This is a list of zero-fare public transport routes, especially limited zero-fare routes within a wider fare-paying network.
Australia Australian Capital Territory Former services Canberra: ACTION operated the free "Downtowner" route around the city centre from 1991 until 1998.Downtowner ACT Bus On 4 February 2013, ACTION commenced operating the "Centenary Loop" which was numbered as route 100. It operated around the city centre and parliamentary triangle to celebrate the centenary of Canberra. It ceased operation on 5 January 2014.Successful loop service to conclude its centenary year ACT Bus ACTION operated a free weekday service (Route 101) around the city centre from 2016 until 2019.Route 101 Free City Loop Transport Canberra
New South Wales Homebush Bay: Punchbowl Bus Company operates the Baylink Shuttle, a weekday bus circulator between Rhodes railway station and Wentworth Point at 10 to 15 minute intervals between 06:30 and 19:00.Home Baylink Shuttle Manly has four free "Hop, Skip & Jump" minibus services that operate in the municipality.Hop Skip & Jump Map Hello Manly Parramatta: In August 2008 Transdev NSW commenced operating a service around the CBD.Parramatta City Centre Integrated Transport Plan 2009/10-2014/15 Parramatta City Council May 2010Free Shuttle Bus City of Parramatta The service is operated as part of the region 3 contract by Transit Systems as route 900.Parramatta Free Shuttle Transport for NSW Wollongong: In 2009, Premier Illawarra commenced operating a free loop service in both directions connecting the University of Wollongong, North Wollongong station, Wollongong station, Wollongong Central and beach, running at intervals of 10 or 20 minutes. Route 55A operates in an anti-clockwise direction, 55C in a clockwise direction.Wollongong free shuttle welcome Illawarra Mercury 4 December 2008Free Gong Shuttle Premier Illawarra
Former services On 15 December 1975, the Public Transport Commission commenced operating free route 777 around the Sydney central business district. It ceased in December 1989. On 3 December 2008, Sydney Buses commenced operating a free city loop service around the Sydney central business district. Route 555 operated in both directions via Bridge Street, George Street, Eddy Avenue and Elizabeth Street.Free buses get green light Sydney Morning Herald 4 December 2008 It was later altered to operate up and down George Street from Circular Quay to Railway Square.NSW State Government saves millions by slashing free bus shuttles in Sydney Daily Telegraph 21 June 2013 It ceased in October 2015 due to commencement of construction of a light rail line, that is not free.Sydney commuters brace for bus route changes as South East Light Rail network construction commences ABC News 28 September 2015 Willoughby: The City of Willoughby contracted Transdev NSW to operate a daily free bus loop route that connects St Leonards station with the Artarmon industrial area.The Loop City of Willoughby Newcastle: Newcastle Transport operated a free bus zone in the CBD area between 07:30 and 18:00.Newcastle fare free zone Transport for NSW This ceased with the introduction of Newcastle Light Rail in February 2019.
Queensland Brisbane: Transport for Brisbane operates free bus trips on weekdays in the Brisbane central business district on route 30 – between the CBD and Spring Hill – and on routes 40 and 50, which mirror each other – one running clockwise and the other counterclockwise – varying due to the Brisbane CBD's one-way street grid.City centre free loops Brisbane City Council The service is smaller than that of other cities. Public transport services in the greater Brisbane area are free, on event days, for holders of valid game-day tickets to NRL, AFL, national/international T20, ODI and test cricket events. Sunshine Coast: Noosa Council have partnered with Translink to provide free buses within the Noosa Shire every weekend and during the busy Christmas and Easter Queensland school holidays. The Go Noosa Holidays service includes Translink services 626, 627, 628, 629, and 632 and Noosa Council's 065 Go Noosa Loop Bus and 064 Peregian Beach to Noosa Heads (Christmas and Easter holidays only).Free Holiday Buses Noosa Council The Go Noosa Weekends service is a 12-month trial from the 12 February 2022 to the 12 February 2023 and includes Translink services 626, 627, 628, 629 and 632 only.Free Weekend Buses Noosa Council
South Australia Adelaide has free travel on the following routes: Tram routes within the city centre, to the Adelaide Festival Centre and to the Adelaide Entertainment Centre. On the Glenelg tram line between Brighton Road and Jetty Road in Glenelg. The City Connector: A free bi-directional loop route, 99A and 99C also operates city centre. A free bi-directional loop route, 98A and 98C (formerly called the Adelaide Connector), between the CBD and North Adelaide. The "Game Changer Footy Express" bus services are free to ticketholders of valid AFL game day tickets. Free community bus services operate in the suburbs of Glenelg and Port Adelaide.
Temporary services During "Mad March", when the Adelaide Fringe, Adelaide Festival, WOMADelaide, Writers' Week and Adelaide 500 events, there is a limited free bus service in the CBD.
Previous services 97A and 97C buses linked the old with the new Royal Adelaide Hospital initially.New public transport arrangements to service the new Royal Adelaide Hospital Minister for Transport & Infrastructure 9 August 2017 The service ceased when the new tram extension opened in 2018. Years before that, a city service known as 99B used to ply King William Street from North Terrace to South Terrace, but this was terminated after the Glenelg tram extension up to North Terrace.
Tasmania Launceston: Metro Tasmania operates a free service around the central business district.Tiger Bus - Launceston Metro Tasmania Free public transport (coaches, buses and ferries) on all routes from 30 March 2026 to 30 June 2026, as an incentive not to drive due to the escalation in fuel prices resulting from the war in the Middle East.
Victoria Melbourne: Since 1994, Yarra Trams has operated a free tram around the city centre. In 2015, free travel within the Melbourne central business district was introduced covering the city centre, the Queen Victoria Market and Docklands.Melbourne's Free Travel Zone Public Transport Victoria Between the 30 November 2025 and 1 February 2026 on weekends, all public transport in Victoria is free to passengers after the opening of the Metro Tunnel. Free public transport (trains, trams and buses) on all routes from 31 March 2026 to 30 April 2026, as an incentive not to drive due to the escalation in fuel prices resulting from the war in the Middle East.
Western Australia Perth: Transperth operates free bus and train trips within the Perth central business district (the Free Transit Zone), including five high-frequency Central Area Transit (CAT) bus loops. Free CAT bus services also operate in the centres of Fremantle and Joondalup.CAT Bus Timetables Transperth
Belgium Ghent: free night bus services (weekends only). Leuven: free night bus services (weekends only).
Canada Calgary, Alberta: Free C-Train light rail transit within the downtown core (the "7th Avenue Free Fare Zone"). Halifax, Nova Scotia: Free bus route around the downtown area in summer.FRED the Bus, Accessed July 29, 2014 Toronto, Ontario: Free Terminal Link at Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ). Vancouver, British Columbia: Free Canada Line SkyTrain for travel between stations on Sea Island.
Czech Republic Hradec Králové, Czech Republic: All city buses and trolleybuses between the main train station and the new central bus terminal, since 5 July 2008.
Faroe Islands Tórshavn, Faroe Islands: The municipality of the capital city Tórshavn offers free bus service.
France Calais, France: A free bus called the Balad'in runs from Boulevard La Fayette (or more precisely Jardin-des-Plante, in the town centre) to the beach and back every 10 minutes. Three buses operate on Monday to Saturday from 8:55am and with the last departures at 6:47pm (beach) and 7:02pm (town centre). Paris, France has frequent free transport routes that run around the Eurodisney Park and connect to hotels and alternative public transport routes nearby. There is also a free shuttle bus that connects the 'Centre Commercial Belle Epine' to a housing estate owned by Silic (:fr:Silic) in the southern district of Orly.http://www.silic.fr/OrlyRungisGuide.html Tarbes in France offers a year-long free shuttle bus around the city, linking the main spots. Saint-Fons, in the south of Lyon, offer a free minibus line all around the city. All the tramway and buses in Aubagne are free - See Tramway in Aubagne.
Germany Augsburg has a City-Zone in the city centre where one can use the Tram for free. People can use this opportunity moving within the City-Zone or while entering or leaving it.
Greece Marousi, a wealthy northern suburb in Athens, Greece has small municipal bus shuttles (of red colour) which can be used for free by anyone.
Luxembourg In the beginning of 2020, Luxembourg will offer free public transit on all routes nationwide in an effort to relieve traffic congestion and prioritize environmental policy.
India Tirumalai (Tirupati), India: Free buses run by Temple authority to visit the nearby religious centres on the top of the hill.
Indonesia Jakarta: Free bus services run by TransJakarta bus routes GR1 Harmoni - Bundaran Senayan & GR2 Tanah Abang Explorer. TransJakarta also serves six free city tour bus routes using double-deck buses to promote Jakarta's tour sites.
Malaysia Kuala Lumpur: The Go KL City Bus plying around Kuala Lumpur CBD focusing on tourist spots currently operated by Handal Indah & SKS Bus. Petaling Jaya: The PJ City Bus, a free bus service funded by Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ). Ampang Jaya, Kajang, Klang, Selayang, Sepang, Subang Jaya and Shah Alam: The Smart Selangor Bus, a free bus service operated by Rapid Bus funded by Selangor State Government. Penang: The CAT Penang Bus, a free bus service funded by Penang State Government. Seberang Jaya, Penang has a free weekday bus operated by Rapid Penang from Sunway Business Centre in Seberang Jaya to Bayan Lepas targeting industrial area workforce namely Bridge Express Shuttle Transit (BEST). Johor: Bas Muafakat Johor is a free bus service programme funded by the state government of Johor. Kuching: Kuching Metro route 103.
Netherlands Dordrecht has a free bus and ferry, some Saturdays at the end of each year. Noordwijk/Oegstgeest – Leiden Transferium – The Hague had an express bus, running on weekdays during daytime, free of charge as a test during 2004; it was intended for commuters working in The Hague and living in Leiden or beyond who would otherwise travel by car to the Hague, to promote parking at the Transferium and continuing the journey by bus; the aim was to reduce road traffic congestion between Leiden and The Hague. The test was paid by the province of South Holland. It was discontinued in 2005. Renesse (mun. Schouwen-Duiveland), Netherlands has free bus services in the area (in summer only). Amsterdam has a free ferry service on IJ operated by GVB.
Norway
Stavanger: From 3 July 2023, ferries, busses and trains were made free for residents of the municipality of Stavanger.
Russia
Chelyabinsk: free express bus route from Aloe pole through Revolution square to "Gorki" mall since 2007 until at least 2014. Miass, Chelyabinsk Oblast: trolleybuses and buses (both city and suburban routes) since 1 March 1991 until 31 July 2001. Moscow, Russia: