Melbourne Travel Tips for First-Timers
Melbourne is an easy, low-friction city for first-timers, but a handful of things surprise visitors more than they should.
Sort your visa before you fly
Australia has no visa-free entry for anyone. Most passports, including the US, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong, need an ETA (subclass 601), about AUD $20 through the Australian ETA app. EU and UK passports use the free eVisitor (subclass 651) instead. Both need to be approved before you travel, not on arrival.
Getting from the airport
There’s still no train to Melbourne Airport; the rail link is delayed to roughly 2033. Take the SkyBus (about AUD $25.90 one-way to Southern Cross Station) or a taxi or Uber (roughly AUD $65-75).
Get a Myki on day one
The Free Tram Zone covers the CBD and Docklands, including the free heritage City Circle Tram, so short trips there cost nothing. Outside it, trams and buses need a Myki card. Metro trains have taken contactless bank cards since June 2026, but trams and buses haven’t, so pick up a Myki regardless.
Tipping isn’t expected
Unlike the US, tipping in Melbourne is not customary. Rounding up the bill for good service is common, but nothing is expected or owed, and staff aren’t relying on it the way US service workers do.
Pack for four seasons in one day
Australian seasons run flipped from the Northern Hemisphere, with summer running December to February, and Melbourne’s weather is famously changeable within a single day. Layers matter more than any single “right” jacket.
Go cashless
Australia is heavily tap-and-go; contactless cards and phone payments work almost everywhere, and cash is genuinely rare. Displayed prices already include the 10% GST.
Respect the local Indigenous history
Melbourne sits on the land of the Kulin nation, and acknowledgments of country are a normal, everyday part of public life here, not a special occasion.
Know the emergency number
Dial 000 (triple zero) for police, fire or ambulance in an emergency.
Book around the big events
Accommodation prices move around the Australian Open (January), the F1 Australian Grand Prix (6-8 March 2026) and the AFL Grand Final (Saturday 26 September 2026). Book ahead if your trip lands near any of them.
For the rest of the planning basics, see the full Melbourne guide , or our 2-day itinerary for a ready-made plan.