How To Get From Brisbane Airport To Brisbane City

Are you starting your East Coast adventure in Brisbane? If so, your first port of call is getting from the Brisbane Airport and to your accommodation and the city. Luckily enough, Brisbane City has plenty of affordable and direct transport options to make getting around a breeze! 

The easiest way to get around from the Brisbane Airport is either with the Brisbane Airtrain or by using rideshare options such as Uber or DiDi. 

How To Get From Brisbane Airport To Brisbane City

Once you arrive in Brisbane, it's really easy to get from the airport to the city. You're in for an amazing adventure in Brisbane, whether you're looking for cheap things to do downtown or fun day trips to explore more of Queensland! Here are your best options for travelling to and from the Brisbane Airport. 

Brisbane Airtrain 

A quick, smooth and direct way to get into the city, Brisbane’s Airtrain is a great rail system used widely amongst Brisbane locals and international travellers alike. With flexible ticketing options, your one-way or return tickets can be used for two days on either side of your booked date, for any trains on the Airtrain timetable during those days. Trains depart every 15 minutes during peak hours and every 30 minutes during off-peak times. Check the Airtrain timetable here for more information. 

From Brisbane Airport to Brisbane Central 

The train station is easily accessible from both the domestic and international arrivals terminals at Brisbane Airport. For domestic arrivals, follow the signs and head to the covered Skywalk walkway outside the terminal (lifts and escalators are available from the ground level of the airport). For international arrivals, the station is located on level 3 of the international terminal, with a signed walkway. 

After a short and smooth 20-minute ride, you will arrive at Brisbane Central Station. As Brisbane’s most connected station, you can make your way to pretty much everywhere from here. 

Cost: $18pp one-way when pre-booked online, $22pp when booked at the station or just $16pp when booked in a group of four or more online.

From Brisbane Airport to Gold Coast 

The train station is easily accessible from both the domestic and international arrivals terminals at Brisbane Airport. For domestic arrivals, follow the signs and head to the covered Skywalk walkway outside the terminal (lifts and escalators are available from the ground level of the airport). For international arrivals, the station is located on level 3 of the international terminal, with a signed walkway. 

For those wanting to head straight down to the sunny and bustling Gold Coast to catch some waves, stay on the Airtrain for another hour before you reach Helensvale station. From here, you get on the GLink Tram service, which will deliver you directly to Gold Coast beaches. 

OR, jump on the Airtrain Connect for an even easier journey, which will take you directly from the Airport to Gold Coast Station, before a chauffeured connecting vehicle takes you directly to your accommodation. 

Cost: Roughly $50pp for Airtrain Connect, and roughly $38pp for the train and tram tickets.

Rideshare 

Another good option for getting around Brisbane from Brisbane airport is using the widely-used selection of rideshare services. Both Uber and DiDi are widely used around the Brisbane area and can be really convenient and often affordable options. A great option for those travelling in a group, as most apps offer a split fare tool, making your trip far more affordable. We recommend downloading the apps and setting up your Uber and/or DiDi accounts for easy, last-minute means of getting around.

Cost: ranges from $45 - $70 from Brisbane Airport to Central Station. Busy peak periods often cause fares to surge.

Still unsure where on earth to go? Not sure what to do and see while you're in the city? Check out our backpacker guide to things to do in Brisbane! 

Or, get in touch with our friendly, local travel experts to assist you with your adventure 24/7!