You have landed at Tullamarine, your bag is off the belt, and now there is one decision left: how do you actually get into the city? Melbourne Airport sits about 23 kilometres northwest of the CBD. On a quiet Sunday morning that is a 25-minute run. On a Friday at 5pm it can stretch past an hour.
The three realistic options are SkyBus, a taxi or rideshare, and a private chauffeur. Each one genuinely wins in certain situations and loses badly in others. Here is an honest breakdown so you can pick the one that fits your trip, rather than the one that happens to be closest to the exit door.
One thing worth clearing up first, because people still ask: there is no train to Melbourne Airport yet. Construction on the airport rail link began in 2026, but it is a multi-year project. Until it opens, road transport is the only way in.
Option 1 | SkyBus and public transport
SkyBus runs the Melbourne City Express between the airport and Southern Cross Station. At the time of writing, an adult one-way fare is $25.90, and a return is $43.40 if you book online. Children aged 4 to 16 travel for $6.60 one way, which makes it noticeably cheaper than any other option for families on a tight budget.
Buses run frequently, including overnight, and the trip takes roughly 30 minutes in light traffic. If you want to compare it against bus routes to Avalon or regional services, the full list of Melbourne Airport public transport options is published by Transport Victoria.
SkyBus works well if: you are travelling solo or as a couple, you have a carry-on and one checked bag, and your hotel is near Southern Cross.
It works badly if: you have three suitcases, a pram, or a hotel in South Yarra. SkyBus drops everyone at one city terminal. Whatever distance remains between Southern Cross and your actual bed is your problem, and that last leg with luggage is where most travellers regret the $25 they saved.
Option 2 | Taxi and rideshare
Taxis queue at the rank outside each terminal. Rideshare has designated pickup areas that have moved around over the years, so check the signage rather than assuming.
Expect somewhere in the range of $65 to $85 into the CBD, plus the airport pickup fee and any tolls. That range moves with traffic, and rideshare surge pricing during peak arrival banks can push it well past a chauffeur’s fixed rate.
Taxi works well if: you are arriving at an off-peak hour, you are comfortable joining a queue, and you do not mind a fare that is not fixed until you arrive.
It works badly if: several international flights land together. The rank backs up, and a 15-minute wait in the open air after a 14-hour flight wears thin quickly. It is also the weakest option if you need a child seat, because availability is not guaranteed and you cannot reliably request one in advance.
Option 3 | Private chauffeur transfer
A chauffeur transfer is the only one of the three where someone is waiting for you rather than the other way around. Your driver monitors your flight number, adjusts for delays, and meets you inside the terminal with a name board.
The practical differences are less about luxury and more about friction. The price is agreed when you book, so a delayed landing at 11pm does not change what you pay. Child seats are fitted before the car leaves the depot, which matters because Victoria requires age-appropriate restraints in hire cars just as it does in private vehicles. And the car takes you to your actual address, not a city terminal.
Worth checking before you book anyone: a legitimate airport chauffeur Melbourne operator will be a licensed commercial passenger vehicle operator, registered with Safe Transport Victoria. If a service cannot tell you their registration status, that is your answer.
A chauffeur works well if: you are travelling with family, arriving late at night, carrying serious luggage, heading somewhere other than the CBD, or you have a meeting you cannot be late for.
It works badly if: you are backpacking solo with one bag and your only priority is the cheapest possible fare. In that case, take the bus. We would rather tell you that than sell you something you do not need.
Cost and travel time compared
| Option | Typical cost (to CBD) | Door to door? | Wait on arrival | Child seat |
| SkyBus | $25.90 one way | No – city terminal only | Short, frequent departures | Not provided |
| Taxi / rideshare | $65–$85 plus fees | Yes | Varies with rank queue | Not guaranteed |
| Chauffeur | Fixed, quoted at booking | Yes | None – driver is waiting | Pre-fitted on request |
Which option suits which traveller?
- Solo traveller, light bag, CBD hotel: SkyBus. Easily.
- Couple, mid-afternoon arrival, city stay: SkyBus or a taxi. Either is fine.
- Family with young children: Chauffeur, mainly for the guaranteed child seats.
- Red-eye or post-midnight landing: Chauffeur. Pre-booked and waiting beats a rank queue at 2am.
- Business traveller with a morning meeting: Chauffeur. A fixed pickup removes the one variable you cannot control.
- Heading to Geelong, the Mornington Peninsula or the Yarra Valley: Chauffeur. Public transport to those destinations involves multiple changes.
Where your chauffeur meets you at each terminal
Melbourne Airport has four terminals, and knowing yours before you land saves confusion. T1 handles Qantas domestic, T2 is international, T3 is Virgin Australia, and T4 serves Jetstar and other low-cost carriers.
For a chauffeur Melbourne Airport pickup, your driver typically meets you in the arrivals hall near the baggage carousel exit for domestic terminals, and just past customs at T2 for international arrivals. Terminal layouts and designated pickup zones do change, so it is worth glancing at the official pickup zones at Melbourne Airport before your trip.
A good operator will send you your driver’s name and mobile number before you land, so if you clear customs early or late, you can simply message them.
The short version
SkyBus is the cheapest and it is genuinely good at what it does. A taxi is the convenient middle. A chauffeur costs more, and what you are buying is the removal of every small decision between the plane door and your front door. The queue, the luggage, the child seat, the unfamiliar route, the fare that changes with traffic.
If none of those things bother you, take the bus. If even one of them would ruin the start of your trip, book the car.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Melbourne Airport from the city?
About 23 kilometres. Allow 25 to 35 minutes off-peak, and up to an hour or more during weekday peak periods or on event days.
Is there a train from Melbourne Airport?
Not yet. Construction on the Melbourne Airport rail link began in 2026, but the line is not open. Until then, buses, taxis, rideshare and chauffeur cars are the only ways into the city.
How much is a taxi from Melbourne Airport to the CBD?
Generally $65 to $85, plus the airport pickup fee and any tolls. The meter is not fixed, so heavy traffic increases the final fare, and rideshare surge pricing can exceed this during busy arrival periods.
Is a chauffeur more expensive than a taxi?
Often only slightly, and sometimes less during peak or surge periods, because a chauffeur fare is fixed at booking. You are also paying for a meeting service, flight monitoring and a guaranteed vehicle rather than a place in a queue.
Can I book a chauffeur with a child seat?
Yes, and you should request it at the time of booking rather than on arrival. Victorian law requires age-appropriate child restraints, and seats need to be fitted before the vehicle is dispatched.
What happens if my flight is delayed?
A chauffeur service tracks your flight number and adjusts the pickup automatically. This is the main practical advantage over a pre-booked taxi, which usually holds you to the time you originally entered.
Which terminal will my driver meet me at?
Whichever one you land at. T1 is Qantas domestic, T2 international, T3 Virgin Australia, and T4 low-cost carriers. Give your flight number at booking and the meeting point is arranged around it.
Do chauffeur services run overnight?
Yes. Pre-booked transfers operate around the clock, which is the main reason travellers on red-eye arrivals book ahead rather than taking their chances at the rank.