Cheap Flights to Canberra Airport

Discover Canberra

Cheap Flights to Canberra

Why visit Canberra?

The dynamic and sleek city of Canberra is where the wheels of the Australian government turn, and a visit here will set you right in the working mind of a contemporary and progressive nation. Enjoy the many historical attractions, the lovely surrounding countryside, and the trendy bar and restaurant scene that is starting to dominate the country’s capital.

Things to do in Canberra

Start in the centre of town, the Civic, where you can enjoy the best shopping, stroll to the National Museum of Australia on the West Basin, or choose to explore the Byzantine-inspired Australian War Memorial at the end of Anzac Parade. If you’re feeling enthusiastic, walk or bike to the Mount Ainslie Lookout, where you will get the best view of the city and the gorgeous Lake Burley Griffin.

Across this same lake, you can explore the heritage home of Canberra, where many of the city’s oldest buildings are clustered. Why not tour the National Gallery of Australia, the Canberra Glassworks, or head to Capital Hill to see both the Old and New Parliament Houses? If you have the time, it’s worth stopping into the National Library of Australia too, as there are impressive historical manuscripts, as well as reports and newspapers that chart much of Australia’s past; perhaps the most vaunted is Captain Cook’s journal from the 1700s.

If you’d like to go further afield and really explore the delightful surrounds of the city, the celebrated Snowy Mountains are a couple hours’ drive south of the capital and offer all sorts of activities throughout the seasons, such as skiing, horseback riding, fishing and hiking.

Best time to visit Canberra

· For exploring the surrounding bushland, the shoulder seasons of spring and autumn boast mild and pleasant temperatures. Be sure to pack a lot of layering, because the days can fall anywhere between 6-20°C.

· Summer in the city is lovely, with warm and dry days that stick between 12 and 27°C.

Best time to book

· If you are flying domestically, then book at least a month in advance for flights from the eastern coast, and up to three months for flights coming from the western coast of Australia.

· Travellers flying into Australia should look for dates to book up to seven months ahead for decent deals.

Expect to pay

· Australian Dollar (AUD).

· Picking up your morning coffee in Canberra will run you about $3.90.

Arriving in Canberra by plane

· Canberra Airport (CBR) is the main air facility for the city, and is serviced by Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Australia.

· CBR is 9km away from the centre of Canberra, and there are decent links into town. The airport has a range of facilities, such as a café, ATMs, a currency exchange and a newsagents.

· Most cities in Australia, such as Adelaide (ADL), Perth (PER), Melbourne (MEL), Sydney (SYD) and Brisbane (BNE) offer direct flights to the country’s capital.

Visa requirements

· If you are a foreign national flying to Australia, you may need to apply for a visa. There is an excellent guide here, which lists the visa requirements needed for each nationality.

Transportation to city centre

· Taxis are expensive to the city centre, charged at roughly $55 for the 9km journey. It may be cheaper to arrange for an airport transfer in advance.

· There is also a shuttle bus that runs into town regularly, and costs $12 for a one-way ticket.

· For car hire, there are rental desks within CBR, or you can reserve a vehicle in advance with our car hire search tool.

Where to stay in Canberra

· Book in the Civic if you want to be close to all the attractions, and don’t mind splashing out on luxury accommodation.

· Another high-end option is the beautiful Barton, situated right by Parliament and the National Portrait Gallery. This is also where you will find some of the city’s fanciest eateries and chic bars.

· Kingston and Manuka are trendy neighbourhoods that run a bit cheaper than downtown and Barton, and you can find both mid-range and economical hotel options here. They also have the added bonus of being filled to the brim with hip restaurants, cool boutiques and great marketplaces.

Useful tips before you go

· Tipping is not expected in the capital, so it is entirely up to your discretion whether you tip or not.

Please note that the information provided above is accurate as of May 2016