Public transport in Canberra is provided by a number of bus routes and one tram line.

All lines are operated by Transport Canberra and the same tickets apply everywhere.

Book a hotel in Canberra city centre

Tickets and fares

In Canberra, all paper or plastic tickets have been abolished and all fares are paid by contactless.

• Use your own credit card
• Via the MyWay+ mobile app (Google Play / App Store)

Although the official website still mentions the possibility to buy both plastic and paper tickets, this option is no longer available in reality.

Prices

The fares are as follows:

• 9,89 aud - all-day ticket on working days ("daily cap")
• 6,05 aud - all-day ticket on weekends and public holidays ('daily cap')
• 2,63 aud - single ticket for 90 minutes, Off-Peak (all day at weekends, on weekdays between 9:00 and 16:30 and between 18:00 and the end of the daily service)
• 3,32 aud - single ticket for 90 minutes, Peak (on weekdays before 9:00 and between 16:30 and 18:00)
• Current fares: transport.act.gov.au/fares

How to pay your fare

The easiest way to pay fares is with your own contactless card or via the mobile app, but you'll need to activate a virtual MyWay card and this method is more complicated for tourists.

You pay the fare by attaching a physical card or mobile phone/watch to the validator inside the bus immediately after boarding and just before alighting.

In Canberra, therefore, the so called. Tap on - Tap off.

In the case of tram travel, validators are only located on the platforms, so you need to tap your card before boarding the tram and again after getting off the tram.

Official information can be found at transport.act.gov.au/tickets-and-myway.

Buses

Tourists will mainly use the bus service, but even this does not go to all tourist attractions.

In general, public transport routes in Canberra are set up mainly for locals and run mainly to residential areas.

The central transfer station of most lines is called City Interchange and is located right in the city centre, see location on the map.

Novotel Canberra - near the station

Useful bus routes

Tourists most often use the following tram routes. Click on the line number to see the timetable and map:

• R3 - connects downtown, Anzac Parade, National Carillon and Canberra Airport.
• R4, R5, R7, R10 - connect the centre with the New Parliament Buildings
• R2, R6 - connect the centre with the area around the National Gallery and the Old Parliament House
• R2 - connects the centre with the railway station
• R3, 56, 59 - connect the centre with Anzac Parade
• 54 - connects the centre to the Australian War Memorial
• 53 - connects the centre to the National Museum

Timetables and operating hours

Individual lines generally run from 5:30am to 10:30pm on weekdays and Saturdays, or from 7:30am on Sundays.

The frequency of the main lines marked with the letter R is usually 10-20 minutes on weekdays and 30 minutes on weekends.

Other lines usually run once every 30-60 minutes.

Full timetable information can be found at transport.act.gov.au/routes-by-number.

How do I pay the fare?

You can board and alight through all doors. There is a validator at each door, which you attach your contactless card/mobile/watch to on boarding and alighting.

Stops on request

All bus stops are on demand.

If you are standing at a bus stop, wave to the arriving bus to stop.

To get off, press the red stop button.

Trams

Canberra has one tram line which runs from the city centre (Alinga Street) to the northern suburb of Gunaghlin and is currently not used by tourists.

The tram is referred to as the R1 line on maps.

The tram line is currently being extended from the centre across the bridge to the Parliamentary Quarter, and is likely to be completed in 2027.

Timetables and operating hours

Individual lines usually run from 6:00 to 23:30 on weekdays and Saturdays, or from 7:00 on Sundays.

The interval is 5-10 minutes on weekdays and 15 minutes in the evening and at weekends.

For full timetable information, visit cmet.com.au/frequency-guide.

How do I pay my fare?

You must load your card at the validator at the tram station before boarding.

When you get off at the stop, you tap your card again at the same validator. There are no readers inside the tram.

Taxi / Uber

Taxis or the mobile app Uber are very popular among tourists, as many places of tourist interest are not accessible by public transport at all, for example:

• Botanical Gardens
• National Arboretum
• Black Mountain
• Mount Ainslie

Taxi availability is good in the city centre, where there are several taxi ranks. You can always pay by card and the meter is always accurate.

A cheaper and more accessible option is the Uber mobile app, which has very good coverage in Canberra and you usually won't wait more than 10 minutes for a car.

Shared scooters

Canberra is a flat city with wide streets, sidewalks and bike paths ideal for cycling or e-scooter riding.

Currently the largest shared mobility operator , Neuron primarily operates scooters, which you'll find dotted around the city.

Check the city's official website for rules on scooter use before you ride: transport.act.gov.au/e-scooters.

To use the scooters, you'll need to download the Neuron mobile app and register with it.

• 1 aud - Unlocking the scooter
• 0,38 aud - 1 minute ride