Getting around Melbourne - your guide to public transport and more

Whether for work or play, Melbourne is a spectacular city to visit, but it can be a little daunting to navigate due to its size. If you need a little help getting around Melbourne during your trip and how to figure out the public transport network of trams, trains and buses, we’re here to help.

With a population of over five million and more areas than you can shake a stick at, it’s easy to get lost amidst the towering buildings and breathtaking landmarks. Planning out your trip and understanding your transport options, the public transport system, and what attractions are within walking distance will help reduce your risks of getting lost, or even worse, wasting time getting to your next destination. 

Our in-depth guide will cover every last thing you need to know about travelling in Melbourne. We’ll break down buses, taxis, rideshares, ferries, fare types, and more so you can get to where you need to go quickly and comfortably. 

Arriving in Melbourne

Whether you’re flying to Melbourne from Sydney or visiting from Perth, the most common way to arrive in Melbourne is through Melbourne Airport, also known as Tullamarine Airport, which is typically a 25-40 minute drive away from Melbourne city, depending on the traffic. The other option to arrive in Melbourne is flying into Avalon Airport, which is further away from Melbourne city and usually takes an hour to get from the airport to the city. 

Getting from Melbourne Airport to Melbourne CBD

Melbourne Airport is located 23km from Melbourne CBD, and offers several transportation methods for travelling to Melbourne, such as:

• Taxis: Taxis at Melbourne Airport have designated ranks outside all terminals. Fares to the CBD typically range from $60 to $80, plus a $4.82 airport access fee.
• Rideshare: If you prefer a rideshare, all of Melbourne Airport’s terminals have dedicated areas for Uber pick-ups. As with the taxi option, you’ll need to pay $4.82 for the Melbourne Airport access fee. Rideshare costs can vary depending on the demand, surge pricing and car availability, but expect to pay between $40 and $60 to the city. Remember to practice basic safety when using a rideshare. Don’t share your PIN and don’t enter a car different from the one on your rideshare app. 
• Car rentals: If you plan on staying longer in the city, travelling around Melbourne a lot, exploring other destinations in Victoria, or simply want flexibility, hiring a car is a good option. Organise your car hire ahead of your trip and earn Velocity Points, otherwise head to one of the car rental companies like Budget, Avis, Enterprise, Sixt, and Hertz, at Melbourne Airport.
• Bus services: There are several bus services you can hop on, such as the SkyBus, Regional, and Charter buses. SkyBus is one of the most popular choices, offering services to the city that run every 10 or 15 minutes between 4am to 1am and is equipped with free Wi-Fi. All SkyBus buses run seven days a week and each ticket you buy is good for three months. You’ll find a SkyBus at Terminal 1, 3, and 4. An adult fare for a one-way trip is AU$23.90 and will take you to the city centre in about 30 or 40 minutes, depending on the traffic. Children between the ages of four to 16 travel for $4 one-way. You can either grab your ticket online ahead of your arrival in Melbourne or at one of the kiosks at the airport. 

Getting around Melbourne

Melbourne is very accommodating to just about any travel style and budget you can think of. In fact, it’s much easier to get around without a car than with one! 

Public transport

Getting around Melbourne as a tourist is a breeze, thanks to its extensive and well-connected public transport system. With options that include trams, trains, and buses, you can easily navigate the city and its surrounding areas without the need for a car.

Trams are a quintessential part of Melbourne's identity and the city boasts the largest network in the world, offering a unique way to explore the city. However, don't overlook the train and bus networks, which complement the tram services and provide quick and efficient travel across different regions of Melbourne.

Melbourne’s public transport is designed to be user-friendly, accessible, and reliable but to navigate it with ease, you'll need a myki Card. Let’s quickly cover this essential part of navigating Melbourne’s buses, trams, and trains.

myki Card

A myki Card is the key to taking advantage of Melbourne’s public transport system (and will save you the headache of estimating taxi fares). All of Melbourne’s buses, trams, and trains require this handy little smart card with a convenient touch-on, touch-off system. Without a myki Card, you won’t be able to use public transit (and you’ll get fined if you try to use transit without it). 

Myki Cards are just $6 for adults over 19 and $3 for children, seniors and concession cardholders, and automatically track and pay for wherever you travel. Physical myki Cards can be bought at convenience stores, newsagents, 7-Elevens, as well as myki machines at selected stations and stops. If you have an Android phone, you can add a digital myki Card to the Google Wallet app. Unfortunately, Apple iPhone users won’t be able to add a myki Card to their digital wallet, however the PTV app can be downloaded on both iPhones and Androids to top-up. 

You can purchase a standard myki Money card, which offers pay-as-you-go travel, however if you think you’ll be doing a lot of travelling, it may serve you better to get a myki Pass for 7 days or between 28 and 365 days.

To use your myki Card, tap the card against the reader at the start of your train, bus or tram journey, and tap again at the end of your trip and the correct fare will be calculated. It’s worth noting that when you first tap your myki Card as you board, it creates a 2-hour fare. If you're still travelling after 2 hours, you'll be charged a daily fare. 

Zones and fare types explained

Put simply, the type of zone you travel through will determine the cost of the fare you pay. All Melbourne zones require you to use a myki Card and there’s a cap on how much can be charged for a trip and for a day’s travel. 

You'll encounter two main types of zones while getting around Melbourne: metropolitan and regional.

Metropolitan zones include:

Zone 1: Melbourne CBD and inner suburbs

Zone 2: Melbourne’s outer suburbs

Zone 1/2 boundary overlap: Buffer area where stations and stops lie within both Zone 1 and Zone 2, allowing you to pay a Zone 2 fare for those stations

Free Tram Zone: Melbourne CBD and Docklands (we’ll explore more in the following section).

On myki Money (pay-as-you-go), Zones 1 and 2 will cost $5.30 for 2-hours and $10.60 for the day, and Zone 2 only will cost $3.30 for 2-hours and $6.60 for the day. 

Regional zones apply to buses and trains outside of Melbourne, across wider Victoria – for example Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo. Fares will depend on how far you travel from the metropolitan areas.

Trams

Melbourne has the largest tram network in the world, consisting of 500 trams, more than 1,600 tram stops, 24 routes and services that run every 10 to 12 minutes. Not only is this incredibly impressive, but it makes getting around Melbourne’s CBD and inner and outer suburbs easy and reliable – especially given it offers frequent services that connect visitors to Melbourne’s attractions and neighbourhoods. With the exception of the Free Tram Zone, travelling on Melbourne’s trams requires tapping on and off with a myki Card.

Free Tram Zone

One of the best free things to do in Melbourne also provides visitors with the easiest and most convenient way to get around the city. Melbourne’s Free Tram Zone covers Melbourne’s city centre and Docklands, and travel is completely free within this zone – so there’s no need to tap on and off with your myki Card. It’s impossible to miss these zones thanks to the tram posts’ signage. You’ll easily recognise the City Circle Tram (Route 35) by its bold red and gold or green and gold colouring. As an added bonus, these trams offer audio commentary while travelling, providing insightful details on various landmarks or points of interest.

Buses

If you prefer to hop on a bus, you’ll have access to Melbourne’s vast bus network and hundreds of routes, many of which are more extensive than those offered by trams or a trains.

Buses are well-suited to both day and evening travel. Most routes will run from 9am to 6pm during weekdays, while running 8am to 9pm on Saturdays and 9am to 9pm on Sundays. That said, you still have options if you want to use the bus for night travel with Melbourne's Night Bus services operating well after midnight to several suburban areas. 

Trains

Melbourne trains are a great option when you need to get somewhere fast. The primary hubs for Melbourne’s train system are the Southern Cross Station and the Flinders Street Station, with 16 train lines stretching across the network 

Trains typically run as early as 5am on the weekdays until after midnight from Sunday to Thursday and all night long on Fridays and Saturdays. Expect to see them stop every 10 to 20 minutes during the day and every 20 to 30 minutes in the evenings, making them a timely option for getting around the city. 

Useful Melbourne public transport apps and resources

Have you ever found yourself saying, “There’s an app for everything these days”? Melbourne also got the memo, because you can use multiple public transport apps to help get around.

• For Android users, the Mobile myki app provides a digital version of your standard myki card, which can be added to your Google Wallet to be used with the same touch-and-go functionalities as the physical card. You can also check your activity and balance, as well as top up your card directly through the app.
• The free Public Transport Victoria app is a useful resource for visitors to Melbourne, with everything you need to know about getting around Melbourne, such as a journey planner and an interactive map. It’ll even tell you about the next five departures any time you reach a stop or a station. 
• Prefer the trams? Make sure to download TramTracker, an app that gives you ongoing information on the status of any tram in the area. You’ll know about your tram's exact arrival, disruptions, and delays. This feature is convenient if you don’t have much experience using trams or are running on a tight schedule. 

Taxis and rideshares

Melbourne has enough taxis and rideshares to get you where you need to go when you don’t want to wait for a public transport schedule. All of Melbourne’s taxis are metered, allowing you to receive an estimated fare before your ride, especially between 10pm to 5am. 

The best-known taxi companies in the city are 13Cabs and Silver Top. You can either try to flag one down or download their booking apps for added convenience. 

For those who would prefer to use a rideshare app, Uber and DiDi are available, as is Shebah, an all-female driving fleet that specialises in driving women and children. 

Car rental and driving in Melbourne

For those who want maximum flexibility while travelling to Melbourne (and beyond), hiring a car could be the best option for getting around. Car rentals can be organised at Melbourne Airport if you haven’t arranged one ahead of your trip. However, there are also plenty of car rental dealerships available in the city, and organising a rental car outside of the airport is often less expensive.

Those looking to drive themselves around Melbourne should be aware of Melbourne’s unique ‘hook turn’ driving rule in the city, which requires drivers to give trams the right of way. This means that when turning right at intersections, you must first go past the intersection, stop in the left lane, and wait for the traffic light to change. This can be confusing for first-time visitors, so it’s essential to be cautious and attentive while driving in the city.

Cycling and scooters

If you’re craving to stretch your legs and get some exercise, you’ll have a blast getting around Melbourne on a bicycle. This city is incredibly cycle-friendly with numerous bike lanes and paths that make cycling a safe and enjoyable option. You can easily rent a bike for the day at several convenient locations.

BikeNow and Post Melbourne Cycles are some of the best-known bicycle rental spots. Depending on where you'll be travelling, you can choose from urban bikes or road bikes. Urban bikes are best for coasting through the city and enjoying the sights, while road bikes are better for longer riding sessions. 

Depending on your bike rental service, you’ll get essentials such as a helmet, lock, or bike pump. Make sure to review the bike rental website so you have all the equipment needed for a safe and comfortable biking session. Just keep in mind that only foldable bikes are allowed on buses and trams. 

If you want to get around on a scooter, you’re out of luck. Melbourne recently banned e-scooters due to concerns about safety and an uptick in accidents. 

Walking in Melbourne

According to Walk Score, Melbourne has an impressive walkability rating of 99. One of the biggest contributors to this high score is the ever-convenient layout of Melbourne’s CBD and the fact that It’s a very pedestrian-friendly area. 

The layout of the CBD makes visiting various landmarks, shopping districts, amenities, and food businesses on foot easy thanks to their proximity, pedestrian lanes, and the vibrant streetscapes. If your feet get tired, you can always hop onto one of the buses or (free) trams nearby. 

Accessible transport options

Whether you or someone you’re travelling with requires wheelchair accessibility, Melbourne has several accommodation options. All trains and the majority of buses provide ramps for wheelchair users. 

While many trams are wheelchair-accessible, some models and stops don’t have the same accessibility as others. To save you time, download the TramTracker app so you’ll immediately know which tram is wheelchair accessible with the wheelchair icon. The City Circle Tram is not wheelchair accessible.

For taxi services, Harry’s Wheelchair Taxis provides wheelchair-friendly options tailored for family groups, with vehicles that can accommodate up to two wheelchairs at a time. Additionally, 13Cabs offers wheelchair-friendly taxi services that can be scheduled in advance.

Travelling beyond Melbourne

Melbourne may be exciting and filled to the brim with interesting sights and sounds, but sometimes you want to see what’s just beyond the city borders. The city is surrounded by the Yarra Valley & Dandenong Ranges, Phillip Island, the Mornington Peninsula, Geelong & the Bellarine, and more! 

Let’s take a look at these famous destinations. 

Yarra Valley & Dandenong Ranges

Yarra Valley & Dandenong Ranges is just an hour’s drive east from Melbourne. It’s a lush, rolling valley that’s extremely popular among wine enthusiasts thanks to its plethora of carefully tended vineyards. Food lovers and nature lovers will adore the diversity of restaurants, cider houses, and breathtaking views. 

Getting there from Melbourne: Drive from Melbourne to the Yarra Valley via the Eastern Freeway or catch a train from the CBD to Lilydale, followed by a bus or taxi to your destination.

Phillip Island

If you miss the salty spray of the ocean, head on over to one of Australia's most famous islands: Phillip Island. It’s roughly two hours south of Melbourne and is famed for its abundance of wildlife, such as kangaroos and penguins. 

Getting there from Melbourne: There are a few ways to reach Phillip Island. If you’ve rented a car, take Phillip Island Road across the bridge to the island. Alternatively, you can catch a ferry from Stony Point Jetty, which takes about 40 to 45 minutes and offers beautiful ocean views along the way. There are also tour operators that provide day trips from Melbourne.

Mornington Peninsula

When you want a mellow and easy-going holiday, the Mornington Peninsula will give you a day in paradise. We put this peninsula on our top 20 best places to visit in Victoria and for good reason – it’s got something for just about everybody!

The Mornington Peninsula is about an hour’s drive from Melbourne and is home to three sprawling, glittering coastlines. You can enjoy fine dining, relax at some hot springs, or go hiking through the Mornington Peninsula National Park. 

Getting there from Melbourne: Drive along the Nepean Highway for direct access or take a bus from Melbourne's CBD to the peninsula. There are also tour operators offering guided day trips.

Geelong & the Bellarine

Situated on the Bellarine Peninsula southwest of Melbourne, Geelong is known for its stunning waterfront views and rich history as a maritime transport hub for essential goods like steel and wool.  The Bellarine is famed for its rich, volcanic soil and charming seaside villages, making it a quaint and picturesque destination to visit from Melbourne.

Getting there from Melbourne: You can reach Geelong by taking a train from Southern Cross Station in Melbourne, which takes about an hour. Alternatively, driving along the Geelong Road provides a more scenic option.

Flights to Melbourne

Ready to conquer Melbourne? Virgin Australia offers direct services to Melbourne from major Australian cities, including:

• Sydney to Melbourne
• Brisbane to Melbourne
• Gold Coast to Melbourne
• Perth to Melbourne
• Adelaide to Melbourne
• Hobart to Melbourne
• Cairns to Melbourne