How to Get from Adelaide Airport into the City Using Adelaide Metro

Adelaide Metro runs a dedicated Airport bus service, and the official site has a page for it under Plan a trip → Visiting Adelaide → Airport bus. To use it, check that page for the route and stops, plan the trip with the journey planner, and make sure you have a metroCARD, since Adelaide Metro describes the card as all you need to get around by bus, train or tram. The exact route number, timetable and fare are not stated in the available site information, so confirm them on the Airport bus page before you travel.

Step 1: Confirm the Airport bus details

Start at the Airport bus page:

https://www.adelaidemetro.com.au/plan-a-trip/visiting-adelaide/adelaide-airport-bus

Use it to check:

• Where the bus picks up at the airport
• Which city stops it serves
• How often it runs and its hours of operation

The site's navigation lists this page directly, so it is the intended starting point for airport-to-city trips.

Step 2: Plan the full journey

Open the journey planner:

https://www.adelaidemetro.com.au/plan-a-trip/plan-my-journey

Enter your airport starting point and your city destination. The planner returns the service to take, any transfer points, and estimated arrival times. This matters if your hotel is not on the Airport bus route itself — the planner will show whether you need to change to another bus, train or tram.

Expected result: a step-by-step itinerary you can follow on the day.

Step 3: Check your next service on arrival

Once you land, use:

https://www.adelaidemetro.com.au/plan-a-trip/next-service

This gives real-time arrival information, so you can see when the next airport service is due rather than relying on a printed timetable.

Step 4: Get and use a metroCARD

Adelaide Metro states that all you need is a metroCARD to travel across the metropolitan area by bus, train or tram. Before or on arrival:

• Obtain a metroCARD (the site's metroCARD information explains how)
• Top it up or validate it as instructed
• Tap on and off as required on your service

The available information does not list fares or card prices, so check the metroCARD pages for current costs.

Quick reference

Common snags

• Assuming the Airport bus goes everywhere. It serves the city, but your final stop may need a transfer — always run the journey planner for your specific address.
• Arriving without a card. Sort out your metroCARD before boarding; the system is built around it.
• Relying on a static timetable. Use My next service on the day, since real-time data reflects actual arrivals.

If you are also visiting for an event or need free and special services, the site's Free and special services and Events pages sit alongside the airport page and can be checked in the same visit.