Melbourne Transport Guide
Melbourne has the world's largest tram network, a sprawling suburban train system, and extensive bus routes. Here's how it all works.
The Myki Card
Myki is the single smart card for all public transport in Melbourne and regional Victoria (except V/Line paper tickets for some long-distance journeys).
- Cost: $6 for a full fare card, $3 concession. Cards can be loaded at stations, 7-Eleven stores, PTV hubs, or online (myki.com.au).
- Top up: Auto top-up available. You must "touch on" at the start and "touch off" at the end of every journey on trains and buses. Trams: touch on only (except zone 2+ stops where you must touch off).
- Fares (2026): Full fare 2-hour zone 1: ~$4.60. Daily cap: ~$9.20. Weekly cap: ~$46. Concession is half price.
- Myki Money vs Myki Pass: Money deducts per trip (caps automatically). Pass gives unlimited travel for 7 — 365 days.
Trams
The Melbourne tram network (Yarra Trams) covers 250 km of track across 24 routes. The Free Tram Zone covers the CBD and Docklands: no Myki touch on required. Key routes:
- Route 86: Bundoora: through Fitzroy, Collingwood, East Melbourne: to Docklands
- Route 96: St Kilda Beach: through CBD: to East Brunswick (high-frequency light rail)
- Route 109: Box Hill: through Kew, Richmond, CBD: to Port Melbourne
- Route 75: Vermont South: through Burwood, Hawthorn, Richmond, CBD: to Docklands
- Route 19: North Coburg: through Brunswick: to Flinders Street Station (frequent)
- City Circle (Route 35): Free heritage tram looping the CBD
Trains
16 metro lines radiate from the CBD through two major loops: the City Loop (Flinders Street, Southern Cross, Melbourne Central, Parliament, Flagstaff) and the new Metro Tunnel (opening 2025, linking Sunbury to Cranbourne/Pakenham via five new underground stations).
Key lines: Sunbury, Craigieburn, Upfield (north); Werribee, Williamstown, Laverton (west); Frankston, Sandringham, Cranbourne, Pakenham (south-east); Hurstbridge, Mernda, Lilydale, Belgrave (north-east); Glen Waverley, Alamein (east).
Night Network (Weekend): Trains run all night Friday and Saturday on most lines, plus Night Bus routes.
Buses
Buses fill the gaps between train and tram lines. SmartBus services (routes 900, 901, 902, 903) run high-frequency orbital routes connecting suburbs. Night Bus operates after midnight on weekends.
Cycling
Melbourne has over 1,500 km of bicycle lanes, paths, and trails. Key routes include the Capital City Trail (29 km loop around the inner city), Bay Trail (Port Melbourne to Werribee), and Gardiners Creek Trail (east to Box Hill). The CBD has separated bike lanes on La Trobe, Lonsdale, Exhibition, and Spring Streets.
Rideshare & Taxis
Uber, Didi, and Ola are widely available. Taxis can be hailed on the street or via 13cabs app. From the airport: Uber to CBD ~$50 — $70, taxi ~$60 — $75. Pro tip: Uber pool (UberX Share) can save ~30%.
Driving in Melbourne
The CBD and inner suburbs have paid parking (street meters and parking garages). Major roads: M1 (CityLink toll road, EastLink toll road), M3 (Monash Freeway), M80 (Western Ring Road). CityLink requires an e-TAG or you can pay the toll within 3 days via the CityLink website. Speed limits: 40 km/h in CBD, 50/60 in suburbs, 80 — 100 on freeways.
The Network in Numbers
Melbourne has the world’s largest tram network — 250 km of track across 24 routes — plus 16 suburban train lines, extensive buses, and the free City Circle heritage tram. The network carries more than 2 million boardings a day, and the Myki card (or contactless bank card) covers everything with a $4.60 two-hour fare, a $9.20 daily cap, and a $46 weekly cap — among the best value in Australia.
The big 2020s story is the Metro Tunnel: the new underground line linking Sunbury to Cranbourne/Pakenham via five new stations opened in stages through 2025–2026, decongesting the City Loop and cutting cross-city travel times dramatically. The Free Tram Zone covers the CBD and Docklands — no Myki needed for central travel.
Commute Times That Apply (2026)
- Brunswick to CBD: 15 min by train or tram
- Camberwell to CBD: 20 min by train
- Glen Waverley to CBD: 30 min by train
- Werribee to CBD: 35 min by train (via the new tunnel)
- Frankston to CBD: 55 min by train
- Craigieburn to CBD: 35 min by train
- St Kilda to CBD: 20 min by tram (Route 96)
- Cycling: 1,800+ km of bike paths — the Capital City Trail circles the CBD
Practical Tips
Always touch on and touch off — failed touches attract maximum fares. Use the Free Tram Zone for everything inside the CBD and Docklands. The weekly cap means heavy users effectively travel free from Thursday onwards. For driving, the city loop and West Gate Tunnel (opening 2027) handle the arterials, but CBD parking runs $25–$70 a day — park-and-ride at suburban stations instead. And on hot days, the trams and trains are air-conditioned — plan your commute around the cool hours.