How to get to Federation Square & Flinders Street by train
Station, line, walk and the honest last leg — the complete guide.
Take the train to Flinders Street station (most Melbourne lines call at Flinders Street; Sunbury, Cranbourne and Pakenham trains use Town Hall station instead, which has an entrance in Federation Square). From there it is a ~2-minute walk to Federation Square and the landmark Flinders Street Station.
The MCG is a 12–15 minute walk east through the parklands, and Southern Cross Station is a short tram ride west.
Alternatively: Southern Cross station (see line).
Overview
Federation Square is Melbourne’s main public square — a bold cluster of galleries, ACMI, cafés and event space on the Yarra, directly opposite the Edwardian Flinders Street Station, the city’s most photographed building (“meet me under the clocks”). You could not ask for an easier arrival: Flinders Street sits on the corner of Flinders and Swanston Streets and most suburban lines stop there, so you step off the platform and Fed Square is across the road. On the Sunbury, Cranbourne and Pakenham lines, get off at Town Hall instead: one of its entrances is inside Federation Square.
Getting there from key points
| Starting point | Route |
|---|---|
| Richmond | Any Burnley-group line toward the city, ~4 min |
| Melbourne Central | One stop on the City Loop, ~2 min, or a 6-minute walk |
| Southern Cross | One stop toward Flinders Street, ~3 min |
Step by step
Take a Metro train to Flinders Street station (served by most Melbourne lines; on the Sunbury, Cranbourne and Pakenham lines get off at Town Hall, which has an entrance in Federation Square).
Follow the signs to the correct exit and touch off your myki.
In about 2 minutes on foot you reach Federation Square and the landmark Flinders Street Station.
Useful information
Frequently asked questions
What is the nearest station to Federation Square & Flinders Street?
Flinders Street station (served by most Melbourne lines; on the Sunbury, Cranbourne and Pakenham lines use Town Hall, which has an entrance in Federation Square) is the closest. From there it is about a 2-minute walk.
Do I need a myki, and how much is the fare?
Yes — you touch on and off with a myki card or Mobile myki. A 2-hour metropolitan fare is normally $5.70 (full) or $2.85 (concession), and the daily cap $11.40; until 1 January 2027 all fares are half price. The whole metro area is one flat zone, and the CBD Free Tram Zone is fare-free.
How do I get there from Richmond?
Richmond: Any Burnley-group line toward the city, ~4 min.
Is Flinders Street station accessible?
Accessibility varies from station to station, so check the station’s accessibility details on the PTV website or app before you travel, and ask staff or the driver if you need a boarding ramp.
Where can I find more attractions near the metro?
See all Melbourne attractions near the metro for the full list of landmarks by station.
Contents
Updated: November 2026