© XY YEW・Unsplash License

Australia

Melbourne

A city of coffee and culture, laced with one of the world's largest tram networks — free to ride in the centre.

Bus (PTV bus network)

Every myki-enabled bus takes a contactless bank card - which matters in a city where you cannot buy a myki on board. Full fare only, though. And the free CBD zone is trams only: the same trip by bus costs money.

Updated on August 2, 2026

  • Until Dec 31, 2026

    Half-price fares for everyone until 1 January 2027

    Public transport across Victoria is half price for everyone, every day, from 1 June 2026 until 1 January 2027. The fares here are the discounted amounts in force now; they revert to the full (roughly double) amounts on 1 January 2027.

How to ride

  1. 1
    Sort out how you'll pay before you board
    You can't buy or top up a myki on board - get one at a station or convenience store first, or just bring a contactless card.
  2. 2
    Tap on at the reader as you board
    Tap your myki or bank card on the reader as you board. One card or device pays for one person only.
  3. 3
    Tap off as you get off
    Tap off with the same card or device. Forget, and you're charged a default fare instead of the cheaper Zone 2-only fare.
  4. 4
    Tap the same way when you connect
    Tap as normal when you change to a train or tram - you aren't charged twice, and the best fare for the day is worked out for you.
  5. 5
    Show the card you tapped with
    If an Authorised Officer checks tickets, hold out the same card or phone you tapped with.

Fares

Single fares2

Two-hour fare (full fare, Zone 1+2)
Covers connections to trains and trams within the two hours. Half-price period amount.
2.85 AUD ≈ $2
Two-hour fare (full fare, Zone 2 only)
For trips entirely inside outer Zone 2 - you only get it if you tap off.
1.8 AUD ≈ $1

Passes & multi-ride1

7-day myki Pass (full fare, Zone 1+2)
Seven days of unlimited travel. Passes load onto a myki card only - not available with tap and go.
28.5 AUD ≈ $21

Fare caps2

Daily cap (full fare, weekdays)
However much you ride that day, you're charged no more. Zone 2 only is $3.60.
5.7 AUD ≈ $4
Daily cap (full fare, weekends and public holidays)
The cap drops further on weekends and public holidays. A fare day starts at 3am.
4 AUD ≈ $3

Card itself1

myki card itself (full fare)
A one-off, non-refundable card fee on top of fares; not needed if you just tap a bank card.
6 AUD ≈ $4

Estimates use exchange rates as of September 5, 2026

Payment

Tap to ride
VISAMastercardDiscoverDinersJCBAmex銀聯
Live on every myki-enabled bus since 26 July 2026; full fare only
IC card
The myki card - but you can't buy or top it up on board
App tickets
Mobile myki is Android only, via Google Wallet
Paper tickets
No paper tickets on metropolitan buses inside the myki zone
Cash
Not on board; you can load cash onto a myki at a machine first

Tap for where to get the app

Quick facts

Fares from
2.85 AUD+
Decals on a bus stop totem: the SmartBus mark, and the moon icon that flags a Night Bus service Taken Feb 2024 © Philip Mallis from Melbourne・CC BY-SA 2.0

Heads-up

  • A mistaken tap on a bus cannot be undone

    There is no undo on a bus - tap on by mistake and you pay for the trip even if you tap off within 15 minutes. (On trains, tapping off at the same station within 15 minutes is free.)

  • Use an ordinary credit or debit card, not a prepaid one

    Prepaid cards are the risky option. The ticketing conditions accept a prepaid Mastercard only if it was issued in Australia, and a prepaid Visa only if it was issued in Australia or the Asia Pacific - so Wise, Monzo and overseas gift cards are out. The customer FAQ states a stricter "Australia only" rule, so the two do not agree; travel on an ordinary credit or debit card instead. Ordinary cards issued overseas are fine.

Timetable

Typical duration The way to fill in the suburbs trains and trams don't reach
Check the official site for the latest times and service status