How to Get Around Melbourne

How transport works in Melbourne

Myki card (AUD 6 + credit) covers trains, trams and buses. The CBD is inside the FREE TRAM ZONE — Circle Tram 35, City Circle and CBD trams are free within the grid. Melbourne Airport (MEL) has no train yet — SkyBus (AUD 22, 30 min to Southern Cross) or Uber (AUD 60–90). Avalon (AVV) is the low-cost secondary.

Your options compared

• Tram

  World's largest tram network — free within the CBD grid (route 35 City Circle, routes 70/75).

• Metro Trains

  Suburban rail from Flinders St + Southern Cross to Docklands, St Kilda, Brighton.

• Bus

  Fills gaps in inner suburbs; SkyBus to airport.

Passes and tickets

Myki card AUD 6 + credit for trains, trams, buses beyond the free zone. Daily cap ~AUD 10.60. No contactless card tap-on yet (rolling out 2025).

Local transport tips

Confirm Free Tram Zone boundaries before tapping on — outside the zone requires Myki.

Arriving from the airport

• Melbourne Tullamarine (MEL)

  SkyBus AUD 22 to Southern Cross in 30 min (24/7); Uber AUD 60–90; taxi AUD 65–95.

• Avalon (secondary LCC) (AVV)

  SkyBus AUD 26 to Southern Cross in 55 min.

Do you need a rental car?

Inside Melbourne a car is usually a liability — parking and traffic cost more than transit. A rental earns its keep for day trips and regional drives, so compare rates only for the days you actually leave the city.