Last Updated: 7/2/20 | July 2nd, 2020
Melbourne is one of the funkiest cities in Australia. From its cool architecture to its robust art scene with hip cafés and music, Melbourne is often considered the cultural capital of Australia. Its narrow lanes, covered in world-class street art, hide beautiful cafés and beer gardens.
The city and I mix well together and it’s my favorite spot in the country. With plenty of culture, activities, art exhibitions, and live music, you could easily spend over a week here and not get bored.
To help you plan your trip I want to share some of my favorite things to see and do Melbourne so you can make the most of your visit!
1. Take a Street Art Tour
Start your trip off with a street art tour. Personally, I loved the tour by Melbourne Street Art Tours. It’s pricey at $69 AUD but the cost of the tour helps support local artists. I learned so much about the art scene in the city and developed a much deeper appreciation for why Melbourne attracts so many artists from around the world. I can’t recommend this tour enough.
If you’re on a tighter budget, take a free walking tour around the city instead. I’m Free Walking Tours offers a couple of different free walking tours that will give you a fun and educational introduction to the city and its history. You’ll learn a lot about the city and get access to an expert local guide who can answer any questions you have. Just be sure to tip your guide at the end!
2. Catch a Moonlight Movie in the Park
During the summer, there are nightly movies (most of them 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). They will cancel if it rains a lot but not if it’s light rain so be sure to bring a rain jacket (or reschedule) if the weather doesn’t cooperate.
Central Lawn Royal Botanic Gardens. For dates and times, visit moonlight.com.au. Tickets start at $19 AUD.
3. Wander Queen Victoria Market
This outdoor market is the largest open-air market in the southern hemisphere. Made up of both indoor and outdoor areas and occupying two entire city blocks, its 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.
When you’re in the food hall, be sure to get some free wine samples from Swords Wines; the staff is friendly and the wine is cheap (I bought two bottles for some afternoon drinking in the park!). And don’t miss the jam donuts either. They’ve been a staple there for over 50 years!
Queen St, +61-3-9320-5822, qvm.com.au. Check the website for seasonal hours and events.
4. Visit the State Library of Victoria
The State Library of Victoria is a historic institution that welcomes over 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.
328 Swanston St, +61 3-8664-7000, slv.vic.gov.au. Open Monday-Thursday from 10am-9pm and Friday-Sunday from 10am-6pm.
5. Take the City Circle Tram
The City Circle Tram is a free “hop-on, hop-off” service between Melbourne’s sightseeing attractions. The route includes Federation Square, the Old Treasury Building, Parliament House, and the Princess Theater. There’s a running recorded commentary as you pass or stop at a place of historical, cultural, or architectural significance. It’s a free, fun way to see the main sights and get a feel for the city without having to spend any money!
The tram operates from 10am-6pm from Sunday-Wednesday and from 10am-9pm Thursday-Saturday.
6. Relax 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 8 acres and serves up stellar people-watching. I like to take 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 in 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 aboriginal and indigenous artists. You can see pretty much everything in a couple hours. It’s one of the best free activities in the city.
180 St Kilda Rd, +61 3-8620-2222, ngv.vic.gov.au. Open daily from 9am-5pm. Admission is free (temporary exhibits may have an additional charge).
8. Wander the Royal Botanic Gardens
The Royal Botanic Gardens covers 86 acres and is home to over 8,500 different plant species including flowers, shrubs, and trees from across the country and around the world. Hanging out here and wandering around is one of my favorite activities in Melbourne.
It’s walking distance from the city center and is a nice place to spend some time strolling around, relaxing, and reading. Free guided walks or self-guided audio tours are also available from the main visitors center.
Birdwood Ave, +61 3-9252-2300, rbg.vic.gov.au. Open daily from 7:30am-5pm. Admission is free.
9. Admire 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. It’s a lovely imposing building to admire — and free too!
207–361 Flinders St.
10. Enjoy the Café Scene
While I’m not a coffee drinker (tea all the way!), even I could see that the café and coffee culture in this city is part of its soul. Everyone here loves to have coffee and a snack while doing some work or chatting in some arty café.
You can also take a café tour with Melbourne Coffee Tours or Café Culture Walk 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.
11. See 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.
Williams Rd &, Lechlade Ave, +61 3-9656-9889, nationaltrust.org.au/places/como-house-and-garden. Gardens are open Monday-Saturday from 9am-4pm and Sundays from 10am-4pm. Admission to the gardens is free.
12. 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 starting 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.
I really enjoyed learning about the people who left their homes to move across the known world, undertaking the risky voyage and uprooting their entire lives.
400 Flinders St, +61 3-8341-7777, museumsvictoria.com.au/immigrationmuseum. Open daily from 10am-5pm. Admission is $15 AUD.
13. Hit the Beach
Down in St. Kilda, you can head to the beach to swim, lounge, tan, and watch the stunning sunset. It’s a beautiful, wide beach and while the water is a little cold for me, it faces due west so you get some stellar sunsets.
There are also dive sites nearby (including some caves) in case you have your certification. Check out The Zu Boardsports for rentals.
Rentals for paddleboards, kiteboards, and windsurfing all range from $25-80 AUD per hour. Check their websites for details (thezu.com.au).
14. Party in St. Kilda
If you’re looking to enjoy Melbourne’s famous nightlife, head to St. Kilda. The area is home to tons of inexpensive restaurants, bars, and clubs. 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.)
15. Enjoy the Fitzroy Gardens
Created in 1848, Fitzroy Gardens is a massive Victorian-era garden that covers over 65 acres. It’s one of Melbourne’s most historic and beautiful gardens and is meant to resemble the English gardens the early settlers left behind.
The area was originally a swamp but was painstakingly cultivated into the beautiful and sprawling garden that exists today. There are walking paths, greenhouses, cottages, and lots of flower gardens and greenspace. It definitely feels like an English garden!
Wellington Parade, +61 3-9658-9658, fitzroygardens.com. Open 24/7. Admission is free.
16. Get Cultural at 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 aboriginal culture, art, and history. They also have a children’s section that’s great for anyone traveling with kids. There are also regular visiting and temporary exhibitions as well, so be sure to check their website to see what’s going on during your visit.
11 Nicholson St, +61 3-8341-7777, museumsvictoria.com.au/melbournemuseum. Open daily from 10am-5pm. Admission is $15 AUD.
17. Go On 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 40 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, day trips from Melbourne cost $150-225 AUD per person.
18. Take a Day Trip to Phillip Island
Located two hour hours from the city (and connected to the mainland by bridges), 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, which is home to just 7,000 people, can be visited as a day trip, but due to infrequent buses, I would recommend spending at least a night here as there is a lot of neat things to see and do.
With tons of museums, amazing parks and beaches, and lots of day trip opportunities, Melbourne is a city that just keeps on giving. You won’t be short on things to do here — just the opposite! It’s my favorite spot in Australia (and for good reason). Spend some time here and I promise you’ll fall in love with the food, cafes, beaches, and parks. It’s a city that doesn’t disappoint!
Book Your Trip to Melbourne: Logistical Tips and Tricks
Book Your Flight
Use Skyscanner or Momondo to find a cheap flight. They are my two favorite search engines because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned. Start with Skyscanner first though because they have the biggest reach!
Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the biggest inventory and best deals. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels. My favorite places to stay are:
For more hostel suggestions, here’s a complete list of the best hostels in Melbourne.
Don’t Forget 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. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:
- World Nomads (for everyone below 70)
- Insure My Trip (for those over 70)
- Medjet (for additional repatriation coverage)
Looking for the Best Companies to Save Money With?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use to save money when I’m on the road. They will save you money when you travel too.
Want More Information on Melbourne?
Be sure to visit our robust destination guide to Melbourne for even more planning tips!
Photo Credit: 7 – Rexness, 8 – Pat M2007
Sebrin
I absolutely LOVED Melbourne. We were only there for 48 hours (so sad, I know) but I’m glad I was able to cross some of this off the list. And now to go back and finish the rest 🙂
Jo
Matt-Thanks for the great recap of your experiences in my home city Melbourne!
Hans
Cool list. I agree with all that. If you are like me somebody who walks a lot, may I also recommend walking from the city center, to Port Melbourne along the water to St Kilda Pier and back to the city center via Albert Park? A good length flat and easy walk of 20km. Stop at Acland Street in St Kilda for coffee and cake along the way. Or at any of umpteen other places. I never grow tired of this walk.
eric pease
Heide Museum of Modern Art is a wonderful museum.
Lauren Meshkin
Definitely bookmarking this! I plan to go to Australia for the first time in early 2017. Thanks for sharing, Matt!
Happy travels 🙂
Sarah
I’ve never been to Melbourne, and this just makes me want to go even more! This website never ceases to inspire!!
Melanie
Thanks for the great suggestions Matt! My favorite thing to do was taking a helicopter ride over Great Ocean Road and seeing the 12 Apostles. It was a breathtaking adventure.
Michela
Great list of fun places to visit in Melbourne, my favourite city in Australia. I also wrote a blog post about my favourite things to do in the city. I recently discovered the Curtain House Rooftop Bar on Swanston Street offering a magnificient view, of the city and cinema under the stars (only in summer though).
Sarah
Great post, but don’t forget about the sport! We Melburnians love it and secretly (or not so secretly!) think we live in the sporting capital of the world; Australian football, tennis, Formula 1, soccer, rugby – just to name a few!
Carl Kruse
A hearty second to a visit to the Yarra Valley wine region. Wineries: Coldstream Hills, Coombe, and Acacia Ridge stood out for me.
Cheers!
Carl Kruse
Ellie
Oooooo I am so excited. I am going in September with my sister and neither of us have ever been to Australia before. Technically I am super keen to take the trip from Singapore over the next few months, but think I’ve decided to save it so that we both go together! Very very excited to follow these tips 🙂
Mirna
I didn’t even realise they did a street art tour! Thanks for the heads up, will definitely do it next time I’m around.
Emma
Ahh this made me so nostalgic for my time living in St. Kilda. Great post!
Swanny
Gotta visit the MCG when in Melbourne. This is perhaps the most famous place in Australia for many.
Sport is at the centre of Aussie culture and Melbourne is the sporting capital of Aust and possibly the world.
Going to an AFL or Cricket game there is a must!!
Bonnie
*sigh* why Melbourne? Come to Adelaide we have basically everything on that list and more! Especially during mad March with all the culture festivals on, yes Melbourne is good but you get more (and more value for money) in Adelaide 🙂 no one ever thinks to go any further south 🙁
Caitlin
Woo! I love that you included Phillip Island! I’ve been going there every year since I was born and have been playing around with the idea of one day opening a hostel in Cowes… I just couldn’t decide if it was on the backpacker trail or if I had a special love for the place. It’s inclusion definitely helps me believe I should do it!
Mia
I know that the Great Ocean road is exactly Melbourne (but neither is Phillip island), but I must say my favorite moments in & around Melbourne was the great ocean road, phillip island, peninsula hot springs & the Queen victoria market.
Robbie
Melbourne sounds like an interesting city. Lots of art and culture. It is nice to know that there are wineries so close to the city as well. I would love to visit!
Kaaren
Great Post Matt, was wondering if there is a “must see” in Melbourne when traveling with two young daughters?
Jennifer
Melbourne, the best city in the world.
Rita Nandy
Hi, I\’ve been to Melbourne a couple of times while my daughter was studying there. In one of the trips, I took the picturesque ride on Puffing Billy and drove back via Sasafras. It was a great experience never to be forgotten. I will also recommend the day trip to Ballarat at the Gold mines.
Sasha
I’ve visited Melbourne five times and I still truly can’t see what all the fuss is about, I really do try to see it but I don’t understand how people prefer it over Sydney. Each to their own, hey? Great list though!
Ross
I have been in Australia for nearly a year, I have visited Victoria, NSW, Queensland, SA, WA and am planning to go to NT.
Based on your advice I visited Queen Victoria Market, I really enjoyed it. I much preferred the market to buying food from a multinational supermarket. The prices were not much higher than at the supermarkets, it meant even on my backpacker budget I was still able to enjoy the market.
I was glad you recommend people do a day trip to Philip Island. Australia has over 500 national parks and over 10k beaches, I find it a shame how some backpackers spend their whole Australia trip in Melbourne, Sydney and Cairns.
Kemal Kaya
I’ve visited Melbourne 2 times and love this peacefull city. Great list!
Tom
I lived in Melbourne for 5/6 months and I think I did most of these myself!
I didn’t know you could do a street art tour actually! It does sound a bit pricey at $69, but if you learn a lot about the artists then it would be worth it!
The moonlight cinema is great as well, I loved visiting that! As Melbourne is a massive sporting city and essentially home to Australian Rules, I would include a visit to the MCG as well!
Even if you don’t like sport, I feel it’s worth visiting to see the stadium, the olympic park and the Australian sports museum!
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Reading through this post reminds me of my previous roommate!
He always kept talking about this. I most certainly will forward this information to him.
Pretty sure he’ll have a great read. Many thanks for sharing!
Clandulla
Movie at the Royal Botanical Park, I missed those days.
Love that place and yeah it’s cold.
I need to visit Immigration museum in near future.
And Great lists.
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Awesome article 🙂
Liara Covert
I loved visiting Melbourne so much I moved here. Now offering weekend guided hikes for small groups through trails in the Dandenong Ranges. I provide snacks and one of my life coaching books as a gift for coming along. The 4 hour experience includes 3 hours walking/hiking (based on on fitness levels of participants). We also stop for snacks and life coaching-related chat. Check out Dreambuilders Australia Blog for link to book this airbnb experience 1 hour from Melbourne CBD. Drive to rendez-vous point or take public transit.
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Nice article Matt. I’m on my way to Melbourne soon and you’ve given me some great ideas. I’m glad you included the penguins, that’s one of our favorites. I think I need to head to St.Kilda next time around, also the street art tour looks cool.
Lachlan Burrell
Great write up. The best thing I have done recently in Melbourne is hired a picnic boat on the Yarra River though GoBoat Melbourne. Very affordable, especially if you get the max 8 people on board and a great way to experience the city from the water.
Mogli
I was in Melbourne a few months ago and absolutely loved it! The laneways and arcades are great for wandering around. I also really loved the Ian Potter Centre. The aboriginal led tour of the royal botanical gardens is also worth checking out.
Another thing I’d recommend is an ‘alternative’ tour with a company called Wayward Wanders. The tour guide was incredible! Lots of info about aboriginal history and culture, music, street art and that kind of thing.
Don’t forget to drink a lot of coffee! Industry Beans was one of my favourites!