What is the cheapest way from Melbourne Airport to the city?

The route 901 SmartBus from the Terminal 4 interchange to Broadmeadows Station, then a Craigieburn-line train to Southern Cross — one myki Zone 1+2 fare of A$2.85 while Victorian public transport is half price until 1 January 2027 (normally A$5.70), in about 60–75 minutes.

Is there a train from Melbourne Airport to the city?

No — Melbourne Airport has no rail link. The nearest station is Broadmeadows, about 15 minutes away on the route 901 bus, with Craigieburn-line trains on to Southern Cross and the City Loop. The alternative is the SkyBus express coach to Southern Cross.

How much is SkyBus from Melbourne Airport to the city?

A$25.90 one-way for adults (A$43.40 return online, children 4–16 A$6.60). It runs from outside Terminals 1, 3 and 4 direct to Southern Cross Station in about 30–45 minutes, daily from 4am to 1am.

Do I need a myki card and where do I buy it at the airport?

Yes, for the 901 bus — bank-card tap-and-go currently works on trains but not buses. Buy a myki (A$6, then load fare money) at the WHSmith / convenience stores in the terminals or the machine at the Terminal 4 bus interchange, or add a mobile myki to Google Wallet on Android.

How much is a taxi or Uber from Melbourne Airport to the CBD?

A taxi is roughly A$55–75 and rideshare (Uber, Didi, Ola) from about A$50, both plus airport pick-up fees, for a ride of about 30 minutes outside peak traffic — versus A$2.85 on public transport or A$25.90 on SkyBus.

How to get from Melbourne Airport (MEL) to downtown Melbourne — the cheapest way

The cheapest way from Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL) to central Melbourne is the route 901 SmartBus from the Terminal 4 bus interchange to Broadmeadows Station, then a Craigieburn-line train to Southern Cross — one ordinary myki Zone 1+2 fare of A$2.85 while Victoria's public transport is half price until 1 January 2027 (normally A$5.70), in about 60–75 minutes. You need a myki card (A$6 in the terminals) for the bus, since bank-card tap-and-go only works on trains. The kerbside SkyBus is faster at 30–45 minutes but costs A$25.90 one-way, and a taxi to the CBD runs roughly A$55–75.

How to find it

AIRPORTMelbourne Tullamarine Airport
01From arrivals, follow the signs to the bus interchange at the Ground Transport Hub, on the ground floor of the Terminal 4 car park. From T1–T3 it's a signposted walk of roughly 5–10 minutes. Buy your myki at a terminal convenience store or the machine there first if you don't have one.
02Touch on with your myki and take the route 901 SmartBus (towards Frankston) to Broadmeadows Station — about 15 minutes. It runs roughly every 15 minutes on weekdays between 6:30am and 9:30pm, and about every 30 minutes early mornings, late evenings and weekends.
03At Broadmeadows Station, transfer to a Craigieburn-line train towards the city — about 30–35 minutes to Southern Cross Station (trains also serve Flagstaff, Melbourne Central and Flinders Street via the City Loop, depending on the time of day). Trains run about every 10–20 minutes.
04Touch off at your city station. The whole trip is one ordinary Zone 1+2 2-hour fare — A$2.85 full fare during the statewide half-price period (normally A$5.70) — with no airport surcharge of any kind.
CITY CENTREMelbourne

Ticket

myki Zone 1+2 2-hour fare: route 901 SmartBus to Broadmeadows Station, then a Craigieburn-line train to Southern Cross

Where to buy: Buy a myki card (A$6, non-refundable) at the WHSmith / convenience stores in the terminals or at the ticket machine by the Terminal 4 bus interchange, or add a mobile myki to Google Wallet. You need it for the bus — bank-card tap-and-go currently works on trains, not on the 901 bus.

How to pay: Touch on and off with the same myki on both the bus and the train — one Zone 1+2 2-hour fare covers the whole trip. It costs A$2.85 full fare while public transport across Victoria is half price (1 June 2026 – 1 January 2027); the normal fare is A$5.70, and the daily cap means you won't pay more than A$5.70 all day.

Local's trick: Melbourne Airport has no train station, but there is no airport fare penalty either: the 901 bus + train combo is a plain Zone 1+2 myki fare, and Victoria's public transport is half price statewide from 1 June 2026 to 1 January 2027, so the trip is just A$2.85 (normally A$5.70). One catch — the 901 bus doesn't take bank cards, so pick up a A$6 myki card (or Google Wallet mobile myki) inside the terminal before walking to the T4 interchange.

Trap to avoid: The default at the kerb is SkyBus at A$25.90 one-way — about nine times the myki fare for a trip that's only ~25 minutes faster. A taxi to the CBD runs roughly A$55–75 and rideshare from about A$50, both plus airport pick-up fees. Also mind the hours: the 901+train combo doesn't usefully run overnight, so for a 4am departure SkyBus (from 4am, or 1am at night) or a taxi is the realistic option.

All ways to downtown, compared

Option	Price	Time	Ticket
CombinationCheapest route	A$2.85	1 h 10 min	myki Zone 1+2 2-hour fare: route 901 SmartBus to Broadmeadows Station, then a Craigieburn-line train to Southern Cross
Bus	A$25.90	45 min	SkyBus Melbourne City Express one-way (adult)

Frequently asked

What is the cheapest way from Melbourne Airport to the city?: The route 901 SmartBus from the Terminal 4 interchange to Broadmeadows Station, then a Craigieburn-line train to Southern Cross — one myki Zone 1+2 fare of A$2.85 while Victorian public transport is half price until 1 January 2027 (normally A$5.70), in about 60–75 minutes.
Is there a train from Melbourne Airport to the city?: No — Melbourne Airport has no rail link. The nearest station is Broadmeadows, about 15 minutes away on the route 901 bus, with Craigieburn-line trains on to Southern Cross and the City Loop. The alternative is the SkyBus express coach to Southern Cross.
How much is SkyBus from Melbourne Airport to the city?: A$25.90 one-way for adults (A$43.40 return online, children 4–16 A$6.60). It runs from outside Terminals 1, 3 and 4 direct to Southern Cross Station in about 30–45 minutes, daily from 4am to 1am.
Do I need a myki card and where do I buy it at the airport?: Yes, for the 901 bus — bank-card tap-and-go currently works on trains but not buses. Buy a myki (A$6, then load fare money) at the WHSmith / convenience stores in the terminals or the machine at the Terminal 4 bus interchange, or add a mobile myki to Google Wallet on Android.
How much is a taxi or Uber from Melbourne Airport to the CBD?: A taxi is roughly A$55–75 and rideshare (Uber, Didi, Ola) from about A$50, both plus airport pick-up fees, for a ride of about 30 minutes outside peak traffic — versus A$2.85 on public transport or A$25.90 on SkyBus.

Last verified: Jul 14, 2026. Prices and timetables change — confirm at the official transport source.