYD: Sydney Airport Guide - Terminal map, airport guide, lounges, bars, restaurants & reviews with images Airport review with maps by loungeindex
Loungeindex rating: 6 out of 10
Sydney Airport Code: SYD
ICAO Code:	YSSY	Timezone:	UTC+10 (DST+13)
Elevation:	21 ft (6 m)	Runways:	3
Latitude:	-33.946	Longitude:	151.177