Things to Do Near Sydney Airport

The Top Things to Do at Sydney International Airport During a Layover
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Sydney Airport (SYD) › Guide › Layover at the Airport

The Top Things to Do at Sydney Airport

Do you have a long layover at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport and wonder how to make the most of your free time? Although airport layovers are typically an inevitable inconvenience, a leading aviation hub such as SYD Airport usually offers all the services and amenities to keep you busy, relaxed, and satisfied. So, what are the top things to do at Sydney Airport to fully exploit your spare time there?

Our Tip: Sydney International Airport consists of three terminal buildings. The two domestic ones lie within walking distance from each other, while the international T1 is further distanced, linked to the T2 and T3 via the free T Bus. Alternatively, passengers can catch a cab or the Airport Link to travel between terminals, paying the relevant fee. Suppose you want to explore all the SYD airport terminals during your layover. In that case, you should keep in mind that they are connected landside (only Qantas offers airside connections between terminals for some of its passengers). Therefore, you’ll have to pass through customs and immigration.

Sydney Airport is an accessible aviation hub, offering passengers with disabilities special assistance and designated amenities and facilities.

Shopping at Mascot Airport is a Worthwhile Experience

Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport houses a wide variety of retail stores. From international chains to local brands and from designers’ outlets to low-cost stores, SYD Airport has everything you need to go on a shopping spree, treat yourself with essential or even not-so-necessary items, buy gifts for your loved ones, or just limit yourself to window shopping. Expectantly, duty-free areas are also available. In detail, each Sydney airport terminal houses the following shopping facilities:

Sydney Airport Terminal 1

  • A Little Something (Duty-free)
  • Australian Way
  • Balenciaga
  • Blooming Trails
  • Bottega Veneta
  • Burberry
  • Bulgari
  • Cartier
  • Celine
  • Dior
  • Flight Center
  • Gucci
  • Heinemann Tax & Duty-free
  • Hermes
  • JB-Hi-Fi International
  • Kathmandu
  • Louis Vuitton
  • Merino Collection
  • Moncler
  • Optus
  • Prada
  • Rip Curl
  • Rolex
  • Rolling Luggage
  • Sunglass Hut
  • Surf Dive ‘n’ Ski
  • Think Sydney
  • Tiffany & Co.
  • Valentino Garavani
  • Versace
  • Vodafone
  • WHSmith
  • Yves Saint Laurent

Sydney Airport Terminal 2

  • Amcal Pharmacy
  • Bonds
  • Chocolate Box
  • Dior Beauty
  • Heinemann Duty-free
  • Hub Convenience
  • JB-Hi-Fi
  • Lego/Kaboom
  • Merchant
  • NewsLink
  • Oakley
  • Origani
  • Oxford
  • Peter Alexander
  • Relay
  • Rip Curl
  • Seed Kids
  • Stateside Sports
  • Sunglass Hut
  • Surf Dive ‘n’ Ski
  • The Body Shop
  • Travelex
  • Wine Selector

Sydney Airport Terminal 3

  • Camilla
  • Carolina
  • Ecco
  • Heinemann Duty-free
  • Hub Convenience
  • Koko Black
  • L’ Occitane
  • M.J. Bale
  • Mecca
  • Mimco
  • NewsLink
  • Nine West
  • Oxford
  • Peter Alexander
  • Seed Kids
  • Seed Women
  • Sunglass Hut
  • Ramsay Pharmacy
  • tech2go
  • Travelex
  • Unison
  • Watermark Books & Cafe
  • Witchery

Our Tip: The Heinemann Duty-free areas also offer the click-and-collect service.

What to Drink and Eat at Sydney Airport

Although Sydney International Airport isn’t one of the international air hubs that features a wide array of services, activities, or cultural events, it provides its passengers with a premium selection of drinking and dining facilities located both airside and in the before-the-security areas. From casual eateries to bars, cafes, and even fast-food chains, you’ll certainly enjoy your meal or drink during your layover at Sydney Airport.

Explicitly, the following options are to be found at each Sydney airport terminal:

SYD Airport Terminal 1

  • Betty’s Burgers (Before security)
  • Campos Coffee (After security)
  • Coopers Alehouse (Before security)
  • Grand Cru (Before security)
  • Heineken House (After security)
  • Hero Sushi (Before security)
  • Hudsons Coffee (Before and After security)
  • Hungry Jack’s (Before security)
  • KFC (After security)
  • Kitchen by Mike (After security)
  • Lilong by Taste of Shanghai (After security)
  • Mach2 (Before security)
  • McDonald’s (Before and After security)
  • Mrs Fields Bakery Cafe (Before security)
  • Oliver Brown (Before security)
  • Ooosh Oregano Bakery (Before security)
  • Oporto (Before security)
  • PappaRich (After security)
  • Peroni Bar (After security)
  • Sahara Grill (Before and After security)
  • Sharetea (Before security)
  • Soul Origin (Before security)
  • Subway (Before security)
  • SumoSalad Green on Green (After security)
  • Sushia (After security)
  • Taste of Thai (Before security)
  • The Bistro by Wolfgang Puck (After security)
  • Toby’s Estate (Before and After security)
  • Veloce Espresso (Before security)
  • Viaggio Espresso Bar (After security)

SYD Airport Terminal 2

  • Beer DeLuxe (After security)
  • Bistro 2020 (After security)
  • Brasserie Bread (After security)
  • Coopers Alehouse (After security)
  • Coopers Rolled Inn (After security)
  • Fat Yak Bar (After security)
  • Inbound Cafe (Before security)
  • KFC (After security)
  • Krispy Kreme (After security)
  • Liv Eat (After security)
  • A Loop Bagels (After security)
  • Mad Mex (After security)
  • McDonald’s (After security)
  • Mrs Fields Bakery Cafe (After security)
  • Oporto (After security)
  • Pete’s Pies (After security)
  • Pulp + Grind (After security)
  • Roll’d (After security)
  • Sahara Grill (After security)
  • Soul Origin (After security)
  • Taste of Thai (After security)
  • Toby’s Estate (After security)
  • Veloce Espresso (After security)
  • Yo! Sushi (After security)

SYD Airport Terminal 3

  • Bar Corretto (After security)
  • Bear & The Beard (Before security)
  • Hungry Jack’s (After security)
  • Krispy Kreme (After security)
  • Luke’s Bistro & Bar (After security)
  • Mad Mex (After security)
  • NRG Express (After security)
  • Red Rooster (After security)
  • SumoSalad (After security)
  • Toby’s Estate(After security)
  • Velocity Espresso & Bar (Before security)
  • Viaggio Espresso & Bar (Before security)
  • Wok On Air (After security)

Do you want to explore all the Sydney airport’s dining options, but you are carrying heavy luggage with you? You can travel from one terminal to another hassle-free, safely storing your personal belongings in the SYD baggage storage areas, lying on Level 1 of each Sydney airport terminal.

Use the Airport’s Free Wifi

Sydney Airport offers free Wifi to its passengers. Thus, all you’ll have to do is connect to the FreeWidfi@SYD network and surf for free. You can finish your latest work project, communicate with your loved ones, scroll through your socials, or even participate in a call/meeting. On the other hand, nothing stops you from binge-watching your favorite shows or series. Are you worried about the battery life of your devices? You’ll find plenty of charging points around Kingsford Smith Airport. 

Pray Or Find your Inner Peace at SYD Airport

Do you want to practice your religious duties or simply resort to a quiet and peaceful place so as to calm yourself and gather your thoughts before your upcoming flight? Sydney International Airport houses a multi-faith prayer room. It is to be found at Level 3 of the international terminal building (T1). Another prayer facility is located close to the taxi rank area, mainly addressed to taxi drivers who want to engage in their religious practices.

Plane-watching is Undoubtedly One of the Top Things to Do at Sydney Airport

Why don’t you let the time pass watching the airport’s traffic movements from advantageous points? Plane spotting is a popular activity enjoyed by SYD passengers and non-travelers. With the Port of Botany or Botany Bay as a backdrop, plane-watching guarantees stunning views. So, which are the top plane-spotting locations around SYD Airport?

  • Shep’s Mound: Located a 10-minute ride from the domestic terminals (T2 and T3), the Shep’s Mound actually lies next to the air traffic control tower. It is renovated and offers two elevated areas and a parking zone.
  • Lady Robinson’s Beach: Lying close to runway 16R/34L, the plane-spotting area is situated a 10-minute drive from international terminal T1 and a 12-minute ride away from the domestic terminals.
  • Runway 16R landing: It is to be found a 10-minute walk from the domestic terminals T2 and T3 and is the place to be to watch the international airport’s traffic. Please note that the best time to visit this plane-watching area is from 06:00 am to 11:00 am.
  • Barton Golf Course (Barton Park Hill): It lies beyond the airport limits. It is actually located a 7-minute ride from the international terminal T1.

The Top Things to Do at Sydney Airport for Families

Although all terminals feature the necessary family facilities, international terminal T1 also boasts playgrounds and play areas, ensuring that young passengers will enjoy their layover at Sydney Airport to the fullest. Explicitly, a play area lies close to Gate 10. There, children can engage in interactive touch-in activities. Moreover, McDonald’s, located near Gate 50, features a playground, while a play zone is also to be found close to Gate 53. It is a digital play area in partnership with the Museum of Applied Arts and Science.

Feel Fresh and Clean During your Layover at Sydney Airport

Your flight to Kingsford Smith Airport will likely be long and tiring. If you have an upcoming air journey as well, you may want to refresh yourself and feel rejuvenated during your layover at the airport. Sydney Airport features shower facilities. They are located at the T1 Departures level, on the terminal’s Level 2. You’ll find shower premises in the pre-security area, near the check-in counters A and K. However, there are available facilities airside as well, near Gates 31, 51, and 24, in the Departures area. Please note that the showers lying close to Gate 24 are male-only facilities and that toiletries aren’t provided.

Our Tip: Several SYD airport lounges are also equipped with shower facilities. 

Spending your Time at an Airport Lounge is One of the Best Things to Do at Sydney Airport

Airline lounges and pay-to-use facilities are to be found at all three terminal buildings. Thus, if you want to relax in a cozy and elegantly decorated area, enjoying its dining and drinking amenities and exploiting the provided service, you should head to one of your terminal’s lounges. Each terminal houses the following lounges:

International Terminal 1

  • Air New Zealand Lounge: It is located at Level 3, close to Gate 59, and is open from 06:00 am to 09:00 pm.
  • Emirates Lounge: It lies close to Gate 58, at T1’s first level, and is available from 05:00 am to 07:20 am and from 04:10 pm to 08:40 pm.
  • Qantas Lounge: It is situated on Level 3 (actually at the mezzanine level) and operates from 05:00 am till the last Qantas flight.
  • Silver Kris Lounge: Located on Level 3 close to Gate 59, the lounge is open from 05:30 am to 06:00 pm.
  • Centurion Lounge: The lounge is to be found on Level 1 of the Sydney airport international terminal, close to Gates 50-63, and operates daily from 06:00 am to 10:00 pm.
  • The House: It lies at Pier C of T1, close to Gate 51, and is available from 05:00 am to 10:00 pm.
  • The Skyteam Lounge: You’ll find it at the Departures area in proximity to Gate 24. It is open from 05:30 am to 02:00 pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays and from 05:30 am to 12:30 the other days. Moreover, it also operates from 05:30 pm (from 06:30 pm on Thursdays and Saturdays) to 10:00 pm.
  • The Plaza Premium Departures Lounge: Lying at Level 1, close to Gates 25-26, the lounge is open daily from 07:30 am to 10:00 pm.
  • The Plaza Premium Arrivals Lounge: It is actually situated inside the Aerotel, on Level 1. It operates from 07:00 am to 10:00 pm.

Domestic Terminal 2

  • Virgin Australia Lounge: The lounge is located airside. To reach it, you can use the escalators from the food court on Departures. It opens one hour before the first Virgin Australia flight and operates until the airline’s last flight from Kingsford Airport.
  • Rex Lounge: You’ll find Rex Lounge close to T2’s Gate G2. It operates from 05:30 am to 07:00 pm on weekdays, from 05:30 am to 05:00 pm on Saturdays, and from 07:30 am to 07:00 pm on Sundays.

Domestic Terminal 3

  • Qantas Business Lounge: It is situated on Level 2 of terminal 3, adjacent to Gates 4 and 5. Qantas Business Lounge opens 60 minutes before the departure of the first Qantas flight and is available until the last flight.
  • Qantas Club Lounge: Located on Level 2, close to Gates 4 and 5 as well, the lounge remains open from 05:00 am to 07:00 pm.

Our Tip: VIP Rooms are also available at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport.

Check-in at a Nearby Hotel

If you have a long layover at Sydney International Airport, consider spending your free time at one of the Sydney airport hotels. As a matter of fact, during an overnight layover, checking in at one of the hotels near Sydney Airport is the way to go, as T1 remains closed from 11:00 pm to 03:00 am, while the domestic terminals operate daily from 04:00 am to 11:00 pm. You’ll find only one hotel lying inside the terminals’ premises. Aerotel Sydney is a 4-star accommodation option located in the international terminal building T1 in the pre-security area. Its excellent location and quality services make it one of the most favored lodging options. On the other hand, Rydges Sydney Airport Hotel lies a few steps from T1’s Departures, featuring a wide array of services and amenities. Moreover, domestic transiting passengers can book a room at the budget-friendly ibis Budget Sydney Airport Hotel, situated a 10-minute walk from the domestic terminals, or opt for the Mantra Sydney Airport, lying 800m-900m/0.5-0.55 mile from T2 and T3.

Smoking is strictly forbidden inside all the Sydney airport terminals. That being said, there are designated smoking areas outside the terminal buildings. Still, you won’t find a smoking zone airside the international terminal 1.