Sydney to Katoomba train: Fare prices & timetable

The Sydney to Katoomba train is the cheapest way to get to the Blue Mountains from Sydney. Trains are timetabled every hour, with a journey time of around two hours and fares costing from $6.51.

The Sydney to Katoomba train is handy to know about if you want to visit the Blue Mountains without a car, or don’t fancy doing a day tour from Sydney.

A Blue Mountains day tour is certainly the easiest way to see the region’s highlights, and there are several options. You can do one that includes an Aboriginal cultural experience, another that focuses on wildlife and a small group trip that gives free entry to the novelty transport of Scenic World.

7 Blue Mountains experiences you should pre-book

The Three Sisters in the Blue Mountains.

Scenic World tickets – combine dramatic train rides, cable cars & forest walks.
The Blue Mountains hop-on, hop-off bus – get around Katoomba and Leura’s top sites hassle-free.
Guided stargazing with an astrophysicist – learn how to read the clear night skies.
Give canyoning a try – jumping, climbing and sliding through Empress Canyon.
Take a half day abseiling adventure – in the Blue Mountains National Park.
Indulge in a local produce tasting experience – with beers, wines & meats.
Get adventurous – on a 4WD tour to the world’s second largest canyon.

Sydney to Katoomba train: Fare prices

The cheapest way to get to the Blue Mountains is on the Sydney to Katoomba train.

Katoomba is on the Blue Mountains line, and one way fares cost from $6.51 using the Opal system.

This is for off-peak services, but the peak hour trains are hardly expensive either. These cost $9.31 one way.

These prices are correct at the time of writing but obviously subject to chance in future.

6 top Katoomba experiences to book in advance

Connect the key sights in Katoomba and Leura the easy way – on the hop-on, hop-off bus.
Discover your adventurous side – while canyoning at Twister and Rocky Creek.
Indulge in NSW-sourced wines, beers and tasting platters at Echo Point, while overlooking the Jamison Valley.
Combine canyoning and abseiling on a full day adventure.
Explore the Jamison Valley from all angles – with the trains and cable cars of Scenic World.
See ancient Aboriginal rock art – and the views other people miss – on a 4WD adventure.

The best Katoomba accommodation options include the surprisingly affordable Blue Mountains Heritage Hotel, the pool-equipped Skyrider Motor Inn and the rather grand Carrington Hotel.

Sydney to Katoomba train timetable

According to the Sydney to Katoomba train timetable, the first train of the day leaves at 04.22 and takes two hours to get to Katoomba.

There are hourly trains – usually at 18 minutes past the hour – throughout the day, although frequency is increased during peak commuter hours. The last train of the day is at 00.18.

In the opposite direction from Katoomba to Sydney, the first service of the day is at 03.02 and the last train departs at 22.20. These times are for weekday services.

5 fab ways to explore: Which Blue Mountains tour should I book?

There are dozens of Blue Mountains day tours leaving Sydney every day. The best choice will come down to personal preference and what’s included. Almost all include Echo Point and the Three Sisters – it’s just the rest of the itinerary that varies. These tours are the best bets.

Good value tour including Featherdale Wildlife Park, Scenic World & Parramatta River cruise.
Similar itinerary, but with small group and lunch included.
Wildlife-focused tour including Calmsley Hill City Farm, Govetts Leap lookout & Blue Mountains Botanic Garden.
Small group tour including bushwalks, Featherdale, Glenbrook lookouts and Govetts Leap.
Crowd-avoiding sunset tour including Euroka campground kangaroos & Wentworth Falls bushwalk.

Katoomba Station to Echo Point

From Katoomba station, it’s a 2.6km walk to Echo Point, the most famous lookout in the Blue Mountains. This is where you can see the Jamison Valley, the Three Sisters and the start of several walking trails. This walk should take about half an hour, and it’s a pleasant stroll down Katoomba’s main street. It’s roughly the same time and distance to Scenic World.

If you don’t want to walk, the 686 bus does a loop through Katoomba, including Echo Point and Scenic World.

Alternatively, there’s the Blue Mountains Explorer bus. This hop-on, hop-off bus service has 29 stops in Katoomba and Leura, including Katoomba station. A $49 ticket allows you to use the Blue Mountains Explorer for three days, and tickets can be bought online.

The Blue Mountains from Echo Point in Katoomba. Photo by David Whitley/ Australia Travel Questions

13 brilliant experiences in Sydney you should book

(💲Great value 💲) Tick off several bucket list items on a highlights-packed Blue Mountains day tour.
Get perfect views of the world’s most beautiful city on a Sydney Harbour helicopter tour.
Save money with a multi-attraction pass.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Enjoy the romance of a tall ship cruise on Sydney Harbour.
Eat all you can at the Skyfeast at the top of Sydney Tower.
See migrating humpbacks – on a whale-watching cruise.
(Highly recommended ✅) Go behind the scenes of Australia’s most famous building on an Opera House tour.
Dine as the city lights up on sunset dinner cruise around the harbour.
Combine beers and stories on a historic pubs tour through the convict-era Rocks district.
Stand on your board and catch waves during Bondi Beach surfing lessons.
Go to wombat and kangaroo-spotting hotspots on a Southern Highlands tour.
Enjoy Sydney’s wild side on a Manly snorkelling & nature walk.
(🥇Top choice in Sydney) And, best of all, paddle to hidden beaches on a harbour kayaking adventure.

Special occasion? Here’s how to do Sydney in style!

A private sunset cruise on Sydney Harbour with bubbly.
Dodge the tour buses on a private, personalised Blue Mountains day tour.
See the harbour, beaches and city skyline from a bird’s eye view on a helicopter tour.

There are also dozens more private Sydney tours, tailorable to your tastes.