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Melbourne, Victoria

Guide to Melbourne

Aboriginal name:  Narrm (pronounced Narr-m)

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• Getting to Melbourne
• When to visit
• Accessibility

Melbourne is Australia's mecca for all things trendy and tasty. The city offers up exquisite dining, exhilarating sport and abundant opportunities to experience art.

A perfect blend of rich cultural history and new age trends is waiting for you in Melbourne. As the sun goes down, the city comes to life with a vibrant dining scene as well as events and exhibitions. Explore its bustling laneways, trendy neighbourhoods and sophisticated foodie scene to get a taste of what Melbourne is all about.

Melbourne stands on the ancient grounds of the Kulin Nation of the Wurundjeri people. For the Kulin Nation, Melbourne has always been an important meeting place for events of social, educational, sporting and cultural significance. Experience the culture through a range of heritage walks, cultural tours and galleries.

• Traditional name of Central Melbourne: Narrm (pronounced Narr-m)
• Indigenous Peoples of Central Melbourne: Wurundjeri people
• Traditional lands of Greater Melbourne: Kulin Nation
• Traditional languages: There are four traditional languages in Narrm. Bunurong (Bun-wurrung), Taungurung (Tung-ger-rung), Wathaurong (Wadha-wurrung) and Dja Dja Wurrung (Jar-Jar-Wur-rung).
• How to say g’day in Wathaurong: Wominjeka

Getting to Melbourne is easy with flights arriving direct to two airports. 

• Melbourne Airport at Tullamarine (MEL) is 22km (14mi) from the city and services international and domestic arrivals
• Avalon Airport (AVV) is 55km (34mi) from the city and services international and domestic flights 
• Hire cars, taxis, rideshares and a shuttle service are available from both airports

Getting around  is just as easy as finding a great cup of coffee in Melbourne. The city offers clean, reliable and affordable public transport services. There is even a free City Circle tram line with historical commentary.

Despite having four distinct seasons,  Melbourne's weather  is known for being a bit unpredictable. Summers are generally warm and winters cold, but just ask a local and they’ll tell you that it’s not uncommon to experience all four seasons in a single day. So whenever you decide to visit, be sure to pack layers and carry an umbrella in your day bag. 

• High season: Spring and summer (November to February)
• Low season: Winter (June to August)
• Don’t miss: Melbourne’s world-class festivals and events

Melbourne is a dynamic city with plenty of accessible options for accommodation, attractions , restaurants , cafés and shopping . 

• Arrival: Disability assistance is available at Melbourne Airport, including for those with hidden disabilities .
• Getting around: Most Melbourne buses and trains have accessible options – check the Public Transport Victoria website  for information on using public transport.
• Accessible experience highlights: Several cultural institutions cater to travellers with accessibility and sensory needs, including the National Gallery of Victoria and Scienceworks .
• Helpful resources: Travellers Aid Australia provides mobility equipment hire and recharge points, while the City of Melbourne’s mobility map makes it easy to locate accessible facilities.

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Acknowledgement of Country

We acknowledge the Traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Owners of the land, sea and waters of the Australian continent, and recognise their custodianship of culture and Country for over 60,000 years.

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ColingUnther

Vegetarian and Vegan are well catered for especially in Fitzroy Carlton for Italian, and Chinatown is several blocks. Down at Flinders Lane queuing is common but De Graves st and Hardware Lane are not to be missed.

Prepare for variable weather; 4 seasons in one day is common and occasionally 4 seasons concurrently. But that is part of the charm. Any sporting event at the MCG = Melbourne Cricket Ground is full-on crowd engagement, whether that is cricket, football or any other event. Add a visit to the great museum.

A car is not necessary in central Melbourne. You can catch a tram almost everywhere you want to go. The city is laid out on a very simple grid system. Get a simple map and you will soon find your way around.

snuff82Melbourne

Melbourne has so many things to offer; from the sporting scene, to the arts, to the nightlife and finally the food, there is something for everyone. I love to explore my city and to play tourist - there is always something new to experience and discover.

… Older buildings blend with contemporary architecture to help define The World's Most Liveable City. Wide streets show off the major museums, theatres, galleries and major department stores but it is the lane-ways that lead to boutique shops, funky restaurants and Chinatown. Home to 4 million folk from most nations in the world, locals love to eat and enjoy some of the best cuisine in the world. Shopaholics have a feast of choices. Grand Theatres with great shows plus festivals galore. A garden city but Sport is King!

LeonieshorncliffeQLD

Originally coming from Melbourne, I love going back. Melbourne is the Paris of Australia with lots to see and do. You will never be bored, but more than that Melbourne is a vibrant, exciting city that inspires and fulfills.

What is the best way to get there?

Melbourne is served by two major airports, Tullamarine (MEL) and Avalon (AVV), which is closest to the city of Geelong.

Greyhound Australia offers service to Melbourne; the bus terminal is located next to Southern Cross station. Airport buses also arrive and depart from here.

If you’re arriving in Melbourne by car, you’ll likely come via the Princes Highway.

Do I need a visa?

If you’re visiting from overseas, see if you need a  visa.

When is the best time to visit?

The streets and parks of Melbourne lend themselves well to wandering, so visit March-May or September-November for weather that’s mild and dry and for the lowest concentration of crowds. Expect average daily temperatures those times of year to be highs of 24-17 C (76-63 F) and lows of 14-9 C (58-49 F).

During the summer months, the Royal Botanic Gardens hosts  events  such as concerts and an outdoor cinema, while spring sees an abundance of cultural  events  focused on comedy, fashion, and coffee.

Find more information on Melbourne’s weather and  when to go.

Trams service most of Melbourne CBD and its suburbs. The City Circle tram —which covers popular Melbourne attractions such as Docklands, State Library Victoria, and Federation Square—is free.

In addition to the route 35 City Circle, there are more than 20 other tram routes operating within Melbourne. To access routes outside of the CBD free zone with ease, purchase a rechargeable Myki card at tram stops, train stations, or 7-Eleven stores.

All of Melbourne’s taxis operate on a meter system and a prepaid system comes into effect after 10:30 p.m.

Uber , Ola and Bolt rideshare services are also readily available.

The City Loop light railway connects the five inner city stations of Southern Cross Station, Flagstaff, Melbourne Central, Parliament, and Flinders Street. Melbourne also has an overground train system that connects the city to the suburbs. Check timetables and routes.

On the ground

What is the timezone.

Australian Eastern Time (GMT+11)

What are the voltage/plug types?

The standard voltage in Melbourne is 230V and the standard frequency is 50Hz. Associated plugs are type I, which have two flat metal pins shaped like a V. For plug types, you can reference the international guide: https://www.iec.ch/worldplugs/

What is the currency?

Australian dollar (AUD)

Are ATMs readily accessible?

Are credit cards widely accepted, is it easy to find a bank, how much do i tip.

Tipping is not expected in Australia, however, a tip for exceptional service is always appreciated.

Are there local customs I should know?

The federal legal age for buying and drinking alcohol is 18 years old.

Public transport

Allow others to disembark before boarding, don’t take up more than one seat, and stand to offer seating to pregnant women or someone with a disability.

Walk to the right of the sidewalk and step off to the side of the sidewalk if you want to stop to check your phone, look up directions, or want to take in a view.

• The Langham, Melbourne
• Grand Hyatt Melbourne
• Park Hyatt Melbourne
• Crown Promenade Melbourne
• The Hotel Windsor
• Rice Paper Scissors
• Foglia di Fico
• Da Guido La Pasta
• City Circle Tram
• Queen Victoria Market
• Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria
• Melbourne Skydeck
• National Gallery of Victoria
• Great Ocean Road Small-Group Ecotour from Melbourne
• Phillip Island Penguin, Brighton Beach, Moonlit Sanctuary from Melbourne
• Puffing Billy And Healesville Sanctuary Scenic Tour
• Great Ocean Road Tour Plus Koalas, Forest Walk And Morning Tea.
• Small-Group Phillip Island Penguin Parade Day Tour from Melbourne

• 1.1 Central Melbourne
• 1.2 Greater Melbourne
• 2.1 History
• 2.2 Culture
• 2.5 Climate
• 2.6 Visitor information
• 3.1.1 Melbourne Airport
• 3.1.2 Avalon Airport
• 3.2 By train
• 3.5 By boat
• 4.1.1 Tickets
• 4.1.2 Trains
• 4.1.3 Trams
• 4.1.4 Buses
• 4.1.5 Tourist services
• 4.2.1 Trails
• 4.2.2 Bike rental
• 4.4 On foot
• 4.5 By taxi
• 6.1 Food & coffee
• 6.2 Sights & museums
• 6.3 Cinemas, music & entertainment
• 6.4 Outdoor activity
• 6.6 Festivals
• 7.1 Universities
• 9.1 City shopping
• 9.2 Suburban shopping
• 9.3 Looking for something in particular?
• 10.1 African
• 10.2 Australian
• 10.3 Café/delicatessen food
• 10.4 Chinese
• 10.6 Indian
• 10.7 Indonesian
• 10.8 Italian
• 10.9 Japanese
• 10.10 Jewish/Kosher
• 10.11 Malaysian/Singapore
• 10.12 Middle Eastern
• 10.14 Vegetarian
• 10.15 Vietnamese
• 10.16 Others
• 11.2 Bars and clubs
• 11.3 Coffee
• 12.1 Budget
• 12.2 Mid-range
• 12.3 Splurge
• 13.3 Internet
• 14.1 Consulates
• 15 Stay safe
• 16.1 Melbourne outskirts
• 16.2 Northern Victoria
• 16.3 Eastern Victoria
• 16.4 Western Victoria

Melbourne is the cultural capital of Australia , with Victorian-era architecture, extensive shopping, museums, galleries, theatres, and large parks and gardens. Many of its 5 million residents are both multicultural and sports-mad. The capital of the south-eastern state of Victoria , and located at the head of Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne is a magnet for migrants from all over the world, and consistently ranks as one of the world's most livable cities.

Visitors come to attend major sporting events, and to use it as a base for exploring nearby places such as Grampians National Park , the Great Ocean Road , and Phillip Island and its penguin parade. Many UK visitors come for tours of filming locations of the soap opera Neighbours .

By the way: somebody living in Melbourne is a Melburnian , and they pronounce the city's name as "Melben".

Districts [ edit ]

Central Melbourne [ edit ]

Greater melbourne [ edit ], understand [ edit ].

History [ edit ]

The British settlement of Melbourne commenced in 1835 when settlers from Tasmania led by John Batman "purchased" land on Port Phillip Bay and the Yarra River from the local Aboriginal people . The streets of central Melbourne were carefully laid out in 1837, with some streets 30 metres wide. Initially dubbed Batmania after its founder, the settlement was soon renamed Melbourne after William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne, the British Prime Minister at that time. The first British lieutenant-governor, Charles La Trobe, arrived in 1839 – his Cottage still stands and can be visited in the Kings Domain.

1851 was a landmark for Melbourne — the colony of Victoria was separated from New South Wales and very soon after, gold was discovered in Victoria, sparking a huge gold rush. The gold rush history can be seen at the Gold Treasury Museum, housed in the Treasury Building built in 1858. Gold was the catalyst for several decades of prosperity lasting through to the late 1880s and examples of the ornate Victorian-era structures built during this time still stand. Throughout the gold and building booms, Melbourne managed to retain its many spacious parks and gardens that remain to this day. In 1888, the boom collapsed and Victoria suffered through the depression of the 1890s.

In 1901, the British colonies of Australia federated and Melbourne became the temporary capital of Australia, with the Federal Parliament meeting in the Parliament House of Victoria until 1927 when the new Federal capital of Canberra was founded. After World War II, Melbourne grew rapidly, with its mainly Anglo-Celtic population boosted by immigration from Europe, particularly from Greece and Italy. Today Melbourne has the biggest Greek population (over 800,000) of any city outside Greece and the biggest Italian population (over 230,000) of any city outside Italy. The significant pre-war Jewish population was also boosted after the war. From the mid-1970s, many immigrants came from Southeast Asia, particularly Vietnam and Cambodia. Melbourne has had a Chinese population since the gold rush of the 1850s; Melbourne's former Chinese name was "New Gold Mountain" (新金山), in reference to the "Old Gold Mountain" of San Francisco . Chinatown has existed from that time but the population of Chinese and other East Asians has also been boosted by immigration.

New highrise buildings replaced many of Melbourne's interesting old structures in the construction boom of the 1970s and 80s. Melbournians belatedly recognised the loss of their architectural heritage and steps were taken to protect what was left. Construction of the huge Crown Casino (briefly the largest casino in the world) in the 1990s introduced glitz and gambling to the city centre. Melbourne's development continues in the 2000s with the opening of the Melbourne Museum, Federation Square and the Docklands precinct.

Culture [ edit ]

Melbourne is the cultural capital of Australia, with its many art galleries, film festivals, orchestras, choral and opera productions, vibrant live music scene, and a strong food, wine and coffee culture. People in Melbourne tend to dress up more than the northern states - partly due to the colder climate. Many bars and clubs have strict dress regulations, such as requiring collars and dress shoes for men.

Particular cultural events to note include the Melbourne International Film Festival in August, the International Art Festival in October, and the Melbourne Comedy Festival in April. There are also many concerts and exhibitions throughout the year. In addition to the Melbourne Museum, there are special museums dedicated to subjects such as science, immigration, Chinese history, Jewish history, sport, racing, film and moving image, railways, police, fire brigades and banking.

Melbourne also has a strong subcultural scene appealing especially to young people, particularly in the suburbs of Carlton, Fitzroy, Collingwood and Abbotsford, where subcultural bars, cafes and art galleries are common. Check out the Abbotsford Convent and Brunswick Street Fitzroy.

LGBT+ [ edit ]

Melbourne is welcoming of LGBT+ people, who generally live in the city with few difficulties.

While often referred to as Australia's cultural capital, Melbourne also draws much more influence from Europe in its architecture, fashion and food – and for the gay traveller it may feel like a more chilled out and refined experience after the glitz of Sydney. Melbourne is a city of less ostentatious delights than its northern cousin, regularly voted the world's most livable city – so set some time aside to relax and explore.

The gay scene in Melbourne is basically divided between the north side and south side of the city. In the north side the best options are Sircuit Bar (mixed on Tuesday and Sunday) or The Laird for guys of the bear variety.

Melbourne's main annual community events are the Midsumma Festival and the Melbourne Queer Film Festival .

Sport [ edit ]

Melbournians are sports enthusiasts and particularly passionate about Australian rules football , a sport invented in Melbourne. In fact the Australian Football League (AFL) is not so much a sport as a religion in Melbourne, with 9 of the 10 Victorian teams being based in Melbourne. As a guide, the entire national competition only has 18 teams, meaning half the league is based in Melbourne alone. The AFL culminates in the AFL Grand Final in the spring, which is played every year at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Horse racing is another passion, and the majority of the state has a public holiday on the first Tuesday of November for the racing of the Melbourne Cup , one of the world's famous horse races. Cricket is the big summer sport and the Melbourne Cricket Ground (the 'MCG' or 'The G') is one of the world's leading grounds. On Boxing Day each year, the MCG hosts the boxing day test match. This usually sees the Australian Cricket team going up against another big cricketing nation. The MCG is also home to the National Sports Museum (NSM) (including the Racing Museum), Australia's only truly dedicated multi-sports museum.

Each January, Melbourne hosts tennis' Australian Open , one of the world's four Grand Slam championships. In March, Melbourne hosts one of the first races of the Formula One season, the Australian Grand Prix . The race is held in Albert Park in South Melbourne. Two professional Association Football teams are based in Melbourne, Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City FC; the two teams now share the new Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, commercially known as AAMI Park, and also play select matches at Marvel Stadium. The city also boasts one professional team in each rugby code , with both also playing at AAMI Park. The Melbourne Storm play rugby league in the National Rugby League, with teams throughout Australia plus one in New Zealand. The Melbourne Rebels play rugby union in Super Rugby, which features three other Australian sides, four in South Africa, five in New Zealand, and one each in Argentina and Japan. Melbourne is the unquestioned sporting capital of Australia with the largest arenas and two of the major sporting administrations basing their operation in Melbourne: Cricket Australia is a stone's throw from the MCG, and AFL games are played at the MCG and at Marvel Stadium.

Climate [ edit ]

The city's climate is notorious for its changeability, often referred to as "four seasons in a day". Its climate can be described generally as temperate , with warm summers and cool winters. During the summer of December to February, temperatures hover around 26–30 °C (79–86 °F), but it is not out of the ordinary for the city to swelter through heatwaves of over 40 °C (104 °F). Humidity is rarely an issue, with mildly comfortable nights down to about 16 °C (61 °F). With approximately 600 mm of rainfall annually, Melbourne gets only half as much rain as Sydney. October is typically the wettest month. Days are long, with sunrise at 6AM and sunset at 8:45PM.

Winter (June–August) is usually cool with a mix of clear, sunny weather and cold & damp conditions. Temperatures in winter can range from chilly overnight lows as low as 2 °C (36 °F) to daytime highs as high as 19 °C (66 °F) at times. Light snow has been recorded in and around Melbourne during the winter months only a couple of times over the last century, although the hills east of the city usually see a snow shower or two every winter. You should consider visiting Melbourne in the autumn and spring — temperatures during these periods are usually very pleasant, without being unbearably warm with daytime highs usually in the 20s °C (70s °F). Daylight runs from 7:30AM to 5:15PM.

With such unpredictable weather, it can be difficult deciding what to wear when planning a day out in Melbourne. A common tip is to wear layers of clothing, that can be removed or worn as the day goes on.

Visitor information [ edit ]

• Visit Melbourne website

Get in [ edit ]

By plane [ edit ].

The city is primarily serviced by Melbourne Airport at Tullamarine which has international flights and a comprehensive domestic schedule. Avalon Airport is more distant, partway between Melbourne and Geelong , and hosts only four domestic routes (Jetstar to Sydney & Gold Coast, and new airline Bonza to Gold Coast & the Sunshine Coast). Finally, five regional destinations can be reached on light aircraft from Essendon Airport : King Island and Flinders Island in Tasmania, and Dubbo , Orange and Wollongong in NSW. Essendon Airport is also the preferred airport for general aviation.

Melbourne Airport [ edit ]

Melbourne Airport , also known as Tullamarine Airport, ( MEL  IATA ) is 22 km north-west of the City Centre in the Hume region . There are regular flights from all major Australian and New Zealand cities. There are direct flights from many Asian hubs, with connections from Europe , and direct flights from North America , South America and Europe.

The SkyBus service runs regularly to the City , St Kilda , Mornington Peninsula and Western suburbs , costing $20, or $18 if you book online. For travellers on a budget, Melbourne Airport can also be accessed by public bus from Broadmeadows station. There is no train link to the airport, but one is under construction and is scheduled to be completed by 2029. A taxi into the Melbourne CBD will cost around $75.

Avalon Airport [ edit ]

Avalon Airport ( AVV  IATA ) is a mainly domestic airport 55 km south-west of Melbourne in Lara , near Geelong . Although much further than Melbourne Airport, fares from Avalon are sometimes considerably cheaper. The terminals are generally very simple, with just an ATM, car hire desks and baggage carousels. Other facilities include a cafe, bar and a video arcade room. There are several flights in and out of Avalon each day, with flights to Sydney and the Gold Coast operated by Jetstar (which also flies to Melbourne Airport), and flights to the Sunshine Coast operated by new airline Bonza.

SkyBus operates a coach shuttle to Southern Cross Station in Melbourne's City Centre via the outer western suburb of Werribee, meeting every flight arrival and departure. The transfer costs $22 one-way for an adult, and $10 for a child (4–14 years). Other than the coach, there is no public transport; Lara Station is 8 km from the terminal, a taxi to this station costs about $20. A taxi to the city from this airport could cost upwards of $100.

The driving time from Avalon Airport to Melbourne's City Centre is about 45 minutes in good traffic conditions. Avalon Airport is also convenient for visiting Geelong and the Great Ocean Road .

By train [ edit ]

Southern Cross Station is Melbourne's regional rail hub for interstate and intrastate travel. It's on the western side of the City Centre, with good public transport connections to the rest of the city. Train travel in Victoria is very cheap , with the maximum fare for any journey capped at the price of a daily Myki fare ($10.60 on weekdays, $7.20 on weekends and public holidays).

• V/Line . The regional rail operator for Victoria , with services across the state from Geelong , Bendigo , Ballarat , Bairnsdale , Warrnambool , Swan Hill and other places. V/Line also operates some services interstate, including the train to Albury , and combined train/coach services to Adelaide and Canberra . ( updated May 2023 )
• NSW Trainlink . This rail service between Sydney and Melbourne leaves twice daily in the morning and evening. The journey takes just under 11 hours, and you must book in advance.  
• The Overland . This rail service between Adelaide and Melbourne takes just under 11 hours. Departures leave twice weekly in each direction.  

By car [ edit ]

From Sydney , the quickest route to Melbourne is the Hume Highway, which takes 10 hours of driving without any stops. This road is almost all dual-carriageway (freeway). The Princes Highway (National Route 1) goes along the coast and is less crowded and more scenic, but this route takes much longer to reach Melbourne. See Sydney to Melbourne by car for more information.

Adelaide is slightly closer than Sydney and can be reached in 9 hours. The coastal route (again, The Princes Highway) is more scenic but slower.

A direct journey from Brisbane takes 21 hours of driving and takes you further inland along the Newell Highway. This makes for an alternative to the standard Brisbane-Sydney-Melbourne coastal route.

By bus [ edit ]

Bus services to Melbourne from out of state are provided by Firefly Express and Greyhound .

Bus services within Victoria are operated by V/Line, and operate from most major and many minor Victorian towns.

By boat [ edit ]

Melbourne is served by several international cruise ships throughout the year, particularly in the summer cruise season.

The Spirit of Tasmania used to depart and arrive at Melbourne from Devonport in northern Tasmania, but since October 23, 2022, the Spirit of Tasmania terminal was relocated to Geelong .

All passenger ships serving Melbourne arrive at and depart from Station Pier in Port Melbourne , about 5 km from the city centre. Tram route 109 (towards Box Hill ) departs frequently from the old railway station across the road from the Pier, travelling into the heart of Melbourne along Collins St. You can purchase mykis from the vending machine at the tram stop, or from a visitor desk in the peak season.

Get around [ edit ]

Melbourne has a very large metropolitan area, but most sights of interest are within the city centre, and most of the rest can be reached within about 20 minutes on the train or tram. Melbourne's city centre is laid out in an orderly grid system, similar to the grid system of Manhattan , meaning that navigating the city centre is easy.

By public transport [ edit ]

Melbourne has a comprehensive public transportation system consisting of trams, trains and buses: trams criss-cross the city to the inner suburbs and attractions, trains branch out from the city centre to the suburbs, and buses usually cover outer suburbs and suburbs between. There are connections to all major attractions of the city, and within the city centre and surrounds it is easier to get around without a car. Most of the train and bus network is wheelchair and pram accessible. Trams are only accessible via a low floor tram at accessible stops - mostly in the city centre and St Kilda. The accessible services and stops are indicated on the PTV website. Train, tram and major bus services generally operate between 5AM and midnight Monday–Saturday and after 8AM Sunday. On Friday and Saturday nights, all-night train, tram and bus services run on a limited night network .

Public Transport Victoria coordinates public transport and provides timetables, maps, disruption info and a very useful journey planner. Mobile apps are available for iOS and Android devices; Google and Apple Maps also integrate train, tram and bus information, although they are not as extensive as the PTV app. The PTV app is useful to find out about potential delays and planned changes to timetables.

Tickets [ edit ]

Myki is the reloadable smartcard used for all travel on trains, trams and buses. Myki cards can be purchased and reloaded from staffed railway stations, machines at stations, major tram stops and the airport, online, and various retail stores such as newsagencies and all 7-Eleven stores. You cannot purchase them on trams, trains or buses. You cannot reload them on buses, trams or onboard trains. Android users with Google Pay can purchase and reload "virtual" Myki cards and use them on all Myki readers.

Regular adult cards cost $6, and concession/under-18 cards cost $3. Concessions only apply to Australians with the appropriate concession card. Children aged under 18 can use a concession myki, but 17 and 18 year olds must carry a government-issued ID to prove their age. Myki cards are non-refundable and do not come with preloaded credit. A myki Explorer ($15/7.50 adult/ child), which comes with a stack of attraction discount coupons, can be purchased at the Melbourne Visitor Centre, SkyBus terminals at the airport and Southern Cross Station, PTV Hubs and many accommodation providers.

To use your myki, touch on by holding the card onto a reader before travel at the train station, or on board a bus/tram, and wait for the beep. Touch off when exiting a train station or a bus; touching off on a tram is optional and not recommended. Metropolitan Melbourne has two zones: Zone 1 which covers the entire city, and Zone 2 which allows a cheaper fare when travelling only in the outer suburbs (this will not be relevant for the vast majority of travellers). The fare (including the travel time and zone) is automatically calculated and deducted by myki, so there is no need to plan costs in advance. In the city centre, there is also a Free Tram Zone where one does not require a myki to travel and should not touch on if remaining within the zone. But you do need to touch on your myki if you wish to travel beyond the Free Tram Zone . Touching on your myki inside the Free Tram Zone will result in your myki balance being charged.

On-board myki readers come in two styles. The old style is a bright yellow and blue 'brick' design with a small screen, where the touch-on region is the blue rectangle; nowadays (as of 2021), this style is only seen on trams. The new style, seen on all modern buses, is a large touchscreen display. Older myki readers may take a while to process, and you need to hold the card up against the reader until it beeps, which is why touching off on a tram is not recommended to avoid holding up the people behind you. If you don't touch off, your myki will be charged a standard fare: a 2-hour fare if all of your public transport use has been within 2 hours. If you've been using public transport for longer than 2 hours, you will be charged a daily fare. Many people do not touch off because these default fares are usually the same as you would be charged anyway. You cannot touch on if your myki balance is negative.

For the first time you touch on each day, Myki calculates a 2-hour fare. If you touch on again, on the same day, more than 2 hours after your first touch on, Myki extends your fare and it becomes a daily fare. This fare is valid on all public transport until 3am the next day. No matter how much you travel within Melbourne, you will never pay more than the daily fare.

There are a few little-known public transport discounts . The Early Bird discount is aimed at commuters: if you touch on and off before 7:15am (train journeys only), your myki will not be charged. More useful is the 6pm rule: if you touch on for the first time at 6pm or later, you can travel as much as you like until 3am for the price of a 2-hour fare. Finally, all public transport across Victoria is free from 6pm New Year's Eve until 6am New Year's Day.

Damaged or defective mykis can be replaced at any staffed train station, although it may take up to 7 days for your myki balance to be transferred over. If your travel plans change after you have added money to your myki, you can get a refund at the PTV hub at Southern Cross Station. You have the option of registering your myki, which involves creating an account and linking your myki to it. Lost or stolen mykis can only be reimbursed if they are registered.

Laws surrounding public transport are strict. Ticket inspectors patrol the network, and issue fines of up to $413 on the spot for offences such as fare evasion, putting feet on seats, swearing, drinking alcohol, blocking doors, and being in unauthorised areas. [1]

It should be noted that infringement notices are not given out by ticket inspectors, although they do have the power to arrest you until police arrive. Rather, they take your details and report you to the Victorian Department of Transport, who will subsequently send an infringement notice or a formal warning to your address. Fines will not be pursued if your address is outside Australia.

Trains [ edit ]

The train network is operated by Metro Trains Melbourne with blue branding. A partly-underground "City Loop" forms the basis of the network, with all the other lines branching off to the suburbs like the spokes of a wheel. The lines are named after the terminating station at the end of the line, and all originate from Flinders Street Station, the city's famous suburban railway hub. Trains to the suburbs generally operate at 10-20 minute frequencies, with higher frequencies (but more overcrowding) in peak times. Be aware that some trains skip suburban stations when running express to and from the city; check information screens carefully to be sure.

Trams [ edit ]

Trams are a prominent feature in Melbourne's urban landscape and a tourist attraction in themselves. The city has the largest network in the world. The network is operated by Yarra Trams with green branding. Most tram lines cross the city in each direction, and branch out from the city centre like spokes. In the city, they often become crowded, and you are unlikely to get a seat. The network is operated by a mix of newer, low-floor trams with stop announcements and older models with step-entry. Stops in the inner city generally have platforms, although most stops require hailing the tram from the side of the road; take care at these stops and look for distracted cars which may illegally speed past. Most tram stops on Swanston Street (in city centre) are located on bike lanes. Please be careful not to walk onto the bike lane until the trams stops in front of you.

Yarra Trams' official iOS and Android app, tramTRACKER , is very useful for tracking real-time tram arrivals and following the tram's progress on board. Most tram routes will have 8-12 minute service during the day, with higher frequencies in the peak, but lower frequencies of 20–30 minutes in the evenings.

Travel on all trams in the city centre is free. The boundary of the Free Tram Zone is marked with plenty of signage, but remember to touch on at the start of your journey if you plan to leave the FTZ on that journey. This is in addition to the City Circle tram (Tram Route 35), a free tourist tram in the city centre, which runs past many major sights in historical trams.

Buses [ edit ]

Buses serve as connections to places without rail transport, often connecting to major shopping centres and train stations. Denoted by orange branding and stops, most buses are low-floor and air-conditioned. A few major trunk routes (including ones such as the 200/207 in the inner north , the 900 to Chadstone, 907 to Doncaster, etc.) operate at 10-15 minute frequencies, although for most buses, it is necessary to use the journey planner or check timetables, as service tends to be far less frequent than trains and trams.

Tourist services [ edit ]

As mentioned above, the free City Circle Tram (Route 35) runs around the CBD perimeter, operated by vintage-style maroon or green trams. Audio commentary provides information about attractions that are passed. These trams are geared to visitors and provide access to sites of interest to the tourist. More information is provided in the City Centre guide.

By bike [ edit ]

The inner suburbs of Melbourne have a good network of bike paths, plus a generally flat terrain, making pedal-power a great way to take in the city. Most bicycle paths are "shared footways" under the law, although the majority of users in most places are cyclists. This means cyclists should expect to share the path with pedestrians, dog-walkers, rollerbladers, joggers, prams and tricycles. Some trails contain on-road sections (in marked bike lanes). It is illegal to cycle on footpaths or pedestrian crossings, with the only exception when supervising cycling children or when the path is marked or signposted as allowing bikes. Helmets are required by law, as are lights when riding at night. Some bike lanes pass through tram stops - by law, you have to stop before the tram stop if passengers are boarding or alighting the tram.

Trails [ edit ]

• Yarra River Trail . Runs from the mouth of Melbourne's iconic Yarra River, through the city and onwards to Westerfolds Park in the outer suburbs.  
• Capital City Trail . Runs a circuit through Melbourne's inner suburbs, the Docklands precinct and the city. It's a good way to see a slice of day-to-day life.  
• Bay Trail . A pleasant trek around Port Phillip Bay, running from Port Melbourne, through the bustling beach-side precinct of St Kilda, past the famous bathing sheds of Brighton, all the way to Carrum. A punt operates under the West Gate Bridge on weekends and public holidays allowing a start at Altona Meadows along the Williamstown Trail, across the punt, and joining with the Bay Trail. You can't cycle on the West Gate Bridge.  
• Maribyrnong River Trail. Starting at Southbank and finishing at Brimbank Park in Melbourne's west, the Maribyrnong river trail is a 28-km trail with easy to moderate riding on a good track. The trail takes you past the Polly Woodside ship and through the Docklands to Footscray Road. You'll then ride along the Maribyrnong River, passing Flemington Racecourse before crossing the river and over to Pipemakers Park. The remainder of the trail takes you through bushland and river reserves and underneath bridges before finishing up at Brimbank Park.

Detailed maps of the bike path network can be found [2] .

Bicycles may be taken freely on trains, although there may not be space during the peak. There is more room for bikes in the first and last carriages of trains. Only folding bikes are permitted on trams and buses.

Bike rental [ edit ]

• Rentabike , Vault 14 Princes Walk ( near Federation Square, Federation Wharf, on the north side of the Yarra ), ☏ +61 4 1733-9203 . 10AM-5PM . $35 per day .  
• Freddys Bike Tours & Rentals , 32 Rebecca Walk ( Batman Park on the Yarra River near to the Melbourne Aquarium ), ☏ +61 431 61 0431 , [email protected] . 9AM-7PM . Bicycle hire and bike rentals. Also offers a range of guided bicycle tours through various Melbourne precincts. $25 per day .  

Driving in Melbourne's city centre is generally inadvisable. Congestion tends to be bad, street parking difficult to find, and parking in multi-storey carparks tends to be rather expensive. In addition, you will have to learn how to execute a hook turn (described below) due to the large number of trams in the city. That being said, driving is generally the best way of getting around Melbourne's suburbs, as the public transport network tends to be less reliable, less frequent and more thinly spread out than in the city centre, particularly in the outer suburbs. If travelling from the outer suburbs to the city, it's generally best to park your car at the nearest railway station and catch a train in. In the centre, street parking can be as much as $3.50 an hour. Melbourne is the only city in Australia where motorcycles and scooters may be parked on footpaths, as long as they don't obstruct the footpath and if there are no signs indicating otherwise.

The major car rental chains are well-represented. Independent car rental companies are also plentiful and can offer good value. Many of the rental companies are located close to Melbourne's Southbank, so if you are staying close to or on the outskirts of the CBD, it should be relatively easy to find both the well represented and independent car rental companies.

In the city centre, a number of intersections require you to perform the infamous hook turn (signage in the photograph) to turn right due to tram tracks running down the centre of the road. Follow the signs: move into the left lane and move as far forward as possible, wait and when the traffic signal for the street you are turning into turns green, make the turn.

There are two major tollways in Melbourne, both of which have no manual tollgates and require daypasses to be purchased in advance or up to three days after the trip online or over the phone. Registration number and car details should be provided; failure to buy a pass can result in expensive fines, and car rental companies will often stack their own administration charges on top of these. Be aware that major rental companies will often offer a toll option, which is usually cheaper than purchasing your own passes. Tollways are represented by blue and yellow road signage rather than the usual green and white signs.

CityLink is the T-shaped tollway through the city core, connecting the West Gate Freeway in the west, Monash Freeway in the south-east and Tullamarine Freeway in the north. These freeways are useful for travelling to Geelong and the Great Ocean Road, Phillip Island and Melbourne Airport respectively. A 24-hour pass costs $16.69 for cars, $8.32 for motorcycles and more for larger vehicles (May 2016).

EastLink is a north–south tollway through the eastern suburbs and is useful for reaching Frankston. A one trip pass costs $5.94 for cars, $2.97 for motorcycles and more for larger vehicles (May 2016). If you are likely to be using both tollroads, it may be worth purchasing a Melbourne Pass for $5.50 in addition to the regular toll costs depending on the length of the trip. Tags from other Australian cities work on CityLink and the EastLink tollway, but passes do not. At the very end of Eastlink, you'll arrive at an interchange with the Mornington Peninsula Freeway, which continues south to Mornington Peninsula. Eastlink continues south as the Frankston Freeway.

On foot [ edit ]

Melbourne is an excellent city for walking and you should have no problems navigating the CBD grid. The walking time between each end of the city is less than 30 minutes. A brisk walk may even see you keeping up with the trams as they crawl through the city centre.

By taxi [ edit ]

Melbourne taxis are ubiquitous in the centre but less often spotted in the suburbs. Taxis are traditionally yellow in colour, although silver and white colours also exist. Fares are standardized so that the meter starts ticking with the Day Rate (T1) (9AM-5AM) at $4.20 and clocking up $1.622/km, the Overnight Rate (T2) (5AM-9AM) at $5.20 and clocking up $1.804/km and the Peak Rate (T3) (10AM-4AM Friday and Saturday) at $6.20 clocking up $1.986/km, meaning that short hops can go for under $10, but longer hauls get expensive pretty fast. A $2 fee applies for telephone booking a taxi and a $4.78 fee for catching a taxi from the airport. Sitting in traffic is $0.568/min at T1, $0.631/min at T2 and $0.695/min at T3. Between 10PM and 5AM, taxi fares can be prepaid : you pay an estimated sum to the driver in advance and the fare is corrected on arrival. There is no negotiated fares for taxis in Melbourne. The Taxi Services Commission provides a full fare list and useful fare estimator on their website.

See [ edit ]

Melbourne is a great city for arts, culture, dining, and events. Visitors frequently comment on the "good vibe" of the city, which can only be understood by experiencing it for yourself. There are a wide and varied assortment of attractions and sights, with something for every traveller. Most are in the CBD , in close reach of public transport. Melbourne is also a good base for experiencing the other attractions of Victoria, most of which can be reached on day trips.

Melbourne is Australia's best city for street art – refer to street art in Melbourne for more information.

Do [ edit ]

Food & coffee [ edit ].

• Visit the Queen Victoria Market – it stretches over two blocks and holds the title of the largest open-air market in the Southern Hemisphere.
• Watch the mesmerising process of personalised hard candy being hand-made at Suga . Around lunch time is a good time to see (and sample!). There is a store at Queen Victoria Market, but if you visit the Royal Arcade location, you can also watch chocolate making next door at Koko Black .
• Kick back at one of Melbourne's fantastic cafes in the CBD (Degraves St, The Causeway, and other laneways are fantastic for this), South Yarra (Chapel Street) or Fitzroy (Brunswick Street, Smith Street).

Sights & museums [ edit ]

• Melbourne's museums are generally well-regarded and worth a visit if you have time to spare. The Melbourne Museum and National Gallery of Victoria often have interesting temporary exhibitions.
• Visit the State Library of Victoria , and its magnificent reading halls. The La Trobe Reading Room boasts a large domed study area with an art gallery featuring temporary exhibitions on its balconies.
• Melbourne is an excellent place to master your photography skills. So many places to take a fantastic picture.
• Visit one of Melbourne's many arcade and laneways, tucked away from the main city streets and avenues. One of these, the Cathedral Arcade , forms a narrow laneway, connecting Swanston Street to Flinders Lane in the central business district. It is a T-shaped arcade, however one of the laneways terminates inside the Nicholas building.
• Visit the Eureka Skydeck for the best view of the city on level 88 of the Eureka Tower. Or indulge in fine dining by booking on level 89 of the Eureka Tower.
• Visit any or all of the three amazing zoos. At the Melbourne Zoo , visitors have the additional opportunities to interact, pet, and take close-up photography with a number of the animals, including kangaroos, meerkats, lemurs, and others
• Take a free tram ride around the city on the free city circle line (Route 35).
• Fans of Neighbours can do a tour of filming locations [dead link]

Cinemas, music & entertainment [ edit ]

• See interesting films at the Art Deco-styled Astor Theatre in St Kilda. There are several moonlight cinema programs in summer. The Melbourne International Film Festival [3] is on in August.
• Alternately, visit the Cinema Nova on Lygon Street (tram 1 or 8) on a Monday for $6 films before 4PM.
• Visit a comedy club. The Comic's Lounge [4] has shows for $10–25 including a show filmed for Channel 31 on Mondays, or dinner and show for $45. The Comedy Club has dinner and show for $32 and shows only beginning at $7 (discount ticket price).
• Melbourne has an exceptionally vibrant live music scene. Many bars and pubs will have copies of the free magazines "Beat" and "Inpress" which provide local gig guides. Fitzroy, Collingwood and St. Kilda are generally your best bets for seeing some of the great local talent Melbourne has to offer. Venues where you generally can't go wrong include: "The Evelyn", Hotel Esplanade aka "The Espy", The Corner Hotel in Richmond & The Northcote Social Club.
• Have a laugh at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival in March/April each year
• Visit one of Melbourne's outdoor cinemas in the warmer months of the year (November to April)

Outdoor activity [ edit ]

• Visit the beach (St Kilda, Brighton, or Frankston on the east side. Williamstown on the west side.)
• Go hiking on scenic Mt Dandenong -Challenge yourself physically on the 1000 steps , or visit the cute towns of Sassafras or Olinda, or take a ride on the century-old Puffing Billy steam train
• Chill out in the Botanical Gardens [dead link] or one of the many parks (Albert Park, Carlton Gardens, Fitzroy Gardens)
• See Melbourne's Yarra River by kayak
• Take a scenic helicopter ride over Melbourne to explore Melbourne's famous landmarks including Melbourne Star, St Kilda Pier, Luna Park, the Brighton Bathing Boxes and the MCG from the air.

Sports [ edit ]

Australian rules football , known to locals as just "football" or "footy", is the most popular sport in Melbourne, and mostly played in the winter. Melbourne is the spiritual home of the Australian Football League (AFL) , with 9 of the league's 18 teams based on Melbourne. The teams play their home games at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) or the Docklands Stadium.

Cricket is the most popular summer sport, and the MCG ground hosts internationals between Australia and a handful of touring sides every year. The Boxing Day Test between Australia and whichever foreign team is touring Australia at that time commences 26th December every year, and usually runs for about 4-5 days. In domestic cricket, the MCG houses the Victoria state team in the Sheffield Shield (first-class) and One-Day Cup (one-day), as well as the Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League (T20). Melbourne's other Big Bash team, the Melbourne Renegades, plays at the Docklands Stadium. Some international matches are held at the Docklands Stadium instead of the MCG, but the experience is regarded as far inferior to watching a game at the MCG.

The Australian Open is one of the four grand slams of tennis, and is held at Melbourne Park in January every year. Just before the Australian Open is the Kooyong Classic , which is held at Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club.

• Australian Grand Prix or Formula One is held in March / April, around at Albert Park in the Inner south .
• Get dressed up for "the race that stops the nation" on the first Tuesday of November The Melbourne Cup , or one of the other races in The Spring Racing Carnival

Festivals [ edit ]

The Melbourne International Film Festival is an iconic cultural event, contributed to the world's largest display of Australian filmmaking. Held over 3 weeks in August, it is the largest film festival in both Australia and the Southern Hemisphere, showcasing 400 Australian and international films.

Learn [ edit ]

You can take language classes, join a cafe book group, learn to draw, sign up for historical or foodie walks, study for your Victorian Certificate of Education or take computer or business classes at the Council of Adult Education (CAE) . The CAE is also home to the City Library where you can sign up to borrow books or just read magazines in their cafe.

Universities [ edit ]

Melbourne is home to several universities, two of which belong to the prestigious "Group of Eight": the University of Melbourne and Monash University . There are opportunities for international students to enrol in these universities, either in their degree programmes or through exchange agreements with foreign universities, and these are opportunities for foreigners to live in Melbourne for an extended period of time.

Work [ edit ]

The most popular industry for a working holiday is to work in hospitality jobs around the St. Kilda area. The wages in all other industries are usually much better than working in hospitality but require more specific skills.

Fruit picking is a possible source of income but in the greater Melbourne area not many jobs are offered. You will find better chances are in the dairy business but you should have some basic experience. Grape vine tending is another possibility in the nearby Yarra Valley .

Australia has the second highest minimum wage in the world (after Denmark). Note that casual workers (those who do not work regular or guaranteed hours) must be paid a loading of at least 20% over the award wage. The amount of loading varies by industry. Find out the wage your should be getting by using the Pay Calculator .

Most visitor visas prohibit the holder from any employment, but working holiday and student visas may allow foreigners to work, but these visas come with restrictions on hours of work allowed among other restrictions. Please make sure you have the right work before doing so as working without the right to work is a deportable offence. [5] If any workplace health and safety issue arises, you may contact WorkSafe Victoria , Victoria's health and safety regulator and manager of Victoria's workers compensation scheme. If you believe your employer is not complying with Australian workplace laws, you can also contact FairWork Ombudsman .

If you started employment it is recommended that you apply for a Tax File Number (TFN) , as it facilitates the Australia Tax Office (ATO) , in managing your tax profile. Some jobs may require you to apply for one before starting work.

Buy [ edit ]

Shopping hours in metro Melbourne are typically 7 days a week, 9AM–5:30PM weekdays and 9AM (maybe later)–5PM weekends. Most suburban shopping centres such as Chadstone have later closing hours on Thursdays and Fridays – mostly up to 9PM. Supermarkets have extended hours 7 days, the majority opening at 7AM and closing at midnight or 1AM; there are also many 24-hour supermarkets.

Alcohol in Victoria can be purchased at licensed shops/venues, and supermarkets often have an adjoining bottle shop that closes earlier than the supermarket. Some stock alcohol in the supermarket, if they close at the same time as their licence. You must be over 18 years old to purchase alcohol. Most bottleshops close by 10PM to midnight (even on weekends), but some open until 3AM (e.g. on Riversdale road in Booroondara and Russell St Melbourne), and 24-hour bottleshops on both Chapel and Lygon streets, in Stonnington and Melbourne respectively.

City shopping [ edit ]

Melbourne is known as the fashion capital of Australia with numerous malls and boutique-lined streets.

In the CBD itself, Little Collins Street is home to some of the world's top designers and fashion houses; Collins Street also boasts other high end shops such as Louis Vuitton and Hermès. Brunswick Street (Fitzroy), and the southern end of Chapel Street in Prahran/Windsor, have clusters of stores selling an eclectic mix of vintage, rave, retro and alternative gear such as Shag, Fat Helen's and Beaut Vintage to shop around.

Melbourne Central is another shopping mall based in the city, adjacent to the underground station of the same name. The Bourke Street Mall with the department store David Jones, as well as the flagship store of Myer, Australia's largest department store chain, is another city-central shopping hub.

For the bargain shopper, there is a DFO Outlet Mall (Direct Factory Outlet) located on the Southbank, next to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC), a short walk from Southern Cross Railway Station.

Elizabeth Street has plenty of bargain backpackers stores, for example Mitchell's Adventure (255–257 Elizabeth Street), which can offer outdoor products for bargain prices.

Suburban shopping [ edit ]

Bridge Road in Richmond is a strip where warehouse direct outlets rule and no-one pays recommended retail price. Chapel Street in South Yarra is a favourite among the locals, with its spread of exclusive boutiques, cafes and well established chain stores. There are also several huge shopping complexes in the outer suburbs, such as Chadstone and Southland (Cheltenham) in the South-East. Doncaster Shoppingtown, Eastland (Ringwood) and Knox City are in the outer East. Northland in the north, Highpoint in the west.

Melbourne is also home to many of Australia's largest shopping centres; including Chadstone Shopping Centre in Malvern East (the largest shopping centre in the Southern Hemisphere) which has over 530 stores, Knox City Shopping Centre which has 350 stores, and Fountain Gate Shopping Centre in Casey which includes approximately 330 stores.

Looking for something in particular? [ edit ]

For those in the bridal market, High Street in Armadale, Stonnington and Sydney Road in Brunswick , Moreland are the two main clusters for bridal apparel and accessories. For those who are looking for local, aspiring designer creations, try Greville Street in South Yarra , Stonnington or Smith Street and surrounds in Yarra .

To buy funny souvenirs and Australian typical stuff, walk or take the trams on Elizabeth Street up to Victoria Market . You'll find all you need there and the price is usually a half or a third of the prices in the souvenir shops downtown. Make sure to try a bratwurst dog and check out the cheese stalls while you're there.

Eat [ edit ]

For the culinary traveller, Melbourne is one of the best destinations in the world. There is an abundance of affordable, high-quality restaurants representing almost every cuisine. Eating out is cheaper than in Western Europe but not as affordable as North America. The service in Australian restaurants may be more discreet than many North Americans may be used to. Service staff in Australia are paid considerably more than their North American counterparts so tipping is not customary, though you may choose to give a tip if the service was exemplary.

Excellent eateries can be found sprinkled throughout all of the inner (and some outer) suburbs, while certain neighbourhoods have become magnets for residents and restaurants of particular countries. A large range of restaurants and cafes offering high-quality food, and representing various cultures and countries, are scattered throughout the Central City, Southbank, Carlton (mostly Italian and touristy), Victoria Street in Richmond (many low cost popular Vietnamese and South East Asian restaurants), Docklands, South Yarra and Prahran. In Central City, the Queen Victoria Market's prepared-food stalls are also popular places to grab a quick breakfast or lunch. Sydney Road in Brunswick and Coburg is known for its many Middle Eastern, Lebanese, Greek and Turkish restaurants. The popular tourist area of St Kilda offers a large range of good quality restaurants and cafes, especially on Acland Street, and Fitzroy Street.

English-style fish and chip shops are scattered through the suburbs – particularly in bayside areas. Souvlaki/kebabs are very popular in Melbourne, with plentiful outlets in any neighbourhood you could visit; local terminology is split between 'souvlaki' and 'kebab' to refer to the wrap, depending on the area's immigrant mix. A local specialty is the halal snack pack (HSP), kebab meat and sauce served over chips (fries in American terminology). Japanese nori rolls and sushi is very popular and many stores through the city and suburbs sell these items.

African [ edit ]

There is a concentration of African cafes in Nicholson St, Footscray and Racecourse Road, Flemington. Most serve a small range of Ethiopian cuisine and coffee, and are frequented by the local African residents. The Abyssinian is a well-regarded Eritrean/Ethiopian restaurant popular for locals and tourists for a more elaborate dinner. The stewed foods are served on a large pancake ( injera ) in the middle of the table. Everyone eats with their hands which is messy but fun.

Australian [ edit ]

"Australian cuisine" is a nebulous concept that may include traditional native foodstuffs and more modern cafe infusions of international influences. Items such an emu and kangaroo meat are unusual, and are most likely to be found only at the high-end fine dining restaurants as a speciality item. You can however find great kangaroo steaks at the Napier Hotel (Napier St, Fitzroy) for around $20, or at the Edinburgh Castle pub on Sydney Rd, Brunswick for around $10.

Meat pies are available from bakeries and convenience stores.

Café/delicatessen food [ edit ]

High-quality delicatessen-style eating is available in many of a cafes in the small lanes of central Melbourne. Many high-quality deli style diners can be found outside the city, in Acland Street, St Kilda.

Chinese [ edit ]

Chinese cuisine has a long tradition in Melbourne and a large number and range of quality restaurants exist. Many are in Chinatown in Little Bourke Street, City centre. They are also dotted through the inner and outer suburbs, with concentrations in Richmond, Footscray, and suburban Box Hill, Glen Waverley, Doncaster and Springvale.

Most of the food is from the Southern (Cantonese) school of cooking, although Northern favourites like dumplings are also available. Eating dim sum, which is consumed either during breakfast or lunch (called yum cha or "drinking tea" in Cantonese) is an extremely popular Sunday pastime for Australians of all ethnic backgrounds.

If you're after a budget option (meals $5–10), try Camy's dumpling house (Shanghai style dumplings) on Tattersalls Lane in the CBD. In the evening, the easiest – and most amusing – option is the all-you-can eat service for $12 per person. Service is dicey, but always exciting.

Greek [ edit ]

Lonsdale Street in the City Centre is Melbourne's Greek precinct with bars, cafes and restaurants, and cake shops. Greek restaurants and food outlets can be found in Sydney Road in Brunswick, Swan Street, Richmond, Coburg and Oakleigh in the south eastern suburbs which have many Greek cafes specialising in frappe, cakes and good souvlaki.

Indian [ edit ]

Indian restaurants can be found throughout Melbourne, particularly in the city, North Melbourne, and inner eastern suburbs such as Richmond and Hawthorn. There are also numerous Indian snack bars in the city that serve cheap but tasty curries and samosas, cafeteria-style.

Nepalese food is also popular in Melbourne, and some restaurants feature both Nepalese and Indian cuisine on their menus. An increasing number of Indian restaurants offer home delivery.

Indonesian [ edit ]

Befitting its large number of Indonesian students, Melbourne has many Indonesian restaurants. One of the most famous is Blok M on Commercial Rd, Prahran, which many famous Indonesians have visited. Another popular restaurant is Nelayan with two restaurants on Swanston Street and Glenferrie Rd, Agung on Glenferrie Road, Bali Bagus on Franklin Street, Es Teler 77 on Swanston St, Nusantara in Caulfield and Bali Bowl on Flinders Lane. There is also Warung Gudeg, specialising in Jogjakartan local cuisine in Clayton. Warung Agus in West Melbourne serves Balinese cuisine in a rather upscale atmosphere.

Italian [ edit ]

With its large Italian population Melbourne has countless Italian restaurants, mostly offering food from the southern regions of the Italian peninsula.

Italian cafes and restaurants are plentiful throughout Melbourne but are in the greatest concentration in Lygon Street, Carlton , just north of the city centre. Lygon Street is where Melbourne's coffee culture originated. Suburban Italian restaurants are often large and family-oriented and tend towards the pizza, pasta, seafood and steak formula.

Pizza outlets are very much part of the Melbourne landscape. These include Piazza 51 in Sydney Road, Brunswick, Spiga in Melbourne Central, Pizza Meine Liebe in Northcote, and countless options in Lygon Street.

Japanese [ edit ]

A quick "sushi" take away lunch can be bought on almost every block where there is food. In and out of Chinatown there are also plenty of places that have good bento, udon and donburi as well.

For dinner, many of the inner city suburbs have Japanese restaurants, but in the city itself there is a long an interesting Japanese restaurant history that continues to this day. Both Melbourne's oldest, Kuni's (which has been around since 1978) and its sister restaurant Kenzans are known for a very authentic, if expensive, meal. There are a plethora of choices for those on stricter budgets as well.

Jewish/Kosher [ edit ]

St Kilda East and Caulfield are home to vibrant Jewish communities and kosher bakeries and cafes abound, most situated on Carlisle Street in Balaclava, Kooyong Road in Caulfield North and Glenhuntly Road in Elsternwick.

Malaysian/Singapore [ edit ]

Malaysians and Singaporeans feeling homesick will find a host of restaurants and foodcourt outlets offering items like roti canai/paratha, nasi lemak, prawn noodles, and laksa. Many are in the City Centre ; there are Malaysian restaurants scattered throughout Melbourne. Little Bourke Street has a few Malaysian run eateries as well as QV's Kopitiam (corner of Lonsdale and Swanston St, CBD), Boxhill has a new Malaysian run (with Malaysian cooks – most Malaysian run eateries employ cooks from China) eatery called Petaling Street which has provided the most authentic fare so far.

Middle Eastern [ edit ]

Arab, Lebanese, Moroccan and Turkish restaurants tend to be concentrated in Sydney Road in Brunswick and Coburg to the north of the city centre. These restaurants can also be found in the outer suburbs that are home to those communities, including Dandenong.

Thai [ edit ]

Thai restaurants are ubiquitous in Melbourne: even dining precincts mostly known for Italian or Vietnamese food boast Thai restaurants.

Vegetarian [ edit ]

Vegetarian food is widely available in Melbourne, and you can expect every restaurant or cafe to have a few vegetarian or vegan options.

There are also many vegetarian restaurants: Vegie Bar in Brunswick St, Fitzroy, Moroccan Soup Bar, Shakahari in Faraday st, Gopals in Swanston St and Shakahari in Lygon St, Carlton are just some of the options. Crossways at 123 Swanston St. serves a very popular and inexpensive all-you-can-eat vegetarian lunch, M-Sa.

Vegetarian and vegan restaurants are geographically concentrated based on the type of food served. The inner northern and inner southern suburbs of Fitzroy, Richmond, Prahran, and Brunswick have many Australian or American style vegan cafes and vegan options at pubs.

Vegan and vegetarian Chinese, Malaysian, Vietnamese and other Asian restaurants are found in the city centre, Box Hill, Fitzroy, Northcote and Footscray. In Box Hill, Vegie Hut offers a vegetarian and vegan Yum Cha experience.

Vegetarian Indian restaurants are in mostly in the outer suburbs of Dandenong, Craigieburn, Reservoir, and Werribee, although there are options in the city centre as well.

Middle Eastern restaurants, cafes and bakeries have many vegan and vegetarian options. A popular vegan lunch in Brunswick, Coburg, and Fawkner is a Zaatari wrap filled with tomatoes and olives, available at any of the many Lebanese bakeries.

Most Italian restaurants will cater to vegans; however, there are also fully vegetarian options in Carlton and the city centre. Casa Del Gelato is a Lygon St gelato institution which always has several vegan flavours.

Vegans looking to experience the city's coffee culture will find soy, oat, or almond milk at most cafes.

Vietnamese [ edit ]

Melbourne's Little Vietnams are in Footscray , North Richmond and Springvale out in the far eastern suburbs. The streets in these areas are lined with pho (noodle) shops and restaurants offering other Vietnamese favourites. Many outlets have also appeared along Swanston Street in the City Centre . However, for convenience to the city and reasonable prices, Victoria Street in North Richmond is your best bet.

Others [ edit ]

Spanish, Argentinian, Burmese and Polish restaurants can be found in the Richmond/Collingwood/Prahran area.

Melbourne has some Cajun/Creole restaurants and one or two American style diners, but US cuisine is otherwise absent: Foods like Southern-style barbecue and clam chowder are nearly impossible to find.

Korean restaurants are well represented and are scattered throughout the city.

Hopetoun Tea Rooms in Block Arcade on Little Collins Street offer sweets ranging from cakes and pastries to high tea.

Ice cream and gelato are popular post-dinner snacks in the warmer months. Try Piccolina and Messina , although don't be surprised if the line stretches outside in summer.

Drink [ edit ]

Melbournians often draw a distinction between 'bars', meaning the small watering holes described above, and 'pubs', which are larger establishments in the usual Australian or British sense of the word. Melbourne's pubs, particularly those in the city and inner suburbs, usually serve restaurant-standard food and a wide range of local and imported beers. Pubs usually offer lunch from approximately noon to 2PM, and reopen their kitchens for dinner from approximately 6-10PM.

Pubs [ edit ]

Gay, lesbian and transgender party goers are welcome everywhere as Melbournians are on the whole very tolerant and welcoming people. Perhaps the one bad thing is that nothing really starts happening until midnight!

The city centre has a number of pubs, the most famous being the Young and Jackson. Melbourne is also famous for its many trendy bars in the CBD. Most of these, however, are down narrow alleys and streets, and are therefore hard to find unless you know where you are going.

The inner northern suburbs, such as Collingwood and Fitzroy cater for the young, laid-back, and bohemian crowd. Here you will find lots of live music, cheaper prices, and a relaxed atmosphere. Head for Brunswick and Gertrude Streets in Fitzroy and Smith Street, Collingwood for cafes, bars and live music, while Lygon Street, Carlton has a range of Italian restaurants and cafes with a student vibe, as it's located near the University of Melbourne. Victoria Street, North Richmond is the heart of Melbourne's Vietnamese community, with many cheap and cheerful restaurants serving good food.

Bars and clubs [ edit ]

Melbourne nightlife is 24 hours, loud, colourful and anything goes. Door policies can be strict but once inside high quality entertainment is guaranteed. DJ's, live music, artists and beautiful people can be found. There truly is something for everyone and every taste. It has a massive live music scene, with many inner-suburbs pubs catering to many genres, with drink and food specials all week. The key is to find one you like the most!

Alongside its many clubs, Melbourne is also a fast-rising festival city. Global event companies such as ID&T, Global Gathering, Ministry of Sound and Trance Energy have begun taking notice of the city and bringing their events. Upcoming electronic music events are well catalogued on [6]

Chapel Street/Toorak Road in South Yarra and Prahran has the most glamorous bars and clubs. Here, expect high prices, strict dress codes, and beautiful people who want to be seen partying with the best. St. Kilda has a little bit of everything. With its proximity to the beach, it is often regarded as the Melbourne suburb that feels most like Sydney.

The past decade has seen a revival of Melbourne's inner-city bar scene, with dozens of weird and wonderful watering holes opening up within forgotten alleyways and anonymous lanes of the City Centre (CBD) . Melbourne also has its fair share of stylish places to drink, although the better ones can be hard to find. The theory seems to be: the harder your bar is to find, the more people will talk about it. Secrets are tucked around areas like Prahran , South Yarra and many other areas. However, there are plenty of alleyway bars, once you find one they seem to pop up everywhere you look. Melbourne's clubs often market a members only rule which can upset your more upmarket traveler. The rule is in place to prevent fighting and unappealing groups of men entering a nice club and destroying the atmosphere.

Australian licensing laws are very similar to those in the UK, i.e. you are not allowed to be drunk on licensed premises. In practice though, Melbourne venues and bouncers draw the line very low. Ejection from a premises can be expected for fighting, vomiting, or frequent falling over. Some pubs and clubs are quicker to eject patrons than others, but it's only ever a short walk to another. Licensing is more liberal than what one may be used to, as you can still expect to find a drink past 2AM. This has led to a culture of late-night drinking where some venues won't get busy until some time after 11PM, especially during summer.

Coffee [ edit ]

Melbourne has a long and rich coffee culture beginning with Victorian era coffee palaces and further enhanced by Italian migrants arriving in the aftermath of World War II.

Perhaps the most famous Italian style cafe is Pellegrini's, 66 Bourke St, Melbourne city. Fitzroy is known for funky, bohemian-style cafes. Collins Street features many elegant cafes. Many Italian style cafes are found in Carlton ; Brunetti's is open late and always packed.

Serious espresso connoisseurs would enjoy visiting St Ali cafe/roastery in South Melbourne, Auction Rooms (Errol St) in North Melbourne, or the Maling Room café in Canterbury.

Sleep [ edit ]

Budget [ edit ]

Melbourne's budget accommodation options can be found in two main areas, namely in the City Centre and in the seaside suburb of St Kilda . However, outside these two areas, there are also several popular budget options in bohemian Fitzroy , South Melbourne , and Windsor .

Around the Melbourne F1 Grand Prix (late March) and other international events, hostel accommodation is booked out and some hostels raise their prices. Be sure to book ahead.

Mid-range [ edit ]

Accommodation in this price bracket can mostly be found in the city centre . There are however options scattered throughout the suburbs.

Splurge [ edit ]

The City Centre remains the main area for this category of accommodation.

Connect [ edit ]

Post [ edit ].

• General Post Office , 250 Elizabeth St , ☏ +61 131318 , fax : +61 9203 3078 . M–F 8:30AM–5:30PM, Sa 9AM–4PM, Su 10AM–4PM . After a fire gutted the original building in 2001, most of Melbourne's grand General Post Office has now been turned into an upmarket retail precinct. The main post office in the Melbourne CBD is situated at the corner of Elizabeth and Little Bourke Streets. Poste restante services are also located here.  

Phone [ edit ]

Some coin operated payphones can still be found around the city. Near stations and post-offices are the usual places to look. International calling cards are also available at convenience stores. Using Telstra payphones are free to make calls and they also have paid WiFi hotspots.

Mobile phone coverage within the CBD and surrounds is usually good-to-excellent. 3G and 4G services are available throughout the city. You will require some identification to purchase a prepaid (PAYG) SIM card, which are sold at most convenience stores, newsagents and supermarkets. This may be requested at time of purchase, and/or time of activation.

The networks are run by Telstra, Optus and Vodafone with other resellers available, and sometimes at a cheaper price. Shop around online for the most suitable deal if you want to save a few dollars. As is the case throughout Australia you will need to be identified to access it - and if you're from overseas it's often easier to take your passport into a telco store than try and answer the identification questions online. Lycamobile and Lebara specialise in plans with cheaper international calls.

Melbourne's area code for landline telephones is 03 (internationally dial +613). To make an international direct dial call, the trunk line access code is generally 0011 or simply add a + in front of the number if your phone allows.

Internet [ edit ]

Melbourne offers a free public WiFi which allows for up to 250 MB per device, per day and does not require personal information or feature pop-up advertising. It can be accessed in the Melbourne CBD including CBD train stations, Bourke St Mall, Queen Victoria Market and South Wharf Promenade at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. Additionally, Internet cafes are dotted throughout the city, especially near the backpacker enclaves of St Kilda and Flinders Street. Speeds are usually excellent and rates range from $2.50–12 per hour, the cheapest usually found in combination market/internet cafes in the Asian parts of town.

• Telstra Air , All throughout Melbourne . Telstra Air offers paid hotspot access (free for Telstra customers or those with a Fon plan). ( updated Aug 2019 )
• mag nation , 88 Elizabeth St . This shop has free WiFi.  
• HiSpeed Internet Kiosks ( At Spencer Street DFO. ). A chain with many stores across the country. 21 minutes for $2 .  
• e:FiftyFive ( 55 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne ) is like a huge basement lounge room that feels more like a bar than an internet cafe. Great DJs, comfortable couches and dirt-cheap $2/hour internet access when you buy a drink attract plenty of travellers and will make writing that email home an enjoyable experience.
• VA (Bourke Street, Melbourne) is one of the countless but arguably the best internet/LAN gaming cafes in Melbourne, which is packed full of "hardcore gamers" on Sunday afternoons (sponsored competition day). Non-member rates start at $3.50/hour while membership costs a mere $15 (includes $12 credit) and benefits include play offers such as $4/2 hours, $5/3 hours and $6/4 hours, as well as day and night packages.
• Cydus (Victoria Street, North Melbourne) large range of internet usage services every day and at any time (including most public holidays). Non-member rates start at $3/hour while membership costs $10 (includes 2 hours free play) and membership rates are $2/hour while member offers include "Endurance Pass" (5 hours play + $2.80 snack voucher) and "Survival Pass" (10 hours play).
• City Library , 253 Flinders Ln . Free internet access through Melbourne Library Service (approximately 2 Mbps down- and upload).  
• The State Library [7] . Offers free internet at many workstations and does not require membership (limited to 15 minutes or 1 hour per session, no session limits). You can get a free membership for access to free wireless web access, however, the wireless access is limited and you may not be able to access some sites and services. Printing facilities are also provided for a fee.
• Melbourne Central shopping centre (corner of Swanston and La Trobe St) has free wireless internet access.
• Australia on Collins shopping centre (on Collins St) has free wireless internet access.
• Federation Square (corner of Flinders Street and Swanston Street, outside Flinders Street railway station) is supposedly Australia's largest free outdoor wireless hotspot.
• McDonald's . All McDonald's branches in town have free WiFi. It's fairly fast and unlimited if you register.  

Cope [ edit ]

Consulates [ edit ], stay safe [ edit ].

It is important to take care around tram lines . Trams are heavy and it can take over 100 metres for a tram to safely stop. Even if a tram has passed, look carefully both ways, as trams will often run nose-to-tail on busy corridors like Swanston Street. There is often traffic around trams, so be careful crossing if running to catch a tram. If driving, it is illegal to U-turn across tram tracks or pass a tram while the doors are open and passengers are disembarking.

Melbourne has few problems with random crime and violence, although some parts of Melbourne are best avoided at night; these include parts of the western suburbs around Footscray and Sunshine , some northern suburbs such as Broadmeadows and southern suburbs like Frankston and Dandenong . The city centre, particularly the area around the nightclub and strip club district of King Street, can be a hotspot for alcohol-fuelled violence late at night. However, you are more likely to be heckled by drunken revellers and street walkers than you are to be actually threatened or randomly attacked. Demonstrating normal safety precautions and staying to well-lit streets is a good way to avoid trouble.

Protective Services Officers (PSOs) patrol Melbourne's railway stations from 5PM to the last train, with all stations possessing a 'safety zone' with increased lighting, CCTV cameras and easy access to the red emergency button. Trains also contain buttons in the case of an emergency, while it's a good idea to sit close to the driver while on a train, tram or bus late at night. The public transport network is generally safe, although drug or alcohol affected travellers occasionally give other commuters grief.

If driving a car, beware of car theft or break-in. Keep valuables out of sight when parked, always lock the car and leave the windows up before you leave. If you are waiting in your car, lock the car as well. A police officer will always show ID before asking you to open your door or window.

Pickpocketing is rare in Melbourne, but be aware of your belongings in and around Flinders Street Station and the crowded block between Flinders and Collins Streets on Swanston Street. Beggars frequent the southern ends of Elizabeth and Swanston Streets, although are unlikely to give you trouble.

Although scams are rare in Melbourne, some real estate agents attempt to prey on foreigners by deducting costs for non-existent repairs and cleaning from the bond. The Tenants Union of Victoria can help with these issues when moving in and out.

Go next [ edit ]

Melbourne is fairly centrally located on the coast of Victoria , and there are many natural and man-made attractions that make for a nice day trip. Another way to visit regional Victoria is utilising the PTV public transport system. Regular train journeys leave from Southern Cross station. Regional attractions include:

Melbourne outskirts [ edit ]

These places are within an hour's drive of central Melbourne.

• Werribee — historic mansion and open-range zoo
• Dandenong Ranges — national park, gardens, historic steam railway
• Wine-tasting in the Yarra Valley , Healesville and the Healesville Sanctuary
• Port Phillip Bay scenic drive and the Mornington Peninsula — the seaside resort locations of Sorrento and Portsea, offering both bayside and surf beaches
• Warburton and Mount Donna Buang — winter sightseeing snow

Northern Victoria [ edit ]

• Echuca-Moama - watersports on the lake
• Mount Buller — skiing and sightseeing.

Eastern Victoria [ edit ]

• Wilson's Promontory
• Phillip Island . - Scenic parks, beaches, and a penguin watching area.

Western Victoria [ edit ]

• The Victorian Goldfields — Bendigo , Ballarat , Castlemaine , Maldon .
• Grampians National Park .
• South West Coast — Geelong , Bellarine Peninsula, and Torquay . Some of the best surf beaches in the world.
• Great Ocean Road , with its many scenic vistas. Drive from Torquay to Warrnambool , with popular stops in Lorne , Apollo Bay and Port Campbell to see the famous Twelve Apostles.

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19 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Melbourne

Written by Karen Hastings Updated Dec 26, 2023 We may earn a commission from affiliate links ( )

Multicultural Melbourne frequently tops the list of the world's most livable cities. Visit this vibrant city at the head of Port Phillip Bay, and you'll see why it's such a popular destination. Australia's second-largest metropolis exudes an unmistakably European feel. Grand Victorian buildings recall the city's Gold Rush riches, and tree-lined promenades and a tangle of hidden laneways make exploring the city especially rewarding.

Culture is a big draw. Art lovers can get their fix at Melbourne's impressive museums and galleries. And foodies will also find plenty to love. Famous Aussie chefs flaunt their talents here, whipping up creative concoctions from around the world — you can feast on everything from Greek, Italian, and Indian cuisine to Spanish and Vietnamese.

But perhaps Melbourne's biggest claim to fame is sports. The famous Melbourne Cup horse race , held on the first Tuesday in November, brings the entire nation to a standstill. And Australian Rules football ("footy") elicits an almost religious reverence. If you're a sports lover, try to catch a game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground while you're here. Tennis fans flock to the Australian Open in early February, and Formula One followers eagerly anticipate the Australian Grand Prix.

You'll never run out of things to do in Melbourne. Explore the city's diverse galleries, cafés, and shops; stroll through lush gardens; cruise along the Yarra River; or hop aboard a heritage tram to discover Melbourne's magic.

Melbourne also boasts a busy arts calendar. Highlights include the Melbourne International Comedy Festival (March to April), and if you're looking for things to do in Melbourne in August, scoop up some tickets to the Melbourne International Film Festival. Seeking a little slice of nature? Rewarding day trip adventures lie a short drive from the city buzz.

Before you head out on your sightseeing tour, find the best places to visit in the city with our list of the top attractions and things to do in Melbourne.

See also: Where to Stay in Melbourne

1. Relax at the Royal Botanic Gardens

2. find inspiration at the national gallery of victoria, 3. check out federation square, 4. wander through melbourne's arcades and laneways, 5. get a culture fix at southbank & south wharf, 6. catch a game at the melbourne cricket ground and visit the national sports museum, 7. enjoy the views from melbourne skydeck at eureka tower, 8. attend a performance at arts centre melbourne, 9. explore the melbourne museum and royal exhibition building, 10. take a city circle tram tour, 11. meet the animals at melbourne zoo, 12. captain cook's cottage, fitzroy gardens, 13. cruise the yarra river, 14. pay your respects at the shrine of remembrance, 15. soak up the scene at docklands, 16. shop at queen victoria market, 17. take a tour of parliament house, 18. delve into melbourne's past at the immigration museum, 19. state library victoria, where to stay in melbourne for sightseeing, tips and tours: how to make the most of your visit to melbourne, melbourne, australia - climate chart.

Melbourne's Royal Botanic Gardens are among the finest of their kind in the world. Established in 1846, the gardens encompass two locations: Melbourne and Cranbourne.

The Melbourne gardens lie in the heart of green parkland extending south of the Yarra River , about two kilometers from the CBD. Covering an area of 38 hectares, they are home to more than 10,000 plant species from around the globe, including many rare specimens.

Highlights include the Ian Potter Foundation Children's Garden , designed to encourage the next generation of gardeners, and the Fern Gully Health and Wellbeing Garden , a tranquil spot to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. The Aboriginal Heritage Walk explores the rich heritage of Indigenous Australians.

In summer, live theater is a highlight of the gardens, and a moonlight cinema is set up under the stars. Rolling lawns, lakes, large trees, and abundant birdlife make this a beautiful spot to linger and enjoy a picnic or a traditional high tea at The Terrace café.

Special events add something new to every visit. Check the calendar for seasonal programs like guided birding walks; Forest Therapy walks; ClimateWatch walks; and Lightscape, when the gardens are illuminated after dark.

No matter what time of year you visit these beautiful gardens, this is one of the best free things to do in Melbourne. Note, though, that admission is charged for some special events.

If you're short on time or mobility is an issue, hop aboard the Explorer - Melbourne Gardens . This open-sided minibus will take you on a 30-minute tour of all the garden's highlights.

Address: Birdwood Ave, South Yarra, Melbourne, Victoria

Melbourne is famous for its culture, and the National Gallery of Victoria is the jewel in the crown. It's not only the oldest public art gallery in Australia , it's also the most visited. Here, you can admire more than 70,000 works of European, Asian, Oceanic, and American art in two city locations.

The international collection is housed in the St. Kilda Road building , originally opened in 1968. The building is renowned for The Great Hall, where visitors are encouraged to lie on the floor and gaze at the colorful stained-glass ceiling.

The extensive Australian collection is held in the Ian Potter Gallery in Federation Square , featuring the history of Australian art, from Aboriginal works through to the Heidelberg School and contemporary mixed media. One of the highlights is the large triptych format, The Pioneer by Frederick McCubbin.

There's always something new to see at the National Gallery of Victoria. It presents more than 40 exhibitions a year, as well as special events, children's programs, tours, and performances. Best of all, entry to the permanent exhibitions is free .

NGV International

Address: St. Kilda Road, Melbourne, Victoria

The Ian Potter Centre

• Federation Square, Flinders Street &, Russell Street, Melbourne Victoria

When Federation Square opened in 2002 to commemorate 100 years of federation, it divided Melburnians. There were those who loved it and those who hated it. Either way, "Fed Square" has become an integral part of the city, a popular meeting place, and a great spot for tourists to start their sightseeing.

You can't miss Fed Square. It's located opposite Flinders Street Station, a major public transport hub. The building's ultra-modern design of open and closed spaces stands in striking contrast to the surrounding Victorian architecture.

Live entertainment lures locals and tourists here. With more than 2,000 events annually, you can always find a performance or festival to enjoy in the central outdoor performance space and intimate indoor venues.

And you'll find plenty of cafés and restaurants here, too. Chocolate Buddha is a favorite serving casual Japanese cuisine with beautiful views of the city.

Museums and galleries are other highlights of visiting Federation Square. The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia is dedicated to Australian art. The Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) hosts fascinating interactive exhibits on screen culture (film, TV, videos, and art); and the Koorie Heritage Trust , displays art, photographs, and artifacts from the Koorie Aboriginal people, who hail from parts of Victoria and New South Wales. Best of all, entry to these museums is free .

Fed Square is also one of the largest free Wi-Fi sites in Australia .

Address: Corner of Swanston and Flinders Streets, Melbourne, Victoria

Wandering the labyrinth of lanes and alleyways is one of the most popular things to do in Melbourne. Head to the area around Flinders , Collins, and Bourke Streets to see elegant, interesting, and quirky Melbourne at its best.

For high-end shopping, one of the most popular places to visit in Melbourne is the magnificent Block Arcade on Collins Street . With its mosaic floor, period details, and boutique shops, this is the place where late 19th-century gentry promenaded, coining the phrase, "doing the block."

You'll find everything here from Haigh's Chocolates and vintage jewelry to designer fashion, gifts, and cafés. It's also worth lining up for a morning or afternoon tea at the Hopetoun Tearooms . This Melbourne icon dates back to 1892 and is the only original shop still in the arcade today.

Cozy cafés beckon from the tangle of backstreets. Save time to order a coffee, pull up a chair, and people-watch for a while — it's a favorite Melbourne pastime.

The opulent Royal Arcade is Melbourne's oldest arcade, and Flinders and Degraves Lanes are also well worth exploring.

Southbank is the place to go for a dose of culture. Located on the banks of the Yarra River , a short stroll from Flinders Street Station, this scenic precinct is packed with shops, cafés, and cultural attractions. It's a wonderful place for a stroll along the river at any time of year.

Looking for things to do in Melbourne at night? You'll find some of the city's best nightlife here — especially in the South Wharf area, where heritage sheds are converted into lively entertainment venues. It's an evocative space after dark, when the city lights ignite and reflect off the river.

Southbank also hosts enticing alfresco cafés, restaurants, and live entertainment, and the many festivals held here throughout the year amp up the vibe.

If shopping is high on your list of things to do, you'll find an excellent arts and crafts market here every Sunday. Plus you can splurge at chic designer boutiques or grab a bargain at DFO South Wharf, factory outlet stores.

If you feel like catching a show, the Malthouse Theatre presents everything from musical theater, dance, drama, and comedy to contemporary opera and cabaret. Or catch a performance by the Melbourne Theatre Company at Southbank Theatre. Southbank is also home to Arts Centre Melbourne , the city's major performance venue.

While you're here, keep a lookout for the public art, like The Travellers steel sculptures along Sandridge Bridge and the Queen Bee gracing the side of the landmark Eureka Tower .

Looking for things to do in Southbank with kids? Climb aboard Polly Woodside in South Wharf, one of the country's last surviving 19th-century tall ships.

Melbourne is the sporting capital of Australia, so it's no surprise that a sports stadium numbers among the city's top tourist attractions. With a capacity of 100,000 and a history dating back to 1853, the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) is considered one of the world's greatest stadiums. It's also the largest and oldest sports venue in Australia.

As the main stadium for the 1956 Olympic Games and 2006 Commonwealth Games, the birthplace of Test Cricket, and the home of Australian Rules Football , "the 'G" is woven into the fabric of Melbourne.

Daily tours take visitors for a trip down a memory lane of great moments in sporting history and incorporate the Australian Sports Museum , including the Australian Gallery of Sport and Olympic Museum . You can also catch a game of cricket in summer, or football during winter.

Directly opposite the MCG is Melbourne Park , home of the Australian Open tennis tournament, held every January. You can hire a tennis court, and many concerts are held here during the year.

Address: Brunton Ave, East Melbourne, Victoria

Wondering where to find a great view over the city? Head to the 91-story Eureka Tower in the heart of Southbank. This striking skyscraper was named in recognition of The Eureka Stockade, the 1854 rebellion of prospectors in the Victorian goldfields. Adding to the Gold Rush theme, the building's gold crown and gold-plated windows literally sparkle when the sun catches the top of the building.

Melbourne Skydeck , on the 88th floor, affords the highest public view in any building in the Southern Hemisphere . For even more thrills, head out onto The Edge , a glass cube that slides out three meters from the building for vertigo-free visitors. You can also buy tickets to Voyager Theatre, a Virtual Reality experience that takes you on an immersive, multisensory journey to 16 famous Melbourne attractions.

Author's Tip : Arrive at sunset to see spectacular views over the city during the day and night, when the lights twinkle as the sun slips slowly beneath the horizon.

Address: 7 Riverside Quay, Southbank, Melbourne, Victoria

Arts Centre Melbourne is the city's leading arts and culture venue. Easily recognizable by its spire, it sits on the banks of the Yarra River, near South Bank, and is a wonderful place to attend a performance of theater, dance, music, comedy, and more.

Arts Centre Melbourne incorporates a range of state-of-the-art theaters and spaces. These include the State Theatre , home to The Australian Ballet and Opera Australia; the 884-seat Playhouse ; the more intimate Fairfax Studio ; and Hamer Hall, the premier performance space for the revered Melbourne Symphony Orchestra . A short stroll away, you can attend an outdoor concert at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl in the Kings Domain Gardens.

Planning a pre-show dinner? Café Vic serves up seasonal contemporary cuisine, as well as snacks throughout the day.

While you're here, stop by the Australian Music Vault . The free exhibition here tells the story of Australian contemporary music.

A short tram ride from the CBD, the Melbourne Museum is surrounded by beautiful gardens and parkland. This modern purpose-built museum houses a diverse collection depicting society and cultures, as well as science and the environment.

Highlights include Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre ; the Phar Lap exhibit, about Australia's greatest racehorse; and the Children's Gallery , a series of hands-on activities designed to stimulate and engage youngsters. You can also stroll through a vibrant forest, and immerse yourself in a world of life-size dinosaurs.

Adjacent to the Melbourne Museum is the elaborate Royal Exhibition Building. Built in 1880 to host Melbourne's International Exhibition, the building also held the first Commonwealth Parliament of Australia in 1901. Regular tours are available, and the building is still used for exhibitions and special events.

Address: 11 Nicholson Street, Carlton, Victoria

Want to do some city sightseeing the Melbourne way? Hop aboard the City Circle Tram . Melbourne is famous for its trams, and the City Circle Tram is a free and easy way of seeing the top sights in the CBD and Docklands.

Accompanied by a commentary, the hop-on, hop-off heritage tram passes many of the grand historic buildings, including Parliament House , the Old Treasury Building, Princess Theatre, and the Windsor Hotel . Plus you can hop off at major attractions like Federation Square. The trams run every 12 minutes and take about 50 minutes to complete the entire loop.

You can board the tram at any stop along the City Circle route, seven days a week, except Christmas Day and Good Friday.

From big cats to butterflies, animal lovers will have plenty to enjoy at the 22-hectare Melbourne Zoo . Although the zoo dates back to 1862, the 250-plus species of animals have the best of modern facilities in state-of-the-art enclosures, about five minutes from the Melbourne CBD.

You'll find animals from all over the planet here. The award-winning Trail of the Elephants is an insight into the lives of the resident Asian elephants in a traditional village-garden setting. Another highlight is the Orang-utan Sanctuary , where the animals live in their treetop home. And you can wander down a bush track to meet your favorite Aussie animals, including kangaroos, koalas, and emus.

With many wild encounters, including "roar and snore," twilight music concerts, and behind-the-scenes tours of some enclosures, Melbourne Zoo offers animal lovers a fun-packed experience.

Zoos Victoria operates two other zoos: Healesville Sanctuary and Werribee Open Range Zoo , and all run important conservation programs, including breeding and recovery work for endangered species.

Address: Elliott Ave, Parkville, Victoria

Captain Cook's Cottage was brought to Melbourne from Captain James Cook's native home in Yorkshire, England and erected in Fitzroy Gardens . The quaint cottage is an insight into the life and times of Cook's seafaring adventures and exploration of Australia and other parts of the world.

Also in the beautiful Fitzroy Gardens is the magnificent Spanish-mission style conservatory , which is always filled with a vibrant floral display. Children will love the tiny Tudor village and Fairy Tree .

After strolling around the gardens, head to hipster-packed Fitzroy for some of Melbourne's best vegan food, as well as vintage shopping and vibrant street art.

Address: Wellington Parade, East Melbourne, Victoria

A riverboat cruise is not only a relaxing way to see the sights, it's also an insight into the history of the Yarra River . Many cruise companies can be found along Southbank, and it's a fun way to get your bearings before you set out to explore the city on foot.

While you're gliding down the river, keep an eye out for Birrarung Marr, originally called "Birrarung," meaning "river of mists and shadows," a waterfront parkland celebrating Aboriginal ties with the Yarra River.

If you're short on time, the one-hour River Gardens Melbourne Sightseeing Cruise gives you a relaxing tour past top city sights, like the Royal Botanic Gardens , Melbourne Cricket Ground , and National Tennis Centre .

Sitting majestically in Kings Domain gardens, the Shrine of Remembrance was built after the First World War to commemorate Victorians involved in the Great War, either abroad or at home. Today, it serves as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by Australian servicemen and women. It's also the central focus for ceremonies on ANZAC Day, held on 25 April, and Remembrance Day, held on 11 November each year.

In the Galleries of Remembrance under the shrine you can explore photographs, artifacts, and artwork related to Australians at war and peacekeeping operations.

Guided or self-guided tours are available daily, and the lighting on the building is particularly beautiful at night. From the balcony, you can enjoy beautiful views over the 13 hectares of surrounding parkland and the city beyond.

If you happen to be visiting Melbourne on a Sunday, you can attend a Last Post Service here at 4:45pm with bugle calls and a wreath-laying at the Eternal Flame.

Address: Birdwood Ave, Melbourne, Victoria

Docklands is Melbourne's newest waterfront entertainment precinct. With the highest concentration of green-star-rated buildings in the Southern Hemisphere, the satellite village is filled with cafés, restaurants, tourist attractions, and parklands. It's one of the most popular Melbourne attractions at night.

You'll find something here for everyone. Snap some pics at ArtVo , an interactive 3D art gallery; take the Docklands Public Art Walk; or soak up some street art scenes at Blender Studios .

Docklands is also home to Marvel Stadium and the O'Brien Icehouse , a world-class ice sports venue.

Craving some retail therapy? An art and vintage market is also held along the waterfront every Sunday, and you can shop 'til you drop at the open-air shopping mall. Dining is also a highlight. You can feast around the world on everything from Turkish and Vietnamese cuisine to contemporary Australian creations.

Address: Harbour Esplanade, Docklands, Victoria

A popular place with locals and tourists, Queen Victoria Market has been at the center of fresh produce shopping since 1878. Farm-fresh goodies are a highlight here, but the market stalls sell everything from clothing, art, and toys to that hard-to-find unique souvenir, five days a week.

Are you a foodie? You can sign up for a two-hour guided walking tour with tastings of some of the market's best treats.

Special events such as winter night markets, music concerts, and other functions are often held throughout the year.

Address: Queen and Victoria Streets, Melbourne, Victoria

Parliament House is one of Melbourne's best-kept tourist secrets. This is where Australia's first federal parliament met from 1901 through 1927, and the building's grand colonnaded exterior makes a striking landmark on Spring Street.

One of Australia's oldest public buildings, Parliament House was built during the Gold Rush, and its interior is lavishly decorated with gold leaf, chandeliers, and a superb mosaic floor .

Today, you can watch the proceedings of the two Houses in the public galleries on days when parliament is sitting. Free, informative tours are held Monday to Friday on days when parliament is not in session.

Insider's tip: Another fun way to experience this grand building is to book High Tea or a farm-to-fork lunch at Strangers Corridor, the elegant wood-paneled restaurant.

Address: Spring Street, East Melbourne, Victoria

Want to learn about the interesting people who call Melbourne home? The Immigration Museum tells real stories of people who relocated here from all over the world. Every person arriving in Melbourne had to pass through customs here, and their poignant stories help explain the city's diversity today.

The museum is located in the elegant Old Customs House , and its permanent collection is interactive and engaging. Special exhibitions add to the museum's appeal.

A visit here provides a different perspective of early European settlement and its impact on Indigenous communities. If you're looking for things to do in Melbourne on a rainy day, this is a great option.

Address: 400 Flinders Street, Melbourne, Victoria

State Library Victoria is another worthy addition to your list of free things to do in Melbourne. As soon as you approach the building, you'll be impressed by its grand heritage architecture. First opened in 1856 , the building sports an elegant sandstone facade fronted with a series of grand Corinthian columns. Step inside for more surprises.

The Ian Potter Queen's Hall is a serene, light-filled space lined with white Corinthian columns. Chandeliers and filigreed original skylights add to the grandeur here, and the space hosts one of the world's largest chess collections . During the day, students huddle here buried deep in books. At night, it transforms into a magical event space.

If you're an art and history lover, you'll enjoy browsing the multiple galleries. The free exhibitions here range from Melbourne artists to historic artifacts, like Ned Kelly's armor, and photography collections.

Undoubtedly, though, the highlight is the La Trobe Reading Room . A soaring domed ceiling crowns this magnificent octagonal space, which was inspired by the British Museum in London and the Library of Congress in Washington. Four gallery levels rise above the vast space, and light floods in through the roof's many skylights. It's one of the most photographed sites in the library. Head to the upper galleries for the best shot.

Kids, too, will find things to love here. A two-story children's castle, reading nooks, and, of course, plenty of books await at The Pauline Gandel Children's Quarter.

The best way to explore the library is on a free self-guided digital tour . Alternatively, you can join one of the many free guided tours led by passionate volunteers. After exploring the rich history here, you can refuel with cake and coffee at one of the two on-site cafés.

Address: 328 Swanston Street, Melbourne Victoria

For first-time visitors to Melbourne, one of the best places to stay is either the city center or Southbank, with its restaurants, cafés, and lively events calendar. These tourist-friendly areas are close to prime attractions such as Federation Square; the Royal Botanic Gardens; and the labyrinth of laneways and shopping arcades around Flinders, Collins, and Bourke Streets. Here are some highly rated hotels in these areas:

Luxury Hotels:

• Steps away from St. Patrick's Cathedral and Fitzroy Gardens, the plush Park Hyatt is one of Melbourne's best hotels. Shops and restaurants lie a short stroll away, and sports fans can walk to the Melbourne Cricket Ground and Melbourne Park.
• Exuding elegance and old-world charm, The Langham, Melbourne is a romantic choice in Southbank overlooking the Yarra River. In your spare time, you can swim in the indoor pool topped by a glass roof, dine in the excellent on-site restaurant, and walk to popular shopping and entertainment venues.
• Also in Southbank, the serviced apartments of Quay West Suites are a favorite with families.

Mid-Range Hotels:

• A couple of blocks from the famous Queen Victoria Market, the Radisson on Flagstaff Gardens has a tram stop on its doorstep and offers great value within walking distance of shops and restaurants.
• Also steps away from a free tram and a five-minute walk from outlet shopping, Alto Hotel on Bourke is Australia's first carbon-neutral hotel. Its modern apartments are a great choice for families.
• A five-minute walk from Federation Square, the boutique Adelphi Hotel surprises guests with its contemporary style and personal touches.

Budget Hotels:

• Near Melbourne Park, the family-run City Centre Budget Hotel offers excellent value, with a rooftop kitchen and plenty of public transport options on its doorstep.
• Within walking distance of Flinders Street Station, the Ibis Budget Melbourne CBD has basic rooms but a fantastic location.
• Also in the budget price range, Essence Hotel Carlton lies two tram stops away from the CBD and only a five-minute walk from the Melbourne Museum, IMAX Theatre, and the Free Tram Zone. The rooms are tiny but clean, and the beds are comfy.
• Neighbours Sightseeing Tour: Fans of the long-running Neighbours TV soap opera can take a "Neighbours" Tour of Ramsay Street to see filming locations and the original Ramsay Street houses. You also have the opportunity to meet one of the cast members.
• Great Ocean Road Day Trip: The most popular excursion from Melbourne is to the Great Ocean Road and the site of the famous limestone stacks known as the Twelve Apostles. The Great Ocean Road Small-Group Eco Tour from Melbourne is an easy and fun excursion. This tour offers hotel pickup and drop-off, morning tea, lunch, transport in a 24-passenger vehicle, and park admission fees for stops at Great Otway National Park for wildlife viewing and Port Campbell National Park to see the Twelve Apostles. You can also upgrade this tour to include a scenic helicopter flight.

More Related Articles on PlanetWare.com

Day Trip Adventures : Need a nature fix? You'll find plenty of inspiring places to visit near Melbourne by car. Day trip destinations include the beautiful Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges and the golden beaches of the Mornington Peninsula . In less than a two-hour drive from Melbourne, you can also delve into the rich Gold Rush history of Ballarat, Bendigo, and the Macedon Ranges , and on the western side of Port Phillip Bay, Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula are the gateway to the Great Ocean Road .

Outdoor Adventures : If you're after some fresh air fun, check out these other places to visit in regional Victoria. Skiers will find some of Australia's top ski resorts within a day's drive of Melbourne, as well as fantastic fishing and some of the country's best hikes . If you need help planning your trip, see our article on Australia's top itineraries .

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The Perfect Melbourne Itinerary (2023) – Things to Do, Travel Guide & Places to Eat

March 30, 2023 by Bino Leave a Comment

Two days in Melbourne might seem like an awfully short time to explore a fantastic Australian city but if you are faced with limited time as I was when I visited for just over 48 hours a couple months ago, it is still possible to cover a bit of ground when it comes to the sights and eats in this world-class city Down Under.

Here is a suggested itinerary that you can do easily for two days to four days in Melbourne even without renting your own car.

Table of Contents

Day 1 – Melbourne CBD

Laid out in a grid, the streets of Melbourne’s CBD are highly easy to navigate. This is an intuitive place to start your exploration of the city where many of the attractions are within walking distance of each other or just a short tram ride apart. I would recommend starting from the west and working your way to the center and the east where most of the interesting places are located. A hidden gem in Melbourne is 333 Collins Street , an unassuming office building from the outside but housing a beautiful lobby and dome. You’d be forgiven to think you’re somewhere in Europe!

melbourne’s block arcade

From here, walk to the Block Arcade and Royal Arcade , a duo of historic shopping centers dating back from the Victorian era. The shops here are mostly high-end but it’s worth a short stroll to check out the fascinating architecture. As you are window-shopping anyway, might as well catch a ride on the free tram and head northwards to the Queen Victoria Market (open daily except Mondays and Wednesdays), the most well-known market in the city. If you are there at around noon, grab lunch in one of the specialty food stalls. There’s always something interesting being sold here – from fresh seafood, pastries and even drinks. Alternatively, if you’d like to explore more of Melbourne’s markets, you can check out Prahran Market or the South Melbourne Market .

If you are feeling peckish while walking around Melbourne’s downtown, you can check out Kariton Sorbetes (177 Russell Street), a Filipino-inspired ice cream shop. Try the ube gelato that is served with purple yam fudge, blackberry jam and caramelized coconut curds. 

state library of victoria

After spending a couple of hours in the sprawling market, make your way down via tram or foot to the State Library of Victoria . Another attraction that you should not miss in Melbourne, the building is known for its highly instagrammable La Trobe Reading Room which has an octagonal shape and a dome which was the largest in the world when it was completed back in 1913.

hosier lane

Head south via the Swanston Street tram to Flinders Street Railway Station , a city landmark. Other notable attractions such as the St. Paul’s Cathedral and Hosier Lane are within reach from here. The latter is especially known for its graffiti and at any given time, you’ll find people spraying paint all over the walls – making for a new scene with every visit. While Hosier Lane is probably the most well-known, Melbourne has several interesting lanes and some other examples include the following:

• Centre Place – very photogenic due to its many neon signs lining either side of the narrow path that mimick busier places like Tokyo or Hong Kong. You’ll find plenty of restaurants, cafes and bars here.
• Hardware Lane – atmospheric area filled with restaurants and cafes, giving off an European vibe.
• AC/DC Lane – tribute to the Australian rock band. You’ll find some bars and night clubs here dedicated to rock and roll.

melbourne federation square by rob young

A short walk from Hosier Lane is Melbourne’s Art Precinct . Located south of the Yarra River and connected through the Princes Bridge, the Art Precinct comprises of attractions such as the futuristic Arts Centre Melbourne , a performing arts venue, as well as the National Gallery of Victoria . This is a free tour that is held at 11AM on most days and runs through some of the more notable artworks by local artists. In the nearby Federation Square , one will find the Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia which also has a focus on local artists. 

For dinner, I would recommend heading to Rice, Paper Scissors (19 Liverpool Street, +613 9663 9890). It is a Southeast Asian restaurant but even I (who also comes from Southeast Asia) was blown away by the food. There is a distinct Australian twist to the dishes with influences that range from Thailand to the Philippines but most are worth trying.

Day 2 – Fitzroy and Collingwood

crumpets at stagger lee’s cafe

While Melbourne already has a reputation for being a “hipster city” – this is probably nowhere else more apparent than in Fitzroy and Collingwood .  The area is filled with art galleries, studios, hip cafes as well as independent fashion brands. These two suburbs are best explored by going on a walking tour that takes in Brunswick Street – Johnston Street – Smith Street and then Gertrude Street where most of the interesting establishments are. If you are feeling peckish, check out Naked for Satan (285 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy; +61  3 9416 2238) which also has a nice rooftop bar. If you are there for lunch, all dishes are priced at S$9 – around half of the usual price. If you prefer to have breakfast/brunch food instead, check out Stagger Lee’s Cafe just across the street. Aside from great coffee, they also have excellent crumpets.

carlton gardens by denisbin

If you don’t mind the fifteen to twenty minute walk, you can head to the Carlton Gardens – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – to soak in some greenery and the magnificence of the Royal Exhibition Building which dates back from 1880.

brighton bathing boxes

Many visitors who intend to explore the day trip destinations around Melbourne hire a car but even without one, it is possible to venture to some attractions via public transport. An example is the Brighton Bathing Boxes which has become an ubiquitous part of most tourists’ Melbourne itinerary.  A 40+ minute train ride from Parliament Railway Station which is a short walk from Carlton Gardens, the row of colorful and brightly decorated beach houses are highly instagrammable and considered one of the most iconic attractions around Melbourne.

For dinner, you can’t go wrong with Red Spice QV (37 Artemis Lane, +61 3 8660 6300). The Five-Spiced Pork Belly is a must!

Day 3 – Great Ocean Road

The Great Ocean Road is one of Australia’s most spectacular stretch of road. Covering 240 kilometers, visitors can expect plenty of twists and turns as well as natural attractions along the way. 

twelve apostles by josselin berger | cc 2.0

To cover the Great Ocean Road, allocate at least a day. You can choose to rent a car or book a day tour . Must-see stops include Port Campbell National Park , Great Otway National Park as well as the Twelve Apostles . You will also get to see some scenic towns along the way such as Geelong and Torquay. 

While most visitors invariably drive up until the Twelve Apostles area, do note that the Great Ocean Road actually stretches longer than that – up to the town of Warrnambool. From that additional stretch from Twelve Apostles to Warrnambool, you will get to see some more rock formations and lookout points such as the Magic Rock and Bay of Islands . These are not as impressive as those found on the main trail so I’d suggest extending until Warrnambool only if you really have lots of spare time.

Day 4 – Yarra Valley

yarra valley vineyards by the 3b’s | cc 2.0

Explore the lush green valleys immediately to the east of Melbourne by going on a gourmet tour of Yarra Valley . Typical trips take you to three wineries and you can sip different types of wines and have some of Yarra’s fresh farm cheese to go along. Lunch is typically provided in these tours with a customary stop at Yarra Valley Chocolaterie at the end. Allot an entire day for the trip. You can book this tour here .

Day Trips If You Have More Time to Spare

To save on costs, you can also consider going with a pre-arranged tour for your day trip destinations. Check out Shopback in order to gain cashback with tour operators such as Klook and Voyagin. Better yet, check out their ShopFest in order to get even better deals during special sale days like single’s day or the 12/12 online fever.

• Philip Island – sighting of penguins
• Ballarat – a glimpse of Australia back in the days of the gold rush
• Grampians National Park

Tip: If you need a local sim card for all your data needs, you can conveniently purchase one here . You can pick-up from the lockers regardless of the time of day you arrive in Melbourne.

Getting to the City From Airport

You can either try a ridesharing app such as UBER (around A$40 to A$50) but the cheapest way to get to town is by taking the SkyBus (A$20.05 for a one-way trip). 

Where to Stay in Melbourne

Budget:  Situated at the fringes of the city center and a few minutes walk from the State Library, Space Hotel is a colorful budget hotel filled with amenities such as a jacuzzi/hot tub in their rooftop and sweeping views of the CBD. You can choose between dorm beds, private rooms with shared bathrooms or private rooms with your own bathroom. 

Midrange: I stated at the relatively new Novotel Melbourne South Wharf which is located in the hip riverside area called South Bank. Rooms are spacious, decently-priced and most important – new. To get to the CBD, you’ll just need to cross the bridge to the other side of the city.

Upscale: If you prefer something more plush, the Pan Pacific Melbourne which is just next to the Novotel is also a great choice. All rooms boast of deep-soaking tub and floor-to-ceiling windows.

You can also check for deals on other Melbourne hotels here .

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Hi, my name is Bino and I started I Wander around 15 years ago with the aim of sharing about some of my personal journeys and experiences, hoping that the information may benefit readers like yourselves. Let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment below. Alternatively, you can also email me at b i n o (at) iwandered.net. You can follow I Wander on Facebook , Telegram , or Instagram . Also, if you liked this article, please feel free to SHARE or RETWEET

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The Ultimate Travel Guide to Melbourne – Best Things To Do, See & Much More

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Table of Contents

A brief history of melbourne, melbourne fact file, getting to melbourne, getting around melbourne, top 10 neighborhoods to visit in melbourne, top 10 melbourne attractions, 10 unique & quirky things to do in melbourne, top 5 best beaches in & around melbourne, top 10 secret & hidden cool bars, top 10 breakfast & brunch spots in melbourne, top 5 melbourne places for coffee lovers, top 10 shopping areas & markets, 15 melbourne tips, hacks, & advice, 10 fun facts about melbourne, top 5 day trips from melbourne, how to stay safe in melbourne.

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As the sporting and cultural capital of Australia, Melbourne has plenty to offer visitors from all over the world. From the rooftop bars and designer boutiques that give the city a cosmopolitan feel, to its plentiful array of historical buildings and landmarks — Melbourne has something new to discover on every corner. You can immerse yourself in Melbourne’s rich Victorian heritage at the Royal Exhibition Building, one of the oldest remaining exhibition pavilions in the world. Or walk a mile in the shoes of the early western settlers, who found themselves paying for their crimes in the eerie but fascinating Melbourne Gaol.

Step straight back into the 21st century at the Scienceworks with plenty of interactive exhibits that link Melbourne’s industry, heritage, and applied technology in one place. Or enjoy the wonderful collection of museums and art galleries dotted throughout the city.

If food is your thing, Melbourne will certainly not disappoint. From traditional Aussie fare to cool contemporary cuisine, there’s a wealth of restaurants, cafes, bistros, and bars to keep your taste buds tempted. A nice cool beer is always on the menu, and so are some of the finest wines in Australia, many of which are produced in the neighboring wine regions and breweries of Victoria.

The city of Melbourne was first founded on the Yarra River in 1835 and went on to enjoy significant growth up until 1850, despite remaining a relatively rural settlement. The Gold Rush in 1851, however, totally transformed the area from a colony of smallholdings into a hotbed of immigration and development, which would later establish Melbourne as Australia’s major financial center.

The State of Victoria saw a major influx of new settlers all looking to strike gold! With them came a steady flow of provisions for housing, food, and mining equipment, which helped over £100 million worth of gold to be plucked from the region in the 1850s alone. With Victoria now being a very wealthy colony, the fortunes of the new Victorians flourished.

The International Exhibition of 1880 placed Melbourne firmly on the map as an important trade center for wool, wheat, and other agricultural products, as well as being Australia’s most refined city.

Despite suffering during the depression of the 1930s, the city rose again in the mid to late 20th century, becoming home to headquarters operations for a lot of the country’s largest companies (many of whom are still based in the city today). Now a culturally diverse city offering some of the best living standards throughout Australia, Melbourne has come a long way from its humble rural roots.

Tip: Flying to Australia? We’ve created a super in-depth guide on the best ways to fly to Australia using points and miles.  

Melbourne is Australia’s second largest city and is considered by many to be the cultural and sporting capital of Australia. For all of its fine restaurants, elegant buildings and historically important landmarks, the city is also extremely welcoming and has a multicultural feel that appeals to most visitors.

If you’d like to know some useful facts and figures before you visit, here are a few to get you going:

Population: 4.8 million

Area (including greater metropolitan area): 9,992.5 square kilometers

Official Language: English

Other Languages Spoken: Melbourne is home to residents from all over the world, and as many as 251 languages can be heard throughout the city every day.

Religion: The major religion of the country is Christianity. In Melbourne this is broken down into the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Church, Eastern Orthodox, and the Uniting churches.

Current Prime Minister: Malcolm Turnbull

Time Zone: The standard time zone for Melbourne is UTC+10:00 (Coordinated Universal Time), changing to UTC+11:00 when daylight savings time (DST) is in operation.

Currency: Australian Dollar AUD

Country Dialing Code Prefix: +61

Emergency Numbers: Dial 000 and ask for the service you require (police, fire service, or ambulance service)

Open space: 9% (including parks and gardens)

Taxi Cabs: 7,544

Cafes and Restaurants: 2,336

Beaches: Over 30 designated public beaches plus many more private inlets and coastal spaces.

Australia may well be the smallest continent on Earth, but it is a vast region surrounded by water on all sides. Most visitors reach Australia by air, and flight times can be pretty long even from neighboring countries.

Flying Into Melbourne

Opened in the 1970s, Melbourne Airport (also known as Tullamarine Airport) is the only international airport serving the city of Melbourne , and the second busiest airport in Australia .

Avalon Airport, Essendon Airport, and Moorabbin Airport also service the city, but are limited to internal or cargo flights only.

Tullamarine Airport provides international flights to destinations all over the world and is serviced by the following airlines:

Air Asia, Aircalin, Air Canada, Air China, Air India, Air Mauritius, Air New Zealand, Air Vanuatu, Capital Airlines, Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Emirates, Etihad, Fiji Airlines, Garuda Indonesia Airlines, Hainan Airlines, Hong Kong Airlines, Japan Airlines, Jetstar Airlines, Latam Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Philippine Airlines, Qantas Airways, Royal Brunei Airlines, Scoot, Sichuan Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Sri Lankan Airlines, Thai Airlines, United Airlines, Vietnam Airlines, Virgin Australia, Xiamen Air

Once you’ve landed on Australian shores, finding your way to the city of Melbourne is quite straightforward.

Traveling From the Airport to the City

Melbourne Airport offers a dedicated shuttle service from the terminal to the city itself. The SkyBus is the main airport shuttle, which leaves from 2 locations outside the terminals and operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. SkyBus runs to and from Southern Cross Station and leaves every 10 minutes for most of the day.

Tickets are $19 one-way or $38 return for adults; up to 4 children can travel for free. The journey time is usually between 20-40 minutes depending on traffic.

There are other shuttle buses available that run directly to some of the inner-city hotels. Prices range from $18-$25 depending on destination, and there is no need to change buses at Southern Cross Station.

Public transport can also take you from the airport into the CBD (Central Business District). Using a low-cost myki card, you can enjoy a leisurely route on both the train and the bus to reach your accommodation. The 901 bus to Broadmeadows station will let you catch a train for the remaining 40-minute trip to Flinders Street in the CBD. Services run at 15-minute intervals during the week, and every half hour at night and on weekends. Costs vary depending on your destination.

There are currently no direct train links between Melbourne Airport and the city center. If you do want to take the train, you would need to hop on the 901 bus to Broadmeadows Station and then catch the Craigieburn Line train into the city center. You’d need to allow well over an hour for this journey.

There are plenty of taxis located in designated ranks outside the exits of Melbourne Airport. The journey can take anywhere between 40-60 minutes (or sometimes more during busy periods), and it will cost you around $60 for a single journey.

You can pre-book a taxi to pick up you and your luggage from inside the airport if this is simpler. Taxi services like rideways.com and taxicode.com will allow you to book your pickup online.

Uber drivers also operate in and around Melbourne, and you can arrange your pickup simply by using the app on your Smartphone.

Trams are a major form of public transportation in Melbourne, with a network covering over 250 kilometers in the metro area. The City Trams are free, but they don’t extend all they way to the airport. You would need to reach Southern Cross station before enjoying a tram ride or 2.

Once you’ve arrived in the city, there are plenty of options for affordable, reliable, and easily accessible public transportation.

To travel on the Melbourne bus system, you’ll need to purchase a myki card. These cost $6 for adults and $3 for children, and they need to keep a positive balance in order for you to travel. Your myki card can be topped up at over 800 retailers throughout the city. Alternatively, you can purchase a myki explorer pack that combines a ready-to-use myki card with helpful information and special offers for visitors to the city. When you leave, you can even donate your myki card to charity.

Buses run all over the city from around 6:00am until 9:00pm most days, and the Night Network runs all night metropolitan trains, trams, and late night buses on weekends.

You can find more information about bus routes and timetables at Public Transport Victoria .

Trams have been an iconic sight in the city since 1885, and the network now offers over 490 trams covering 24 routes and 1,763 tram stops. It is the largest urban tramway network in the world…and better still, the City Tram Zone is entirely free to travel on! This makes it a great way to explore the inner-city areas. Trams run most days from 8:45am until around 4:00pm.

Again, further details on tram routes and timetables can be found at Public Transport Victoria .

Taxis and Ubers are also plentiful on the streets of Melbourne, and you can hail a car, pick one up at a designated taxi rank, or pre-book a trip online. Melbourne taxis display a light on top of the cab roof and are usually painted yellow, silver, or white. Drivers are required to wear a uniform in the city and display an identity card on the dashboard at all times.

Information about taxi firms, fares, and regulations can be found at the Taxi Services Commission website.

Melbourne’s metro trains run between the outer suburbs and Flinders Street Station. The City Loop is Melbourne’s very own underground system; although small, it offers quick and easy access to 5 stations within the central business district. If you want to travel further into the suburbs or out into Victoria, Southern Cross Station is the main hub for both regional and interstate rail services in and out of Melbourne. You can use your myki card on trains covering the metro area, but trains into the suburbs and beyond will need additional tickets.

For more information about ticketing, fares, and timetables, visit the Public Transport Victoria website.

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Melbourne is collection of different neighborhoods, each one bringing their own unique character and charm into the city. To really get to know Melbourne, spend some time moving between the different suburbs and developing a real taste for the Melbourne way of life.

Melbourne CBD

The Central Business District (or CBD) is the beating heart of the city of Melbourne. From the open spaces, royal gardens, and docklands eateries to the high-end shopping opportunities in Bourke Street Mall and the Melbourne Centre, the city has plenty to see and do. With first class restaurants, cool cafes, boutiques, and old arcades on every corner, a day spent exploring the CBD is a day well spent.

If you want to step back in time, the Old Melbourne Gaol and the Melbourne Aquarium sit nestled among the modern commercial buildings, adding gravity to the district. Meanwhile, the museums and galleries of Federation Square add grandeur. Students, families , and travelers are often seen mixing with commuters on their lunch hours — the CBD is open to everybody.

Where to stay:

• The Langham
• Mercure Welcome

An inner suburb of Melbourne, St Kilda is a beachside neighborhood frequented by backpackers, families, and anyone looking to enjoy the great outdoors. From the glorious mansions of days gone by to the historic Sea Baths and wild rides at Luna Park, St Kilda has a traditional seaside resort feel about it.

Sip coffee on the sea front while you watch the yachts sail by, or sample some of the great cake shops to be found on Acland and Carlisle streets. When night falls, the area’s pubs and music venues fill up with loud music and late night revelers.

• The Blackman
• Melbourne Parkview

Carlton is well known for the wide selection of cafes and restaurants tucked within the Lygon Street Italian precinct, giving this area the local moniker of “Little Italy.” It is also home to the historic Melbourne General Cemetery and Princes Park, playground for Melbourne’s very own Carlton Football Club.

With plenty of leafy avenues and open spaces to enjoy, Carlton Gardens themselves contain the contemporary Melbourne Museum and the domed 19th Century Royal Exhibition Building that has World Heritage status. Carlton is vibrant and friendly, with a truly cosmopolitan feel.

• Carlton Terrace
• Rydges on Swanston
• Best Western Plus

Fitzroy is home to all things alternative in the city of Melbourne. If something is cool and kooky, you can find it here. Secondhand book stalls, vintage clothing stores, quirky boutiques, and independent retailers can all be seen on Brunswick Street. Or stop for a bite in any of the awe-inspiring vegan, vegetarian, or alternative cafes and restaurants dotting the area.

Fitzroy is renowned throughout the whole of Australia for its street art, music scene, and bohemian feel, and it is also the main home of Melbourne’s Fringe Festival . Come and enjoy cocktails with the cool creatives just a short bus ride from the CBD.

• Quest Royal Gardens
• Melbourne Metropole Central

Richmond is a multicultural suburb that welcomes residents from all over the world. It’s best known for Victoria Street, or “Little Saigon,” which is brimming with Asian grocery stores and eateries serving pho and bánh mì. If you’re looking to grab a bargain, the Bridge Road factory outlets offer great valuing clothing, furniture, and design stores.

Many of the historic old buildings that formerly filled the area have been given a new lease on life as cool bars and happening music venues. A little rough around the edges, Richmond has a young but edgy vibe.

• Andre’s Mews
• Richmond Hill Hotel

Williamstown

Williamstown is a highly desirable suburb to visit, and it gets pretty busy all year round. Located right on the waterfront, Williamstown offers a rare combination of open spaces, good facilities, and a wide variety of options all within easy reach of the CBD.

It has lots of residential areas, so Williamstown is a nice place to stop for coffee or ice cream, and the area has a safe, welcoming feel to it. Parking is a nightmare though, and everywhere from the beach to the street can be packed on weekends.

• Quest Williamstown
• Punthill Apartment Hotel

South Yarra

South Yarra is an upmarket suburb of the city that is popular with aspirational professionals and young families. Art deco apartments facing the Yarra are highly sought after, as are well-preserved mansions like the famous Como House.

The streets here are filled with swanky boutiques, fine restaurants, art galleries, and cocktail bars, and Toorak Road or Chapel Street are the places to see and be seen. The Royal Botanic Gardens meet South Yarra at its most northerly point, making them the perfect place to enjoy a jog or picnic away from the apartments and nearby streets.

• Oaks South Yarra
• Hotel Claremont

The Docklands area of the city has been heavily regenerated over the past 20 years and is now a contemporary development full of high-rise apartments and office blocks. Dominated by the colorful Melbourne Star Observation Wheel that keeps a watchful eye over proceedings, the area is now full of big-name shops and ample opportunities for waterside dining.

Pedestrianized plazas are family friendly, and there are public murals, sculptures, and light displays to enjoy. This area is mostly a resort destination, but has a family feel encouraged by visitors coming to see sporting events at Etihad Stadium or enjoy Harbor Town’s mini-golf and sports car simulators.

• Crowne Plaza
• Vibe Savoy Hotel
• The Great Southern Hotel

Situated on the waterfront, Southbank is renowned for great restaurants, amazing public art displays, and upmarket shopping opportunities. The crowds here are sophisticated and worldly; they come to enjoy cultural venues like the Malthouse Theatre (based in a restored brewery) and the state-of-the-art Melbourne Recital Centre’s classical concerts.

The Crown Casino Complex is also nearby, making it a popular part of the city for high rollers. If you want to ensure you’re caught looking super-cool, check out the many al fresco fine dining experiences on the promenade, or spend your night sipping craft beer in a cargo shed.

• Crown Metropol
• Travelodge Hotel Southbank
• Urban Central

For the upwardly mobile and culturally aware, Brunswick offers a laid-back multicultural vibe that is popular with the young, alternative crowd. With plenty of live music venues, upbeat pubs, and beer gardens to choose from, Brunswick is not just a night out: it’s a lifestyle. At the heart of the area lies the Sydney Road, with all its Middle Eastern and Mediterranean eateries, unusual stores, quirky cafes, and lounge bars. Consider this area hipster heaven for Melbourne.

• Best Western
• Victoria Hotel
• Dolma Hotel

Hot Tip: If you enjoy unique accommodations, check out these boutique hotels in Melbourne .

As with most large cities, there are lots of things to do in Melbourne. Here are 10 of the top attractions you definitely should try to see on your trip.

1. Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria

Opened in 1846 and spread over 89 acres, the Gardens offer a slice of paradise within the city, as well as providing a home to over 8,500 species of plants and the wildlife that coexist with them. For a relaxing day out and a real feel for Australia in times gone by, the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria can’t be beaten.

Visit: Open daily from 7:30am to sunset. Entry is free.

Get There: Use tram stop 19, which is the Shrine of Remembrance/St Kilda Rd stop. Via bus, take Route 605 to Melbourne Observatory/Birdwood Avenue.

2. Eureka Skydeck 88

Ride the fastest elevator in the southern hemisphere to the 88 th floor for unparalleled views over Melbourne from the Eureka Skydeck 88 . If that doesn’t impress you, try The Edge , a glass-covered cube that dangles you 300 meters over the city. If you don’t want to enjoy the breathtaking views while suspended in a large transparent box, there is also a nice coffee shop for a more relaxed option.

Visit: Open daily from 10:00am. The Skydeck costs $20 and The Edge costs $12.

Get There: Flinders Street train station is just a 5-minute walk over the Yarra River

3. Federation Square

Federation Square is a large mixed-use area in the heart of Melbourne. Packed with a variety of cafes, restaurants, and bars, it also includes shops selling everything from groceries to souvenirs to high-end fashion. The Square makes a great meeting place in the center of the city, and it’s also home to a wide variety of pop-up shows and exhibitions. Federation Square has a creative program that showcases talent all year round.

Visit: Open 24 hours a day

Get There: Flinders Street train station is the nearest stop; it’s practically right on top of the square.

4. Southbank and Arts Centre Melbourne

Instantly recognizable with its 162-meter spire, the Arts Centre opened in 1982 and is now home to Melbourne’s ballet, opera, theatre, and everything else artistic and creative. The centre often holds outdoor concerts set against the skyscrapers of downtown Melbourne, with lights that dance to the music. With plenty of free entertainment and a full program of events throughout the year, the Southbank and the Arts Centre are always worth a visit.

Visit: Open 7 days a week from early morning to late evening

Get There: Use tram stop 14, Arts Precinct

5. National Gallery of Victoria

Opened in 1968, the National Gallery of Victoria (or NGV) is Australia’s oldest, largest, and most visited art museum. It houses works from across the art world, including Picasso, Monet, Rubens, and many others. For art lovers, the NGV is a must-see.

Visit: Open daily from 10:00am to 5:00pm. Entry is free.

6. Melbourne Cricket Ground

Visit the famous Melbourne Cricket Ground , or “G” as it’s known locally, and take a tour of the impressive stadium, with its vast dressing rooms and adjoining function suites. Have a look to see what’s on at the G when you’re there, as it might be something you’d hate to miss — tickets for many events (including cinema screenings) are easily available.

Visit: Tours are 75 minutes and run between 10:00am and 3:00pm daily. Tickets start around $25, depending on the level of tour you choose.

Get There: Use the tram stop MCG – Hisense Arena/Melbourne Park

7. Melbourne Museum

Opened in 2000, the Melbourne Museum is the largest of its kind in the southern hemisphere. The sprawling complex contains various exhibits, from natural history to cultural displays as well as cinemas, cafes, an amphitheater, and much, much more.

Visit: Open daily from 10:00am to 5:00pm. Tickets are $15 for adults and free for kids.

Get There: On the tram, take route 86 to the corner of Nicholson and Gertrude Streets. By bus, use the Rathdowne Street stop.

8. Captain Cook’s Cottage

Built in 1755, Captain Cook’s Cottage is the oldest building in Australia. It was transported brick by brick from England to Melbourne in 1934. Today, it serves as a historical and cultural center and is one of the most visited tourist attractions in the country.

Visit: Open daily from 9:00am to 5:00pm. Tickets cost $6.50 for adults.

Get There: By tram, use route 48 and get off at Wellington Parade

9. Shrine of Remembrance

Built in 1934, the Shrine of Remembrance is the Victoria state memorial to Australians who served in global conflicts throughout the nation’s history. Inspired by classical architecture, the Shrine was designed and built by WWI veterans. Special exhibitions and events are held throughout the year, providing an ever-changing experience.

Visit: Tours available daily from the visitor’s center at 11:00am and 12:45pm. Admission is free, but donations are welcome.

Get There: Take tram route 21 to Dallas Brooks Dr/Domain Rd

10. Melbourne Star Observation Wheel

An easy one to spot, the Melbourne Star Observation Wheel stands next to the river and affords amazing views over the city. Flights last 30 minutes and can range from a simple sightseeing trip to a champagne trip, or even a wedding in your own private cabin.

Visit: Open 11:00am to 7:00pm (May to August); 11:00am to 10:00pm (September to April). Prices start at $16.50.

Get There: Take the tram route 86, Bourne Street

If you’re looking to get off the tourist trail and want some quirkiness from your visit, here are 10 more things you can do with your time in Melbourne.

1. Kryal Castle

Australia’s only medieval castle, Kryal Castle is home to brave knights, dueling warriors, dragons, mysteries, mazes, and plenty of medieval adventures. The kids will absolutely love it, and once they’ve slayed the dragon and conquered the maze, they can even have a go at archery.

Visit: Open Saturday & Sunday from 10:00am to 4:00pm, as well as school and public holidays. Tickets start at $35.

Get There: Grab the train to Ballarat Station.

2. Cat Cafe

What could be better than enjoying a latte in a homely cafe surrounded by dozens of friendly, happy, rescue cats? Melbourne’s Cat Cafe (the first one in Australia) does just that. Operating primarily as a cat rescue and a cafe second, the kitties are the priority and are spoilt rotten. You’ll get spoilt too, with a steaming hot cup of coffee and a slice of homemade cake.

Visit: Open daily from 10:00am to 6:00pm. 1-hour sessions cost $12 and must be booked in advance.

Get There: Take the tram to Melbourne Central on Elizabeth Street. The cafe is nearby in Guildford Lane.

3. Crafternoon

The perfect place to keep the kids happy, Crafternoon is a cafe where you can eat and create all under one roof. Choose from creating with playdough, painting, badge making, or a heap of other educational and fun sessions to keep the children entertained while you enjoy high tea. It’s not just for little people either — adults can also try their hand at something crafty while there.

Visit: Open daily (except Thursdays) from 8:30am to 4:00pm

Get There: Located on Sydney Road in Brunswick

4. Guided Boat Tours at the Royal Botanic Gardens

Capture the historic beauty of the gardens from a watery vantage point. Jump on board a wooden punt and enjoy a serene cruise around the islands dotted throughout this picturesque ornamental lake. Your own personal guide will talk you through the Gardens’ history, flora, and fauna. Perfect for stress-free sightseeing!

Visit: Guided boat tours run from 10:15am-5:00pm (September to May) and 11:00am-3:30pm (June to August). Tickets start at $25 per person.

5. Make Your Own Gin

At Bass & Flinders Distillery , you can make your very own gin. First you’ll take a masterclass in gin distillation, and by the end of the tour will have created not 1 but 2 unique flavors of gin. You’ll get a large bottle of it to take with you afterward, and the distillery will keep your recipe on file so you can order more when you run out (or decide to gift your creation to friends).

Visit: Book 2-hour classes in advance for $140 per person

Get There: The distillery is located on Red Hill Road in Red Hill

6. Western Water Treatment Plant

If heavy machinery and large civic operations are your thing, a tour around the Western Water Treatment Plant will show how the plant works and let you experience the scale and environmental importance of the site. Take a guided tour around the treatment rooms and processes to learn how energy is captured from methane gas and how the nearby wetlands are looked after.

Visit: Tickets start at $12 for adults, and tours must be pre-booked

Get There: The plant is located in Werribee and easily accessible by car

7. Eerie Ghost Tours

If you like all things ghost related, Eerie Tours offers ghost tours around some unique sites, including a cemetery, a sprawling old asylum, and an unused gaol. There are talks and tales along the way, and if you’re lucky you might come face-to-supernatural-face with a ghost or 2. Not for the faint-hearted!

Visit: Prices start at $27.50 per adult (less for kids)

Get There: Tours are based in Ararat, Ballarat, and the Gold Rush Cemetery, and must be pre-booked

8. Join the Circus

You no longer have to run away to join the circus; now you can do it while you’re here in Melbourne! Circus Oz offers classes in all things circus, including trapeze, hula hoops, German Wheels, acrobatics, flying, and even tumbling. They offer classes for both children and adults, and you can also book tickets to see one of their shows. Circus Oz does not use animals in their performances.

Visit: Prices vary depending on the course

Get There: Based in Johnston Street, Collingwood. Take the 86 tram to Johnston St/Smith St.

9. Neighbours Tour

For fans of the long-running show, the Neighbours Tour is a once in a lifetime opportunity. You will be taken on a guided tour of the Ramsey Street set, as well as other key locations used in the show. There’s a very strong chance you’ll meet one of the stars on your tour, and you’ll have plenty of opportunities to take photos and learn exclusive story details too.

Visit: Open Monday to Friday. Prices start at $59 per adult.

10. The Colonial Tramcar Restaurant

The Colonial Tramcar Restaurant is an authentic Colonial tramcar that has been transformed into a 5-star dining experience. The beautiful wagons cruise through the city streets as you enjoy freshly prepared cuisine surrounded by Victorian history and opulence. The restaurant will arrive back at the departure point at the end of the evening, and bookings can be in short supply.

Visit: Open daily year-round. Prices start at $90 per person, including all food and drink.

Get There: Take the tram to stop 125 Normanby Road

Melbourne offers some of the best beaches in Australia  within just a few miles of the central metro area. If you’re looking to make the most of the coast, here are the top 5 best beaches in and around the city.

Brighton Beach

Brighton Beach is an ideal spot for swimmers, sunbathers, and surfers alike, set against a backdrop of over 80 brightly colored beach boxes. The suburb itself is one of the most sought after parts of the city, and it’s located just to the east of the CBD. You can reach Brighton Beach easily by car or bus, and the nearest station is Brighton Beach.

With plenty of gourmet food outlets and contemporary retailers, you can spend your days on the long stretches of soft sandy beaches surrounding Brighton and Port Phillip, and then have a cool drink in the shade in one of the most popular and upmarket parts of Melbourne.

St Kilda Beach

You won’t find many waves at St. Kilda Beach, but you’ll still find plenty to enjoy. A hotspot for both tourists and locals, St Kilda Beach is a picturesque stretch of soft white sand that is always popular with photographers and film crews. Kite surfers, paddle-boarders, cyclists, and runners love the long straight palm-covered stretches, and there is more than enough beach to go around, no matter how busy it gets.

This beach is also really close to the cafes and restaurants on Acland Street that are perfect for a break from the sun. You can even make the beach your final destination after a busy day racing around the attractions at Luna Park. The best way to reach St Kilda Beach is by hopping on the 3a, 16, or 96 tram from the CBD.

Williamstown Beach

Known locally as “Willy Beach,” this small family-friendly beach is a hit with locals and tourists as well. Being in a popular residential area just a stone’s throw from the city, you can while away the day admiring the sea in front of you, or take in the stunning views of Melbourne just behind you.

This beach is also home to the historic Gem Pier, which offers spectacular unobscured views of the city skyline and looks resplendent thrust out to sea. With plenty of local cafes, shops, and other attractions, Willy Beach is great for kids of all ages. The nearest station is Williamstown Beach.

Mordialloc Beach

If you want a trip to a beach with more than just sand and water to keep you entertained, “Mordi” beach could be just what you’re looking for. With its very own Windows on the Bay restaurant, a children’s playground, and dedicated BBQ and picnic areas, Mordi Beach is a big hit for families, groups, and social gatherings. There is also a bike path that runs all the way back to the suburb of Mentone if you fancy sightseeing on 2 wheels.

Situated in the southern suburb of Kingston, Mordi beach can get very busy during weekends and holidays, so head down there during the week if you want the beach to yourselves. Mordialloc Station is closest, but it’s still about a 1.5 kilometer walk away from the main beach areas.

Elwood Beach

Elwood Beach is a swimming beach offering excellent facilities and long stretches of soft clean sand. It is close to local cafes and restaurants and only about a 20 minute drive from the city. For these reasons, Elwood Beach is very popular among families with young children, giving it a safe, family vibe all year long.

This beach makes the perfect base from which to explore the area’s other beaches, since you can walk around the bay to Brighton Beach or even St Kilda. Elwood offers a rare no boating zone, which is great for swimmers. Sadly, there are no local train or tram stations nearby, but you can easily reach Elwood Beach by car or bus.

Melbourne is renowned for its exceptional bar scene, so it’s tough to create a top 10 list. However, we’re big fans of quirky hidden bars, so here are some you should check out when in the city.

1. Jungle Boy, 96 Chapel Street, Windsor

To find this hidden cocktail bar, you first need to locate Boston Sub, a tiny American sandwich shop in Chapel Street. Head inside and make for the cooler door. Go through, and you’ll step into the tropical surroundings of one of the funkiest cocktail lounges in Melbourne. Plant yourself at the bar and start on the spritzers before getting sucked into the tiki-themed cocktails, each more inventive than the last. Jungle Boy also serves food.

Visit: Open daily from 5:00pm until 1:00am. The nearest tram stop is Windsor.

2. Eau De Vie, 1 Malthouse Lane, Melbourne

Skillfully tucked away down Malthouse Lane, you’ll need to keep yours eyes out for an unsigned service entrance and head inside. You’ll know you’re in the right place if you’re not chased out by some angry chefs, but instead welcomed by waistcoated greeters fresh out of 1920s Chicago.

Eau De Vie is a Prohibition-themed bar channeling all very best parts of vintage Americana. You can sit at the bar or share a private booth and get started on the best cocktails in the country. Behind a bookcase is another secret area, the Whiskey Room, that’s a whole new level of whisky drinking awesome.

Visit: Open Monday-Thursday 5:00pm to 1:00am, Friday & Saturday 4:00pm to 1:00am, and Sunday 4:00pm to 11:00pm. No Tommy guns please!

3. Hihou, 1 Flinders Lane, Melbourne

On Flinders Lane near the corner of Spring Street lies this amazing Japanese bar and restaurant. Keep your eyes peeled though, as the entrance is really easy to miss. Hihou offers a superb variety of worldwide fare all given a unique Japanese twist. There is also a wonderful cocktail menu on offer too.

If you choose to dine upstairs, you’ll be asked to remove your shoes as you’ll be sitting at traditional Japanese low tables. If you’re dining downstairs, usual rules apply.

Visit: Open Monday-Wednesday 5:00pm to midnight, Thursday-Saturday 5:00pm to 1:00am. Nearest station is Flinders Street.

4. Sister Bella, 22 Drewery Place, Melbourne

The ultimate in stripped-down hidden bar chic, this place is not easily spotted when passing by. Should you make the effort, though, you will be rewarded with a visit to one of the quirkiest bars in the city. Word of mouth advertising is all they’ve used here, so everyone else you see will have explored their way inside too.

The drinks menu is refreshingly basic, which fits the décor perfectly. A tattooed and cool staff will make you feel right at home as you take a seat on the recycled furniture to take in the surroundings.

Visit: Bar open Monday-Saturday 4:00pm to 1:00am, Sunday 4:00pm to 11:00pm

5. Murmur, 17 Warburton Lane, Melbourne

Melbourne’s only dedicated piano bar, Murmur is a hot spot with a drinks menu thicker than an old phone book. Serving fine drinks and cocktails from around the world as well as amazing food, this relaxing bar offers an oasis from the bustling city outside. A great place to impress that special someone in your life (or simply indulge your inner connoisseur), Murmur will forever raise your food and drink standards. It’s 1920s chic for the 21st century.

Visit: Open Monday-Friday 4:30pm to 11:00pm, Saturday & Sunday 4:30pm to 1:00am

6. Loch & Key, 34 Franklin Street, Melbourne

The first thing you need to do here is find the Captain Melville Bar in Franklin Street. Once inside, look for a bookcase that gives way to a rickety staircase. This leads you to Loch & Key , a semi-secret but fabulous bar and lounge. You can remain fed and watered here until the sun comes up, all accompanied by 70s funk and electronica.

The food is experimental and delicious, but it’s the drinks you’ll come here for. Loch & Key’s bar staff will serve you anything from a cold beer to an outlandish cocktail — including everything in between.

Visit: Open Sunday-Thursday 5:00pm to 5:00am, Friday & Saturday 5:00pm to 7:00am

7. Marrakech, 25 Bank Place, Melbourne

Hidden underneath Bank Place, Marrakech is a Moroccan-themed bar that offers the latest R&B and soul music in sumptuous surroundings. Grab a comfortable booth and soak up the softly-lit décor while sipping fine cocktails and enjoying delectable cuisine.

They also have Shisha pipes, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the Moroccan vibe. There are always special offers available, and you can find out about these on the Marrakech website before you go.

Visit: Open Monday-Thursday 11:00am till late, Friday 3:00pm to 3:00am, Saturday 6:00pm to 3:00am, Sunday 6:00pm till late

8. Bartronica, Basement, 335 Flinders Lane, Melbourne

Bartronica is Melbourne’s first vintage arcade bar. Indulge your 80s inner child with this hidden bar that’s packed with retro arcade games. Once you’ve found the place, grab a beer or one of the many weird and wonderful cocktails and get on a classic machine like Mortal Kombat, Sonic, or Mario Kart. When you need to get some air, you can head out into the beer garden, which has been set up to feel like it’s in downtown New York .

Visit: Open Wednesday-Saturday 4:00pm to 1:00am

9. The Alchemist, 361 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy

This unusual drinking spot is decked out like an alchemist’s lab: everything’s covered in gold and festooned with old flasks and lab equipment. The Alchemist has an extensive wine list and probably one of the best and most experimental cocktail menus in Australia. Mixologists here can make anything you can think of — they’re as good at turning booze into cocktails as an alchemist is at turning lead into gold. Tapas-style food fills the gaps while live jazz on Tuesdays and Thursdays soothes the ears.

Visit: Open Sunday & Wednesday 3:00pm to 11:00pm, Thursday-Saturday 3:00pm to 1:00am

10. Pizza Pizza Pizza, 16 Meyers Place, Melbourne

This is a popular and very busy pizza place that does delicious New York-style pizzas with a variety of toppings. What’s that got to do with this list? Well, if you ask a member of staff to see the “special menu,” you’ll be taken through a secret door to a hidden retro-inspired bar out back! Here you can still enjoy delicious pizza, but you can also add a few cocktails to your order to help wash it down a bit better.

Visit: Pizza Pizza Pizza is open Tuesday-Thursday 12:00pm to 11:00pm, Friday 12:00pm to 3:00am, Saturday 6:00pm to 3:00am

Breakfast is the best meal of the day in Melbourne, and with so many great eateries to choose from you’ll never go hungry! Here are our top picks.

1. The Kettle Black, 50 Albert Road, South Melbourne

One of the finest cafes in the city, The Kettle Black offers amazing dishes at great prices that will set you up for the day ahead.

Need to blow the cobwebs away from the night before? They also have wine, beer, and a range of breakfast cocktails to go with their delicious menu. This place also serves a mean cup of coffee.

Visit: Open Monday-Friday 7:00am to 4:00pm, weekends and public holidays 8:00am to 4:00pm

2. Top Paddock, 658 Church Street, Richmond

Set in a beautiful location, this trendy cafe serves up some gorgeous dishes at reasonable prices. The menu is healthy and varied, and it’s accompanied by a fine range of beers and wines (as well as all-day cocktails).

Top Paddock is like a traditional cafe and kitchen, only much better. It’s the perfect spot for a quick breakfast or a long coffee break, whether you’re meeting friends or need a quiet moment to yourself.

Visit: Open Monday-Friday 7:00am to 4:00pm, weekends 8:00am to 4:00pm. The kitchen closes at 3:00pm though, so don’t dawdle!

3. Rudimentary, 16-18 Leeds Street, Footscray

Shipping container bars are getting popular all over the world, and now you can visit one in up-and-coming Footscray. Rudimentary offers breakfasts ranging from light bites to a pork belly extravaganza, none of which will seriously dent your wallet.

Add to this fantastic coffees and other drinks, and you can easily lose a whole day in this amazing venue. Rudimentary is also a community space that aims to contribute to the evolution of a vibrant part of Melbourne, as well as break the current trend of high rise developments.

Visit: Open Monday-Friday 7:30am to 3:30pm, weekends 8:00am to 3:30pm

4. Bowery to Williamsburg, 16 Oliver Lane, Melbourne

This American diner is styled after a New York subway station, complete with signage and bustle! The amazing menu fuses hearty American classics with unique Melbourne touches for some unbeatable dishes. From BBQ bacon cheeseburgers to pastrami sandwiches and key lime pie, you can find it all at Bowery to Williamsburg .

They also do the best American breakfast in town with pretzels, bagels, waffles, and eggs all fresh every morning. You can join the other diners in this deli-style eatery, or have your food wrapped to go.

Visit: Open Monday-Friday 7:30am to 3:00pm, weekends 8:00am to 3:30pm. Closed on public holidays.

5. Auction Rooms, 103-107 Errol Street, North Melbourne

This 150-year-old auction house certainly looks its age from the outside. Venture in, however, and you’ll be greeted with industrial steel and concrete, as well as the buzz of contented diners.

The Auction Rooms serves food from the Middle East, Mexico, and America and does a great selection of all-day breakfast, eggs, and sides. There are also cocktails, beers, and wine, as well as Small Batch coffee (made by the original owner who started the Small Batch company).

Visit: Open Monday-Friday 7:00am to 5:00pm, weekends 7:30am to 5:00pm

6. The Grain Store, 517 Flinders Lane, Melbourne

Offering German, French, and Mediterranean-infused cuisine, The Grain Store cooks healthy meals in a bright space with industrial looks and a homely vibe. The daily breakfast menu includes plenty of healthy fare as well as more hearty fodder.

Their weekend brunch menu is absolutely stunning and available until 3:00pm. You can choose from bacon, eggs, salmon, or even pork belly, among other mouthwateringly lazy breakfast suggestions.

Visit: Open Monday-Friday 7:00am to 4:00pm, weekends 8:00am to 4:00pm

7. The Farm Cafe, 18 St Heliers Street, Abbotsford

What started out as a trestle table and coffee machine has evolved into an excellent rustic eatery, offering hearty country foods as well as healthy lighter options. Their breakfasts are made with love and flavor, and the menu includes a variety of fresh local fare: homemade sausage rolls, granola, and a gut-busting farmers breakfast. Located on an actual farm, The Farm Cafe is the perfect spot for weekend bunches with the kids.

Visit: Open Monday-Friday 9:00am to 4:00pm, weekends 9:00am to 5:00pm

8. Cafe Ora, 156 Parkington Street, Kew

Hidden away in a tired parade of shops is this gem of an owner-operated cafe. Serving fine coffees to suit all tastes, they also offer fresh, healthy food made with herbs and spices grown out back. Breakfasts come in all shapes and sizes, alongside first-class coffee and ice cream too.

Visit: Open Tuesday-Friday 7:00am to 4:00pm, weekends 8:00am to 4:00pm

9. Lights in the Attic, 38 Camberwell Road, Hawthorn East

This suburban cafe is well worth hunting down, as it offers an Asian infusion on traditional breakfast choices. Try the salmon scrambled eggs with Benito flakes or the Nourish bowl, a superfood fusion dish that will provide all the energy you’ll need for the day. Lights In The Attic also serves fresh fruit, eggs, and steaming hot coffee.

Visit: Open Monday-Friday 7:30am to 3:30pm, Saturday 8:00am to 3:00pm, Sunday 8:30am to 3:00pm

10. Mr Hendricks, 469 Whitehorse Road, Balwyn

This family-run cafe offers French-inspired foods created by 2 chef brothers with a wealth of culinary experience. The menu is loaded with amazing dishes that wouldn’t be out of place in a top-end international restaurant.

With all-day breakfasts, a breakfast cassoulet, crispy eggs, and even vanilla brioche toast, these boys are really raising the breakfast game in Balwyn! Oh, and in case you were wondering, Mr. Hendricks is the name of the family dog.

Visit: Open Tuesday-Friday 7:30am to 4:00pm, weekends 8:00am to 4:00pm

If you thought only cities like London and Seattle had cool coffee covered, think again. Melbourne has one the most incredible coffee cultures in the world. Every neighborhood brings something new to the mix, making it irresistible to stop and watch the world go by while sipping on the black stuff in the mild Melbourne climate.

Want to know where to find the very best coffee in the city? Check out these top 5 places for coffee lovers.

1. Market Lane

Market Lane is a specialty coffee roastery, cafe, and retailer born and based in Melbourne. With 5 shops throughout the city, they roast their own beans at their Parham Market roastery and are dedicated to sourcing some of the finest coffee from around the world.

Owner Fleur Studd and chief roaster Jason Scheltus were both big names in the Melbourne coffee scene in their own right. Together, they created a coffee company that is focused on not just providing fantastic tasting coffee, but also on educating every customer about the journey of the humble bean.

2. Proud Mary

Proud Mary is a specialty coffee roaster, cafe, coffee educator, and retailer that is dedicated to producing exceptional coffee, and who takes their roasting very seriously. So much so that you can visit their “Aunty Peg’s” roastery to learn all about the beans, brew your own gear at the shop, or enjoy a one-to-one brew from your own personal barista.

Nolan Hirte, the founder of Proud Mary, is now recognized as a pioneer of the specialty coffee industry in Australia. Having come face to face with the harsh reality of coffee farming during a trip to Bali , he decided to find a way to bridge the gap between farmer and consumer, and shortly afterward Proud Mary was born. Based in Collingwood, the cafe has a vibe that is perfect for locals who enjoy living in one of the quirkiest suburbs of the city.

3. Code Black

The guys and gals at Code Black describe their establishment as “a laboratory, a workshop, and a hub for connoisseurs of the dark art and science of coffee.” We can assume from this statement that they take their coffee very seriously indeed. Located in the trendy suburb of Brunswick, Code Black has created a coffee shop that perfectly matches the interests and inspirations of the local alternative music scene.

If the coffee they brew isn’t quite strong enough for your dark soul, they’ve also launched their very own brand of hot chocolate. Cocoa Jackson consists of a beautiful Venezuelan to give you a dark chocolate kick. Quirky, cool, and unashamedly dark…Code Black is probably just named after the way they take their coffee.

4. Industry Beans

When brothers Steve and Trevor Simmons set up in a tiny garage and began roasting coffee for themselves, they always had their eyes on bigger things. Now situated in a former warehouse in the super cool suburb of Fitzroy, the boys at Industry Beans are now pouring house blends for all to enjoy.

With a strong emphasis on sourcing the very best specialty-grade green coffee from across the globe, the team at Industry Beans creatively applies scientific methodology to the coffee roasting process. They can reveal the complex and distinctive qualities of each single origin coffee, which in the end, makes for a really great cup!

5. Patricia Coffee Brewers

In-house, artisanal coffee flows aplenty at this trendy standing-room-only spot. With their own blends ground on-site, Patricia Coffee Brewers offers a simple choice of black, white, or filter coffees for all to enjoy.

A joint venture between Bowen Holden and Pip Heath, Patricia Coffee Brewers is a quality-driven coffee bar in the heart of Melbourne. Their exceptional service meets carefully crafted coffees, and everyone who steps inside their tiny storefront knows they’re in for a coffee-shaped treat.

Melbourne offers some of the greatest shopping experiences in Australia. From designer boutiques to vintages markets, you can find it all within the city center itself. You may have heard of Chadstone, the largest shopping center in Australia but here are ten others.

1. Emporium Melbourne

The Emporium is the largest Australian luxury shopping area, offering a wealth of designer clothing stores and boutiques as well as over 30 food outlets. Situated on the corner of Lonsdale and Swanston streets, the complex also features large Myer and David Jones department stores.

With 225 stores providing a fusion of fashion, culture, food, and art all located in the central CBD, the Emporium is frequented by locals, commuters, and visitors alike.

Visit: Open from 10:00am until 7:00pm (9:00pm on Thursday and Fridays), and easily accessed by public transport

2. Queen Victoria Village (QV)

Known locally as the “QV,” the Queen Victoria Village is home to both Australian and international designer stores, a wide variety of restaurants, and some of Melbourne’s finest retailers. Occupying an entire city block, the QV is famous for its unique open-air design, with 120 stores running down each of its laneways.

There is also an international food court located in the basement of the building. The retail venue plays host to a wide variety of lifestyle events and shows throughout the year.

Visit: Open daily from 10:00am to as late as 9:00pm on some days.

Get There: Offers over 1,500 car parking spaces, but can also be reached by any tram or bus line.

3. Melbourne Central

The Melbourne Central shopping center is a large modern complex featuring shops, offices, and access to the city loop underground railway below. Refurbished in 2005, the complex now offers a wide range of shops and food stalls that are well-suited to their central location within the CBD.

Almost as well-known as some of the shops are the architectural delights on display. Coop’s Shot Tower, The Marionette Watch, The Glass Cone, and The Vertical Cone have all been built over the years to add interest to this city center retail and commercial complex.

4. Bourke Street Mall

Bourke Street is one of the main thoroughfares in Melbourne’s Central Business District (CBD). It is well-regarded as a hub of entertainment and shopping in the city, and is a popular tourist destination. In recent years the area has become pedestrianized and is only accessible on foot or by tram, allowing visitors to explore the area at their leisure.

If you are looking to enjoy the full city center experience, Bourke Street has everything you need: great shops, fine food, and plenty of the authentic Melbourne atmosphere.

Get There: Nearest stations are Flagstaff Station or Southern Cross Station. Trams 86, 95, and 96 all stop in Bourke Street itself.

5. DFO South Wharf

Centrally located in Melbourne CBD and next to the popular upmarket Docklands suburb, DFO South Wharf is a factory outlet complex offering well-known branded goods for majorly discounted prices. Similar to the outlet stores normally found on the outskirts of major towns and cities, the DFO South Wharf offers all the fun of bargain hunting right in the city center. It also hosts a variety of cafes, bistros, and restaurants so you can enjoy a whole day’s shopping under one roof.

Visit: Stores open from 10:00am until 6:00pm every day, except Friday when they offer late night shopping until 9:00pm.

Get There: Nearest train station is Southern Cross, which is about a 15-minute walk away. Or, hop on any trams traveling along Swanston Street and St Kilda Road that stop at Federation Square, or the corner of Flinders and Swanston streets.

6. Prahran Market

Known as “the food lovers market,” Prahran Market offers a wide range of high quality fruit and vegetables, certified organic produce, sustainable seafood, free-range meat and poultry, and more. Having been on the same Commercial Road site for over 125 years, the market offers a variety of stalls and shops selling every type of food you could imagine. The market also has a dedicated Market Square where there are community performances, cafes, and a children’s playground.

Visit: Located in the suburb of South Yarra. Open Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 7:00am until 5:00pm, and 10:00am until 3:00pm on Sundays. Closed Mondays and Wednesdays.

7. Queen Victoria Market

The Queen Victoria Market is a major landmark in Melbourne and the largest open air market in the Southern Hemisphere. Standing at around 7 hectares, the marketplace is both historically and architecturally important (and is actually listed on the Victorian Heritage Register). Visitors can expect to find a wide variety of fresh, high-quality produce and specialty shopping including clothing, art, and interior goods.

Visit: Open from 6:00am most mornings, closing times vary depending on the day. Night market during the summer months on Wednesdays from 5:00pm until 10:00pm. Closed Mondays.

Get There: Located between Queen Street, Victoria Street, and Peel Street, the market can be reached by train using either Melbourne Central or Flagstaff Stations. Alternatively, take tram 19, 57, or 59 to stop 7, Elizabeth St (or tram 58 to stop 9, Peel St).

8. The Rose Street Market

Rose Street Market is an artists’ market where everything on sale is handmade. Widely known as a platform for emerging artists, it is a great place to find one-off pieces of art, unusual fashion, unique jewelry, and work from local photographers.

Occupying an abandoned yard in Fitzroy, Rose Street Market is the creative hub of the CBD and the city’s most important home for independent art and design.

Visit: Market held every Saturday from 11:00am until 5:00pm.

Get There: Best reached by tram using the 96 from Bourke St (get off at stop 16) or 11 from Collins St. (get off at stop 17).

9. Fitzroy Market

The Fitzroy Market  is a community project that has been running since 2010. Selling a variety of secondhand clothing and goods, handmade items, and homemade food, the market is put on by the community and benefits partner organizations in education. There is always a welcoming atmosphere, lots of live music and entertainment, and a real neighborly spirit, making the market a lovely place to be on a sunny Saturday in Melbourne.

Visit: Market held on the 3rd Saturday of every month from 10:00am until 3:00pm at the Fitzroy Primary School.

Get There: Take trams 86 (travel to Smith St), 96 (travel down Nicholson St), and 112 (travel down Brunswick St). Or, buses 200, 201, 203, 205, and 207 all stop at nearby Johnston Street.

10. Camberwell Market

Camberwell Sunday Market is Melbourne’s premier vintage market, and it offers a wide range of secondhand goods and crafts. It sells anything retro and is the perfect place to find antiques, collectables, vintage clothing, handmade crafts, vinyl, musical instruments, knick knacks, and much more.

Visit: Market held every Sunday morning (except the Sunday before Christmas Day) from 7:30am until 12:30pm.

Get There: Take the train to Camberwell Railway Station, or bus routes 612 or 285 to Camberwell Junction.

Visiting foreign lands can be an expensive business, especially if you’re planning to spend any time in a major city. While Melbourne may not be the most expensive destination in the world, it certainly isn’t the cheapest either. Try these top hacks to help your vacation budget stretch a little further.

1. Explore Your New Surroundings

Getting your bearings needn’t be boring. Melbourne is a wonderful city to just roam around and explore for free. Take in the city center and browse the streets as you get a feel for that authentic Melbourne atmosphere. When you run out of steam, there are plenty of parks and green spaces to relax in.

2. Go to the Museums

While away the hours taking in the free galleries and museums dotted thought the city. The National Gallery Of Victoria has a vast collection of art from all around the world, and The Australian Centre for The Moving Image offers incredible interactive exhibits.

3. Take a Trip to the Beach

Melbourne may be a vibrant and bustling city, but you’re never more than a few miles away from the nearest beach. Australia has some of the finest beaches in the world, and the coast surrounding Melbourne is certainly no exception. Enjoy free sunbathing, surfing, or swimming at any of the beaches surrounding the city.

4. Soak up the Arts Scene

Melbourne is a very creative city full of musicians, magicians, buskers, breakdancers, and much more. You can catch any number of free outdoor performances all across the CBD and into the suburbs. Bourke Street, Southbank, and Federation Square are virtually guaranteed to have something going on nearly every day of the week.

5. Visit the Markets

Melbourne is full of amazing markets, and you’ll be able to find one that offers everything you need on pretty much any day of the week. From the vast and historical Queen Victoria Market to the foodies’ favorites at Prahran Market and everything in between, you will never be short of a bargain or 2.

6. Shop the Outlets

DFO South Wharf is a shopping complex dedicated to designer bargains. With 3 levels of shops and hundreds of outlets to choose from (as well as cafes and eateries), a visit to the DFO is a great day out.

7. Eat Away From the Riverside

Those waterside views will definitely add extra bucks to your brunch. If you want to enjoy fine food for less money, eat away from the docklands, Bourke Street, and main streets when you can.

8. Shop Around for Somewhere to Stay

Like many big cities, staying in the main tourist districts can be expensive. In Melbourne, even the hostels can be on the pricey side, so check out backpacker groups on social media for the best deals, or see if you can find an apartment share for your time in the city.

9. Go to a Gig

The north side of the city is famous for its live music venues and bohemian atmosphere. Dance the night away with free or cheap tickets to any of the area’s many music bars including the Tote , the Evelyn , Bar Open , or the Night Cat .

10. Eat the Oysters

If you want to live the high life without paying a high price, try eating oysters with a glass of Prosecco while overlooking the Yarra at Arbory Bar and Eatery , Melbourne’s longest and most affordable bar.

11. Drink Coffee

Melbourne has an uber cool cafe culture, and you can quickly become a complete coffee expert by enjoying free coffee tasting sessions at many of the first-class coffee shops and roasters throughout the city.

12. See the City From the Water

If you want to get a different perspective of the city, hop on a ferry from Southgate to Williamstown and explore the suburb’s historic waterfront, as well as the famous Castlemaine warship for just $18.

13. Make Use of the Visitor Shuttle

The visitor shuttle stops at 13 points around the city and offers an audio commentary for your journey. Learn about the history of Melbourne at your leisure, and jump on and off as you please.

14. Workout for Free

Princes Park is home to the Carlton football club and is a stunning place to go for a run, bike ride, or even a workout in the outdoor gyms during your stay in Melbourne.

15. Work the Transport System

Travel is not hugely expensive in Melbourne, but you can save money by taking advantage of the free trams, free off-peak travel, and the easy walking distance between many of the tourist areas.

Want to impress your hosts when you finally touch down in Melbourne? Wow them with your superior knowledge using these fun facts.

1. Traffic Management

Melbourne is home to the first ever traffic lights installed in Australia. They were first tested in mid-1928 at the intersection of Swanston and Flinders streets to address the growing problems of simultaneous vehicle control and increased pedestrian traffic.

2. Chocolate History

Chocolate lovers have a lot to thank Melbourne for. Chocolate makers MacRobertson’s Steam Confectionery Works, located in the suburb of Fitzroy, were the original inventors of the Cherry Ripe in 1924, the Crunchie in 1929, and the Freddo Frog in 1930. They continued to produce these for many years until the company was sold to Cadbury in 1967.

3. Name Change

Melbourne was originally named Batmania after one of the city’s founding fathers, John Batman. Upon discovering the first settlements of central Melbourne, he declared the location as being a “nice place for a village.” The name never stuck, however, and the land would later be christened Melbourne, after Lord Melbourne, then the Prime Minister of Britain.

4. Heating Up

Melbourne can get pretty hot. As you would expect anywhere on the Australian continent, the sun is almost always shining on this city. Sometimes, though, it gets a little too hot to handle: the maximum temperature ever recorded in Melbourne was 115.5 degrees Fahrenheit (46.4 degrees Celsius) in 2009!

5. Big Window

The world’s largest stained-glass ceiling is located in Melbourne’s National Gallery of Victoria. It was designed by Australian artist Leonard French, and his geometric masterpiece is known as the Persian Rug of Light. It measures a whopping 60.9 x 15.24 meters and features 224 tiles in a kaleidoscope of colors.

6. Feeling Foxy

According to the RSPCA, Melbourne is officially the fox capital of the world. There are apparently anywhere between 6 and 23 foxes per square kilometer in the urban area of the city. Despite these numbers, it’s still quite rare to see one, and the urban fox is very much revered.

7. Bath Time

Melbourne used to be very well known for its public bathing. Residents would happily jump in the Yarra, the sea, and the City Baths to keep cool on hot sunny days. Such was its popularity that there are still more than 1,800 bathing boxes scattered around the city’s beaches.

8. Fancy a Beer

The now world-famous Australian beer Fosters was first brewed in Melbourne in 1888. Even thought it was originally brewed by American brothers William and Ralph Foster right here in the city, it went on to become synonymous with the “Aussie” love for a nice cold tinnie.

9. One for Sport Lovers

As a city, Melbourne is utterly obsessed with sports and is the only city in the world to have 5 international standard sporting facilities on the fringe of its central business district: Melbourne Cricket Ground, Docklands Stadium, Rod Laver Arena, Hisense Arena, and Olympic Park in Melbourne Park.

10. No Down Time

Keeping with the sports theme, one of Australia’s most famous games, Australian Rules Football was invented in Melbourne in 1858 by Tom Wills and his friends as a way to keep cricketers fit during the off-season.

You can’t come all the way to Melbourne and not explore at least a little bit more of Victoria. Even if you don’t stay long, try and take at least one of these awesome day trips away from the city during your visit.

1. Great Ocean Road, Victoria

As one of the most scenic coastal drives in the world, a trip along the Great Ocean Road is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Stretching from the towns of Torquay to Nelson, the 249-mile roadway winds alongside the wild and windswept Southern Ocean coast of Victoria.

The road will take you through Geelong, the Bellarine Peninsula, the Great Otway National Park, and the Shipwreck Coast as you explore local towns and villages, stopping at iconic locations along the way.

The Great Ocean Road is approximately 2 hours south from Melbourne CBD, and you can spend days traveling its entire length at your leisure.

2. Yarra Valley

The Yarra Valley is packed with award-winning vineyards, tasting rooms, and wineries. Many visitors to the region come to learn about the fermentation process and join in with an organized wine tour. There are many to choose from throughout the region, from a simple half-day tour to a full week away in a winery.

Many of the vineyards have been transformed into exclusive estates, offering spas, restaurants, and even rooms for visitors to stay with them overnight. Prices will vary depending on the tour and location you choose, but half-day private tours start at around $50 per person, while overnight stays will obviously be much more. Find out about tours in the region at Yarra Valley Wine .

3. Mornington Peninsula

Just an hour outside Melbourne, the Mornington Peninsula offers miles of stunning coastlines and pretty seaside towns, as well as local wineries and impressive restaurants.

Go cycling, horseback riding, golfing, surfing, or visit a winery or a national park…or just relax on the beach. The Mornington Peninsula has something for everyone. You can drive there from Melbourne using the M1 and the Western Port Highway. If you want to take the train, you can connect from Frankston through Hastings to Stony Point on Westernport Bay. Or if you would rather go by bus, they travel from Melbourne to all areas, and local bus routes operate around each Mornington Peninsula village.

4. Phillip Island

Phillip Island is a very popular day trip destination from Melbourne. You can watch the Penguin Parade from Summerland beach, or spot the fur seals gathering off the coast from The Nobbies Centre . If you’d rather, you could simply stop and spend some time with the koalas at the Conservation Centre . The island is also well known for motorcycle and car racing events held at the Phillip Island Circuit if man-made entertainment is more your thing.

Around a 90-minute drive away from Melbourne, you can reach the island by car using the M1, the M420, and the A420. Private coach trips from the city are also available, or you may be able to access the island using the V-Line train service . Tickets for the attractions vary in price depending on what you wish to see. General viewing tickets for the Penguin Parade are $25 per adult, whereas a guided ranger tour of the parks could be as much as $90 per adult. Find prices, times, and park information at the Phillip Island website .

5. Dandenong Ranges

The Dandenong Ranges make for a great day out away from hustle and bustle of the city. Soaring forests, fern glades, and some of the world’s tallest flowering trees can all be found here. There are also pretty villages and rustic farms, and you can jump aboard the historic Puffing Billy Steam Train to see them all. A trip on the steam train will cost from $59 per adult and $29.50 per child.

The Dandenong Ranges are about an hour away from Melbourne by car using the M1 freeway, Ferntree Gully Road, and the Burwood Highway. If you’d rather use public transport, you can also get there using the  V-Line train service  from Melbourne. There are many options for day tours and accommodations for longer stays.

Melbourne has relatively low crime figures for a city of its size, meaning that you should be able to relax and enjoy your time there. That said, all travel comes with risks, and you should always be aware of your surroundings and take the appropriate precautions.

Emergency Contacts in Melbourne

• If you are the victim of a crime, have been in an accident, or need urgent assistance in relation to a fire, call 000 and ask to speak to the police, ambulance, or fire department.
• If you need to contact the police in relation to a non-urgent matter, call 131 444.
• If you need advice or assistance about a Maritime and Aviation Rescue , call 9674 3000.
• If you need travel information, updates about disrupted or canceled services can be found at Public Transport Victoria .

Keep Safe in the City

• In a crowded area, stay aware of what is going on around you and keep together in groups. If there is a chance you could become separated, arrange a meeting point prior to travel.
• Pickpockets and thieves operate all over the world. To ensure that you are not a target, keep your mobile phones, wallets , and purses safely tucked away, and never leave them in plain sight.
• If you are eating out, keep your handbags or briefcases out of sight under your chair in bars and restaurants, or use a table clip if the venue provides one.
• Never accept drinks from strangers and always keep yours with you in crowded bars.

Visiting Public Places

• Never leave your bags unattended.
• Always carry your wallet or purse close to you.
• Carry backpacks forward-facing in crowded areas.
• Keep mobile phones and other devices out of sight when not in use, and never leave them in your back pocket or coat pocket.
• Before you travel, make a note of your electronic serial numbers (ESNs).
• If your valuables are lost or stolen, dial 131 444 for the nearest police station. You will need to make a full report as soon as possible.
• Do not carry large amounts of cash on you, and if you are using an ATM, be sure nobody is looking over your shoulder as you enter your PIN.

At Your Hotel

• Always keep your passports and other valuables in a locked room safe if available.
• Keep a note of your hotel’s phone number and address with you at all times. If you get lost, you can use this to find your way back.

The National Security Hotline is the single point of contact for the public to report possible signs of terrorism. It also provides information to callers on a wide range of national security matters. Visit http://www.nationalsecurity.gov.au or call the National Security Hotline at 1-800-123-400.

Weather Conditions

Melbourne has a hot climate and strong UV rays all year round, which may be warmer than some visitors are used to. To ensure you’re not at risk from the sun, always take the following precautions:

• Slip-on sun-protective clothing.
• Slop on SPF 30+ broad-spectrum sunscreen at least 20 minutes before sun exposure, and reapply every 2 hours outdoors.
• Slap on a wide-brimmed hat that shades your face, neck, and ears.
• Seek shade.
• Slide on sunglasses.

At the Beach

Only swim on lifeguard-patrolled beaches between the red and yellow flags. Remember to always apply proper protection against the sun, even on cloudy days.

Bites and Stings

If you are concerned about a bite or sting, visit the Symptom Checker at healthdirect.gov.au . If you or anyone in your party is suffering from chest pain, loss of consciousness, difficulty breathing, turning blue, or is badly bleeding, call 000 immediately.

Forest Fires

Bush fires are a real concern in Victoria. Before you travel, make sure you know how to safely deal with fire in a bush environment and what to do if a fire begins to spread. You can find all the information you need on the Forest Fire Management Victoria website.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is melbourne best known for.

Melbourne is regularly voted as one of the most livable cities in the world. It is also known for its street art and coffee culture.

How do you travel around Melbourne?

Melbourne has many transport options such as trains, buses and taxis but the trams are very popular. Trams are a unique way to explore the city and have a good network in the city center and nearby suburbs.

Where should I go for a day trip in Melbourne?

There are plenty of options for day trips from Melbourne including:

• Great Ocean Road
• Phillip Island’s Penguin Parade
• The Mornington Peninsula
• Grampians National Park
• Wilson’s Promontory National Park

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About Amar Hussain

Amar is an avid traveler and tester of products. He has spent the last 13 years traveling all 7 continents and has put the products to the test on each of them. He has contributed to publications including Forbes, the Huffington Post, and more.

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Melbourne Travel Guide

While Australia's southernmost mainland city seems understated on its surface, visitors quickly learn there are layers of passion, hard work, and history behind every aspect of Melbourne—Australia's cultural capital.

Situated on the Yarra River as it flows into Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne and its population of 5 million inhabits a land that has been lived on by Aboriginal Australians for more than 40,000 years.

After British settlement in the early 1800s, the wealth produced from the nearby gold rush of the mid-19th century funded the development of much of the city you see today. Magnificent Victorian-era buildings such as Parliament House, The Princess Theatre, and The Block Arcade remain as vibrant today as when they first opened, and compete for attention with the striking geometric newcomers that dot the cityscape.

From the Victorian era emerged the city's Hoddle Grid, a layout which created the many laneways now famous for their street art, and alleys that hide world-class restaurants, bars, and boutiques.

You'll notice that Melburnians have a lot of obsessions, most notably coffee, sport, and food. This is great for visitors, as it results in a city that constantly strives for the best. It's evident in the espresso-scented laneways, as baristas grind for that perfect espresso; or in the thousands of flavor combinations that come out of kitchens that encompass cuisines from around the globe, thanks to the city's proud multicultural heritage. And it can be heard coming from the hallowed Melbourne Cricket Ground when a 100,000-strong crowd packs "The G" for a game of Aussie Rules.

Beyond the arts and all these interests that could keep one endlessly entertained, there is the landscape itself—a mixture of grand parks, impressive gardens and beautiful seasides, all which make Melbourne a must on any Australian itinerary.

Australian Eastern Standard Time (UTC+10 hours)

Best Time to Go

Melbourne's temperate climate means visitors can comfortably sightsee year-round. Major sporting events (Australian Open, F1 Grand Prix) and festivals take place mainly in the warmer months, between November and March. Much of the city's action moves indoors as days become cooler, but Melburnians adapt to their winter well, switching out sun umbrellas for patio heaters at outdoor cafes and rooftop bars. Melbourne weather has a reputation for occasionally having "four seasons in one day," which should be kept in mind when packing for your trip here.

Things to Know

Currency: Australian Dollar (Check the current exchange rate )

Language: English* *Visitors will quickly learn that Australians use a lot of slang in their everyday language, often shortening frequently-used words (i.e. "arvo" for afternoon, "avo" for avocado).

Many common words are also different to their US equivalent. Some handy examples: Elevator = lift Sidewalk = footpath Trash can = bin Cell phone = mobile Cookie = biscuit Chicken = chook Liquor store = bottle shop Flip-flops = thongs Swimsuit = bathers Sweater = jumper

Calling Code: +61

Capital City: Canberra

Tipping is uncommon in Australia. While never expected, it's also seen as inoffensive, should you wish to offer a tip. Exceptional service at a restaurant is an example of a situation in which a tip would happily be accepted.

Australians drive on the left side of the road. People here also keep to the left when walking on the sidewalk or standing on an escalator.

How to Get Around

A relatively flat city, much of Melbourne's sites and attractions can be reached easily on foot—many within walking distance of one another. Public transit is ample within inner Melbourne, and the city's iconic trams are easy to find. Taxis and rideshare options are also readily available.

Tram: The City Circle line is free and a great way to move around the Central Business District (CBD). Twenty-four routes cover more than 160 miles of track. With the exception of the City Circle, you'll need a myki card to ride a tram, and across all other public transit services.

Train: Melbourne's Metro train system includes an underground City Loop, which encompasses the CBD. There are 17 train lines that branch out from the City Loop, which reach further than the tram network, and can often be faster than a tram if journeying more than a couple of miles.

Bus: Your myki will come in handy if you find yourself in need of a bus. While trains and trams access most attractions, buses will come in handy for less accessible parts of town.

Taxi: 13cabs and Silver Top are the two main accredited taxi operators in Melbourne. You can hail them, phone or book using their respective apps. Ride-share: Uber and Ola are popular ride-share options in Melbourne. Another is Shebah, an all-women service.

Best Hotels

The langham.

Address: 1 Southgate Ave, Southbank, VIC 3006 Phone: (03) 8696 8888 Website

Overlooking the Yarra River, The Langham offers a luxury stay in an iconic location, with many of the 388 rooms offering views that encompass the city skyline, Flinders Street Station, St Paul's Cathedral and the MCG. Its restaurant, Melba, is renowned for its decadent afternoon teas, and its menu showcases local produce. Wellness facilities include a fitness center, 16.4-yard pool, and award-winning Chuan Spa.

Park Hyatt Melbourne

Address: 1 Parliament Square, off Parliament Place, Melbourne, VIC 3002 Phone: (03) 9224 1234 Website Book with Travel + Leisure

Ever so slightly set back from the bustle of the CDB grid and surrounded by manicured parks and the Fitzroy Gardens, Park Hyatt Melbourne feels like a luxurious oasis while remaining a stone's throw from the action. With 245 rooms and suites, the hotel also offers outdoor dining at its Trilogy Gardens, a stunning mosaic-decorated 27.3-yard swimming pool, day spa, gym and tennis court.

Hotel Windsor

Address: 111 Spring St, Melbourne, VIC 3000 Phone: (03) 9633 6000 Website

Established in 1883, this grand hotel has been dazzling guests since before The Ritz in Paris or New York's Plaza Hotel were even established. Over the years it has hosted royalty, movie stars ranging from Gregory Peck to Meryl Streep, and sporting legends like Muhummad Ali. Situated on Spring Street across from Parliament House and next door to the Princess Theatre, each of the hotel's 180 rooms boast timeless elegance and comfort. Dine at restaurant One Eleven, or enjoy a beer and a pub meal at the historic Cricketers Bar.

Ink Hotel Melbourne

Address: 167 City Rd, Southbank, VIC 3006 Phone: (03) 9115 7000 Website

Vibrant artwork decorates all interiors at this 162-room hotel in Southbank, inspired by Melbourne's graffiti and street art. The complimentary barista-made coffee during your stay seals the deal on a trendy scene, which also offers a bar and cafe. Attractions such as the Arts Centre, NGV, and the Royal Botanic Gardens are all within walking distance.

The Westin Melbourne

Address: 205 Collins St, Melbourne, VIC 3000 Phone: (03) 9635 2222 Website

For those who like to be in the middle of the action, The Westin Melbourne sits in the heart of the CBD. The city's laneways wait right on the doorstep of this longtime favorite, which features 262 cosmopolitan rooms, many with balconies. A well-equipped gym and indoor pool are among The Westin's fitness facilities.

Coppersmith Hotel

Address: 435 Clarendon St, South Melbourne, VIC 3205 Phone: (03) 8696 7777 Website

With just 15 rooms, this understated, modern boutique hotel is removed from the hubbub of the city's CBD, while remaining close to attractions and transport. Albert Park Lake is nearby, along with the South Melbourne Market—perfect for a morning coffee and pastry pit-stop. Happy hour couldn't be easier to find, with a pub of the same name downstairs.

Best Restaurants

Flower drum.

Address: 17 Market Lane, Melbourne, VIC 3000 Phone: (03) 9662 3655 Website

A crown jewel in Melbourne's dining scene for over 45 years, the Flower Drum offers Cantonese cuisine at its finest, with first-class service to match. Pearl meat and wild barramundi are among super-fresh seafood on offer; and the restaurant's iconic Peking Duck highlights on a menu that is both traditional and inventive. Reservations essential. Indoor dining only.

Charcoal Lane

Address: 136 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy, VIC 3065 Phone: (03) 9418 3400 Website

From crocodile ceviche to braised wallaby and mushroom wontons, this modern Australian restaurant showcases native game that delights and often surprises. Indigenous ingredients, such as lemon myrtle and davidson plum are utilized across the menu, infusing cocktails and desserts with a distinctive Australian flavor. Reservations recommended. Indoor dining.

Address: 74 Glen Eira Rd, Ripponlea, VIC 3185 Phone: (03) 9530 0111 Website

This fine dining restaurant, frequently found on 'Best Restaurants of the World' lists. Here, the focus is on experimental cuisine featuring native Australian ingredients. Plan ahead for this restaurant: bookings become available three months in advance and are snapped up quickly. Indoor dining only.

Address: 125 Flinders Ln, Melbourne, VIC 3000 Phone: (03) 8663 2000 Website

This lively laneway restaurant specializes in fresh, South East Asian fare. Kingfish sashimi, pulled pork roll-ups and corn fritters are reliable highlights on the a la carte menu. There's often a wait here, but the restaurant's moody basement bar, GoGo, will keep you happy with its selection of innovative cocktails.

Jim's Greek Tavern

Address: 32 Johnston St, Collingwood, VIC 3066 Phone: (03) 9419 3827 With one of the largest Greek populations in the world outside of Greece, visitors are spoiled for choice when it comes to top-notch Greek cuisine in Melbourne, but you're guaranteed a one-of-a-kind experience at Jim's Greek Tavern. Buckle-up for a ride with no menu, as restaurant staff guide you through a mouth-watering variety of classic Greek fare, including lamb, seafood, dips and saganaki. Jim's is BYOB, so be sure to stop by the bottle shop on your way. Reservations recommended.

The Esplanade Hotel

Address: 11 The Esplanade, St Kilda, VIC 3182 Phone: (03) 9534 0211 Website

A beloved St Kilda mainstay dating back to 1878, "The Espy" has been through a number of reinventions over the years: most recently transforming from a dive bar into a slick, multi-floor venue offering a variety of vibes and dining options, with a focus on seasonal produce and shared plates. One thing that always remains the same: That gorgeous St Kilda Beach view. Indoor and outdoor dining options.

The Lui Bar

Address: 525 Collins St, Melbourne, VIC 3000 Phone: (03) 9691 3888 Website

Perched on the 55th floor of the Rialto tower and adjacent to fine dining restaurant Vue de Monde, consider the Lui Bar your go-to for views over Albert Park Lake and the bay, with one or two exquisite cocktails on the side. Reservations only required for groups of 6+.

The Brandon Hotel

Address: 237 Station St, Carlton North, VIC 3054 Phone: (03) 9347 2382 Website

Tucked away in the backstreets of the inner-northern suburbs, The Brandon Hotel knows its pub grub. Offering a mix of Aussie classics—including a really good Chicken Parma—you'll also find less-typical menu items, such as ham-hock, leek and potato croquettes. Venom Golden Ale is among local beers on tap.

Young & Jackson's

Address: 1 Swanston St, Melbourne, VIC 3000 Phone: (03) 9650 3884 Website

A landmark pub across from Flinders Street Station offering local and international beer along with classic pub fare. Dine upstairs in Chloe's Brasserie, where French painter Jules Joseph Lefebvre's famous "Chloe" portrait has gazed over patrons since 1909.

Things to Do

Federation square.

Address: Corner Swanston & Flinders Streets, Melbourne, VIC 3000 Phone: (03) 9655 1900 Website

A great starting point for first-time visitors, this striking public square sits between the Yarra River and the southern edge of the CBD, and directly across from Flinders Street Station. A popular meeting place and public event venue, it's where you'll find Melbourne's main Visitor Information Centre and the Koorie Heritage Trust, which offers information on Aboriginal history, walking tours and more. Two free museums are also located here: The Ian Potter Centre, which is the National Gallery of Victoria's home to Australian art; and the Australian Centre of the Moving Image (ACMI). A number of restaurants and bars operate within the square on a permanent and pop-up basis.

Popular laneways are dotted throughout the CBD grid, notably in the area between Flinders & Collins Streets / Elizabeth & Exhibition Streets Phone: (03) 9658 9658 Website

Melbourne's iconic laneways are home to numerous cafes, hidden bars, restaurants and boutiques. Famous for their striking graffiti and street art, these spaces effectively operate as free outdoor art galleries. Explore independently, or sign up to one of the many tours available. Tattersalls Lane, Duckboard Place, ACDC Lane, Croft Alley, and Hosier Lane are a handful of musts when it comes to viewing street art. If you're looking for quality cafes and hole-in-the-wall espresso bars, be sure not to miss Centre Place and Degraves Street.

Little Penguins at St Kilda Breakwater

Address: Pier Road, St Kilda, VIC 3182 Phone: Call Parks Victoria 131 963 Website

Enjoy a sunset stroll along St Kilda Pier before Little Penguins come home to roost at twilight. Around 1,400 Little Penguins call St Kilda home, returning to the breakwater every night after a hard day's fishing out at sea.

National Gallery of Victoria

Address: 180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne, VIC 3006 Phone: (03) 8620 2222 Website

Australia's oldest museum, the NGV: International houses an impressive collection of artworks from around the world, and hosts major international traveling exhibitions. The Roy Grounds-designed building is worthy of a visit by itself: The ceiling of the Great Hall, designed by Leonard French, features 224 stained-glass triangles, and is the largest cut-glass ceiling in the world. The iconic Waterwall at the museum's entrance is a fun posing location for all visitors, whether you're six, 26, or 60 years old.

Melbourne Museum

Address: 11 Nicholson St, Carlton, VIC 3053 Phone: (03) 8341 7777 Website

Situated in the beautiful Carlton Gardens, Melbourne Museum is a natural history museum, and so much more. Prehistoric wonders unique to the Australian continent can be found in the Science and Life Gallery, while the Melbourne Gallery details the history of the gold rush and the city's development. The museum is also home to Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre, which explores Aboriginal culture and history; and the living Forest Gallery replicates the rainforests environment found just outside of the city. Keep an eye out for the critters that call this space home, including frogs and stunning Satin Bower Birds.

Royal Botanic Gardens

Address: Birdwood Avenue, Melbourne, VIC 3004 Phone: (03) 9252 2300 Website

Find a moment of zen within nearly 94 acres of stunningly-landscaped gardens, which offer vistas of the city skyline as it peeks through unique scenes, like the Arid Garden and Australian Forest Walk. Fern Gully will transport you seemingly in space and time, while the Aboriginal Heritage Walk is a valuable experience, where you can learn about Aboriginal history, traditional uses of native plants, and the spiritual meaning of Country. With more than 8,500 species of plants, the gardens are also home to two cafes: The Terrace and Jardin Tan.

Eureka skydeck

Address: 7 Riverside Quay, Southbank, VIC 3006 Phone: (03) 9693 8888 Website

With floor-to-ceiling windows and 360-degree views, the skydeck on the 88th floor of the Eureka building showcases the stunning geography in which the city is set. Views encompass Port Phillip Bay, Albert Park Lake, and the Dandenong Ranges, in addition to miniature versions of all those landmarks you've come to love. Suspended almost 980 feet above the ground is The Edge, a glass cube experience for those seeking thrills.

Best Shopping

Bourke street mall.

Address: Bourke Street, between Elizabeth and Swanston Streets, Melbourne, VIC 3000 Website

Running perpendicular between Swanston and Elizabeth Streets, Bourke Street Mall is a hub of activity, where tram riders, buskers, and shoppers intersect. Find department stores David Jones and Myer here, as well as popular chain stores and the entrances to several shopping arcades. On the corner of Elizabeth Street sits the GPO, a grand, Victorian-era building that once housed the general post office, and now operates as a luxe shopping mall.

Address: Within the CBD Website: royalarcade.com.au ; theblock.com.au

There are a number of historic arcades within the CBD, many of them heritage-listed and worth a visit for their architecture alone, particularly The Royal Arcade and The Block Arcade. The Royal Arcade offers a mix of curiosities: It's where local chocolate company Koko Black has its flagship cafe; while neighboring stores include Babushka, a shop dedicated to nesting dolls and Spellbox, for all your crystal and witchcraft needs. Celebrated local fine jeweler Canturi also finds a home here. The Block Arcade features a mix of design, fashion, and confectionary stores, including Haigh's, Australia's oldest family-run chocolate company.

Emporium Melbourne

Address: 287 Lonsdale St, Melbourne, VIC 3000 Phone: (03) 8609 8221 Website

This multi-level complex in the heart of Melbourne's CBD houses over two dozen Australian fashion labels, including Dion Lee, Scanlan Theodore, Alice McCall, and Viktoria & Woods. Here you'll also find everyday favorites such as Uniqlo, T2, Muji, and Aesop.

Brunswick Street

Address: Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, is situated between Victoria Parade to the south and Alexandra Parade to the north.

Head here for local-fashion finds, such as the ethically-minded Arnsdorf and Kloke. Browse curated vintage at Hunter Gather and be sure to make a pit-stop at one of the street's many cafes or bars. Handcrafted jewelry and artistic decor stores embrace this district's bohemian vibe.

Queen Victoria Market

Alisha McDarris/Travel + Leisure

Address: Corner of Elizabeth and Victoria Streets, Melbourne, VIC 3000 Phone: 03 9320 5822 Website

Dating back to 1878, this landmark market covers over 17 acres, making it the largest open-air market in the Southern Hemisphere. Be sure to bring your appetite: this place is a food lover's heaven. Explore the artisanal purveyors, and be sure to get your hands on a hot-jam donut while you're here. Tea lovers must stop by McIver's for some of the best tea and coffee they can possibly find.

The Rose Street Artists' Market

Address: 60 Rose Street, Fitzroy, VIC 3065 Phone: (03) 9419 5529 Website

Discover great local art and design at this weekend market located off the northern end of Brunswick Street. Homewares, jewelry, and paintings are just a few of the unique handmade offerings.

Dejour Jeans

Address: 542 Sydney Rd, Brunswick, VIC 3056 Phone: (03) 9939 0667 Website

Made in Melbourne since 1989, Dejour is all about quality denim at a great price. With free on-the-spot tailoring, you'll be hard-pressed to find a better denim deal.

Neighborhoods to Know

CBD : The CBD (Central Business District) is Melbourne's easy-to-navigate center, with its grid layout encompassed by the free City Circle tram. You'll find many of the city's iconic landmarks here: The State Library of Victoria, Flinders Street Station, Parliament House, and St Paul's Cathedral are standouts; along with historic and lovingly-maintained historic arcades. This is where the city's famous laneways reside, home to scores of tucked-away restaurants, bars, and boutiques. The Bourke Street Mall and Swanston Street are both closed to local traffic—but watch out for trams! Plenty of shopping is to be found around here. Chinatown, on Little Bourke Street, is steeped in history and delicious cuisine, and has formed an intrinsic part of Melbourne since the mid-1800s. Lined with stately London Plane trees, Collins Street has a distinct European vibe. Its east end is where you'll find designer boutiques such as Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Versace, along with Her Majesty's Theatre.

Southbank : The spire of Melbourne's Arts Centre acts as a beacon for the city's arts precinct on the south side of the Yarra River: The Australian Ballet, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Melbourne Theatre Company, and Opera Australia all call this institution home. The Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne Recital Centre, and Southbank Theatre are also nearby, all notable for their striking architecture as much as the creativity produced inside. The NGV International can also be found in this area, while along the riverbank itself you'll find restaurants, bars, and Crown casino.

St Kilda : Famous for its pier, palm trees, and penguins, this beachside suburb is abuzz on the water and off. Kite-surfing, jet-skiing, and fishing are all popular activities here, but nothing beats the relaxing simplicity in a walk along St Kilda Beach's tree-lined promenade, where nearby attractions include St Kilda Sea Baths, the historic St Kilda Pier, Luna Park amusement park, or one of the many seaside cafes, restaurants, and bars. Acland, Carlyle, and Fitzroy Streets are popular spots for food and shopping; after the sun sets, they are great places for live music, dancing, and nightlife.

Carlton : Head to Lygon Street in this inner-north neighborhood and you'll find Melbourne's Little Italy. Enjoy one of the many Italian restaurants here, or grab a sweet treat from famed pasticceria Brunetti. There are also more than a few gelateria to take your pick from here, too. The nearby Carlton Gardens are beautiful at any time of year, and is where you will find Melbourne Museum and the World Heritage-listed Royal Exhibition Building.

Summer: December-February Melbourne's summers are typically hot and dry, but keep in mind the city's reputation for occasionally having "four seasons in one day." Averages can be deceptive because of this, with highs capable of reaching over 100, only to be erased by a cool change that causes temperatures to drop to the 60s. It happens infrequently enough not to affect summer vacation planning, but with that unpredictability in mind, be sure to pack a light jacket or cardigan, just in case.

Autumn: March-May This time of year can feel like an extension to summer, with plenty of warm, sunny days. Mornings become increasingly crisp as the season draws to a close. Evenings out on the town may require a coat.

Winter: June-August Melbourne's winters are mild enough to comfortably spend a day outdoors, with the right amount of layers. While Melbourne never sees a snowfall, winter mornings can be cold enough for frost in some areas, with overnight temperatures nearing freezing on occasion.

Spring: September-November Melbourne can sometimes be a little slow to come out of its winter, but spring here is typically sunny and comfortable, steadily warming up while remaining cool in the evenings.

Below are average temperatures in Fahrenheit. January: 61°F to 81°F February: 61°F to 80°F March: 58°F to 76°F April: 53°F to 70°F May: 49°F to 64°F June: 48°F to 59°F July: 45°F to 58°F August: 46°F to 61°F September: 49°F to 65°F October: 52°F to 69°F November: 55°F to 73°F December: 58°F to 77°F

Apps to Download

PTV : Melbourne public transport planner, routes, timetables, live updates. iOs | Android

National Gallery of Victoria : Navigation aid to the NGV's collections, events, and exhibitions. iOs | Android

The Fork : Restaurant, cafe, and bar reservations; reviews. iOs | Android

Yalinguth : An augmented-reality experience guided by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders and storytellers that connects visitors to place and history. iOs | Android

The Happiest Hour : Guide to happy hours and other deals at local pubs and bars. iOs | Android

Related Articles

Melbourne Travel Guide

Last Updated: May 3, 2023

The city has a European feel to it and is popular with backpackers and young travelers looking to enjoy its laid-back vibe.

With plenty of culture, activities, art exhibitions, and live music, you could easily spend over a week here and not regret it. Heck, you might end up like so many other travelers and never leave! You definitely don’t want to rush your visit here. There’s a lot to see and do, and plenty of amazing places to eat at.

This travel guide to Melbourne will help you plan your trip, save money, and make the most of your time here.

Table of Contents

• Things to See and Do
• Typical Costs
• Suggested Budget
• Money-Saving Tips
• Where to Stay
• How to Get Around
• How to Stay Safe
• Best Places to Book Your Trip
• Related Blogs on Melbourne

Top 5 Things to See and Do in Melbourne

1. Admire the 12 Apostles

One of the most iconic sights in the country, the 12 Apostles are a series of limestone rocks just off the Great Ocean Road along the coast of Australia (the route is an Australian National Heritage-listed section of highway with stunning coastal views). You’ll likely want to make this a multi-day visit as the Apostles are 275 kilometers outside the city and are best seen on a drive along the coast. However, if you’re pressed for time you can take a full-day tour along the Great Ocean Road for just 135 AUD.

2. See the Fitzroy Gardens

Fitzroy Gardens is one of Melbourne’s most historic and beautiful gardens. Created in 1848 (the land here was originally a swamp), this 26-hectare (64-acre) Victorian-era garden is meant to look like the English gardens the early settlers left behind. It’s a lovely place to stroll around and relax with a book, with plenty of tree-lined paths and areas to sit and relax with a book. If you visit on a Saturday, you can join a free guided walking tour at 10am starting from the visitor center.

3. Visit the Royal Botanic Gardens

The Royal Botanic Gardens spans over 34 hectares (86 acres) and features thousands of flowers, shrubs, and trees from across the country and around the world (there are over 50,000 plants here). Hanging out here and wandering around is one of my favorite activities in Melbourne. There is a cafe called The Terrace where you can grab a coffee while you stroll the gardens. There are free guided walks too. Admission is free.

4. Watch the sunset from the beach

Head to St. Kilda to watch the sunset. It’s a beautiful, wide beach, but the water is a little too cold for me. However, it faces due west, so you get some stellar sunsets before you head out for a night on the town. If you’re around the pier and get lucky, you may even spot a penguin (there’s a small colony of them here). Just remember not to feed to touch them!

5. Explore Queen Victoria Market

This outdoor market is a mix of food sellers and knick-knack vendors — think flea market meets food market. During the week, the food hall is the main draw, but the weekend offerings are bigger, as sellers fill up the outdoor vending space. Opened in 1878, it’s a heritage landmark that sees over 10 million people each year. When you’re in the food hall, be sure to get some free wine samples from Swords Wines.

Other Things to See and Do in Melbourne

1. enjoy the cafés.

The café culture in this city is part of its soul. Everyone here loves to have coffee or tea and a snack while doing some work or chatting in some arty café. Don’t miss doing this either. You can take the café tour with Café Culture Walk or Melbourne Coffee Lovers Walking Tour to learn more about why Melbournians love their cafés so much and then spend an afternoon with a good book at your new favorite spot.

2. Indulge in a wine tour

Wine tours are super popular in this region. The Mornington Peninsula in the outer suburbs of Melbourne is a world-famous wine-producing region. Located 45 minutes from the city, it’s home to over 50 wineries. There are a lot of day trips available to the Yarra Valley too (which is where most tours take you). If you don’t have your own car or don’t feel like spending the night in the area, full-day wine tours from Melbourne start around 150 AUD per person.

3. Party in St. Kilda

Melbourne’s famous nightlife area is home to inexpensive restaurants, bars, and clubs — it’s the place to see and be seen. If you want to find Melbourne’s wild side, this is where it will be. Base Melbourne is one of my favorite places to go party if you want to hang out with other travelers — and a few locals! Their downstairs bar is popular and has cheap drinks.

4. Moonlight Cinema in the Park

During the summer, there are nightly movies (most of them are major Hollywood features) in the Royal Botanic Gardens. You can bring your own food and drinks (including alcohol) and have a cozy picnic while watching some great movies. Think of it like going to the drive-in but without the car. Just make sure to check the weather in advance and to bring a blanket to sit on as well as a sweater (it can get a little chilly sometimes). Tickets start at 19 AUD but you may be able to find a deal on Groupon to save a few dollars.

5. Flinders Street Station

Opened in 1854, Flinders Street Station is a major landmark and popular meeting place in central Melbourne. The station features Victorian architecture and large clock faces. It was the busiest railway station in the world in the 1920s and is said to currently be the busiest suburban railway station in the Southern Hemisphere.

6. Hang out in Federation Square

Right along the route of the free City Circle train and across the street from Flinders Street Station lies Federation Square. Opened in 1968, this open square spans around 3 hectares (8 acres) and serves up stellar people-watching. I like to have lunch here and just watch the city go by. Below the square on the river are also a number of restaurants and outdoor bars. In the summer, there are often all kinds of different events here as well.

7. Visit the National Gallery of Victoria

Located near Federation Square, the National Gallery of Australia is the largest, oldest, and most-visited art museum in the country (over 3 million people visit each year). It’s home to over 75,000 works including modern and contemporary art, sculptures, paintings, and works from indigenous artists. You can see pretty much everything in a couple of hours. It’s one of the best activities in the city. Admission is free though temporary exhibits may have an admission charge.

8. See the State Library of Victoria

The State Library of Victoria is a historic institution that sees 8 million visitors a year. Originally built in 1856, the library has grown into an event space that’s a source of pride for city residents. Come here before it opens and you’ll see a queue of people ready to pounce on the open desks. The famous central rotunda with its octagonal shape, original dark wood furniture, and book-lined walls is definitely something not to miss. There are a number of free events and tours of the library to teach you more about its history and striking architecture.

9. Wander the Como House and Gardens

Over 160 years old, this regal estate blends a mix of classic Italianate architecture and Australian regency. It’s considered the best of the historic houses in the city and offers a rare glimpse at the luxurious and opulent life of high society in 19th century Australia. Guided tours are available for 15 AUD if you want to learn more about this beautiful mansion and its history. Admission to the gardens is free.

10. Visit the Immigration Museum

Founded in 1998, The Immigration Museum is located in the Old Customs House and features exhibitions about Australia’s immigration history. Europeans started flocking to the country in 1788, bringing with them their own cultures that eventually swept the island and displaced the Aboriginal peoples who called the island home for over 50,000 years. Admission is 15 AUD.

11. See the Melbourne Museum

The Melbourne Museum showcases Australian social history, indigenous cultures, science, and the environment. The highlight of the museum, for me, was the extensive Bunjilaka Aboriginal Culture Center, which highlights the culture, art, and history of the Aboriginal peoples. They also have a children’s section that’s great for anyone traveling with kids. Admission is 15 AUD.

12. Plan a day trip to Phillip Island

Located a few hours from the city, Phillip Island is a weekend hot spot for locals looking to enjoy some beach time. The island is renowned for the nightly penguin parade (when thousands of penguins return from the sea to nest), its koala sanctuary, and the huge seal colony that lives offshore. The island can be visited as a day trip, but due to infrequent buses, I would recommend spending at least a night here.

13. Enjoy the festivals

Melbourne is a major festival city, with many events throughout the year: Comedy Festival, Aussie Rules football match, Spring Racing Carnival in November, the Melbourne Cup (part of a weeklong racing festival), and many more. Stop by the local tourism office (or ask your hotel/hostel staff) to see what’s going on during your visit!

14. Hang out at the markets

There are countless markets spread across Melbourne, from food truck markets to farmer’s markets, and from beach markets to flea markets. They’re fun places to hang out for a couple of hours, enjoying the local life and people-watching.

15. Take a street art tour

I love the tours run by graffiti artists from Blender Studios. It’s pricey at 75 AUD for a 2.5 to 3-hour tour, but the price helps support local artists and includes drinks. The tour takes you through the streets and alleyways of the Melbourne CBD or Fitzroy. You’ll learn about the art scene in the city and develop a deeper appreciation for why Melbourne attracts so many artists.

For more information on other cities in Australia, check out these guides:

• Alice Springs Travel Guide
• Brisbane Travel Guide
• Broome Travel Guide
• Cairns Travel Guide
• Fraser Island Travel Guide
• Gold Coast Travel Guide
• Perth Travel Guide
• Sydney Travel Guide
• Whitsunday Islands Travel Guide

Melbourne Travel Costs

Hostel prices – A bed in a dorm room with 6-10 beds costs 25-48 AUD. Private rooms start at 70 AUD though most are closer to 105 AUD per night. Free Wi-Fi is standard and most include free breakfast as well.

For those traveling with a tent, there are a few holiday parks outside the city with basic unpowered tent plots costing 20-60 AUD per night. For more rustic camping, there are a few free parks outside the city if you want to stay further afield (they aren’t close to the city but they are free).

Budget hotel prices – Budget hotels start at 90 AUD per night for a double room. Expect the standard amenities like Wi-Fi, TV, and AC. Prices are higher in the downtown core.

Airbnb is also available around the city with private rooms starting at 30 AUD per night, though they average closer to 120 AUD. For entire homes and apartments, expect to pay at least 85 AUD (though prices are usually double that if not booked early).

Food – Food in Australia is diverse, with each region having its own specialities. You’ll be able to find all types of food in this city. It’s got one of the best food scenes in all of Australia!

You can easily find pizza parlors, noodle bars, and cafes where you can eat for 15-20 AUD. Melbourne is probably the best place to eat cheaply in Australia, especially if you like Asian food. The sushi and Chinese food is out of this world. However, expect to pay at least 20-25 AUD for most sit-down restaurants (without a drink).

There are many cool districts only a train or tram ride from town. Footscray (only 3 train stops away from Southern Cross) is on the water (perfect for walks/picnics) and the latest place to be for food (especially Vietnamese) and entertainment, as well as a market to get cheap food supplies.

Or take a tram up Sydney Road Brunswick and to Coburg for Middle Eastern food. Head to Grazeland in Spotswood for a night out eating & drinking with entertainment with many craft breweries for a great atmosphere and good beers. Fitzroy’s Brunswick St hosts a major strip of restaurants, bars, and pubs.

Grab and go places cost around 10 AUD for sandwiches while fast food (think McDonald’s) costs around 12 AUD for a combo meal. Beer costs around 10 AUD (6 AUD during happy hour), a glass of wine is 10-15 AUD, a cocktail is 18-20 AUD, and a latte or cappuccino costs 5 AUD.

A week’s worth of food is 60-80 AUD for basic groceries like pasta, rice, produce, and some fish or meat.

Backpacking Melbourne Suggested Budgets

On a backpacker budget, you can visit Melbourne for 70 AUD per day. On this budget, you’ll be staying in hostel dorms, cooking all of your meals, limiting your drinking, using public transportation to get around, and sticking to mostly free activities like free walking tours. If you plan on drinking, add another 10-20 AUD to your daily budget.

On a mid-range budget of 205 AUD per day, you can stay in a private hostel room or Airbnb, eat out for most meals, enjoy a few drinks, take the occasional taxi, and do some paid activities like going to the Moonlight Cinema or the museums.

On a “luxury” budget of 430 AUD per day or more, you can stay in a hotel, eat out for every meal, take a day tour into the countryside to do some wine tasting, rent a vehicle to get around, go out drinking, and do as many other tours and activities as you want! This is just the ground floor for luxury though. The sky is the limit!

You can use the chart below to get some idea of how much you need to budget daily, depending on your travel style. Keep in mind these are daily averages – some days you’ll spend more, some days you’ll spend less (you might spend less every day). We just want to give you a general idea of how to make your budget. Prices are in AUD.

Melbourne Travel Guide: Money-Saving Tips

Melbourne can eat up your budget fast as restaurants, accommodation, and drinks are expensive. But there are plenty of ways to save money here! Here are some tips to help you save when you visit:

• Drink goon (box wine) – Goon is an infamous staple on the Australian backpacker trail. This cheap box of wine is the best way to drink, get a buzz, and save a lot of money at the same time.
• Cook often – Eating out in Melbourne is not cheap. The best way to reduce your food cost is to cook as many meals as possible at your hostel. Book a hostel with a kitchen to save money.
• Book tours as a package – Australia has a lot of fun activities and exciting tours that will eat into any budget. If you plan on doing any tours while you’re here, booking activities together through a hostel or tour agency can get you a discount and save you tons of money.
• Work for your room – If you’re on a budget and looking to save some cash, many hostels offer travelers the opportunity to work for their accommodation. In exchange for a few hours a day of cleaning, you get a free bed to sleep in. Commitments vary but most hostels ask that you stay for at least a week.
• Get cheap tickets – Check out Half Tix to get cheap deals on live shows and theatre.
• Stay with a local – Accommodation in Melbourne is pricey. If you plan ahead, you can find a fun Couchsurfing host for your visit. This way, you not only have a free place to stay but you’ll have a local host that can share their insider tips and advice!
• Use the free City Circle tram – This free hop-on/hop-off tram has stops near most of the city’s biggest tourist attractions. Pick up a free map at a tourist info center, and get on your way!
• Take a free walking tour – I’m Free Walking Tours offers a handful of free walking tours to help you get oriented to Melbourne, and learn all about its sights and history!
• Fill up your water bottle – The tap water is clean and safe to drink in Melbourne. Saving a few bucks for each bottle of water will reduce your daily spending (and help the environment). LifeStraw makes reusable bottles with built-in filters so you can ensure your water is always clean and safe.

Where to Stay in Melbourne

There’s a lot of great budget accommodation in Melbourne. Here are some of my suggested places to stay:

• Base St Kilda
• Selina St Kilda Melbourne
• The Nunnery

How to Get Around Melbourne

Public transportation – Melbourne’s bus system is safe and reliable and travels between all major hub (shopping centres, attractions, etc.). The fare is determined by how many zones you’ll be travelling in, starting at 3 AUD. A day-pass is 10 AUD. You need a myki card (or the mobile app) to get around.

The bus to and from the airport with Skybus costs 19.75 AUD one-way or 32 AUD return.

Melbourne has a Free Tram Zone in the CBD (Central Business District), stretching from Queen Victoria Market to Docklands, Flinders Street Station, Federation Square, and Spring Street. The City Circle Tram is also free and stops at almost all of the city’s historic sites. You don’t need a myki if you’re using the free system.

Bike rentals – Biking is a great way to explore Melbourne as there are over 135 kilometers (84 miles) of bicycle trails here. You can rent a bike for 25 AUD per day.

Taxis – Taxis are expensive here, starting at 5 AUD per ride and going up almost 2 AUD per kilometer. Skip them if you can!

Ridesharing – Uber is available here.

When to Go to Melbourne

Melbourne is a great spot year-round and there’s always so much to do. I prefer visiting March-May or September-October. These are the shoulder seasons and temperatures are much more comfortable during this time (with the highest being about 24°C/75°F). It’s also less touristy.

The summer months from December to February are the busiest in Melbourne, as it’s Australia’s summer and many tourists flock here to escape the cold. The temperatures during this time are usually in the high 20s°C (high 70s°F), but they’ve been known to climb a lot higher.

Winter in Melbourne (June-August) can be quite cold and dreary, especially in comparison to Sydney and Brisbane. But you’ll certainly get the best travel deals and hotel rates during these months, so it might be worth your time anyway — especially if you’re most interested in the cafe and foodie scene.

How to Stay Safe in Melbourne

Melbourne is an incredibly safe place to backpack and travel — even if you’re traveling solo and even as a solo female traveler. People are quite friendly and helpful and you’re unlikely to get into trouble.

As Melbourne is a big city, be on alert for pickpockets and keep your valuables secure at all times (as in any other big city), especially while around tourist landmarks or when taking crowded public transportation.

If you’re visiting Melbourne during the summer months, be prepared for high temperatures. Wear sunscreen, cover yourself, and drink plenty of water. Most incidents tend to occur because visitors are not used to the country’s unique climate.

If you’re venturing out of the city, be mindful of wildlife, especially snakes and spiders. If you’re bitten, seek immediate care.

Solo female travelers generally feel safe here. However, the standard precautions apply (never leave your drink unattended at the bar, never walk home alone at night intoxicated, etc.). For more information, check out one of the many solo female travel blogs on the web that can help more!

If you’re worried about travel scams, you can read about common travel scams to avoid here . There aren’t many in Australia though.

If you experience an emergency, dial 000 for assistance.

Always trust your gut instinct. Make copies of your personal documents, including your passport and ID. Forward your itinerary along to loved ones so they’ll know where you are.

The most important piece of safety advice I can offer is to purchase good travel insurance. Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. You can use the widget below to find the policy right for you:

Melbourne Travel Guide: The Best Booking Resources

These are my favorite companies to use when I travel. They consistently have the best deals, offer world-class customer service and great value, and overall, are better than their competitors. They are the companies I use the most and are always the starting point in my search for travel deals.

• Skyscanner – Skyscanner is my favorite flight search engine. They search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites tend to miss. They are hands down the number one place to start.
• Hostelworld – This is the best hostel accommodation site out there with the largest inventory, best search interface, and widest availability.
• Booking.com – The best all around booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation. In all my tests, they’ve always had the cheapest rates out of all the booking websites.
• Get Your Guide – Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions. They have tons of tour options available in cities all around the world, including everything from cooking classes, walking tours, street art lessons, and more!
• Rome2Rio – This website allows you to see how to get from point A to point B the best and cheapest way possible. Just enter your departure and arrival destinations and it will give you all the bus, train, plane, or boat routes that can get you there as well as how much they cost. It’s one of the best transportation websites out there!
• SafetyWing – Safety Wing offers convenient and affordable plans tailored to digital nomads and long-term travelers. They have cheap monthly plans, great customer service, and an easy-to-use claims process that makes it perfect for those on the road.
• LifeStraw – My go-to company for reusable water bottles with built-in filters so you can ensure your drinking water is always clean and safe.
• Unbound Merino – They make lightweight, durable, easy-to-clean travel clothing.
• Top Travel Credit Cards – Points are the best way to cut down travel expenses. Here’s my favorite point earning credit cards so you can get free travel!

Australia Travel Guide: Related Articles

Want more info? Check out all the articles I’ve written on Australia travel and continue planning your trip:

The 7 Best Hotels in Sydney

Where to Stay in Brisbane: The Best Neighborhoods for Your Visit

The 6 Best Hotels in Brisbane

The Best Walking Tours in Melbourne

The Best Walking Tours in Sydney

Where to Stay in Melbourne: The Best Neighborhoods for Your Visit

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• Where To Stay
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Melbourne   Travel Guide

Courtesy of Boy_Anupong | Getty Images

Why Go To Melbourne

More than four million people call this big small town home. Yes, Melbourne is a big small town, and no, it's not an oxymoron. See, it contains all the trappings of a major metropolis – vibrant neighborhoods, award-winning cuisine, notable things to do  – but Melburnians manage to do their urban hustle at a leisurely pace. Burrowed in wine country beside Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne's natural landscape anchors its laid-back personality. When you're sampling wine in the nearby Yarra Valley or sipping a flat white at one of Melbourne's charming sidewalk cafes, there's no way you can't relax.

That said, don't be mistaken: There are some high-octane activities awaiting you. The nightlife is epic, with diverse venues ranging from bumping clubs to hole-in-the-wall concert stages. It's also a powerhouse for sports; one visit to the Melbourne Cricket Ground will cement that in your mind. For travelers who want a seemingly paradoxical vacation – a stress-free vibe in an exciting metropolis – Melbourne is the place for you.

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• # 11 in Best Places to Visit in Australia and The Pacific in 2023

Best of Melbourne

Best hotels in melbourne.

• in Quay West Suites Melbourne
• in Melbourne Marriott Hotel
• in Royce Hotel

Best Things to Do in Melbourne

• # 1 in Shrine of Remembrance
• # 2 in Port Campbell National Park
• # 3 in Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne

Popular Tours

Great Ocean Road Small-Group Ecotour from Melbourne

(4745 reviews)

from $ 97.69

Great Ocean Road Tour Plus Koalas, Forest Walk and Morning Tea

(681 reviews)

from $ 96.23

Phillip Island Penguin, Brighton Beach, Moonlit Sanctuary from Melbourne

(2405 reviews)

from $ 111.48

Melbourne Travel Tips

Best months to visit.

The best times to visit Melbourne are between March and May and September and November. These shoulder seasons feature moderate temperatures and tourist crowds, plus lower airfare rates. In the summer months (North America's winter months) of December to February, Melbourne bursts at the seams with hot, sweaty tourists, while June through August (Melbourne's winter season) affords cold weather and fewer travelers.

Weather in Melbourne

Data sourced from the National Climatic Data Center

What You Need to Know

• Silence those r's  One of the key differences between Aussie English and American English is the removal of "r" sounds from words like the city's name. To sound less like a tourist and more like a local, take out the "our" in Melbourne and replace it with an "i" to get "Mel-bin."
• Order a flat white This milky coffee drink is a staple in Oz. We can almost guarantee you'll be asking your local barista to learn the recipe.
• Prepare to party Melbourne is known for its roaring nightlife, especially in neighborhoods like St Kilda and South Yarra-Prahran. You'll also find a variety of pubs, clubs and live music venues in the central business district.

How to Save Money in Melbourne

• Hop on the City Circle Tram This free tram  – which conveniently stops near attractions like the State Library Victoria and the Melbourne Museum – travels in a circular route and gives visitors a great overview of the city.
• Fill up at lunch Most establishments raise their menu prices at night, so consider eating your largest meal of the day at lunch.
• Buy an iVenture Card  These passes cover entrance fees for more than 30 attractions, tours and river cruises. Several iVenture Cards are available, including a combo pass with a day tour, a multi-attraction option and an unlimited attractions card for three or seven consecutive days.

Culture & Customs

Melbourne is much smaller than Sydney , but this southern Australia city exudes the same joie de vivre . The events capital of Down Under attracts families and casual travelers with its laid-back vibe.

Americans find it easy to adapt to the Melburnian way of life for several reasons. Firstly, the official language here is English, meaning there's no language barrier to overcome. Secondly, the official currency – the Australian dollar – is worth a little less than the U.S. dollar, so you'll be able to afford the city's food, accommodations and attractions.

One stressful factor here is getting behind the wheel of a car. Driving can feel quite erratic. First, the Aussies drive on the left side of the road. Melbourne also permits hook turns (or turning from the farthest lane across all traffic lanes), which is opposite of what you'll find in the U.S. For more information about driving, check out Melbourne's Getting Around section.

Sports are a way of life in Melbourne. We highly recommend a visit to the Melbourne Cricket Ground to watch a footy (or rugby) match or a cricket game. Keep in mind that Melburnian footy follows Australian Football League (AFL) rules, while Sydney and Brisbane 's most popular form of footy abides by National Rugby League (NRL) rules.

What to Eat

Melbourne is a city of cafes. You'll find them tucked within central Melbourne's alleyways and clustered together throughout trendy neighborhoods like South Yarra-Prahran, St Kilda and Fitzroy. Try a flat white, an Australian coffee specialty that's similar to a latte but with more espresso and less milk. Popular coffee shops include Brother Baba Budan and Café Andiamo in the central business district and Two Birds One Stone Cafe in South Yarra-Prahran.

Though most of the city's residents were born in Australia, Melbourne's sizable British, Indian, Chinese, Italian and Greek communities have greatly influenced the area's culinary offerings. (In fact, Melbourne is home to the largest Greek-speaking population outside of Europe.) Three neighborhoods – Chinatown, Lygon Street (also known as Little Italy) and the Greek Precinct – specialize in Chinese, Italian or Greek shops and restaurants. As a result, you'll find an array of top-notch ethnic fare throughout the city.

For some of Melbourne's best Asian bites, head to Chinatown to eat at Rice Paper Scissors or Longrain . If you're craving Italian, consider dining at Scopri or Da Guido Melbourne la Pasta , both of which sit on or near Lygon Street. Some of the Greek Precinct's best Greek specialties are offered at Stalactites , while modern Greek fare like crab souvlaki  (a kabab-style dish traditionally made with lamb) and pork-stuffed spanakopita  (a savory pastry with layers of spinach, feta cheese and phyllo) can be found at Gazi Restaurant and The Press Club in the CBD. Other ethnic favorites include the Armenian-focused Sezar , the Middle Eastern- and Mediterranean-influenced Maha and the British-inspired Dinner by Heston Blumenthal .

But if you're looking for an Australian-style meal made with local ingredients like Wagyu beef, barramundi (a type of fish found throughout the country) and blue mussels, you're in luck: Melbourne offers a variety of Australian eateries. Most of the city's favorite Australian restaurants, including ezard and Eau De Vie , reside in the CBD.

Melbourne also makes some of Australia's best wine (for travelers who are 18 and older). Five wine regions – the Yarra Valley , Mornington Peninsula, Geelong, Sunbury and the Macedon Ranges – are located within 50 miles of the city. Hundreds of wineries can be found throughout these wine regions, all of which specialize in chardonnay, shiraz and pinot noir. Other wine varieties like pinot grigio and cabernet sauvignon are produced at select wineries as well.

Getting Around Melbourne

The best way to get around Melbourne is by tram. Trams operate throughout the day and offer multiple routes that criss-cross the city. There's even a  free tram designed just for tourists. You can also board Melbourne's buses and trains with the same myki ticket that you'll use for trams. While taxis and rental cars are available, they'll both cost more than public transportation. To avoid the hassle of adjusting to Melbourne's quirky road rules, it's best to avoid driving here.

The Melbourne Airport (MEL) is about 16 miles northwest of downtown Melbourne. You can take a SkyBus from the airport into the city for AU$ 19 ($15). You can also hire a taxi or rent a car.

Entry & Exit Requirements

A valid U.S. passport is required to enter Australia. You can stay in the country for up to 90 days as long as you acquire an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA), an electronic visa that costs AU$20 ($15) and can be obtained here . Airlines and travel agents may also apply for ETAs on your behalf. For more information, visit the U.S. State Department's website .

On a sunny day, head across the Yarra River for breathtaking views of the Melbourne skyline.

Explore More of Melbourne

Things To Do

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Girl Eat World

A girl's adventure in food and travel around the world, melbourne itinerary: what to see, eat and do in 5 days for first-timers.

I’ve been lucky to be able to visit many places in Australia . I gotta say, Melbourne is hands down my top three favorite cities in the world. It’s right up there with Tokyo as the place I hope I end up living in one day.

I felt validated in this opinion when I found out that Melbourne was recently ranked as the most liveable city by The Economist for seven years in a row. An impressive feat, right? And I can see why – after visiting the city three times over the past five years, it’s hard not to fall in love with Melbourne.

Travel tips for visiting Melbourne

Should i exchange some cash for australian dollars (aud), when is the best time to visit melbourne, how long should i spend in melbourne, where to stay in melbourne.

• Day 1 : Melbourne Central
• Day 2 : Melbourne Arts & Culture
• Day 3 : Fitzroy
• Day 4 : St Kilda and Brighton Beach
• Day 5 : Day trip from Melbourne
• Where to eat in Melbourne

Seasonal Activities in Melbourne

1. Flying into Melbourne – There are two airports in Melbourne, Tullamarine and Avalon Airport. You’d probably land at Tullamarine Airport since it’s the primary airport for Melbourne.

2. Getting to the city from the airport by bus – Take the Skybus Airport Transfer from Tullamarine Airport to the city (pre-book using this link for a cheaper rate). This is probably the most cost-effective and fastest way to get to the city from the airport. Taking the Melbourne City Express Route , you will be dropped off at the Southern Cross Station. From there, you can take the free city tram to your accommodation.

3. Taxi and Ride-sharing – If you aren’t too keen on public transport, you can take a taxi or Uber from the airport, which will run about AU$ 55-65 depending on where you are staying. And yes, Uber is widely available in Melbourne! You can definitely use Uber, though I found it to be quite pricy.

4. The Melbourne City Tram is FREE for everyone traveling in the free tram zone – So, make use of it! This was one of my main modes of transportation when I was in Melbourne. This free tram zone circles the city center of Melbourne (aka “The Grid”). Click here for a map of the free tram zone in Melbourne . In addition to that, there is also a City Circle Tram (no. 35) which is always free. This tram line stays within the boundary of the free tram zone.

5. Get a Myki card for Public transportation in Melbourne – If you’re planning to use public transport in Melbourne outside of the free tram zone, you’ll need to buy a Myki card at any 7/11 shop. Myki card can also be topped up online or on 7/11. If you have an Android phone, you can use your phone as a Myki card wth Mobile Myki! Find out more about Myki card here . If you are an iPhone user, you can use the PTV app to use Myki with your phone .

6. Be ready for all kinds of weather – Melbourne weather is notoriously fickle. When I was there in April, I experienced everything from sunny, to rain, to cold wind… all in ONE day!

7. Wear comfortable shoes as you’ll be walking a lot – One of the reasons why I love Melbourne so much is because of its walkability. Trust me, you’ll want to walk and explore on foot while you’re here. On my first day in Melbourne, I clocked in 30,000 steps which is over three times what I normally walk in a day!

8.  Wise Card  worked super well in Australia  – If you’re an international visitor like myself, definitely get yourself  a Wise Debit Card . You’ll save the foreign transaction fee with it. Australia is the perfect country to use this card because everything has been contactless in this country for a while!

No! You should not.

For as long as I’ve been going to Australia, they’ve embraced the digital side of payments. In Australia, you can use your credit card pretty much everywhere. I didn’t use cash for most of my trips here, so much such that I still have no idea what AUD bills look like.

However, if you prefer to transact in cash, then you should exchange your money before the trip, while you are still outside of Australia. Do NOT exchange your money in Australia, especially at the Airport . They don’t give you a good exchange rate and will apply a fee for the transaction – check out this article for horror stories .

Anecdotal experience: My friend tried to exchange AUD for SGD at Sydney Airport and was given a rate of $1.43 when the going rate was $1.04. His A$163 became S$115 when it should have been S$155. I know as a general rule you are not supposed to change money in airports, but to his defense, we’ve changed currencies in other airports and were not ripped off as badly as in Australia.

Remember that Australia is located in the southern hemisphere, so its seasons are different from what you might be used to. Here are the seasons in Australia:

With this in mind, the best time to visit Melbourne is in the fall from March to early May . It won’t be too hot since summer has just finished, and it won’t be too cold yet since winter will only come in July.

You will need at least 3 days to properly explore Melbourne if you are not planning to get out of the city. I recommend allocating 5 days though, so you could do some day trips outside of Melbourne too.

Generally, I try to find accommodations within the central area (aka within “ the grid “) when I’m visiting Melbourne. Central Melbourne is a small area and totally walkable, and most points can be reached by the free city tram line.

Here are some places I’ve personally stayed in Melbourne and would recommend:

• Rydges Melbourne – Rydges is a chain hotel in Australia. I’ve stayed with them in Hobart and Brisbane too! Rydges in Melbourne boasts one of the best locations to stay in Melbourne. It’s close to all of the spots you’d want to visit and close to a city tram stop. That’s how I ended up walking everywhere.
• Melbourne Central YHA – I love budget accommodations and YHA in Australia is perfect for it. They always have the best accommodation at the best location. YHA is budget, but the location is so good – right on Flinders Street which is the main street in Melbourne. And although it’s a budget, it doesn’t mean you have to share a room – I stayed in one of the private rooms on the rooftop. It had a nice view of the Melbourne business district.
• Melbourne Metro YHA – Unlike the Central YHA, this location isn’t as premium, but it is still within central Melbourne and is very affordable. It’s still not a bad location since it’s close to public transportation, but I’d only book this over the Central YHA if you really want to save money.

Melbourne Itinerary Map & Overview

Finally, we are at the itinerary portion! Here is the overview of my Melbourne itinerary:

• Day 5 : Day trips from Melbourne

And to make it easier to visualize, here is a map to go with the itinerary! (If you can’t see the map,  click here )

🗺 Save this map to your phone!  If you are a Google user, click on the image of the map above. The map will then be saved to your “Recent” maps viewed.  Click here for instructions on how to view the map later . It will work from your phone too.

OK, let’s get to the details of my 5-day Itinerary in Melbourne:

Day 1: Get your bearings around Melbourne Central

The Melbourne Central area is not a big place. With the City Circle tram being free for tourists, it makes for an easy first-day itinerary of Melbourne!

First of all, as I have alluded to before, the center of Melbourne is called the Hoddle Grid . And that’s because that’s how central Melbourne looks like – it’s made up of a perfectly rectangular, neat grid of streets.

1. Queen Victoria Market

Start your day at the famous Queen Victoria Market, a large open-air market that is a landmark of Melbourne. You can explore the market and sample the food as you walk around. I ended up buying a few bottles of wine and some cheese from the market.

It’s also the perfect place to grab breakfast and a cup of coffee. By the way, it’s a crime to come to Melbourne and not drink their coffee. This city has the best cafes in the world. For one that is close to the market, you can try Market Lane Coffee.

2. Eureka Skydeck on the 88th floor of Eureka Tower

From Queen Victoria Market, you can take the City Circle tram down to Flinder Street and cross the Yarra River to the Southbank area, where Eureka Tower is located.

Tip! You can buy the Eureka Skydeck 88 Entry Ticket for cheaper using this link .

Eureka Tower is the second tallest skyscraper in Australia and they have an observation deck open for the public on the 88th floor, where you can get a good view of Melbourne and beyond (Trivia: The tallest building in Australia is the Q1 building in Gold Coast, which I also went up to !)

PS: While I loved the Skydeck, I do NOT recommend paying extra for “The Edge” experience unless maybe you’re traveling with kids. We did, and it was more akin to a ride at a local amusement park. I would have much preferred just spending more time in the Skydeck itself.

3. Walk around Southbank

After the Skydeck, you should definitely take some time and walk around the Southbank area. Especially if the weather is great and if you happen to be here during Melbourne Food & Wine Festival. The entire area would just be buzzing with activities and live music.

Along the Yarra River, you’ll find nice restaurants, cafes, and places to chill before continuing to the next destination.

4. Melbourne Parliament House

Also located along the city circle tram route, the Melbourne Parliament House is a cool spot to spend a few hours in. I was lucky they were having their open day when I was in Melbourne – the parliament house is open to the public on weekdays from 8:30 – 5:30 pm ( see hours and visiting information here ).

You can take a look at beautiful architecture that dates back to the gold rush days and visits the chambers where Victoria MPs make the laws and debate the issues that affect the residents.

5. State Library Victoria

State Library Victoria is Australia’s oldest public library, opened in 1856. It is also one of the world’s first free public libraries. Aside from being a library, it also houses the city’s most beautiful heritage architecture, as you can see from the highly photographed La Trobe Reading room.

6. Explore the Alleys of Melbourne

Once you’re done with the library, it’s time to get off the city circle tram route and enter the central area. I don’t think you need to have a specific destination for this, the central area can be easily explored on foot.

You can of course do this by yourself, but if you prefer to be guided, here are some walking tours you can check out.

• Melbourne Walking Tour
• Melbourne Hidden Bars Tour

Day 2: See arts and culture in Melbourne

One of the huge reasons why I love Melbourne so much is for the arts and culture. If you like visiting museums, you’ll love this itinerary!

1. Melbourne Museum

I almost missed out on this museum – I had left this to visit on my very last day in Melbourne, and that’s only because my mate Mitch (who lives in Melbourne) recommended me to visit on my second to last day. But I’m SO glad I didn’t miss it! Melbourne Museum was such a fun place to visit. There are bits of natural history and science as well as cultural Australian history sprinkled in, as well as interactive displays. Unfortunately, I had to rush when I visited this museum, but you should definitely dedicate at least 3 hours here if you love natural history. I found the gemstone exhibit to be particularly memorable – they’re all so sparkly!

The Melbourne Museum is open 9am–5pm daily ( more info )

2. National Gallery of Victoria (NGV)

Often referred to by its abbreviation NGV, this museum was one of the best contemporary art museums I’ve ever been to. As with many museums, their exhibit changes but you can see what’s currently on here .

During the time of my visit, I was lucky to catch the last month of the Triennial exhibit. The exhibit featured the work of over 100 artists from around the world including the likes of Yayoi Kusama (made even more famous by Instagram through her Infinity Room installation at The Broad in Los Angeles ) and Ron Mueck (known for his lifelike yet bizarre sculptures and whom I later found out is a native Melbournian).

Entry to NGV is free, and it’s open daily 10am–5pm

3. See the Street Art and Graffiti lanes in Melbourne

Just like how it’s a crime to not drink coffee while in Melbourne, a visit to this city is not complete without seeing the street art! You don’t even have to try hard as the city is already filled with amazing graffiti and street paintings, but the most famous streets are AC/DC Lane, Hosier Lane, and Desgraves Street . If you like what you see there, I recommend going to Fitzroy to check out the street art there too – but don’t worry, I have an entire day dedicated to Fitzroy in this itinerary already 😉

Tip: For those of you who want to gain more insights into the graffiti and street art culture of Melbourne, I recommend booking the Melbourne street art tour , run by the street artists themselves.

4. Have some Melbourne “Magic” Coffee

We all know that a flat white is an Australian thing, but have you heard of magic? I spotted this at one of the cafes in Melbourne and I just had to order it. Turns out Magic is just another coffee drink, specifically, it is steamed milk poured over a double ristretto, served in a 6-ounce cup, which results in a stronger-tasting coffee.

Personally, I’m not bougie enough to appreciate the difference. All coffee with milk taste similar to me, but I definitely kept ordering magic when I was in Melbourne. I haven’t seen it anywhere else in the world, and besides, it’s more fun to say “Can I have magic?” to your barista 😛

5. Stroll around Fitzroy Gardens

The garden is called Fitzroy Garden, but it’s actually closer to the central area than it is to Fitzroy. It’s actually only a block away from the central area and it’s a great place to have a morning stroll, or if you’re in Melbourne during fall, you can catch some autumn foliage here!

Make sure to stop by Cook’s Cottage , a reconstruction of an original brick cottage originally built in England in 1755 by the family of Captain James Cook. Yes, they brought them from England to Australia brick by brick and rebuilt the house here!

Day 3: Explore Fitzroy

Fitzroy is Melbourne’s super cool alternative side. It’s located not too far away from the central area – in fact, you can walk to the heart of Fitzroy from Melbourne Central in about half an hour. Or you can grab an Uber for AU$ 10-15.

Tip: If you want to know more about Fitzroy, you can book this walking tour .

I recommend starting out with coffee and croissant at Lune Croissanterie (be prepared to queue, it’s very popular) or brunch at Stagger Lee’s Cafe or Smith & Daughters (vegan restaurant), before exploring the fun shops along Brunswick Street. They’ve got all kinds of shops from vintage to high-end shops along the street.

Don’t forget to walk around the alleys in Fitzroy too! You never know what you’ll find. We walked along a small alley between Brunswick Street and Young Street near Johnson Street and found a ton of street art there.

For dinner, you can head to Easey’s , a super cool burger joint on a converted train car that’s on a rooftop of a building – don’t ask me how they got that up there. Then after dinner, go back to Brunswick Street for a fun night out! The area is buzzing with activity especially if you’re there during a weekend night. You can check out Naked for Satan for a rooftop bar.

Special thank you to mates Mitch & Chay for showing us around! <3

Day 4: Enjoy the beach at St Kilda and Brighton

You cannot visit Melbourne without going to St Kilda and Brighton, a suburban area south of Melbourne central that’s known as an affluent beachside area. They are pretty close to each other and easily accessible from Flinder street station, so take your Myki card and head down there!

I didn’t make it down to Brighton last time, but the most popular thing on Brighton Beach are these colorful bright bathing houses from the early 1900s, used for ladies to change into their swimming suits back in the day. Nowadays, they are not just empty small wooden houses – they have become one of the most expensive real estate in Australia, with one of the boxes sold for $285,000 in 2016 !

If you’re up for it, you can walk from Brighton up to St Kilda. The walk is a scenic route through the coastal line and would take you approximately 2 hours.

I recommend visiting the St Kilda Pier and walking around the boardwalk area, where you can find booths set up by local jewelry designers and artists. If you’re around until sunset, you might be able to spot the St Kilda Penguins at the pier too!

Day 5: Escape from the city – do a short day trip!

While Melbourne is a super cool city, a trip to Australia isn’t complete without a road trip to see beautiful nature outside of city life! In Australia, it’s always a good idea to rent a car and explore on your own. You can rent a car here in Melbourne and drive on the great ocean road.

However, if you cannot drive, then you can join a tour instead. Here are some destinations you can go to escape the city:

Great Ocean Road Day Tour – I went on this tour on my first visit to Melbourne. The Great Ocean Road is a famous driving route, often referred to as one of the world’s most scenic coastal drives. This is the perfect place to visit if you have a few days for a road trip. However, it’s doable as a day trip from Melbourne too! One of the most popular highlights of the drive is called the Twelve Apostles, a collection of limestone pillars that are slowly being reclaimed back by nature. It’s reachable from Melbourne in a few hour’s drive.

Yarra Valley Wine and Cheese Tour – I’ve always seen wine bottles from Yarra Valley, so if you’re a wine and cheese enthusiast, you definitely need to make it out here! There’s nothing like sipping on a glass of wine and cheese locally produced right on the spot.

Grampians National Park – If you are the adventurous type who enjoys being in nature, hiking, and chasing waterfalls, then this is the perfect destination for you. Much like Great Ocean Road, Grampians is great as a multi-day trip destination but it’s doable as a day trip from Melbourne although it will require you to wake up early and come back late.

Mornington Peninsula Hiking Tour – This place is a popular day trip destination for those who want to get out of the city for a hike but something not too far from Melbourne. It’s only about an hour away from Melbourne.

Phillip Island Day Tour – Philip Island is yet another popular day trip option from Melbourne. The island is famous for its wildlife – you can see penguins and koalas!

Skydive in Melbourne – Australia is one of the best places in the world to do skydiving! From Melbourne, you can choose skydiving locations from Yarra Valley, the Great Ocean Road, or near the city center.

Where to Eat and Drink in Melbourne

I guess after visiting a city three times, I have a thing or fifteen to recommend. Here are some places I enjoyed while I was in Melbourne! (Don’t worry, this is all marked in my Melbourne travel maps I shared before)

Brunch and Cafes

• The Hardware Societe – the chorizo baked eggs are their most famous dish!
• Higher Ground – Beautiful place and very popular with loooong wait so you must come early. We tried going, but was turned down by the long line.
• Stagger Lee’s Cafe (in Fitzroy)
• Smith & Daughter (in Fitzroy) – Vegan restaurant
• Lune Croissanterie (in Fitzroy) – voted as the best croissant in the world. Expect to queue.

It’s a crime to visit Melbourne and not try their coffee. This city has the best cafes in the world. Don’t forget to try Melbourne Magic Coffee!

• Manchester Press (also great for Brunch)
• The League of Honest Coffee
• Brother Baba Budan
• Market Lane Coffee – in Queen Victoria Market

For Lunch or Dinner

• Cookie – Modern Thai dishes in the middle of downtown Melbourne.
• Chin Chin – Asian-inspired menu. Quite possibly the most popular restaurant in Melbourne. requires a reservation, especially on weekend dinner/brunch time
• Cumulus Inc – delicious Australian food. The menu changes, so I can’t recommend a specific dish but I’ve been here twice and it was a really good experience both times
• Royal Stacks – Great place for burgers!
• Betty’s Burgers – I had Betty’s Burget in Gold Coast and I was glad to see them here in Melbourne too!
• Easey’s (in Fitzroy) – Super cool eatery, where you eat inside a train car… but on a rooftop of a building.
• Menya Ramen – This is not the typical Melbourne recommendation, but this restaurant is super famous among Asian visitors (or maybe it’s just us Indonesians?), not for the ramen but for the great value Gyu Tan Don – aka grilled beef tongue over rice.
• Chuckle Park Bar – get your cocktails and craft beers from a caravan, in a nicely decorated alley!
• Rooftop Bar at Curtin House – a chilled-out, open-air bar on the rooftop in the middle of central Melbourne.
• Cherry Bar – Iconic bar located in Melbourne’s AC/DC lane. They had a live rock band when we visited.
• Brunswick Street in Fitzroy – a street in Fitzroy known for cafes, live music venues, and alternative fashion shops. Check out Naked for Satan if you want drinks and enjoy the nightlife!
• Australia Open in (usually) January – If you’re a tennis fan and in town while the tournament is happening, don’t miss a chance to go down to Melbourne Park.
• Australian Grand Prix (usually) in the first half of the year – For F1 fans, if you are in town for the Grand Prix, the Albert Park circuit is not too far from central Melbourne!
• Melbourne Cup in November – This horse racing event is arguably one of Australia’s biggest annual sporting events. The event is held on the first Tuesday in November each year and is known locally as “the race that stops a nation” as every Australian will stop what they’re doing and crowd around the telly. People will also dress up in race day attire (formal) and attend the race, which (in a true Aussie fashion) often involves day drinking.
• The World’s Longest Lunch in March – this is an annual event usually held as part of the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival in March, where diners get to enjoy a meal at the 500m long table. Check out the Melbourne and Wine Festival website for more information!
• Regional World’s Longest Lunch in March – If you can’t score a seat at the Melbourne Longest Lunch, fret not! They hold the longest lunch in regional areas outside of Melbourne too. I attended one in Yarra Valley last year, and it was an amazing experience. Read about my Regional World’s Longest Lunch post here.
• Not visiting during these months? Fret not, check out the Melbourne events calendar here to see what’s on during your visit!

That’s all I have on Melbourne! If you are visiting the city, let me know what you think of it!

29 Comments

• March 31, 2023

Awesome tips! As a local we definitely agree with many of these!!

• February 21, 2023

Excellent article! Melbourne has so many great little nooks for food and adventures.

• March 29, 2024

Are 3 stars hotel good to stay in? Any good locations so I can check prices? 4 stars would be good to. And are they all on the free tram line?

• October 28, 2022

Good read! Amazing! Would love to visit Melbourne someday. And if I ever get to visit, I will definitely comeback to this post! Thanks!

• September 2, 2022

Awesome tips and stunning pictures. Thanks for sharing.

• August 13, 2022

This was so helpful when I was looking for ideas of thing to do with my parents. Thank you!

• June 30, 2022

I will be going to Melbourne from 25 to 30 Dec 2022. I intend to spend 26 Dec and 27 Dec exploring Melbourne City. 29 Dec I intend to go Chadstone The Fashion Capital as it is late night shopping This leave me 28 Dec free. I am torn between going to visit Penguin Island as a day trip or use 28 Dec to explore Melbourne or catch some musical like Phantom (it is showing) since 26 Dec likely most shop are close. I did not conside Yarra or Mornington since I don’t drink. GOR I think 2 days is better and I intend to cover GOR next year when u am back in Melbourne.

What is your suggestion? Thanks for advice.

Hey Yien! It really depends on your preference! I personally would go for Penguin Island just because I love the nature in Australia. December in Melbourne should have good weather too, so I would definitely prefer to be outside.

• February 22, 2022

Thank you very much for all your beautiful pictures and ideas!! We are going to visit Australia next month. You give/ gave us a lot of inspiration!!!

• February 21, 2022

Hi, I’m thinking of going solo to Melbourne. Would you say it’s safe for a solo female traveller?

Hi Eity, absolutely! I’ve been to Melbourne 3 times now, and 2 of those were done solo and I would highly recommend it. Of course as always exercise common sense and always be vigilant.

• December 14, 2021

Great itinerary! Thanks for sharing informative and helpful content.

• December 6, 2021

Nice article, it helped us a lot to explore. I am an entrepreneur by profession and a traveler by heart. Your article made our stay exciting.

• November 17, 2021

Oh wow, this is a great guide! I hope I can visit Australia someday 🙂 Great photos too!

• December 8, 2019

Stunning photos Melissa. I’m currently in Vietnam and the coffee culture here is crazy. I’ve got hooked on coffee in Vietnam completely. Can’t wait to visit Melbourne and try the coffee there.

• November 13, 2019

Parliament house at Melbourne has a beautifully built architecture. Very English. Getting here is quite easy, the central circle tram stops here.

• November 10, 2019

As a Melbourne native I really enjoyed your fascinating insight into my city. I am always surprised by what visitors find worthy to recommend. Thank you for your insight… great stuff.

• November 11, 2019

Thanks Wayne!

• October 6, 2019

Can you recommend me a zoo in Melbourne?

Melbourne Zoo is excellent but I would recommend the Werribee Open Range Zoo west of the city. You would need to drive as public transport to that part of Victoria is only average. The safari out there with the Rhinos etc is fascinating… and the Elephants from Melbourne Zoo have recently been moved there as well. For native Australian animals you need Healesville Sanctuary. Probably a day trip as it’s a solid hours drive from the city centre. Have fun.

• September 20, 2019

What are the halal food outlets in CBD?

Hey Shana, I don’t have dietary restriction so did not pay attention to halal eateries. However, I suggest checking out this page: https://www.havehalalwilltravel.com/14-muslim-friendly-eateries-melbourne they listed some places in CBD.

• September 9, 2019

what tourist sim card with data to use for melbourne & sydney on a 2 week tour?

Hey Elle, I used prepaid from vodafone when I was there, but I heard Boost is good too.

• June 21, 2019

Great, your Blog on Melbourne tour is very nice & informative. The contents provided by you is good. Keep going..!!

• June 18, 2019

Very comprehensive list, Girl Eat World — this Melburnian approves 😉 A few of my favourite places that I always take friends visiting are: – Rooftop Bar in the CBD – Section 8 bar in the CBD – Lentil as Anything in Abbotsford Convent – Dolan Uyghur Food Heaven in CBD – Yarra Valley Dairy for cheese in Yarra Valley – Colourful Yunnan near Melbourne University (yes, Melbourne is a hub for fantastic Asian food) – I live in Brunswick, and some of my favourite places in Brunswick to eat are: A1 Bakery for cheap Lebanese pizza and pastries, A Minor Place for brunch, Small Axe and Padre for coffee, Very Good Falafel for an exceptionally good falafel. Brunswick is a good place to get an affordable AirBnb because it’s only 20 mins by train/tram away from the CBD.

THanks Maz!!! I’ll bookmark these places for my next visit to Melbourne!!

• May 20, 2019

How to use free city circle tram get to st kilda beach?

• May 21, 2019

hey rosli. you can’t get to st kilda using the free city tram. you have to get a myki card and take the paid tram

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Australia is officially the world’s fifth best tourism destination in 2024 – here’s what sets it apart

The World Economic Forum ranked Australia as one of the top five countries for tourism and travel in 2024

If Australia’s postcard-worthy beaches or poster-child kangaroos weren’t enough to tempt potential travellers, this news might just do the trick. The World Economic Forum (WEF) has just released its highly-anticipated biennial ranking of the best countries for tourism and travel in 2024 – and Australia has claimed one of the top five spots. 

It appears that Australia is on an uphill streak, climbing from the seventh-best tourism destination in 2017 to sixth in 2021, and now claiming fifth place in 2024. The United States took the top spot in the WEF’s  Travel and Tourism Development Index 2024 (TTDI) for the third year running, with six European countries and three Asia-Pacific regions rounding out the top ten. That includes Spain in second, Japan in third and France in fourth.

Curious about how WEF’s economists came to these conclusions? They ranked 119 economies around the world based on a set of 17 factors related to the development of tourism and travel in each country. These factors included the availability of tourist services and infrastructure, sustainability, natural resources, labour capacity and price competitiveness. Most of the data was sourced from reputable international organisations, like the World Health Organisation, UNESCO and UN Tourism, with the rest coming from the WEF’s annual Executive Opinion Survey . 

Here are five reasons why Australia ranked so high in the latest TTDI: 

Natural resources 

We’re pretty stoked to see that Australia ranked as the second-best country in the world for its natural resources. From ancient rainforests and majestic deserts to blindingly beautiful coastal areas, our Great Southern Land has it all. A road trip along the East Coast or the West is the best way to experience it, for both locals and tourists alike. 

Cultural resources 

A culture-packed holiday is also on the cards for anyone looking to visit Australia, with our nation ranking 17th out of 119 countries for its cultural resources. Our country is home to the world’s oldest continuous culture, with the stories of Australia’s First Nation’s people beautifully woven into our vibrant arts and culture landscape. Whether you’re staying in the city or venturing into the outback, you’ll find countless opportunities to walk in their footsteps and learn about the rich history of our land.

Digital savviness 

Australia shines in the digital realm, ranking 14th globally for its top-notch digital infrastructure and services. Kudos were given for our seamless adoption of digital payments, widespread 3G mobile network coverage, and easy digital booking systems for hotels , restaurants and leisure activities .

Ease of travelling to and from Australia

We love welcoming travellers from every corner of the globe, earning us a commendable 16th place ranking on the openness to tourism and travel scale. Our relatively relaxed visa requirements make it easy for visitors to come, stay and play, while the strength of the Australian passport, which ranks among the world’s most powerful , lets Aussies travel almost anywhere their heart desires. 

Infrastructure for tourists

There are sparkly, new hotels popping up all around Australia , so it makes sense that our nation ranked at number 17 for our availability of tourist services and infrastructure. Our labour productivity in hotels and restaurants was also taken into consideration here, reflecting our 'work hard, play hard' reputation.

You can read more about why Australia is one of the best tourism destinations in the full report here or check out this snapshot of the top ten countries:

• The United States
• The United Kingdom
• Switzerland

Stay in the loop: sign up for our free  Time Out Australia newsletter  for more news, travel inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox. 

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Kudos to canberra australia's capital has been named the third smartest city in the world in 2024, just in: here’s how australia ranked on oxford economics’ inaugural global cities index, the gold coast overtakes sydney and melbourne as the top winter holiday spot for families.

• Melissa Woodley Travel & News Editor, Time Out Australia

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• Travel Updates

Naked man causes Virgin Australia plane chaos

A naked man reportedly ran down the aisle of a Virgin flight from Perth, knocking over a crew member and causing the plane to turn around.

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A Virgin Australia flight was forced to turn around mid-flight after a naked man reportedly ran through the aircraft causing chaos and knocking over a crew member.

Virgin flight VA696 left Perth at 7.21pm on Tuesday night headed to Melbourne.

Flight data shows the plane barely made it over the Great Australian Bight before turning around, landing 30 minutes after takeoff.

Now it’s emerged that the reason the flight was abandoned was because a nude man ran through the plane. According to Channel 9 , the man allegedly knocked over a crew member as he ran amok.

‘Guys got no clothes on’

“A male passenger suddenly went bananas running up and down the aisle and bashing on the cockpit door,” a caller to Nine’s radio station 3AW said.

“Two air marshals had to restrain and handcuff the individual until the [flight] landed.”

The flight landed back in Perth at 7.56pm.

Talking to The Guardian , a passenger called Sterling said “all of a sudden I hear this running up the aisle and the guy’s got no clothes on and he’s just charging towards the front of the plane”.

He said there was: “yelling, screaming,” and the man knocked over a flight attendant.

“Initially you think, God forbid, it could be an attack. It’s really distressing being on a plane in that situation”.

The man was eventually pinned to the ground by three passengers and then handcuffed, he said.

In a statement Virgin Australia said a “disruptive passenger on board,” was the cause of the flight being abandoned.

The plane was met by Australian Federal Police, “and the disruptive guest was offloaded”.

“The safety of our guests and crew is our top priority and we sincerely apologise to guests impacted.”

– with NCA NewsWire.

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A passenger has died after he fell from the world's largest cruise liner on the first day of his voyage.

A taste of Melbourne’s outdoor bars & restaurants

Discover a handful of Melbourne’s outdoor rooftop bars and al fresco restaurants

• Travel tips & guides

You’re in Australia’s second largest city and the capital of the Victoria region: Melbourne. While the good weather may be a little more uncertain here than in Sydney, when the sun does shine, you know of a good few outdoor bars and restaurants, whether you’re looking for cool and breezy rooftop bars or al fresco lunches on the terraces of some of Melbourne’s hidden gems.

Hunger calls. And while any old burger joint is capable of quelling your appetite, the fine weather beckons for it to be satisfied at Trunk. Whether you’re in the mood for Mediterranean cuisine or good old American grub, Trunk caters to both. That’s not all, however. An array of cocktails, ales and wines are also available upon your request. Unsure of which kitchen takes your fancy, you steer through the rustic bar and restaurant allowing the Mediterranean flavours to fill your nostrils. The vibrant chatter of the beer garden and outdoor restaurant coaxes you out into the sun and you take a seat and order one of Trunk’s 14 craft beers which flavours inspire you most. Whichever you choose, with over 130 wines to pair with hearty menu choices, you know you’re spoilt for choice.

Nineteenforty

Out of the corner of your eye, a neon light blazes.The scent of freshly cooked fries wafts temptingly throughout this street in central Melbourne. You follow it toward the neon sign which reads RIVOLI in unapologetic fluorescent pink. You step inside and are transported back seven decades into a world of art deco and wartime frivolity. Although it feels like 1940, you’ve actually walked into nineteenforty, an outdoor bar perched atop the Rivoli cinema and although the decor does well to pass itself as wartime Paris, your only worry is being able to resist the maple, bacon and cheese flavoured popcorn to accompany one of the cocktails from nineteenforty’s extensive list.

The Emerson

“When it’s dark enough, you can see the stars…” Pondering the words of the The Emerson outdoor bar’s namesake, the 19th Century American poet Ralph Waldo Emerson, you take a sip of your expertly concocted Blood Orange Negroni and give the cloudless night above your full attention. The air is filled with conversation, flirtatious glances and the frequent bouts of laughter and straight ahead you can still make out the silhouette of the cityscape against the urban glow of nighttime Melbourne.

When the city starts to take its toll, you know there’s one doctor in town who’s got what it takes to have you in good order and well on your way to feeling better: Dr Morse. At Dr Morse’s outdoor bar, you’re prescribed a necessary dose of greens, which come in the form of the creeping vines and lush foliage that decorate the wooden beams. You settle down at one of the tables and choose your tipple, a medicinal cocktail of bourbon, red vermouth, lemon and raspberry. Just what the doctor ordered.

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When is the best time to visit Melbourne?

Nov 20, 2023 • 6 min read

The summer sun brings everyone's sociable side in Melbourne © Adam Calaitzis / Getty Images

Though its visitor numbers ebb and flow, Melbourne is a great city to visit any time of year.

With cooler weather than more northerly Australian favorites such as Sydney and Brisbane, this cosmopolitan city is renowned for its indoor cultural attractions – including dining, bars, theater, live music and shopping – which can be enjoyed at any temperature. The same “anytime” rule applies to Melbourne’s role as the nation’s sporting capital – cricket and tennis are the key summer drawcards, and Australian Rules football (also known as AFL) has a huge following in winter.

If weather is a key factor in deciding when to visit, consider coming to Melbourne in the early autumn (March to April), when days are often sunny but not too hot. Any earlier and you’ll be hitting the hottest and busiest time of the year; Australia’s school holidays run from December to January, resulting in peak prices.

To minimize contact with the traveling crowds, drop by in the chilly winter months (June to August). Melburnians will still be out and about in numbers – nothing stops them from enjoying their city in any season – but tourists are less present. The spring months (September to November) are warmer but have the most unpredictable weather and the most rain.

January to February is the best time for hot, sunny weather

Melbourne’s summer technically starts in December, but that month often feels like an outlier of spring with some cold days and unpredictable rainfalls. This phenomenon is well known to the traditional custodians of Melbourne, the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation. They call the December season Garrawang, separating it from the hot, dry season of Biderap in January and February.

These first two months of the year are the best time to hit the beach, perhaps at the bayside suburb of  St Kilda (take trams 16 or 96) or at the west-side haven of Williamstown (catch a train to Williamstown Beach railway station). Longer, warm summer nights are also perfect for enjoying the grand slam Australian Open tennis tournament, which takes place in the impressive Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Precinct, next to the city center.

When the sun gets too hot – the temperature can exceed 30°C (86°F) in summer – head to Melbourne’s plentiful parks and gardens with their lush green spaces and large trees providing welcome shade. Top of the list is the Royal Botanic Gardens , an oasis of greenery and lakes.

Another highlight of summer is the Lunar New Year celebrations in Chinatown (one of the world’s oldest such neighborhoods) with costumed dragons roaming the city streets. Melbourne’s annual LGBTIQ+ pride festival, Midsumma , also stages events across the city from January to February. And for live music, book a ticket to the one-day Laneway Festival in Flemington, which features multiple popular artists from Australia and overseas.

March to April is the best time to enjoy festivals and the great outdoors

The third month of the year has earned the nickname “Mad March” due to the vast number of major events crammed into it – so many they often spill over into April.

The Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park Lake appeals to “rev-heads” (as Aussies call motorsports enthusiasts), and one of the world’s largest live comedy events, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival , starts later in the month. Taking over multiple venues throughout the city (including the grand Melbourne Town Hall ), it fills the city with late-night energy and laughter for over three weeks.

The Melbourne Food and Wine Festival is also a March marvel, featuring special dining events such as the World’s Longest Lunch, which in 2023 saw 1,800 people enjoying a midday meal at a very long table in Treasury Gardens.

With the best weather of the year (not too hot or cold and with minimal rainfall), this period is also perfect for outdoor pursuits such as hiking and cycling. For a fun day trip , catch a suburban train to Lilydale, then walk or bike along the Warburton Rail Trail , which follows the route of a former railway past native trees and small towns.

June to September is the best time to soak up culture

June is when winter properly kicks in after a dip in temperatures in May, and the cold weather endures until September. Average daily temperatures over these months range from a minimum of 7°C (45°F) to a maximum of 15°C (59°F). Days are short and overcast skies are the norm, but this is one of the driest times of year.

Thankfully, this period is a great time for cozy, indoor cultural events – the queen of which is the series of Winter Masterpieces staged by the art museum NGV International and the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI). These are world-class exhibitions that attract big crowds. In previous years the NGV’s featured artists have included Picasso, Degas and Monet, while the ACMI has focused on showcasing creators such as Disney, Aardman Animations and David Bowie.

RISING , held in June, is the city’s main arts, music and food festival. It presents several innovative large-scale performances and immersive installations, ranging from ballets and circus arts to outdoor digital light projections by First Nations artists. Many are free to attend and some are quirky, like 2023’s “10,000 Kazoos,” which saw 10,000 people gather to play kazoos in Federation Square.

If you’re a film fan, check out the Melbourne International Film Festival program in August – and for the sheer architectural wow factor, buy a ticket to one of its screenings in The Capitol , a 1920s delight with an incredible illuminated ceiling.

September to December is the best time for sports fans

As the weather gradually warms with the arrival of spring, Melbourne’s obsession with Australian Rules football reaches a fever pitch during finals (playoffs). The Grand Final takes place on a Saturday in late September or early October, at which the mighty Melbourne Cricket Ground is crammed with over 100,000 cheering fans. If you can score a ticket to a game, you’ll be amazed by the good-humored energy of the enormous crowds.

Sporting fever continues throughout the Victorian Spring Racing Carnival, a series of well-attended horse races that culminate with the Melbourne Cup , one of the world's most famous horse races. It’s a public holiday in the city and a party atmosphere prevails. However, in recent years the voices of animal welfare activists have become louder in response to racehorse deaths, with countless “ Nup to the Cup ” events hosted on the same day, including high teas, drag brunches and drink specials at pubs.

If you’d rather soak up culture than attend a sporting fixture, you’re in luck. October hosts another big performing arts festival: the Melbourne Fringe . Also taking place this month is the Melbourne International Jazz Festival .

But perhaps you’d like to experience one last great sporting event before the year draws to a close. No problem – buy a ticket to the annual Boxing Day Test, a five-day international cricket match that starts on December 26 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Don’t worry if you have no idea how cricket works; grab a seat and ask the spectators near you, who’ll be happy to explain the rules. Melbourne is good that way – casual, relaxed and welcoming to visitors in any season.

This article was first published Jun 13, 2021 and updated Nov 20, 2023.

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Naked man forces plane to return in mid-flight drama

D uring a domestic flight in Australia, the plane was forced to turn back and land at the airport. According to witness reports, the issue involved one of the "troublesome passengers."

A Virgin Australia plane flying from Perth to Melbourne was forced to turn back and land shortly after takeoff on Monday evening.

According to "The Guardian," a spokesman for Virgin Australia said that the flight, which usually lasts about three and a half hours, was interrupted by a "troublesome passenger."

"The safety of our guests and crew is our top priority and we sincerely apologise to guests impacted," said the airline's spokesman.

Ran naked in the plane

The federal police reported that airport staff alerted them to the incident. According to Sterling, a passenger who spoke to "The Guardian," the unusual situation occurred an hour after the flight started. "Suddenly I hear someone running down the aisle, and the guy has no clothes on and is just charging towards the front of the plane," he stated.

The passenger admitted he was initially alarmed at the sight of someone running toward the cockpit. At first, he thought it was an attack. Additionally, the naked man allegedly knocked over a flight attendant. There was a lot of yelling and screaming" near the cockpit, the passenger reported to "The Guardian."

"Initially you think, God forbid, it could be an attack. It’s really distressing being on a plane in that situation. One good Samaritan, this big guy in business class, jumped up straight away to intervene and then these two other guys later got up and tackled him to the ground," said Sterling.

Naked passenger escorted out in handcuffs

Fortunately, no one was injured during the incident.

"Two air marshals had to restrain and handcuff the individual until the [flight] landed," said a passenger to radio 3AW in Melbourne.

The disruptive passenger was taken to a local hospital for examination. He remained under observation until Tuesday.

The federal police stated that the man would be summoned to appear before a magistrate in Perth in June. According to "The Guardian," charges against him have not yet been finalized, and the investigation into the incident is ongoing.

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Plane forced to turn around mid-flight after naked man runs down aisle

It was not clear how or where on the plane the passenger removed his clothes, article bookmarked.

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A plane was forced to turn around mid-flight after a naked man ran down the aisle before being tackled by another passenger.

Police said a man has been accused of running naked down the aisle of an Australian domestic flight, knocking down a flight attendant and forcing the plane to turn back.

He was arrested by police at the airport, officials added on Tuesday.

The incident happened early in what was scheduled to be a 3 hour and 30 minute Virgin Australia flight on Monday night from the west coast city of Perth to Melbourne on the east coast.

Flight VA696 returned to Perth Airport due to a “disruptive passenger,” an airline statement said.

Australian Federal Police officers were waiting for the plane and “the disruptive guest was offloaded,” Virgin said.

Police said “officers arrested a man after he allegedly ran naked through the aircraft mid-flight and knocked a crew member to the floor.”

“The man was transferred to hospital for assessment, where he remains,” a police statement said.

It was not clear how or where on the plane the passenger removed his clothes.

One passenger on board told The Guardian: “All of a sudden I hear this running up the aisle and the guy’s got no clothes on and he’s just charging towards the front of the plane”.

Adding: “Initially you think, God forbid, it could be an attack. It’s really distressing being on a plane in that situation.”

Police expect to order the man by summons to appear in a Perth court on June 14. What charges he will face have yet to be announced.

The airline said sorry to “guests impacted,” adding the safety of passengers and crew was its top priority.

Virgin Australia said: “We can confirm on Monday, 27 May, VA696 Perth to Melbourne, returned to Perth due to a disruptive passenger on board.”

“On arrival in Perth, the aircraft was met by the Australian Federal Police and the disruptive guest was offloaded,” the statement read.

“The safety of our guests and crew is our top priority, and we sincerely apologise to guests impacted.”

Nobody is believed to have been injured during the incident.

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Kiwi couple 'shocked' by Melbourne work culture, say unpaid overtime expected

• Ireland Hendry-Tennent

Related video: Economist warns politicians against making snap decisions on migration boom. Credits: Image - Instagram / Cassidy Skelton; Video - AM

A Kiwi couple who moved to Melbourne say they were so shocked by Australian work culture, they came home.    

Cassidy Skelton, 28, moved with her partner Nicolas, 32, and their newborn son because the pay was so much better.    

Nicolas, who works in marketing, could make double the money across the ditch, allowing Cassidy to be a full-time, stay-at-home mum.    

But Cassidy told news.com.au they were shocked by the work culture, including the way bosses spoke to their staff and their expectation of regular unpaid overtime.    

"The working culture in Melbourne was the hardest to enjoy. We were shocked at how employers spoke to their staff and just the expectation to work overtime unpaid," she told news.com.au.     

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She said it was hard to wrap her mind around work-life balance not being a priority, especially because they moved in the hopes of spending more time as a family.    

"There was also no focus on or understanding of mental health or work-life balance in our experience," she said.

Cassidy told news.com.au the move made her realise she took Aotearoa's work culture "for granted".    

"I think the hustle made us realise how much no amount of money was worth my fiancé being out of the house for 10 hours a day, five days a week," she added.

In the end, they decided to move home. 

"We don't like wearing shoes and we just want to chill the f**k out. If the biggest pull in Australia is more money, we just need to make more money at home," Cassidy said. 

It comes as an influx of Kiwis head across the ditch for better wages and more opportunities as the cost of living crisis bites.    

A recent Statistics New Zealand release showed a net migration loss of 52,500 New Zealand citizens in the year to March - a new record.   

That means for every arrival of a New Zealand citizen, there were three departures.   

Most of those jetting off weren't going far, though.    

"Based on the latest estimates available, just over half of these migrant departures went to Australia," Stats NZ population indicators manager Tehseen Islam said.    

But while Cassidy didn't find the grass greener, plenty of other Kiwis have.   

One woman, who goes by Kiyah Ariana on TikTok, shared a video on the platform about how she moved over with her partner and daughter. She's since had a son in Australia.    

"From my own experience it's been the hardest decision of my life because all my family are back home," she said, before adding that "it's been the best decision for us".  

"It's been worth it for us because we've been able to experience the exact thing that we move over here for, which is better financial opportunities, to something new - and I've been able to be a stay-at-home mum to both of our kids because my partner makes good money and enough for us to live off one income."  

She said living off one person's pay would not have been feasible in New Zealand.  

"We've also only been here for a year, so we haven't been here very long, but so far it's been a lot more peaceful for us," Ariana said.  

But she added they hope to move back to Aotearoa one day "because obviously home is home", but right now, the family was focusing on building a future they're happy with.

Jesse Campbell also shared a TikTok video praising the quality of life in Australia compared to New Zealand.   

"Cost of living is cheaper, you get paid more, the weather is better, there's more going on over there, the beaches are better, there's more opportunities," said the 26-year-old, who has been in Australia for three years.   

"Honestly, I just reckon the quality of life it produces over there is just so much better than New Zealand at the moment, and that's why we're losing so many people moving over there.  

"Especially when things are so tough here for people in New Zealand, you know, the wages and the crazy cost of living and that. It's just so hard for people to survive and have a good life here."  

Meanwhile, for one woman the best part of moving was the cheaper groceries.   

"POV [point of view]: you move to Australia and can now afford to have fresh produce every day," Paige Ratcliffe captioned a video on her TikTok. 

Monthly CPI indicator rose 3.6% in the year to April 2024

The monthly Consumer Price Index (CPI) indicator rose 3.6 per cent in the 12 months to April 2024, according to the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

Michelle Marquardt, ABS head of prices statistics, said: “Annual inflation increased to 3.6 per cent this month, up from 3.5 per cent in March. Inflation has been relatively stable over the past five months, although this is the second month in a row where annual inflation has had a small increase.”

The most significant contributors to the April annual rise were Housing (+4.9 per cent), Food and non-alcoholic beverages (+3.8 per cent), Alcohol and tobacco (+6.5 per cent), and Transport (+4.2 per cent). 

"CPI inflation is often impacted by items with volatile price changes like Automotive fuel, Fruit and vegetables, and Holiday travel. It can be helpful to exclude these items from the headline CPI to provide a view of underlying inflation. 

“When excluding these volatile items from the monthly CPI indicator, the annual rise to April was steady at 4.1 per cent. Annual inflation excluding volatile items remains higher than for the monthly CPI indicator,” Ms Marquardt said.

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*Volatile items are Fruit and vegetables and Automotive fuel

Housing rose 4.9 per cent in the 12 months to April, down from 5.2 per cent in March. Rents increased 7.5 per cent for the year, reflecting a tight rental market and low vacancy rates across the country. 

New dwelling prices rose 4.9 per cent over the year with builders passing higher costs for labour and materials onto the consumer. Annual price growth for new dwellings has been around 5 per cent since August 2023. 

Electricity prices rose 4.2 per cent in the 12 months to April. The introduction of the Energy Bill Relief Fund rebates from July 2023 has mostly offset electricity price rises from annual price reviews in July 2023 due to higher wholesale prices. 

“Excluding the rebates, Electricity prices would have risen 13.9 per cent in the 12 months to April 2024,” Ms Marquardt said.

Annual inflation for Food and non-alcoholic beverages rose to 3.8 per cent in April, up from 3.5 per cent in March. All food categories except Meat and seafood contributed to the annual rise. 

Fruit and vegetable prices have recorded their largest annual rise since April 2023. This reflects unfavourable weather conditions leading to a reduced supply of berries, bananas and vegetables, such as lettuce and broccoli. 

Transport prices rose 4.2 per cent mainly due to higher fuel prices compared to April last year. Automotive fuel rose 7.4 per cent in the 12 months to April, following an 8.1 per cent annual rise to March. 

“Fuel prices rose 2.2 per cent in April, the third consecutive monthly rise, reflecting higher wholesale fuel prices, “ Ms Marquardt said. 

Media notes

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• Access official, high-resolution images of Michelle Marquardt and other ABS media spokespeople from our  image library .
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