Myki Explained: Melbourne Transport for New Arrivals

How Myki works in Melbourne

The Myki card is used across all public transport in Victoria: metropolitan trains, trams and buses in Melbourne, plus regional buses and the V/Line train service. Every time you board, you tap your card on the reader. When you exit, tap again. The system works out which zones you've travelled through and charges you accordingly. Myki Money has a full daily fare: the Victorian Government puts it at $11.40 to travel anywhere across the state, halved to $5.70 from 1 June until the end of 2026. On trams, Yarra Trams says you only need to touch on (not off) unless you are travelling only in Zone 2.

Getting a Myki card

Where to buy a Myki card, and the current card price, are listed on the Transport Victoria website. If you plan to use tap and go with a bank card, phone or smartwatch, you don't need a Myki card for a full-fare adult trip. Concession passengers, seniors and under-18s are told to keep using their concession, Seniors or Youth myki. Once you have a card, you can load either Myki Money or a Myki Pass onto the same card. You don't need to buy a new card if you move suburbs within Victoria—just top it up or renew your pass.

Myki Money vs Myki Pass

You have two ways to pay with your Myki card. Myki Money is the pay-as-you-go option: you load credit onto the card and fares are deducted each time you travel. This works well if your travel is irregular. Myki Pass is for a set period—you pay upfront for a number of days of unlimited travel within your chosen zones. Whether a pass works out cheaper than Myki Money depends on how many days you travel; compare the two on Transport Victoria's fares page, as fares change. While half-price fares apply (until the end of 2026), the Victorian Government says reimbursements are available for Myki Pass holders.

The free tram zone in Melbourne's CBD

One of Melbourne's standout features is the free tram zone in the central business district. If you're travelling entirely within this zone on a tram, you don't need to touch on—you can just board and travel for free. This makes it easy to explore the CBD and get between key areas without cost. The zone map is published by Transport Victoria. The zone doesn't apply to trains or buses, so if you're using those, you'll still need to tap and pay.

Touching on and off

When you board any train, tram or bus outside the Free Tram Zone, tap your Myki card (or bank card, phone or watch) on the reader. On trains, tap off again at the end of your trip so the system knows which zones you travelled through. Trams are different: Yarra Trams says you need to touch on but don't need to touch off, unless you are travelling only in Zone 2. What you are charged if you miss a touch-off is set out on Transport Victoria's fares pages.

Contactless payments (tap and go)

Victoria has switched on "tap and go": you can tap a bank card, smartphone or smartwatch on a myki reader instead of using a physical card. According to Victorian Government announcements, tap and go was switched on at every myki-enabled train station across Victoria by 14 June 2026, on every tram from 21 June 2026, and on myki-enabled buses progressively until the Melbourne bus network was completed on 26 July 2026. Remaining regional V/Line lines were scheduled to switch on in stages through September 2026, with Benalla and Euroa stations on 22 November 2026. On buses during the rollout, the advice was to look for a Visa or Mastercard logo on the reader. Concession passengers, seniors and under-18s should keep using their concession, Seniors or Youth myki.

Topping up your Myki card

You add Myki Money or buy a Myki Pass on the same card. The current top-up options, including online top-up, are listed on the Transport Victoria website. If you use tap and go with a bank card or phone instead, there is nothing to top up: the fare is charged to that card.

Regional V/Line travel

If you're travelling outside Melbourne to regional Victoria, the V/Line train and coach services also use Myki. The same Myki card works on myki-enabled V/Line services, and tap and go was being switched on across the remaining regional stations through September 2026. Passengers without a seat reservation on long-distance services can buy an unreserved fare with tap and go, according to the Victorian Government. Check Public Transport Victoria for V/Line–specific fares and zones, which may differ from the metropolitan zones.

International students and the iUSEpass

Transport Victoria runs the iUSEpass for eligible international students. The eligibility rules and current price are on the Transport Victoria website; check them with your visa and enrolment details before buying a Myki Pass. If you don't qualify, you pay the adult fare on Myki Money, a Myki Pass or tap and go.

Zone structure and fares

Melbourne's public transport uses zones (Zone 1 and Zone 2 in Melbourne, with more zones across regional Victoria). As announced by the Victorian Government: from 1 June until the end of 2026, fares are half price, with a full daily fare of $5.70 instead of $11.40 to travel anywhere across the state; public transport is free for everyone under 18 on a Youth myki from 1 January 2026; and Seniors Card holders travel free on weekends statewide from 1 January 2026, with 50% off the full fare on weekdays. Check Transport Victoria's website for the current zone map and fare tables, as these change.

Do I need a Myki card or can I use my bank card?

For a full-fare adult trip you can use either. Tap and go (bank card, phone or smartwatch) works at every myki-enabled train station, on every tram and on myki-enabled buses, according to Victorian Government announcements from June and July 2026. Concession passengers, seniors and under-18s should use their concession, Seniors or Youth myki.

Do I need to touch off?

On trains, yes. On trams, Yarra Trams says you don't need to touch off unless you are travelling only in Zone 2. What happens if you miss a required touch-off is set out on Transport Victoria's fares pages.

Is the free tram zone really free?

Yes, but only for trams travelling entirely within the CBD free zone. Trains and buses require a tap-on and payment, even in the CBD.

Can I use the same Myki card if I move to another state?

No. The Myki card works only in Victoria. If you move to NSW, you'll need an Opal card; if you move to Queensland, you'll need a go card.

Do international students get cheaper fares in Melbourne?

Transport Victoria runs the iUSEpass for eligible international students; its eligibility rules and price are on the Transport Victoria website. If you don't qualify, you pay the adult fare (half price until the end of 2026).

Is a Myki Pass cheaper than Myki Money?

It depends on how many days you travel. Compare the pass price with the daily fare on Transport Victoria's fares page for your zones.