Get around Melbourne like a local

Ah, Melbourne – what a city. It’s effortlessly cool and creative, brimming with energy and teeming with great bars, cafes, shops and seemingly endless good cups of coffee. And the best part? It’s easy to get around. Discover how to get from A to B within Australia’s hippest city and we’ll make sure you blend in beautifully, just like a local.

Get a myki card

First up, pop into a 7-Eleven convenience store, main train station or one of 800+ retailers displaying the ‘myki’ sign. The myki card is your quick ticket to riding Melbourne’s public transport including trains, trams and buses with ease. Just remember to ‘touch on’ and ‘touch off’ at the myki reader when travelling and you’re good to go.

Scope out the city for free

With a Free Tram Zone running through Melbourne’s CBD, you can hop on and hop off to your heart’s content without paying a cent. How good is that? Check out this map to get acquainted with the Free Tram Zone boundaries. There’s no need to use your myki card when riding in the free zone.

Stay connected for free

While we’re on the topic of free things, Melbourne also brings the goods when it comes to staying connected. Enjoy free outdoor Wi-Fi access at Queen Victoria Market and Federation Square, as well as free Wi-Fi hotspots at the State Library, City Library, Melbourne Museum and more.

Bike around town

Combine fitness with eco-sightseeing by jumping on a blue bike at one of the Melbourne Bike Share stations located around the city. Casual riders can take out daily or weekly subscriptions with the first 30 minutes of each trip being free.

App like a pro

There’s an array of apps to download so you take on Melbourne like you’ve been living there since the Stone Age. Our favourites include the Melbourne Official Visitor Guide, Time Out Melbourne, Posse, myMarkets and Vic Heritage for fun things to do, and tramTracker and Spotcycle for savvy transport assistance. And for coffee lovers, Beanhunter is just for you.

Lurk the laneways

If you really want to get around Melbourne like a local, explore the vibrant laneway subculture. Often overlooked by tourists, the city’s curious laneways are home to amazing little bars, cafes, boutiques and galleries and are also hubs for some of the world’s quirkiest street art.

Shop savvy

Locals love to shop so there’s late-night shopping in the city centre until 9pm on Thursdays and Fridays. Wine, dine and then shopping time? Why not!

Head for the sky

If you’re wondering where Melburnians are after work or on the weekends, look up. Melbourne is blessed with many stunning rooftop bars where you can enjoy your drink with a view. A great place to start is the central Rooftop Bar, which also doubles as an outdoor cinema during summer.

Find your perfect Melbourne accommodation

Now you know how to get around like a local, you just need to find the perfect place to rest your head after a long day enjoying the sights. There are more than 1000 hotels situated all around Melbourne, so there’s accommodation to suit every taste and budget. Just be sure to book ahead of time to get the best deals.