You’ve just landed and need to get from Perth Airport to the city or the suburbs. Your options are the train, an Uber, or a taxi. We run a taxi business, so you might expect us to say “taxi” every time. We won’t. Each one is the best choice for somebody, and here’s an honest look at which one suits your trip.
The short version
| Train | Uber / rideshare | Pre-booked maxi taxi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Solo, light bags, heading to the city | 1–4 people, flexible timing | Families, groups, lots of luggage |
| Cost | Cheapest | Varies; surge pricing at busy times | Fixed fare agreed before you fly |
| Door to door? | No, station to station | Yes | Yes |
| Group size | Any, but everyone carries their own bags | About 4 in a standard car; up to 6 in UberXL | Up to 13 in one vehicle |
| When you walk out | Go to the platform, wait for the next train | Request a car, then wait for it | Your driver’s already there |
The train: hard to beat if it fits your trip
Perth’s Airport Line opened in 2022. Airport Central station is connected to the T1/T2 terminal area by a covered walkway, and trains get you into the city in about 20 minutes. If you’re travelling on your own with a backpack and staying near a station, it’s the cheapest way in. We’d tell a mate to take it.
It gets harder when:
- you’ve got big suitcases, a pram, car seats or a surfboard to drag on and off trains and up station stairs
- your hotel or home isn’t near a station, so you’ll still need a car from the other end
- you land late, when services are less frequent (check the Transperth timetable for your arrival time)
- you’re flying out of T3 or T4, which is a different part of the airport. Check Transperth for the current connection from there.
Uber and rideshare: handy, until the price jumps
Rideshare is popular at Perth Airport, and for two or three people it’s often fine. You request the car once you’ve got your bags and walk to the rideshare pick-up area for your terminal.
Things worth knowing:
- Surge pricing. When a few big flights land together, or late at night, prices can climb. You only see it once you open the app.
- Car size. A standard car takes about four people with limited luggage. UberXL takes up to six, but isn’t always available right away. Seven or more people usually means splitting into two cars.
- Car seats. Most rideshare cars don’t carry them. If you’re travelling with little ones, sort that out before you land.
Pre-booked maxi taxi: best for families, groups and set plans
A pre-booked maxi taxi costs more than the train. That’s just true. But the gap shrinks fast once there are a few of you:
- One vehicle for up to 13. Families, wedding guests, sports teams and FIFO crews travel together with their gear.
- A fixed fare. No surge, and you know the cost before you board the plane. As a guide, Perth Airport to the CBD is around $80 and to Fremantle around $100. See our airport transfer fares.
- We watch your flight. Delayed by an hour? We know, and we adjust.
- Car seats and wheelchair access when you ask for them. See baby seat taxis and wheelchair-accessible taxis.
Split between a group, it often lands near rideshare prices, sometimes under. An $80 fare between six people is about $13 each.
So which should you take?
- On your own, light bags, staying near a station? Take the train.
- Two to four of you, flexible on price? A rideshare is fine. Just check the fare before you confirm.
- Five or more, big bags, kids, a wheelchair, or a late flight? Pre-book a maxi taxi, so everyone leaves together at a price you already know.
Quick answers
How do I get from Perth Airport to the city?
The train from Airport Central (T1/T2) takes about 20 minutes to the city. A taxi or rideshare takes you door to door. For groups and families, a pre-booked maxi taxi is usually the easiest option.
Is Uber cheaper than a taxi from Perth Airport?
Sometimes, for one or two people at quiet times. At busy times surge pricing can push it higher. For groups, a fixed-fare maxi taxi split between everyone is often cheaper than two rideshare cars.
Is there a train from Perth Airport Terminal 1?
Yes. Airport Central station is linked to the T1/T2 area by a covered walkway.
Flying in with a group? Book your Perth Airport transfer or call +61 433 530 152. We’re available 24/7. You can also read how much a taxi from Perth Airport costs.
Photo credit: Transperth train, photo by xiquinhosilva (derivative work: Georgfotoart), CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped).