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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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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 21 Best Things to Do in Melbourne

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.

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

With so much to see and do, I wanted to share my list of the best things to do in Melbourne to help you plan your trip, save money, and make the most of your time in this fun city!  

1. Take a Street Art Tour

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 25 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, it’s 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!

And during warmer months, don’t miss the Summer Night Market. This popular night market runs every Wednesday from 5pm-10pm (November 23-March 15). Free to enter, there is live music as well and tons of different food stalls, from dumplings to gyros, burritos, ice cream, BBQ, and more.

Queen St, +61-3-9320-5822, qvm.com.au. Check the website for seasonal hours and events.  

4. Visit the State Library of Victoria

328 Swanston St, +61 3-8664-7000, slv.vic.gov.au. Open 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 daily 9:30am-6pm (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 10am-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

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 work or chatting in some arty café. Try a Melbourne ‘Magic’ which is their version of a flat white; it has espresso coffee, but less added milk than a cafe latte and way less foam than a cappuccino. The Flat White was supposedly (this is disputed by Kiwis) invented in Sydney and this is Melbourne’s version.

You can also take a café tour with 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 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. 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

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. ( Nomads 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 for a full-day tour (8-10 hours).  

18. Take a Day Trip to Phillip Island

Full-day trips to Phillip Island start around 149 AUD and include kangaroo, koala, and penguin parades on the beach.  

19. Day Trip Along the Great Ocean Road

20. Take a Spooky Tour Through Pentridge Prison

For those that enjoy ghost stories, visit Pentridge Prison. It was home to some of Australia’s most notorious criminals, including Ronald Ryan (the last person to be legally executed in Australia), Chopper Reed (an infamous gang member), and Ned Kelly (an escaped convict famous for wearing armor in a shootout with police). Tours are super interesting, lasting 1.5 hours and costing 48 AUD.  

21. Take a Day trip to the Peninsula Hot Springs

About 1.5 hours outside of Melbourne, the famous Peninsula Hot Springs in Victoria is a great way to spend a relaxing spa day soaking in award-winning natural geothermal waters overlooking natural landscapes. There are 50 thermal pools that are said to have healing qualities. If you’re feeling brave, try their ‘fire and ice experience’ where you sauna first then go ‘chill’ out in Australia’s first ice cave. Entrance fees are 75 AUD. Robes, towels, flip-flops, etc. are extra to rent if you don’t have any.

Half-day tours from Melbourne including round-trip transportation and admission is $150 AUD.

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 to find a cheap flight. They are my favorite search engine because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned.

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:

• Nomads St. Kilda
• The Nunnery

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:

• Safety Wing (best for everyone)
• Insure My Trip (for those over 70)
• Medjet (for additional evacuation 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!

Got a comment on this article? Join the conversation on Facebook , Instagram , or Twitter and share your thoughts!

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I recommend only products and companies I use and the income goes to keeping the site community supported and ad free.

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The PERFECT Melbourne Itinerary for 4 to 7 Days | Travel Guide

There’s a reason that the Australian city of Melbourne held onto the mantle of the “World’s Most Liveable City” for so many years in a row, and this Melbourne itinerary has got it all covered.

In a short amount of time, you can be transported from one of the most cosmopolitan cities in Australia to some of the best coastlines. This Melbourne travel itinerary will go over everything you need to know and do to experience the best that this incredible Aussie destination has to offer.

The capital of the south-eastern Australian state of Victoria, the appeal of Melbourne doesn’t seem to be losing any steam. Each year, the city welcomes 12 million domestic and international visitors and is rapidly overtaking Sydney, Australia as a must-see Australian city. Whether you are spending 4 days in Melbourne or up to a week (or even more!), it’s a place you won’t want to leave in a hurry. 

It’s one of my personal favorite cities in the world, and I’m always looking for a way to get back!

Melbourne Itinerary Overview

I’ve visited Melbourne on a couple of occasions now, and every time I visit I find myself thinking how much I would love to live there. It’s a city that will steal your heart and (despite its unpredictable weather), delivers the best food and coffee in the country and has a strange way of keeping you in its grasp for much longer than you ever thought.

There are so many incredible things to do to keep you busy during your time here that one week in Melbourne won’t ever feel like it’s enough.

I put together this Melbourne 7-day itinerary, but it’s also a helpful destination guide for if you only have 2 days, 4 days, or 6 days in the city – I know you’ll get some great ideas!

My 7-day Melbourne itinerary covers all of the major landmarks and day trip options that are highly recommended and even includes some insider tips that I picked up while there. These include the best places to eat, drink, and party!

I’ve also included some other helpful Melbourne travel tips to ensure your visit is a breeze!

What are the best things to do in Melbourne?

My Melbourne travel guide goes deep into all of the weird and wonderful things to do in the Victorian capital, but here’s a quick breakdown of what’s included. 

• Eat up big in Melbourne’s famous laneway cafes and immerse yourself in the city’s hipster vibe. 
• Sip on Melbourne’s world-famous coffee – it’s truly the best!
• Get involved in the sporting action that the city is renowned for. 
• Shop up a storm at premier retailers across Melbourne. 
• Win big at Crown Casino, one of the country’s best entertainment complexes. 
• Travel down the coast to the majestic Great Ocean Road or into the mountains of the Dandenong Ranges. 
• Cuddle up with cute Australian animals at Melbourne Zoo or Werribee Open Range Zoo. 
• Enjoy the sunshine and take a dip at one of Melbourne’s many picturesque beaches. 

Plus much more! Keep scrolling for an in-depth look at these Melbourne activities! 

Where should I stay in Melbourne?

Melbourne is a cultural melting pot with distinctly different neighborhood aesthetics, reminiscent of eternal world favorites London and Paris. A far-reaching metropolis that is ever-expanding as more and more people lay roots here, Melbourne accommodation has something for everyone.

Here are just a few of my recommended picks of where to stay on your Melbourne itinerary. 

Booking.com is always my favorite way of booking travel accommodation, and Melbourne is such a fantastic city to have your apartment to get a sense of local life. There are countless incredible apartments available all across the city and often work out cheaper than booking a hotel room!

• Brand New Apartment With Balcony, Gym, and Sauna (Located in Richmond, one of the coolest inner-city suburbs)
• Incredible 3-Bed Home in The Heart of St Kilda (St Kilda – right near the beach and an amazing bar scene!)
• The Marker Apartments Melbourne (Right in the heart of the action in the Melbourne CBD!)

Which Melbourne hotel should I stay at?

What if you want to stay at a hotel while enjoying a week in Melbourne? I have some incredible recommendations for that stay style too.

Park Hyatt Melbourne – One of my favorite hotels I’ve stayed at while exploring Melbourne. Great location, food, customer service, and overall amazing experience. While it’s on the luxury side of things, it’s absolutely worth it!

Selina Central Melbourne – If you’re looking to save a bit of money, then there’s no better place to stay than the iconic Selina Brand, which is known around the world for their amazing hostels and communities. It’s the BETS location right opposite the iconic Flinders Street Station in the heart of Melbourne, and 

Credit: Park Hyatt Melbourne

How many days should I spend in Melbourne?

Trying to decide how long to spend in Melbourne isn’t an easy choice. On the one hand, a visit to the city can be very expensive; but on the other, it’s a widespread city and needs more than just a few days to be fully experienced.

That’s why I created this guide. Technically,  a 4-day Melbourne Itinerary would be enough, but I also stretched the itinerary below to 7 days, which gives you more time to explore. I would say between 4 and 7 days is ideal.

The answer to this question will be based on your preferences and available time for your trip in Australia, but make sure you start every morning with a cup of delicious Melbourne coffee or two!

What is the best time to visit Melbourne?

Now that you’ve figured out how long you want to stay, it’s time to decide when should you visit Melbourne! While the summer season is between December and March and these months are more expensive than others, I’d recommend coming here during the shoulder seasons between March and May (autumn) and September and November (spring). 

During these two periods, the temperature is mild enough for you to enjoy some of this week-long Melbourne itinerary on foot, and it also won’t hurt your wallet too much.

If you’re heading to Melbourne on a budget, head down during the low season between June and August. This is winter in Melbourne, but winters here aren’t as cold as winter in the Northern Hemisphere, and the sun often comes out! Winter in Melbourne is the cheapest time to visit the city, but you’ll have to be content with the somewhat chilly weather and occasional rainfall. But this is also a great time to visit for winter lovers as you can go ice skating and skiing just outside the city, amongst other activities!

How do I get around Melbourne? 

Melbourne is famous for having one of the most extensive and well-serviced public transport networks in Australia, and getting around the city is relatively easy. Either way, there’s always a friendly local to ask for directions! It is Australia, after all. 

First things first. To use Melbourne public transport you need a Myki card, which is an easy-to-use tap-on/tap-off card, just like other world cities have in place. The card itself is cheap and sold at most premium stations, and you just top it up with money as needed. Myki covers not just Melbourne City but regional Victoria as well, and only recently, the government has made travelling across Melbourne or into the countryside even cheaper, with a capped per-day rate regardless of how far you travel on Myki. How cool is that!

Melbourne public transport options

Melbourne has a detailed rail network, which services not just the CBD (including the underground portion known as “The Loop”), but the outer suburbs and beyond too. They also have a ton of bus lines that criss-cross the city, and they have one little other things that sets them apart from the rest of Australia… trams! Melbourne’s famous tram system is smooth and streamlined and services the inner city and city fringe, passing through some of the coolest and most sought-after suburbs. One of the best things about Melbourne trams? The city also offers a “Free Tram Zone”, which means you don’t have to pay to cruise on Melbourne trams within the city centre! In addition, Melbourne has a handy “Night Network”, which runs all-night train, bus and tram services on weekends. This is fantastic if you’re planning a big weekend hitting Melbourne’s many bars and clubs!

Public Transport Victoria is your one-stop site for all Melbourne public transport timetables, routes, fare estimates and any other information you may need.

Other ways to get around Melbourne

If you’re eager to get where you’re going without trying to make sense of a Melbourne public transport map, the city is saturated by ride share options, including Uber Melbourne and Lyft, which can be a fair bit less expensive than Melbourne’s 13 CABS , which can cost a pretty penny, especially at peak periods or on holidays. There’s ferries that service the seaside locales of the city, and you can even rent a Lime Bike , an electric bike share service offered by the City of Melbourne. Just scan the QR code on a bike through the Lime or Uber app, and away you go!

Finally, if you want to have the freedom of coming and going where you want, when you want, you can easily hire a car in Melbourne. Hertz and Budget are major car rental companies available across Melbourne, and offer flexible pick-up and drop-off locations and times. Uber now offers a cost-effective carshare service as well!

You’ll have zero issue getting around Melbourne, thanks to its extensive public transport service and other travel offerings. The city is so well covered that getting from A to B is a breeze. 

Melbourne Itinerary Breakdown: 

Okay, I’ve rambled enough. It’s now time to get into the best itinerary Melbourne has to offer! Keep reading to learn more, but here’s a great starting point to get a basic idea of how to make the most of your time here!

• Day 1: Laneway Eateries & All The Coffee
• Day 2: Sporting Tours & A Culture In Spades
• Day 3: World-Class Shopping & High Rolling
• Day 4: Day Trip To The Coast – Or The Mountains!
• Day 5: Seaside Fun In St Kilda
• Day 6: Hang out with Australian furry friends
• Day 7: Explore hipster inner-city hangouts

Melbourne Itinerary Day 1: Laneway Eateries & All The Coffee

If you’ve traveled from abroad, the long flight to Melbourne might have left you feeling a little jetlagged. Take this opportunity to decompress and fuel up your energy levels with the coffee that Melbourne is world famous for. During your Melbourne trip, you’ll likely be enjoying many great coffees. Make sure to order an Aussie icon, the flat white. 

Melbourne is famous for its artistic, often grungy laneways, and these hip walkways are packed with some of the best cafes and eateries the city has to offer. Centre Place is a standout. Even if you are only doing a Melbourne 4-day itinerary, this is one of the must-visits.

Where is the best coffee in Melbourne?

My top five recommendations for central Melbourne cafes or coffee shops that serve up a roast you will want to write home about are…

Pellegrini’s Espresso Bar – “Pellegrini’s is all about character, honest Italian fare and coffee. In fact, it is said (by Pellegrini’s themselves) that the first espresso machine to arrive in Melbourne was delivered here in 1954 – opening the gates to a city-wide obsession.”

Proud Mary – “We take great pride in supporting and representing coffee producers and communities. We visit our producers each year and venture into their farms, homes and families. This is a relationship. We discover who they are, what motivates them and how we can support one another. Through this tangible form, we generate mutual understanding and appreciation. These are the true rock stars of coffee, the story starts with the producer.”

Axil Coffee Roasters – “Our aim has always been simple; to source, roast and produce the best cup of coffee. We have a passionate and enthusiastic team who travel the globe to find the best specialty coffee available. We are continuously building relationships with coffee producers to ensure we are getting the highest quality.”

Dukes Coffee Roasters – “We are an Australian specialty coffee roasting company whose focus is the craft of carefully roasting the best coffees in the world using innovative and methodic roasting practices. We are committed to bringing the best selection of exceptionally grown, amazing tasting, and in-season specialty coffees to cafes and consumers in Australia.”

Auction Rooms – “We believe in quality, detail, great food, and good vibes. Combine that with a backdrop that will take your breath away and we are well on the way to hosting the most memorable of events for you.”

Where should I eat in Melbourne? 

After inflight “food” from hell, I’m sure you’ve got a raging appetite too, and you’ve touched down in the right city to satisfy any palate. Melbourne has been a cultural melting pot of international influences since its earliest days, and that has spilled over into not only coffee, but food as well. Culinary delights can be found on every corner of this beautiful city. But tonight, I recommend heading straight for the center of epic Asian food in Melbourne, Chinatown! Melbourne’s Chinatown is located in the heart of the CBD.

Once you’ve found your way there, make a beeline for the locally-loved Shanghai Dumpling House . This rickety old building is always heaving with visitors and locals filling up on their share of pork dumplings, Shanghai fried noodles, and Chinese broccoli. You won’t regret it.

“Looking for a “cheap & cheerful”? Tight budgets are never a problem here, with meals from around $10, served with complimentary Chinese tea.

Melbourne Itinerary Day 2: Sporting Tours & A Culture In Spades

Today you’re hopefully feeling fresher and with endless energy to make the most of your time in this vibrant city tackling this 4-day Melbourne itinerary. You’ve sampled some gold-star food and coffee, but now it’s time for sports lovers to get excited.

Melbourne is often referred to as the “sporting capital of Australia” – and for good reason. A year-round sporting schedule sees globally-recognized events hit town, with cricket, AFL (Australian Football or “footy”), and tennis being the main players that locals can’t get enough of.

The MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground) runs tours of the holy grail of Aussie cricket, where you’ll get to walk on the very turf legends of the game have played on. You can also enjoy a tour of the various rooms, including player changing rooms.

If tennis is more your style and you don’t miss a minute of the Australian Open Grand Slam each year, you’ll have a blast on the Australian Open Tour, which takes you around the major arenas of the tournament, including Rod Laver Arena. There’s a range of Melbourne Park tours available, where you’ll be treated like a top seed yourself.

Melbourne Itinerary Day 3: World-Class Shopping & High Rolling

Day three in Melbourne has to be spent blowing some cold hard cash. After all, it’s just another reason visitors flock here throughout the year. Melbourne is a shopper’s paradise, with a long list of shopping centers, laneways, and city streets selling all the wares you could ever dream of. 

Chadstone Shopping Centre referred to as “The Fashion Capital”, is located in suburban Melbourne, approximately 20 minutes from the city center. It is the biggest shopping center in Australia. A free shuttle bus service for tourists runs to and from Melbourne Central to Chadstone each hour, so there’s no reason not to check it out while you visit Melbourne.

If you’re looking for other ideal shopping locations and love authentic markets, The QV Market and South Melbourne Market are other great options in Melbourne. If you happen to be in Melbourne on Sunday morning, get down to the hipster paradise of the Camberwell Market , on the city centre fringe bright and early and find a one-off treasure. It’s a huge flea market and wildly popular, and there’s hot jam donut and coffee stands to fuel you, if that tempts you. It tempts me!

Other top Melbourne shopping spots include DFO South Wharf for heavily discounted bargains and the famous Bourke Street Mall smack bang in the center of the city. 

Now that you’ve picked up a knockout outfit on your Melbourne shopping free, wear it somewhere deserving tonight and head to Crown Casino , located on Southbank. This huge, glittering casino runs alongside the Yarra River, and you can’t miss the riverside fire display each night. Inside, try your hand at blackjack or attempt to talk your way into the VIP high rollers area.

On your way home, if you’ve enjoyed a few drinks (or “bevvies”, as the Aussie say) you definitely need a good meal to put some pep in your step. Head over to one of Melbourne’s only 24-hour eateries, Stalactites , on Lonsdale Street. This Greek restaurant is a dining institution, and they won’t judge you for eating a souvlaki at 6am (that’s a Greek-style Aussie gyros). My kind of place!

Melbourne Itinerary Day 4: Day Trip To The Coast – Or The Mountains!

You’ve spent a few days exploring the incredible city limits of Melbourne, so now is the perfect time to pack your bag and head off on a day trip to experience a little of what Greater Melbourne has to offer.

Melbourne has so many doable day trips that it’s hard to pick the best, but the iconic Great Ocean Road has to be ticked off any bucket list.

Drive Along The Majestic Great Ocean Road

Whether you’re renting a car and doing it yourself, or taking advantage of the endless number of tour companies that run trips down this stunning slice of Aussie coastline, the Great Ocean Road is really deserving of a few days if you have it to spare.

Starting on the outskirts of Geelong, approximately 40 minutes from Melbourne CBD, this long and winding coastal road takes you through an array of gorgeous Victorian towns with crashing ocean views. Don’t miss world-famous surfing and swimming destinations like Bells Beach, Lorne, Torquay, Apollo Bay, Port Campbell, and Port Fairy.

Like every other visitor who has ever found themselves on the Great Ocean Road, you have to stop off at the natural formation that is the  12 Apostles , and take a snap to upload to the socials and make everyone back home green with envy. To do the entire Great Ocean Road right down to the Twelve Apostles and Port Fairy and back again, you’ll need about 10 hours at an absolute minimum. That’s taking into consideration stopping off at major lookouts and for a bite to eat along the way. It’s 275 km one way, after all.

For more information, check out this awesome Great Ocean Road Trip Itinerary for everything you need to know! Looking for other outdoor activities but closer to the city? Head down to the Mornington Peninsula or stick around the city centre and wander through the lush landscape that is the Royal Botanic Gardens .

Immerse Yourself In The Dandenong Ranges

If you’d choose the mountains over the beach any day of the week, another popular day trip that’s a lot more manageable time-wise than the Great Ocean Road is  the Dandenong Ranges,  a breathtaking natural landscape and less than an hour from the city.

This mountain range is located to the east of Melbourne, with their peak, Mount Dandenong, topping the range. The Dandenong Range are full of charming small towns, gardens, restaurants, cafes, hotels, and hikes. The 1000 Steps (official name the Kokoda Track Memorial Walk ) is an uphill trek that is absolutely packed with visitors most days but worth it to say you made it! It’s a serious test of your fitness, but you can go at any pace you want.

While you’re touring around the Ranges, enjoy a ride on the Victorian institution, Puffing Billy . This historic steam train winds its way from Belgrave to Gembrook through lush Australian bush. 

If you still have the energy upon your return to Melbourne, head to inner-city Carlton – specifically Lygon Street. This is a street name everyone in Melbourne knows – for a lot of reasons. Not only is it the unofficial home of Italian influence in Melbourne, but it serves up some of the best Italian food you’ll get your hands on in Australia. Melbourne’s answer to “Little Italy” is also a location where a lot of the well-documented Gangland Wars of the 1990s and 2000s took place. Culturally enriched, Lygon is where it’s at.

With that, you’d have been about done with what to do in Melbourne for 4 days, but I have a few more ways to spend days 5 to 7 in the city, if you’re sticking around. I’d recommend it!

Melbourne Itinerary Day 5: Seaside Fun In St Kilda

You’re still here! Awesome. That means that you’re planning on spending a little more time in the city of Melbourne. Great choice! 5 days in Melbourne gives you an extra day to explore.

After a day like yesterday, that no doubt involved a lot of walking (did you manage the 1000 Steps?), your fifth day in beautiful Melbourne is going to be a little slower, with lots of time allocated for R&R. If you’ve come to Melbourne during spring or summer, you’re in luck, as heading to the beach here is a popular pastime that you should reserve some time for. 

Head down to iconic St Kilda, a beachside suburb of Melbourne a short distance from the city. You can get there from the CBD on one of the city’s iconic trams and tick that off your list as well.

The St Kilda Esplanade stretches along the coast, from Fitzroy Street, a hub for eating and partying, to Acland Street , where achingly trendy bars and pubs exist alongside the landmark amusement park, Luna Park .

If you are lucky enough to visit St Kilda on a Sunday, the Esplanade Market stretches the length of the road and overlooks the sea, selling everything you could imagine. Other than that, you can visit the South Melbourne Market just up the road, which opens between Wednesday and Sunday with traders ranging from food stalls to florists.

Take a dip in Port Philip Bay, soak up some of that (really strong) Aussie sun, walk along St Kilda Pier, and visit the penguins. About five minutes from St Kilda Beach is Brighton Beach, which I recommend for a photo op in front of its unique Bathing Boxes. From a ginger to you, I recommend packing some sunscreen for your day on the beach. 

Back to St Kilda, the area is filled to the brim with incredible bars and clubs, and a night out here is like no other. If it’s a summer night, there’s a unique hippy vibe to it that’s indescribable.

What are the best bars in St Kilda, Melbourne?

After a sunny day on the beach or jumping off St Kilda Pier, it’s time to enjoy a refreshing Aussie ale at one of the burb’s best bars and live music venues, which the neighborhood is positively packed with. A few St Kilda bars I recommend are…

• The Vineyard
• The Esplanade Hotel (“The Espy”)
• The Local Taphouse 
• The Prince of Wales Hotel

If your day/night out in St Kilda gets particularly messy, head back to your hotel via Chapel Street in Windsor and experience the grungiest, dirtiest and potentially the most fun time of your life at Revolver . With tons of dark rooms pumping everything from hip-hop to electronic and techno, it’s a night you won’t forget. Or may actually, forget. I can speak to that. 

Melbourne Itinerary Day 6: Hang out with Australian furry friends

No trip to Melbourne, or Australia as a whole, is complete without a visit with some of the country’s native animals. And no, I don’t mean those animals that are popular for terrorizing Australians. I mean those cute, fluffy, and friendly critters. Your friends expect a picture of you cuddling a koala, so make it happen. 

Which Melbourne zoos should I visit?

Luckily for those visiting Melbourne, there are a number of zoos and sanctuaries you can get to that are a stone’s throw from the city. Melbourne Zoo , probably the most heavily trafficked, is a short train ride from the CBD and is home to over 5,000 Aussie and international animals. If checking out some of Australia’s (often bizarre-looking) furry inhabitants is on your agenda, head to the koala, kangaroo, platypus, Tasmanian Devil, and wombat enclosures.

Werribee Open Range Zoo is slightly further afield but can be reached by car in about 40 minutes. A more interactive, natural environment than Melbourne Zoo, Werribee Zoo lets you get up close and personal with some majestic beasts in a safari-style habitat. You can even do a “Slumber Safari”, where you sleep amongst the lions, tigers, and bears (oh my!) under the stars in a luxury camp.

Finally, Healesville Sanctuary , nestled the picturesque Yarra Valley and just an hour from Melbourne, is another natural bush haven for native wildlife. Wandering around Healesville Sanctuary is a joy, as the location has conservation and care for the animals foremost in its mind.

Hot tip: A day at these wildlife parks involves a lot of walking, so wear sensible footwear.

Melbourne Itinerary Day 7: Explore hipster inner-city hangouts & Night Tour

It’s your final day in Melbourne, and I bet you’ve had an absolute blast and are devastated (“devo”, to Aussie) to leave. Don’t worry, I’ve got a final treat in store for you to cap off your trip. Get your skinny jeans and your fedora on because the most hipster suburbs of Melbourne await you.

Exploding in popularity in recent decades, the urban, inner-city hubs of Fitzroy, Brunswick, and Northcote have transformed themselves from some of the least-coveted suburbs to topping the list of the most in-demand real estate in the city. The hippest of Melbourne’s cool crowd either live in or flock to these neighborhoods to be seen at the unique bars, clubs, thrift stores and cafes that cram the streets.

What are the coolest suburbs in Melbourne?

In trendy inner-city Fitzroy, I recommend The Rum Diary for a well-earnt drink or  Naked for Satan for a wild night out with a superior view of the Melbourne skyline. Always buzzing, Brunswick is packed with bars, coffee shops, and unique shopping along Sydney Road, so pick up a strong espresso at warehouse cafe Lux Foundry and rub shoulders with the in-crowd.

For a few bevvies, don’t miss Howler . Northcote is a suburb close to Melbourne CBD that is so damn hip it makes you instantly feel inferior. The entire city knows the institution, Northcote Social Club , a popular venue for regular live entertainment, gigs, and a great outdoor deck where you can smash some of the best eats and drinks in Melbourne.

While you’re exploring the inner-city suburbs of Melbourne, take a leaf out of the local’s book and be sure to spend some time wandering around the many “op shops” (thrift stores, as we Americans say) and vintage stores. You are sure to pick up a one-off treasure that will remind you fondly of your time in Melbourne.

Where can I see art in Melbourne?

After spending a couple of hours in the inner-city, Melbourne’s famous street art won’t go unnoticed. Its famous laneways are often heaving with budding photographers, taking snaps of its street art. For the best street art in Melbourne, head to AC/DC Lane (yep!), Caledonian Lane, Hosier Lane and Degraves St, just for starters.

If you’re in the mood for taking in some classic art, be sure to pop into the National Gallery of Victoria . One of Australia’s best museums, the NGV is home to thousands of pieces of both Australian and foreign art, and regularly host exciting events or nighttime shindigs. 

What’s a fun Melbourne night tour to do?

Tonight, do something a little different and sign up for a spooky nighttime Melbourne tour. There’s a range of tours that takes you on foot through the darkened streets of this awesome city, telling you twisted, scary stories of Melbourne of the past and the ghosts that lurk down its eerie laneways. Or head to the eerie Old Melbourne Gaol for a frighteningly good time on the “ Hangman’s Night Tour “. 

Melbourne Itinerary Tours and Experiences 

Tackling Melbourne on your own is pretty easy, but I definitely recommend using tours to see more of the city with a local guide. There are a number of you can look at during this Melbourne 1 week itinerary, including the following:

• From Melbourne: Phillip Island Penguin Parade Eco Tour : “Experience the magic of Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park on a bus tour from Melbourne. Enjoy views at Cape Woolamai prior to visiting the world-famous Penguin Parade on Phillip Island.”
• Melbourne: Complete City Walking Tour : “Join your tour guide for a walk through Australia’s culture capital and learn what makes this city great and so much more.”
• Melbourne: Hidden Alleyways, Ghosts and Best Instagram Spots : “Travel back to 19th-century Melbourne on a 1.5-hour ghost tour of the most haunted and Instagrammed locations. Discover hidden lanes, historic buildings, and spooks that still linger on the city streets.”

And there you have it.

My tips for the best week-long Melbourne tour itinerary . I hope you find it as diverse and enjoyable as this world-class city.

Don’t forget to purchase travel insurance!

Whether you are heading to Melbourne for just a few days or embarking on a lengthy trip around Australia, travel insurance is absolutely essential. Have you seen some of the crazy animals they have Down Under, or indeed, how expensive some things can be in Australia?

Getting sick or having items stolen while traveling is rare, but when it does happen, it can be an absolute nightmare. Having insurance (which is essential for visas in some countries) will give you the peace of mind that if anything terrible does happen, you are covered.

I highly recommend HeyMondo due to their extensive range of cover for all situations and trip lengths, their fair pricing, and their handy app, which allows you to not only manage any claims within the app but also access free assistance online, so you don’t need to rack up an expensive phone bill while abroad!

So, whether you need a single trip cover or an affordable annual cover for multiple trips worldwide, be sure to buy your travel insurance before you travel and relax during your trip, knowing that HeyMondo has your back. Nowadays I would never travel without insurance again, especially after hearing so many (expensive and dangerous) horror stories from other travelers I’ve met!

Still planning your trip? Get a no-obligation  travel insurance quote now, so you have an idea of how much extra to budget for your vacation. 

Planning a trip to Australia?

I’ve got so much love for this country, and I think everyone needs to visit down under at least once in their life. I actually lived and worked in Sydney for a year, and I miss it so damn much. I’ve written a lot about Australia, so check out some of my other top articles!

• Best Rooftop Bars in Melbourne
• 30 Music Festivals in Australia To Experience Before You
• Top 30 Music Festivals in Melbourne
• 14 Words You’ll Start Saying When You Move to Australia
• The Ultimate Guide For Moving To Sydney on a Working Holiday Visa
• Cairns – Sydney: The Ultimate Greyhound Bus Pass Itinerary
• The 15 Best Music Festivals in Sydney
• 15 Best Beach Resorts In Australia
• 15 Best Yurts In Australia For A Glamping Getaway
• 57 Quotes About Australia  

Thanks so much for reading my Melbourne Itinerary!

If you’re not already following me, be sure to check out my Facebook & Instagram for more of my international adventures!! As always, if you have any questions about anything you read, feel free to shoot me a DM or email me. I’m happy to help any way I can!

suggesting shopping….seriously? who goes to melbourne to do shopping? no comment…

Everyone in Australia would go to Melbourne to shop, I reckon. It’s considered to be the prime shopping destination in the country and was the first place to have Direct Factory Outlets, years and years ago. Now there’s plenty of boutique stores selling all sorts of interesting things.

Hi, great site and awesome insights. Very helpful to get an overview before I book the tickets :) I am planning for a 10-12 day vacation in australia from India this August. Is it a good time to visit? I would like to cover the best, most in a little relaxed mode with medium budget to spend. Travelling with husband and 2 kids under 10 years of age. Any tips, itinerary options are welcome! PS: I am a photographer and would appreciate any specific photography spots/times.

I’d definite;y make sure you do the Great Ocean Road for a few days! It’s a must for photographers! :-)

The Park Hyatt was way out of my league. But i stayed there as a treat to myself at the end of a business trip.

Hey ! thanks for such a great post.and many interesting point are cover in this blog. again thanks for a posting a interesting artical…

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!!!

Excellent post it is very helpful and knowledgeable content good work keep it up. Makes me want to visit Melbourne again so bad

Thanks so much for the article.Really thank you! Keep writing. What’s your favorite thing to do in Melbourne?

Excellent post, although I generally don’t like Australia. I think if you were to travel to Australia Melbourne is the best city to go to.

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MELBOURNE ITINERARY (2024): THE ULTIMATE 5 DAY GUIDE & BEST THINGS TO DO!

LOOKING TO PLAN THE ULTIMATE MELBOURNE ITINERARY?

Check out our blog post below for an epic 5 days in Melbourne itinerary (2024)! It includes the full 5 days in Melbourne itinerary, the best things to do in Melbourne, more of the best tours in Melbourne to chose from, where to stay in Melbourne and much more!

A MELBOURNE ITINERARY: THE ULTIMATE 5 DAY ITINERARY!

For our 5 days in Melbourne itinerary listed below, we initially begin in the the eclectic inner city for the first few days, before heading out on a few epic tours outside of Melbourne, such as Phillip Island, the Great Ocean Road and Wilsons Promontory.

DAY 1: SOUTH BANK, YARRA RIVER, SHRINE OF REMEMBRANCE & EUREKA SKYDECK

MORNING: STROLL THE YARRA RIVER ON SOUTH BANK Coupling the natural beauty of the Yarra river, gleaming high-rise buildings and some (surprisingly large) funky art sculptures – a stroll along South Bank is a must to get your first taste of Melbourne’ beauty.

Start by crossing Sandridge Bridge from the South Bank promenade. 

MORNING: MELBOURNE CRICKET GROUND Reaching the end of the South Bank, head over and lap the outside of the Melbourne Cricket Ground (commonly known as the “MCG”).

Stroll around the outside of the stadium and spot all the statues of famous rugby and cricket players. Or, there is the option to go inside on a guided tour around the Melbourne Cricket Ground !

Fun Fact : The River Yarra is named after the aboriginal word ‘Yarra’, meaning ‘ever-flowing’.

Top Tip : As you walk beside the Yarra River on the South Bank, you’ll find many free drinking fountains to use. P.s. I don’t know why, but the water tastes incredible!

AFTERNOON: SHRINE OF REMEMBRANCE Cross back over the Yarra River to head towards the impressive  Shrine of Remembrance , a national landmark built to honour individuals of war. Approach up a long sandy track lined with heartfelt memorial plaques and poppies.

Inside the Shrine itself, it offers tales of war history, a spot for quiet reflection and provides beautiful cityscape views of Melbourne. Visiting the Shrine of Remembrance is a free thing to do in Melbourne.

When at the Shrine, remember to look back to take in the breathtaking cityscape of Melbourne’s high rise buildings from this vantage point!

Top Tip : The Shrine of Remembrance is located right next to  Melbourne’s Botanical Gardens !

AFTERNOON / EVENING: EUREKA SKYDECK Want to witness Melbourne’s cityscape from above? Book your ticket up to the Eureka SkyDeck – The tallest viewing platform in the Southern Hemisphere!

Once at the top, circle the 360 views in awe, watch the busy streets below through powerful telescopes or even post a letter in ‘Australia’s highest postbox’!

Ideally arrive 1 hour before sunset to 3 views for the price of 1 – daytime, dusk and night!

Fun Fact : The sky deck can sway 30cm each way, dependant on the direction of the wind!

Fun Fact : They have an annual ‘Eureka Stair Climb’ competition – involving a whopping 1642 stairs!

Click to book your Eureka SkyDeck entry ticket! 🌇🔭

DAY 2: INNER CITY, HOSIER LANE STREET ART, VICTORIA STATE LIBRARY & DOCKLANDS

MORNING: EXPLORE THE INNER CITY Meander the heart of Melbourne in Federation Square, featuring eclectic modern buildings, quirky eateries and bars. Venturing from here you will find the infamous ‘Flinders Street’ train station, plus souvenir shops and vintage clothing shops. 

Just a 5 minute walk from Federation Square is  Degraves Street , a narrow cobbled laneway lined with endless eateries and coffee shops. The dining tables are set up right in the middle of the pedestrian road!

If you wanted expert commentary while you explored Melbourne, you can book onto a guided Melbourne City walking tour !

Click to book a guided city walking tour in Melbourne! 🚶‍♀️🏙️

Did You Know ? The tram lines are free to use in Central Melbourne! Plan the best routes via the Public Transport Victoria’s  Journey Planner .

Did You Know ? In the 1960’s, it only cost £10 to immigrate to Australia, earning the nick-name “Ten Pound Poms”!

Did You Know ? Melbourne is the first place a Cappuccino machine was used, down Bourke Street in 1928!

MORNING: HOSIER LANE STREET ART One of the best things to tick off your Melbourne itinerary bucket list! Lose yourself in the vibrant street art dotted all across the city. The best street art destination spot in Melbourne is definitely  Hosier Lane .

Get positively dizzy looking around at the overload of colour, characters, typography and symbols.

The street artists themselves also run guided Street Art tours providing great insight into all of the street art and graffiti dotted around Melbourne.

Fun Fact : The City of Melbourne commissions local and international artists to create large artistic street art pieces to maintain the vibrant, urban culture of the city.

Top Tip : Though also recommended by others, Union Lane is more ‘tagging’ graffiti, instead of art pieces. Hosier Lane is definitely the better option to visit. 

Click to book a guided Melbourne Street Art tour! 🎨

AFTERNOON: VICTORIA STATE LIBRARY Escape the hustle and bustle of Melbourne’s streets and seek solace in the Victoria State Library. Entrance is free. Head to the ‘La Trobe Reading Room’ on the third floor.

Admire the Dome ceiling, people socialising or even playing chess on the rich timber tables in this traditional, elegantly designed space. 

Fun Fact : Victoria State Library is Australia’s oldest public library, and is actually one of the World’s first free public libraries!

EVENING: THE DOCKLANDS Rested against a yacht lined harbour, The Docklands is an eclectic destination space for many organised pop-up evening events & festivals in Melbourne ( see planned events her e ).

For example, we visited during the ‘firelight festival’, hosting exciting performances including fire eaters,  live music and entrancing light installations.

Top Tip : Make your way to ‘The Docklands’ and back via the free to use “Melbourne City Circle” tram line . Check the  Journey Planner  for the live timetable. 

Top Tip : There is free WiFi called ‘VicFreeWifi’, which is attainable throughout the majority of central Melbourne.

DAY 3: PHILLIP ISLAND PENGUINS FULL DAY TOUR

FULL DAY: PHILLIP ISLAND PENGUINS & WILDLIFE RESERVE Venture out on this highly recommended full day tour to Moonlit Wildlife Sanctuary Park and Brighton Beach before heading to the Phillip Island for the Penguin Parade, your best chance to see the world’s smallest wild penguin, The Little Blue Penguin, in the wild!

This was one of out favourite tours to do when visiting Melbourne, and was able to book it very last minute too!

Witness firsthand small groups of penguins scurry from the sea back up to their beach burrows as the darkness draws in, a natural ritual done everyday for thousands of years to avoid being spotted by predators.

No personal photography of any kind is permitted during the Penguin Parade to avoid disturbing the penguins. 

Fun Fact : All spending in the visitor centre goes back to the penguins. E.g. 1 general admission buys 1 penguin nesting box and 1 cafe meal buys 2kg of pilchards to feed sick and injured penguins.

Fun Fact : The Summerlands (where the Penguin Parade occurs) used to be a bustling residential area. Over time, the Government brought all of the houses back to demolish and give the land back to wildlife. Look closely to spot old driveways and road signs randomly still in tact!

Click to book this Phillip Island penguin tour from Melbourne! 🐧

SPOTTED WILDLIFE!

Little ‘Blue’ Penguin The world’s only ‘navy and white’ penguin, The Little Penguin has an average lifespan of 7 years – the oldest on Phillip Island being 24! There are around 32,000 living near the Summerlands. Nest building begins late Winter, and usually 2 eggs are laid.

Eastern Grey Kangaroo Spotted at the Koala Centre. A marsupial mammal belonging to the ‘Macropod’ family meaning ‘Big Foot’ – larger hind legs than their arms. Their herbivorous diet ranges from grasses to plants, preferring to eat young green shoots!

DAY 4: GREAT OCEAN ROAD FULL DAY TOUR

FULL DAY: GREAT OCEAN ROAD TOUR For those who only have 1 day to see the Great Ocean Road, this 5* 12 hour full day guided tour is the perfect option for you. Stopping off at all the famous scenic Great Ocean Road hotspots from Melbourne all the way through to Port Campbell.

The unique selling point of this tour is not only is it much more personalised with maximum 12 people, it does the usual Great Ocean Road route in reverse. This means missing the majority of large tourists crowds at the main sites (i.e. 12 Apostles), which makes all the difference to your experience!

From quaint towns, lush National Parks, jaw-dropping coves and the rugged landscapes of the 12 Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge, we can vouch from personal experience this trip is not one to be missed.

There is plenty of wildlife to spot throughout the day, including wild kangaroos and cockatoos at Anglesea and a resident wild koala at Apollo Bay! One of the best places to visit in Melbourne.

Fun Fact : The Great Ocean Road was originally created to make jobs for returning WW1 serviceman and women.

Fun Fact : There is a face carved into one of the rocks, made by the women workers as a practical joke for ships coming in.

Fun Fact : There was apparently only ever ‘9’ Apostles, however 12 sounded better. It was once also nick-named the ‘Sow and Piglets’.

Click to book this Great Ocean Road tour from Melbourne! 🐨🚍🏞

The Koala Spotted at Apollo Bay! Australia’s most famous fluffy icon – The Koala! Koalas have a specific diet of toxic eucalyptus leaves, with a tough digestive system allowing them to eat them safely. This however takes up an awful lot of energy – causing koalas to sleep for 18/20 hours a day!

DAY 5: WILSONS PROMONTORY FULL DAY TOUR

FULL DAY: WILSONS PROMONTORY NATIONAL PARK A visit to Melbourne is not complete without this recommended hiking tour to Wilsons Promontory Peninsula, approximately a 3.5 hour drive from Melbourne city centre.

Embark on a small hiking tour to explore this idyllic National Park, full of jaw-dropping scenery and luscious beaches. It is also very common to see wild Australian Wombats roaming on the open plains of Wilsons Promontory!

Click to book this Wilsons Promontory hiking tour from Melbourne! 🥾🏞🐻

OTHER MELBOURNE TOURS & ACTIVITIES:

• Drive a rental car or catch a tram from Flinders Station (at Federation Square) to St Kilda beach and see the Brighton beach bath boxes! 🏝️

• Skydive at St Kilda beach! 🪂

• Take a day trip to Mornington Peninsula! 🏞️🐬🦭🏖️

• Yarra Valley Food and Wine Tour 🍷🍇🧀

• Melbourne sunrise hot air balloon flight over the city 🌆🎈

• Yarra Valley sunrise hot air balloon flight 🌄🎈

WHERE TO STAY IN MELBOURNE

BUDGET ACCOMMODATION OPTION

💰 Selina Central Melbourne (Light, fresh scandinavian design. Option for shared dorms to private double rooms. Perfect for young backpackers)

💰 Hotel Grand Chancellor Melbourne (A touch of luxury on a budget!)

MID-RANGE ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS

🤝🏻 Rydges Melbourne (Classical, stylish boutique hotel Rated 9/10!)

🤝🏻 Adelphi Hotel Melbourne (Great central location, bold and funky designed rooms)

PREMIUM ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS

💎 W Melbourne (Super modern, luxurious hotel in heart of Melbourne CBD)

💎 The Ritz-Carlton Melbourne (Ultra luxurious stay, Docklands location with immediate tram links)

A WILD CARD: QUIRKY ACCOMMODATION OPTION

🔮 Hotel No (Rooftop glamping in converted AIRSTREAM trailers. Fun speak easy style ‘secret’ entrance. Super cool & quirky)

GETTING TO MELBOURNE

GETTING TO MELBOURNE BY AIR: 🛫

If you are looking to get to Melbourne directly from another major Australian city, or from an International country, the most convenient method for you is to fly.

Most major cities in Australia fly directly into Melbourne Tullamarine in just a few hours, including Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Cairns.

There is a great choice of operating airlines (Qantas, Virgin Australia, Jetstar, Alliance for example) to choose from. Check Skyscanner for the best deals on your dates .

GETTING TO MELBOURNE BY TRAIN: 🚉

It is possible to also catch an intercity train service from Sydney to Melbourne, with a duration of approximately 10 hours. They also provide a ‘sleep-friendly’ night service, where you can sleep overnight throughout the majority of the journey. Check out Australia Trains for their prices and timetable here .

GETTING TO MELBOURNE BY BUS: 🚌

FROM MELBOURNE TULLAMARINE AIRPORT:

Just before you leave the airport, purchase a ticket for the  SkyBus  ‘Melbourne City Express’ (around £14 each) from the kiosk and catch the SkyBus waiting directly outside.

It took approximately 30 minutes, terminating at Southern Cross train station in Melbourne’s city centre. The SkyBus provides an additional ‘link’ service from here to popular hotels. Use the touch screen to see if yours is included, or make your own way from there.

FROM ANOTHER CITY IN AUSTRALIA:

Getting to Melbourne by the Greyhound Australia bus is the best way to get to Melbourne for anyone travelling or backpacking Australia Greyhound Australia offers a flexible and affordable hop-on, hop off ticket covering from Sydney to Cairns.

GETTING TO MELBOURNE BY CAR: 🚙

For those who want to stop and see the scenery up the East Coast to Cairns in their own time, a popular option is rent a car for multiple days. Check the best rental car deals for your dates!

HOW TO GET AROUND MELBOURNE CITY & VICTORIA

HOW TO GET AROUND MELBOURNE CITY: ON FOOT 🚶🏻‍♀️

Melbourne city in its entirety is a deceivingly large, however the majority of its key attractions (Federation Square, Hosier Lane, Yarra River and South Bank etc) are all located in a similar area. Therefore, as long as you stay in Melbourne near the centre (i.e. near Federation Square), everything you’ll want to see in the immediate centre of Melbourne is accessible on foot.

HOW TO GET AROUND MELBOURNE CITY: THE TRAM 🚃

One of the best ways to get around Melbourne is by their excellent tram service. In fact, the “Melbourne City Circle” tram zone, servicing the immediate inner city, is free to use by everyone! See the free tram zone map here . If you wanted to go further afield on the tram, you’ll need to buy a MYKI card from any available 7/11 shop and top it up with credit. Find out more on the MYKI card here .

HOW TO GET AROUND OUTSIDE OF MELBOURNE CITY IN VICTORIA STATE 🚌🚗

For those who do not want to rely on a tour pick-up to get around outside of Melbourne city, or wants to freedom to explore further afield in Victoria by themselves, there are two main options:

UTILISE PUBLIC TRANSPORT 🚃🚍

The first, and most cost efficient option, is to take advantage of Melbourne’s multiple public transport links (trams and bus services) originating from Federation Square, Melbourne city centre. For example, you can catch a direct 27 minute tram from Federation Square straight to St Kilda beach for $3 , or alternatively a 2-hour split tram / bus journey from Melbourne to Yarra Valley for just $6 ! This is when the previously mentioned MYKI card is required!

RENT A CAR 🚗

Another option is to rent a car for one or multiple days to fully explore the rest of Victoria freely with no restraints on your Melbourne itinerary. This is a great option if you have extended time in the Melbourne region.

IN SUMMARY: IS IT EASY TO GET AROUND MELBOURNE WITHOUT A CAR? 🚙❓

Yes! It is incredibly easy, and probably more convenient, to get around Melbourne city without a car. Melbourne’s public transport system is top notch with an extensive tram system, so there is no need to rent a car if just explore the city centre.

There are also extensive tram, train and bus options to get to one-off destinations just outside of Melbourne city, examples including the Yarra Valley and St Kilda beach.

If you wanted to drive further afield to i.e. Phillip Island, Wilsons Promontory or the Great Ocean Road freely on your own terms (aka not on organised tours), these are great examples where renting a car in Melbourne would be very beneficial.

ABOUT VISITING MELBOURNE: “KNOW BEFORE YOU GO” FAQ’S

Why is melbourne australia so popular why should you visit.

Melbourne (Australia’s second-largest city) is so popular to visit for so many reasons. Not only is it laced in quirky architecture, bold colour and commissioned vibrant street art, it is also a renowned sporting and cultural hub.

You have the option to explore the exciting inner city before venturing out to all the rural gems in Victoria state!

WHAT ARE THE BEST MONTHS TO VISIT MELBOURNE?

To increase your chances of having pleasant weather during your stay, we would suggest the two shoulder seasons of late Spring (September – November) or early Autumn (March-April) are the best months to visit Melbourne. In the Winter months (June – August), Melbourne’s Southern location in Australia means it can get pretty cold here!

HOW MANY DAYS IS ENOUGH FOR MELBOURNE?

If you were simply staying in the inner city, we would suggest 3 days would be enough to visit Melbourne.

However, we believe to get the best out of your Melbourne itinerary, you need at least a few more days to venture out and explore the incredible areas surrounding Melbourne city, including the Great Ocean Road, Phillip Island and Wilsons Promontory National Park.

Therefore, for the best Melbourne itinerary plan, we would say 5 days is the perfect amount of time to visit Melbourne!

CONCLUSION: MELBOURNE ITINERARY

To conclude, 5 days is a perfect amount to time to allocate for your Melbourne itinerary.

This eclectic city has something for everyone, from quirky street art, buzzing inner city, infamously delicious coffees and idyllic surrounding National Parks full of wildlife.

We hope you have the best time following our Melbourne travel guide, and make memories that will last a lifetime!

This blog post was written by… Jordie Flain! Founder of TheFlainsTravel.com, Travel Itinerary Creator & Wildlife Enthusiast

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Jordie Flain is the owner and author of The Flains Travel, a travel blog with emphasis on ethical wildlife experiences, "seen to be believed" natural beauty and "real magic" phenomena, such as the northern lights. Jordie crafts every itinerary and post to perfection for travellers to follow and get the very most out of their time in a destination.

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8D Melbourne Road Trip Itinerary — The Ultimate Road Trip Around Victoria’s Best Adventures

Indulge in Melbourne’s array of cuisines, mingle with the adorable animals of Phillip Island and hike up the impressive mountains and waterfalls in the Grampians with this Melbourne road trip itinerary.

First published: 19 April 2018

Pick up your rental car and hit the road on this eight-day adventure. Beginning from Melbourne, we head to Yarra Valley for wine tasting, Phillip Island to watch the Little Penguins return to their burrows, Otway and Grampians for some of the most epic waterfall hikes — all while taking in the gorgeous coastal scenery along the Great Ocean Road.

If you’re planning to explore Victoria on a road trip, here’s our eight-day self drive itinerary from Melbourne!

Melbourne Road Trip Overview

Pre-trip Essentials | Check Flights to Melbourne | Road Trip Planning Tips Day 1: Melbourne City Day 2: Yarra Valley Day 3: Phillip Island Day 4-5: Great Otway National Park Day 6: Great Ocean Road Day 7-8: Grampians Click to jump to each section.

Pre-trip Essentials

Car Rental: We rented a compact SUV for our group of four. Prices start from ~S$60/day , including zero-excess Collision Damage Waiver.

*Pro-tip: Use code <THETRAVELINTERN> on Klo ok to get 5% off car rental and activities * with a min. spend of S$50 (discount cap at S$15) at checkout. One-time use only! (* – list of excluded activities )

SIM Card:  Plans from  Optus  (right outside the airport arrival gates) start from AU$12 with a minimum of 5GB and unlimited local calls. Alternatively, get an eSIM (S$18.90 for 500MB/day for 10 days) to avoid the hassle of switching physical cards around. Do check your phone compatibility beforehand!

Travel Insurance: We strongly recommend this in case of unforeseen mishaps! Look for policies that include coverage for Covid-19. Some insurance providers also offer coverage for outdoor activities such as hiking (a highlight of this itinerary).

Airport to Melbourne CBD:  Taxis are expensive. A ride to town will cost between AU$65-80 . If you’re travelling solo or in twos, book the Skybus at ~S$19/pax (one-way) that drops you off at Southern Cross station.

Check Flights to Melbourne

If you can’t see the widget above, click here to check flight prices from Singapore to Melbourne !

Day 1: Explore Melbourne City

Highlights:  Victoria State Library – Hosier Lane – Eureka Skydeck – Queen Victoria Market

Getting around Melbourne: You can purchase a rechargeable myki card for AU$6 (excluding credits) which covers all the trains, buses and trams in Victoria. However, if you’re staying within the CBD area, there’s no need for one to travel on trams within the Free Tram Zone .

Victoria State Library

First stop, check out the iconic Victoria State Library — the oldest free public library in Victoria with a collection of over two million books. The library’s domed ceiling also makes the place a good photo spot.

Entrance fee: Free Opening hours:  10AM – 6PM Address: 328 Swanston St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia

Hosier Lane

Start your day exploring the scenic streets of Melbourne. If you’re into street art, one of the most famous is probably Hosier Lane — decked in ever-changing graffiti, created by both international and local artists. Drop by for a quick photo stop or have a meal at the cafes and restaurants in the area.

Eureka Skydeck

For a 360° view of the city, get on the highest public vantage point in the Southern Hemisphere, the Eureka Skydeck .

Photo credit: A Brit & A Southerner

Explore Melbourne city through the telescopes on the observation decks, and check out the world’s only Edge Experience that suspends visitors 300m above the city in a glass cube!

The Eureka Skydeck is also a great place for catching the sunset over the city. Make sure to arrive at least 1 hour before sunset to secure a good spot on the west side overlooking the Yarra River. Cost:   ~S$27/adult via Klook for Skydeck entry only, AU$43/adult for the Edge Experience incl. Skydeck entry Opening hours:  12PM – 10PM (Last entry 9:30PM)

Have dinner at the Queen Victoria Night Market

The Queen Victoria Night Market only comes alive every Wednesday in the summer months (22 Nov 2023 to 13 Mar 2024) so try to plan to be in the city on this day! Lined with food stalls and shops selling trinkets and clothing, this is a great place to hang out while enjoying live entertainment; or you could also play a game of chess on the life-size chess boards on the ground.

Satisfy your Korean Cravings (Joomak)

If you’ll miss the night market, a good alternative favoured by locals is  Joomak  — a Korean-style pub that serves authentic Korean food in Melbourne CBD. The free-flow kimchi here is to die for and the food comes in generous portions. We ordered a kimchi pancake, sundubu jji-gae (tofu stew) and a small portion of bulgogi (BBQ marinated beef), along with a bowl of rice — which had the four of us stuffed.

Located in the basement with no signs on street level, it may be quite hard to locate Joomak. Just walk along Swanston Street until you see unit 407/409:

Turn in, and head down the stairs to the basement where the restaurant is located.

Cost: ~AU$13/pax Opening hours: 5PM – 1AM (Mon – Thu), 5PM – 3AM (Fri – Sat), Closed on Sun Address:  Basement, 407/409 Swanston St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia

Accommodation

To save on transport, pick an accommodation within or on the outskirts of the CBD. We found options on Airbnb that cost ~AU$50/pax. There’s also hostels within the same area for ~AU$30/pax.

Day 2: Day Trip to the Yarra Valley

Highlights : Yarra Valley Gourmet Food Tour

For the wine lovers, the Yarra Valley is just 1 hour from Melbourne city and home to over 50 wineries and farms. Apart from wine, you’ll also get to try locally grown fruits and a wide array of freshly made cheese.

We visited  De Bortoli and Yering Station for wine tasting (AU$10 – 25), made a quick stop at Yarra Valley Dairy for cheese tasting, before having lunch at Rochford .

Have a sweet ending at the  Yarra Valley Chocolaterie , where you can taste a wide variety of chocolate and a generous serving of gelato at the gelato shop.

For those who don’t drive, there’s also an all inclusive Yarra Valley tour (~S$162)  which includes doorstep pick up from your accommodation and all the delicious wine and food you’ll get to experience at Yarra.

Have Mexican Food for dinner back in Melbourne CBD (Mamasita)

If you love Mexican food, Mamasita is the place to be! This popular restaurant in the CBD serves delicious tacos and a killer Margarita (~AU$23). It’s a tad pricey but the quality is well worth it. We ordered corn chips with guacamole and salsa (AU$16), some tacos (~AU$17 – 21 for two), quesadillas (AU$18) and we enjoyed every single dish.

*Pro-tip:  Avoid peak hours or make a booking beforehand as it gets very crowded during dinner time.

Cost: ~AU$40/pax Opening hours: 12PM – 10:30PM (Sun – Thu), 12PM – 11:30PM (Fri – Sat) Address:  11 Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia

Day 3: Day Trip to Phillip Island

Highlights:  Brighton Beach – Churchill Island – Koala Conservation Reserve – Seal Watching Cruise – The Nobbies – Penguin Parade

Famous for the adorable penguin parade that happens every night, Phillip Island is a must-visit when you’re in Melbourne! It’s a 2-hour drive south-east of Melbourne with lots to check out along the way!

Brighton Beach

These colourful bathing boxes on Brighton Beach are a well-known icon of Melbourne. Snap pictures with them along the beach while enjoying the sea breeze, and watch many dog owners play with their fur babies.

The beach is a quick stop en route to Phillip Island. You can watch the sunrise at the beach while having breakfast before heading out to Phillip Island.

Parking:  AU$5.70/hour (8AM – 8PM) at Green Point Car Park — Remember to pay for parking at the machine (credit card only) or with the EasyPark app . You WILL get fined if you do not pay for parking.

*Pro-tip: Arrive early as parking fees are only required between 8AM – 8PM.

Full Day Out at Phillip Island

Read also:   The Complete Phillip Island Guide

Check out farming activities at Churchill Island such as cow milking and sheep shearing, which will definitely be a hit with the young ones. Enjoy a quick cuppa at the cafe before heading off to the next stop!

Entrance fee: AU$15 Opening hours:  10AM – 4:30PM

Seal Watching Cruise:  Sign up for this 2-hour high speed boat tour that will bring you up close to one of the largest fur seal colonies in Australia.

Cost:  AU$98 (~S$85 on Klook) Departure time:  Tours run at 2PM daily, with additional slots at 11AM or 4:30PM on select days in summer. Check the schedule before booking!

Located just 10 minutes from Cowes jetty, Tides of Rhyll is a perfect spot to have a meal before or after the Seal Watching Cruise (though you might want to have your meal after the tour in case the boat ride is rocky).

Cost:  From AU$15 for battered fish and a side of chips Opening hours:  12PM – 7PM (Mon), 12PM – 8PM (Fri to Sun), closed on Tue – Thu Address:  11 Beach Rd, Rhyll VIC 3923, Australia

Get up close to koalas in this Eucalyptus tree-filled woodland. The Koala Conservation Reserve plays host to a conservation programme that helps save these important animals. Visitors will get an opportunity to go on a ranger-led tour for insights into these Australian icons.

Entrance fee: AU$15 Opening hours: 10AM – 5:30PM (Last entry at 5PM)

Take a walk down the boardwalk at the Nobbies to see the beautifully rugged coastline and if you’re lucky, you might spot some penguins beneath the boardwalks!

Head into the Antarctic Journey for an interactive lesson on the Southern Ocean and Antarctica. This is a great place for children and they will love it. Stop by the cafe for a quick refreshment before heading out to the penguin parade which is just a 5-minute drive away.

Entrance fee: AU$15 Opening hours:  10AM – 6PM

End your day watching the little Penguins waddle back into their burrows after a long day of fishing. The main viewing area has elevated seating that gives a 180º view of the Beach.

Entrance fee: AU$30 (~S$26 via Klook)

*Pro-tip: Get a 4 Parks Pass for discounted admission to the Penguin Parade, Churchill Island, Koala Conservation Reserve and the Antarctic Journey!

For a full-day itinerary on Phillip Island, check out our complete Phillip Island Guide .

You can opt to stay slightly outside of Melbourne city as it would be cheaper. We stayed in the Chadstone area.

Day 4 & 5: Great Otway National Park

Highlights : Zipline and Treetop walk at Otway Fly – California Redwoods – Hopetoun Falls – Apollo Bay Drive time: ~ 3hrs 30mins

Photo credit: Visit Victoria

Head out in the morning and drive towards Otway National Park. There are two routes — coastal and inland — that you can take. The drive times for both route vary so be sure to check out Google Maps for drive time estimates. I strongly recommend taking the coastal route as the views are pretty insane! 😉

Otway Fly Treetop Adventures

Photo credit: Otway Fly Treetop Adventures

For zipline adventures, head to Otway Fly Treetop Adventures for a 2.5-hour tour zipping through the leafy treetops of Otway. Although the tour opens regardless of rain or shine, it does not operate in severe weather conditions such as lightning, storms and high winds. Allocate at least two days in Otway so you’ll be able to reschedule the tour should such conditions occur!

Alternatively, there’s a 25m-high tree-top walk where you can get a bird’s eye view of the region’s flora and fauna. The walk takes about 1 hour to complete, and just like the zipline tour, does not operate in severe weather conditions.

Cost: From AU$99 for the Zipline Tour incl. TreeTop walk admission ( bookings are essential!) Opening hours:  10AM – 5PM (Last admission at 3:30PM)

California Redwoods

Filled with Sequoia trees, the California Redwoods is a unique stop on this road trip. True to its name, the trunks and branches of the trees have a reddish hue to them. Stop by for a morning stroll into the woods and be sure to snap some pictures of this magical place! Be careful of falling branches, especially when it’s windy.

There’s also picnic tables outside the forest, so it’s a great place to stop for lunch!

Time:  10mins return Difficulty: Easy

Hopetoun Falls

You can see the waterfalls from a viewing platform just 20m from the carpark but if you’re extra adventurous, it’s a 30-minute return route to the base of the waterfall.

Time:  30mins return Difficulty:  Moderate

If time and weather permit, you could also check out  Beauchamp Falls and Triplet Falls .

For this day, you can either stay in Otway National Park for two days or stay in Otway for one night and move on to Port Campbell/Apollo Bay for the second.

Pros of staying near Otway Fly Treetop Adventure is that you’ll have an additional day to check in on the zipline and treetop walk if the weather’s against your favour on the first night. Of course, the con is that you’ll have to drive about an hour to get to the Twelve Apostles the next morning so we’ve provided two other options which are nearer to the Twelve Apostles.

Near Otway Fly Treetop Adventures

1) Otways Tourist Park : Located just 20 minutes from the Otway Fly Treetop Adventures activity centre , the various en-suite cabins at Otways Tourist Park can accommodate 2 to 8 people.

Near the Twelve Apostles

2) Pebble Point: For nature lovers, a night at this glamping spot in Pebble Point is an experience you might want to check out! Each cosy tent sleeps 2 (max 3) and comes with an attached bathroom. The heated bed was so comfortable we had major problems getting up the next morning! There is a common kitchen stocked with common condiments to prepare dinner.

The downside is that the nearest town of civilisation is in Port Campbell which is a 20-minute drive should you need any supplies. Connectivity is also barely existent so get your maps pre-loaded and let your loved ones know you haven’t fallen off the face of the earth!

3) Sow and Piglets Guest House (formerly Port Campbell Hostel):  Lastly, there’s a  hostel located in Port Campbell — a small town just 10 minutes from the Twelve Apostles. Here there are private en-suite rooms for up to 4 pax and mixed-gender dorm rooms with 4, 6 and 8 bed configurations.

Of course the downside for options 2 & 3 is that you’d need to drive 1 hour to Otway Fly Treetop Adventures should you decide to shift your zipline activity booking.

Day 6: Great Ocean Road

Highlights:  Gibson Steps – 12 Apostles – Loch Ard Gorge – The Arch – London Bridge – The Grotto Drive time:  ~3hrs (if staying at Port Campbell/Pebble Point), add 1.5hrs if driving from Apollo Bay

Gibson Steps

Get up close with Gog and Magog — the two huge limestone stacks that rise up from the sea, here at the base of Gibson Steps . They are not considered part of the 12 Apostles but are still a sight to behold. You can view them from the viewing platform or make your way down the 86 steps to the beach for a closer look. Be prepared to get a little wet as the waves are unpredictable!

Head down this flight of stairs to the beach 🙂

There is a designated carpark just a short distance of 30m away from the viewing platform.

Trekking time:  15mins return Difficulty:  Easy Parking:  Free — but lots are limited and gets crowded after 9AM

12 Apostles Lookout Point

Possibly the most iconic attraction of the Great Ocean Road, the 12 Apostles are made up of rock stacks created by the erosion of limestone cliffs from the mainland. You may want to use the toilets here as there will not be another one at the other lookout points!

Trekking time:  15mins return Difficulty:  Easy Parking:  Free

Loch Ard Gorge

Named after the famous 1878 shipwreck on nearby Muttonbird Island, there are numerous limestone structures here to be marvelled at. Explore the numerous trails while learning the rich history of various rock stacks like the Razorback .

Trekking time:  Allow up to 2 – 3hrs if you want to explore all the trails Difficulty:  Easy Parking:  Free

The Arch is best viewed from the platform during rougher tides. Watch the waves crash in and around the area, creating a mini waterfall underneath The Arch!

Trekking time:  20mins return Difficulty: Easy Parking:  Free (Carpark is unsuitable for caravans)

London Bridge (aka London Arch)

As its name suggests, London Bridge used to be a bridge connecting the archway to the mainland but collapsed unexpectedly in 1990, leaving two in need of a helicopter rescue. Visitors used to be able to walk across the eastern span before the collapse but now, you can still witness its beauty from the two viewing platforms.

Trekking time: 20mins return Difficulty:  Easy Parking:  Free

Perhaps the best spot along the Great Ocean Road is  the Grotto . This geological formation is easily accessible down a small flight of stairs. Feel the calmness brought about by the archway of the Grotto, in contrast to the crashing waves at the other end of the tunnel.

Food in Port Campbell

Frying nemo.

An all-in-one store, Frying Nemo is a small section of the Port Campbell Fuel/Fish and Chips shop. The servings are huge and well worth your money! We got two portions of chips (at AU$4 per portion) and it was way too much for the four of us. As they only do takeout, get your favourite fish to go, and have your meal by the Port Campbell Beach like we did!

Photo credit: Nada D

Cost: AU$15 for a Fish & Chips pack Opening hours:  12PM – 9PM

Drive 2 hours up to Halls Gap since you’ll be exploring the sights here the next morning. Stay here for two nights.

There are many accommodation options at Halls Gap but one of the most unique ones we found in this area was the A-Frame  house. It had one bedroom below (en suite with a Jacuzzi!), two single and a double bed up on the loft, a fully stocked kitchen as well as a spacious living area. Wild kangaroos are also known to hang out in the backyard so if you’re lucky, they may come say hi!

At night, don’t forget to check out the view outside. If the skies are clear, you might even catch a shooting star or two!

Day 7 & 8: Grampians

Highlights:  MacKenzie Falls – The Balconies – Reeds Lookout – The Pinnacle via Grand Canyon Drive time:  ~ 1hr 16mins (within Halls Gap), ~3hrs (to Melbourne Airport)

MacKenzie Falls

One of the largest falls in Victoria, MacKenzie Falls flows all year round down a steep cliff. Take an easy 1km walk to Bluff Lookout, or down a steep trail down to the base of the waterfall. The steps can be quite steep but we promise, the view is worth it!

Be careful while going down the steps as some of them are narrow and might be slippery.

Trekking time:  1hr return (to the base of the falls) Difficulty:  Easy – Moderate Parking:  Free parking at the MacKenzie Falls Carpark

*Note: When planning hikes into your itinerary, remember to get travel insurance that covers this activity! Seedly is one such provider that covers hiking without add-on fees. From now till 31 Dec 2023, get 50% off all plans and other perks — more info at the end!

The Balconies (aka Jaws of Death)

Also known as the Jaws of Death because the structure resembles the jaws of a T-rex, The Balconies offer a panoramic view of the lush mountains. Take an easy 2km stroll along the path leading towards the lookout, and be awed by the stunning rock formations at the end.

Trekking time:  1hr return Difficulty: Easy Parking:  Free

Reeds Lookout (alternatively spelled as Reed Lookout) 

From the same car park as The Balconies, follow the path up the sealed road to the summit of Reeds Lookout and enjoy the scenic views of Victoria Valley. Reeds Lookout is a fantastic spot for catching the sunset and it was truly one of the best sunsets I have seen in my life!

Do leave before the sun completely sets as it gets very dark, and can be quite a challenge to drive out.

Trekking time: 10mins return Difficulty:  Easy Parking:  Free

The Pinnacle

There are a few paths one can take to reach the peak of The Pinnacle. We chose to hike up The Pinnacle via The Grand Canyon, starting at the Wonderland Carpark. The Grand Canyon is a trail within a picturesque valley that would have you stopping for pictures almost every minute. Although the trail was pretty rocky, it was still a pretty well-paved walkway.

*Pro-tip:  Wear shoes with better grip. Even though there are man-made pathways, there are still areas that are rocky and not flat.

If you prefer an easier hike, start off at the Sundial car park, especially if you have young children, or ancient knees (like myself).

Bring some food along as there are many opportunities during the hike for a pit stop to recharge!

Follow these yellow arrows to find your way to the peak. These are especially helpful if you want to climb in the dark, to catch the sunrise or after sunset.

Have Dinner at Spirit of Punjab (Indian Food)

Photo credit: VisitLanarkShire

We were pretty lucky this place was open till pretty late since all the other restaurants tend to close around 5 – 6PM. If you’re craving for spicy food, check out this gem of a place at  Spirit of Punjab .

We had the Vindaloo (AU$23.99) which was a chef-recommended dish, Butter Chicken (AUS$23.99) and Sag Aloo (AU$23.50), which is a rich paste of spinach and potatoes. If you love spicy food, we challenge you to have a go at the Volcano Hot level. We ended up with the medium hot which was barely spicy 😉

Cost: AU$17.90/pax  Opening hours: 5PM – 9PM (Mon – Thu), 12PM – 9PM (Fri – Sun)

Drive to Melbourne Airport

If you have an evening flight on this day, make sure to buffer a 2.5-hour drive time back to the city. For those returning the car straight at the airport, you can return it at any time. However, if you’re planning to return the car back in the city, most car rental companies have a strict 6PM cut-off (not even a 5-minute grace). Try to avoid driving back at peak hour between 5 – 7PM as the jam can cause up to an hour of delay.

Road Trip Planning Tips

1) Groceries: Not only is eating out more expensive, many of the shops outside Melbourne close pretty early and you might find yourself stranded without any dinner. Make sure to find out where the major supermarkets are and schedule pit stops to stock up on food you can cook for dinner and breakfast the next morning. Sometimes, we’d even prepare a packable lunch.

*Note: You might want to keep dairy products off your shopping list unless they can be consumed on the same night. These will most definitely spoil when left in the car for an entire day #truestory.

2) Accommodation: If you’re travelling in a group, apartments are not too pricey and usually come with a fully stocked kitchen so that you can cook your own meals.

3) Connectivity:  Connectivity along The Great Ocean Road and in the Grampians can be spotty. Preload your Google Maps at major cities in case you find yourself out of service.

4) Flexibility:  Do not pack your road trip schedule too tightly as plans might change due to weather and other unforeseen circumstances.

5) Pack lightly: Since you’ll be changing accommodations almost every day, try not to pack too much for the road!

Get Affordable Travel Insurance with Seedly

Victoria has a great mix of urban and natural landscapes that we enjoyed thoroughly on this eight-day self-drive. To take your mind off niggling what-ifs like flight delays or falling sick during the trip, remember to purchase travel insurance before you fly!

Seedly recently launched their own travel insurance for individuals and families, with two tiers to choose from — Seedly Travel Safe and Seedly Travel Secure.

To keep things affordable, both options automatically include coverage for Covid-19, unlike some other policies that require top-ups for this benefit. Activities like hiking are also covered — perfect for the Grampians leg of this itinerary 🥾

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Now for the more light-hearted bit —

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Hope you found this Melbourne road trip itinerary useful! Leave a comment below if you have other recommendations.

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22 comments.

Nice road trip Around Victoria.

Love the itinerary so much! I’ll be going there this coming november with some friends and family members. It’s really helpful as i get more ideas to manage our trip there. Wish me luck..

Hi JC! Glad you found the itinerary useful! Good luck & have a great time in Melbourne! 🙂

I love Melbourne city because it is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. I also suggest other people to visit this city I assure you will never disappoint.

Totally agree!

Hi Jia Xuan, on Day 4 & 5: You mentioned: “The coastal route takes 30 minutes longer but the views will be worth it!”

I check on the GoogleMap, it seems like the inland route is longer than the coastal route ??

Hi! The coastal route was longer when we were in Melbourne. It could have changed due to new roads or road works (which we encountered a few of during our trip). 🙂

Very useful information! Do you think Grampians suitable if I bring my 8 month old baby?

There were a few parents carrying their kids on their backs/shoulders so if you’re comfortable carrying your baby, why not! 🙂

Hi! Thank you so much for all the information! Did you guys pre-book any of the accommodations or did you guys walk in? I am planning a road trip in September and I am a little concerned with being tied down by pre-book lodging.

Hi LX, we pre-booked all our accommodations beforehand. For Australia, it’s also advisable to pre-book accomm too! 🙂 Thanks!

Thanks Edelyn!

Thanks for the useful info, we are going to Melbourne soon. Will use yours as our guide.

Hi Jia Xuan I would like to ask, from Melbourne CBD to The Twelves Apostles Visitors Facility. Which route should I go? Will there be any toll charges? Thinking to leave early at 8am from CBD, stay a night there and leave the next day at 8am. Thanks!

Hi JF, From Melbourne, you’ll want to get to the town of Geelong on the M1 and then proceed onto route B100. There are no physical toll booths, just electronic ones, and any charges will be charged to the credit card you used for your car rental.

Thanks Edelyn.

useful advice

When last in Melbourn I did a day trip to the 12 apostles along the great ocean road and it was an unforgettable experience. You really can’t appreciate it until you see it in person.

Hi Jia Xuan,

Great sharing.. mind to share name of all the accommodations you stayed from day 1 to 8? Thinking of following your carbon foot-print 😉

Hey James, the team used Airbnb for most of it unless when stated so the listings have changed wildly since the original post. Might be better to do a search yourself!

hi may i know which month of the year was this trip made in? thanks!

we went in March!

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A guide to Melbourne, Australia

Updated On 7th February, 2024

Melbourne is my favourite place in Australia.  So if this is you considering a visit, let me offer you a helping hand.  Do it .

To me this city has everything one could wish for, particularly in the region of St.Kilda, which I’ve fallen in love with.  See my guide to St.Kilda here

If city life, beaches, botanical gardens, art lanes, healthy eateries and having the great ocean road on your doorstep isn’t enough, add the short plane rides to Tasmania, Bali, Sydney and Australia into the mix.

In Melbourne you can indulge in the ever addictive laid back lifestyle that Australia has to offer, but alsotake advantage of the opportunities and jobs that this creative hub has to offer.

Melbourne is becoming an increasingly popular designation for those seeking work abroad, for backpackers and for straight up adventurers. It really isn’t hard to see why…

My complete guide to Melbourne…

How do you get to melbourne from the airport.

Melbourne (MEL) is a huge international airport, so flying there is easy!  Check flight deals on Skyscanner here.

• Budget option – $19.50  Skybus  (one way)

It only works out a tiny bit cheaper to buy a return, so, if you can spare a couple of dollars, I would recommend just buying a single. It is better to stay flexible in case you want to extend your trip, or you find a different way back to the airport, e.g. lift sharing. There are multiple stops on the bus routes, the buses go to multiple destinations in the Melbourne area, and you catch the bus from outside arrivals. My bus from the airport to St.Kilda took 35 minutes but allow an hour on way to airport incase of traffic. On Sundays buses return to airport every hour.  Find out more about Skybus here.

• Flexible budget –  Taxi or Uber  ($55-65)

There are taxis right outside arrivals or, Uber operates in Australia so you can order one there. There is WiFi at the airport. Don’t be immediately put off by the price; if there are three or more of you, it can work out cheaper than the Skybus.  Get £10 off your first Uber with my code  1l08a .

What’s the best way to get around Melbourne?

The easiest way to get around the city is on the  tram and bus networks  that are set up pretty much everywhere you’re going to be heading.

To use the networks you will need a  Myki card  which, for you Londoners, is like an Oyster card. Top it up and scan it when you start and end your journey. Myki cards are $6 to buy, and each trip costs around $4. The cards do cap daily too.

Tip :  Download the free app ‘tramTRACKER’ for live trams updates and information in Melbourne.  Check out more apps you need for your travels here!

St.Kilda to the City (Fitzroy) for example is connected by a pleasant 40 minute tram ride. Otherwise you can walk, cycle or Uber.  See my perfect coastal bike ride itinerary from St.Kilda here

Where should you stay in Melbourne?

I think it totally depends on the vibe you are looking for.

• If you are looking to be super central  and  only have a few days to explore  then… head for the CBD
• For a beach side base with access to the city … head for  St. Kilda .
• For a young quirky, ‘Shoreditch’ type base  just slightly outside the centre then… head for Fitzroy

These were the three recommendations I got when conducting research and the three I stand by after my time in Melbourne.

If you’re a backpacker, i t’s always a good idea in Australia and NZ to google the location of Base/Nomad hostels and take note. The location of these main hostels will always indicate the popular backpacking area.

I stayed in St.Kilda and absolutely fell in love.  St. Kilda is a beach side town in South Melbourne that has its own high street filled with boutiques, cafe shops and modern bars. The sea front is a 2-minute walk from the high street and is the perfect place to watch the sunset. St. Kilda is filled with young active individuals and the whole vibe is very laid back and social.

My favourite accommodation booking sites for Australia…

• Hostelworld  (for searching the best hotels in the area)
• Booking.com  (getting a great overall look on whats available and bagging cheaper deals on hotels)
• Airbnb  (searching for a unique experience or save money via a group booking).

Where are the best places to eat in Melbourne?

• Naked For Satan

Pretty much everyone recommended this place to me when they found out I was heading to Melbourne. Naked For Satan is a rooftop bar located in Fitzroy and is a perfect spot for lunch or after work drinks as the sun goes down. I don’t think you can make reservations and there is limited outdoor seating so make sure you get there early!

• Ponyfish Island Cafe (on the Yarra River)

• Queen Victoria Night Market

The ultimate night market with food from your wildest dreams and live music and cocktails to entertain you all night long. Need I say more!

• Any of the rooftop bars, such as Palmz, Young and Jackson, Naked in the Sky, Good Heavens

A handful of the many amazing rooftop bars in Melbourne; be sure to check at least one.

• Lentils For Anything

A set of ‘pay as you feel’ not for profit vegan and vegetarian restaurants based in both Melbourne and Sydney!

Bar on the seafront in St. Kilda. Super cool hangout with outdoor quirky seating and live music!

• Head to the all Matcha – Matcha Mylkbar…

• Chinchin Restaurant

My friend that lives in Melbourne swears by this place. I didn’t get time to check it out but… I trust her!

What are the best things to do in Melbourne?

• Head for food and drinks at Queen Victoria Night Market.

• Explore the quirky boutiques and cafes within Fitzroy.
• Check out one of the open air cinemas.

The one below was the open air cinema in the Melbourne Botanical Gardens.

• Coffee shop hop.

This was at Dukes Coffee Roasters.

• Explore the Botanical Gardens.

• Check out Centre Place for cafes and street buskers!

Great place for lunch (just off Flinders St.).

• Grab a healthy lunch and juice at Laneway Greens!

Up there with my favourite salads ever!

• Go shopping.
• Head up the Eureka Tower for epic views over Melbourne.
• Wander through the famous art lanes e.g. Hozier Lane.

• Check out some of the spectator sports on offer.

Whether it’s the Australian tennis open, Formula1, tennis, netball, or the AFL, Melbourne is a great place for watching sport.

• Venture down to St. Kilda and enjoy the likes of the luna park and the penguins on the pier!

See more in my St. Kilda guide here.

• Kick back and relax on the southern beaches.

Check the beach huts on Brighton Beach!

To extend your trip beyond Melbourne, consider…

• Phillip Island.
• The Great Ocean Road.  See my Great Ocean road trip here.
• Jervis Bay  See our road trip here.
• Explore the wine region that is Hunter Valley.  Check out my road trip here.
• Kosciuszko National Park.

EXPLORE AUSTRALIA ON MY BLOG HERE

Have you been to Melbourne?

Where were your favourite spots? I’d love to know!

Love as always and happy adventuring,

Did you find this post helpful? I’d love you to share it for me.

I can’t do this without you.

Pin and save this blog post for later…

IT’S LOVELY TO MEET YOU

I’M MOLLIE AND I STARTED THIS BLOG BACK IN 2013 WHEN I HEADED OUT ON MY FIRST BACKPACKING ADVENTURE. 

I’D LOVE TO SHARE THE JOURNEY WITH YOU, WE’VE GROWN A LOT SINCE THEN!

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MELBOURNE TRAVEL GUIDE with Budget Itinerary

Our first day in Melbourne was a series of unfortunate events.

We spent our first two hours wandering aimlessly along its almost empty streets. I was supposed to rely on data roaming on my first day, but for some reason, my service provider decided to cut my line despite having paid my bill in full even before my trip. It would have been easy finding a pocket wifi or SIM card but our plane landed in the early morning, at 3am, and none of the shops at the airport or the city were open. I connected to the airport wifi for a minute to load Google maps and search for some info and decided to head out to my hotel.

Without access to the internet, we took the bus and successfully reached the city only to end up boarding the wrong tram, taking us farther from my hotel. LOL. We tried hailing a cab, but there weren’t that many passing by and none of them would stop. With luggage in tow, we decided to just walk to the taxi queue that we spotted earlier, eight blocks away. The cold, cold mid-autumn wind was sweeping Melbourne’s wide streets. When we finally arrived at the hotel, the receptionist greeted us with a warm, warm welcome. I knew it would be too early for check-in, but she smilingly shared that there was already an available room and that we could check in if we so preferred. “It’s your lucky day,” she said. She had no idea.

When I finally hit the bed to rest, I was immediately reminded of the first years of The Poor Traveler. We built this blog to document our misadventures and share tips to our readers so they could learn from our mistakes. This trip is one of our most unforgettable because we made a lot of mistakes along the way. So here’s our Melbourne Travel Guide, and here’s hoping you’ll learn from it.

WHAT'S COVERED IN THIS GUIDE?

UNDERSTANDING MELBOURNE

Melbourne is located along the southern edge of Australia. It is cradled in the sheltered Port Phillip Bay, which opens up to Bass Strait, separating the mainland from the island of Tasmania.

Way before Europeans arrived, Australian Aborigines have inhabited the area for thousands of years. In the 19th century, free settlers from Tasmania (called Van Diemen’s Land at the time) moved to this corner of the Australian continent. Other groups of settlers followed. Back then, the area was part of the British colony of New South Wales. On 30 August 1835, the city was founded, named after the Prime Minister of Britain at the time, William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne. The next decades saw a gold rush fueling the fast development and population growth of the city.

Today, Melbourne is the capital of the Australian state of Victoria. Next only to Sydney, it is Australia’s second largest city, home to around 5 million residents, and one of the most visited by travelers, with its main airport welcoming over 35 million passengers in 2016-17.

Here are some useful bits about Melbourne.

• Location : Melbourne is part of Victoria, Australia. It’s on the southern hemisphere, so they enjoy summer in December-February and winter in June-August. Coordinates: 37°48′49″S 144°57′47″E.
• Time Zone : UTC+10. Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST). Melbourne is ahead of the Philippines, Singapore or Malaysia by 2 hours, and ahead of Japan by 1 hour. Daylight saving time is in effect in summer: AEDT (UTC+11).
• Language : English is spoken by the majority. But Mandarin, Greek, Italian and Vietnamese are spoken by a significant fraction of the population.
• Currency : Australian Dollar (AUD). AUD1 is roughly PHP36, USD0.7, SGD 0.95, EUR0.62, (as of July 2019). If you have Maestro, Cirrus, Visa, MasterCard Debit cards, you can withdraw from ATMs. Or before your flight, go to your local bank and buy AUDs.
• Modes of Payment : Cash and credit cards are both commonly accepted but the city is moving in the cashless direction.

WHERE TO STAY IN MELBOURNE

If you look at the map of Melbourne, you’ll find that it is split into two by the Yarra River. The city is further divided into several districts, but travelers can focus on five areas, which I’ll discuss below.

• Central Business District (CBD) , located north of Yarra River. In many cities around the world, the financial district is separated from its old town. In Melbourne, the CBD is also its historical core, which makes it the most ideal place to stay for tourists. It is well-connected to many other parts of the city and surrounding suburbs.
• Docklands , also north of Yarra River but west of the CBD. Think of it as Melbourne’s marina. There isn’t much activity here on a regular day, but attractions include the Marvel Stadium, the Melbourne Star Observation Wheel, and some shopping centers.
• Southbank , which stands on the southern banks of the river, hence the name (duh). This is the city’s entertainment center with a theater complex and the Crown Casino area.
• Inner North , the area in the immediate north of the CBD. Its map is shaded by a number of gardens and parks, but the most popular tourist spot is the Melbourne Zoo.
• St. Kilda , south of the city center. It has emerged as the city’s backpacking district; thanks to its vibrant nightlife, accessible bay beach, and a multitude of affordable hostels and restaurants. Attractions include Luna Park and the Sunday art market.

BEST AREA TO STAY IN MELBOURNE

Which is the best area? Well, it depends on a lot of things.

If I’m traveling with family or friends, I’ll definitely choose the CBD. Everything else is also easily accessible from here. But if I’m traveling alone, I’ll probably consider St. Kilda. There are also direct buses from the airport to both areas.

If you choose to stay in CBD, pick a hotel or hostel near a train station, so you don’t need to walk long distances or rely on the tram too much if you decide to see attractions outside the city. In particular, consider the areas close to the following:

• Central Station
• Southern Cross Station

Both are in a good location: bursting with cheap lodging, dining, and shopping options. But I believe that Southern Cross Station is more ideal. I stayed near Central because I cluelessly assumed that it is the city’s main station. It turned out that Southern Cross Station is the real heart of the city because most train arteries pass through this area especially if you plan on seeing the suburbs and attractions outside the city like Werribee. In fact, I often find myself making a transfer at Southern Cross when I’m coming from Central.

Several bus lines also start or terminate at Southern Cross. Many organized tours also have their meet-up points somewhere around the area. So yep, it’s Southern Cross for me.

The most common accommodations in Melbourne are hotels. All of them are expensive, especially if you’re used to Southeast Asian rates. But cost of living in general is pretty high. There are budget hotels available in the CBD. Another slightly more affordable option is booking an apartment or a room in a residential building or area. Hostels are also available.

Below are the top-rated properties on Agoda, as scored by customers.

Top Budget Hotels in Melbourne

• ibis Melbourne Central. Check Rates & Availability! ✅
• Brady Hotels Central Melbourne. Check Rates & Availability! ✅
• Rendezvous Hotel Melbourne. Check Rates & Availability! ✅
• The Jazz Corner Hotel. Check Rates & Availability! ✅

Top Melbourne Apartments for Rent

• The Escape in Southern Cross Station. Check Rates & Availability! ✅
• AML Apartment. Check Rates & Availability! ✅
• Nest-Apartments Sea View Apartments. Check Rates & Availability! ✅

Top Melbourne Hostels & Dormitories

For budget travelers and backpackers, staying at a hostel is a great idea. Not only do you save some bucks, you also get to meet other travelers. You can find hostels near Southern Cross Station (Melbourne Central YHA) or other parts of CBD that offer beds for as low as A$30 per night.

Most hostels also have an open kitchen where you can cook your own meals. You get to save a lot on food this way.

• United Backpackers. Check Rates & Availability! ✅
• Melbourne Central YHA. Check Rates & Availability! ✅
• Space Hotel. Check Rates & Availability! ✅
• Europa Melbourne. Check Rates & Availability! ✅
• Nomads Melbourne Backpackers. Check Rates & Availability! ✅

Search for more Melbourne Hotels!

How to get to melbourne.

As one of Australia’s most popular destinations, Melbourne is connected by air to numerous cities around the world and over 30 other destinations in Australia. It is served by two airports:

• Melbourne Airport (MEL), also known as Tullamarine Airport because it’s located in the suburb of Tullamarine, north of the city center. As the bigger airport, it is used by more airlines including Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific.
• Avalon Airport (AVV), located in Avalon in Geelong City, 50 km southwest of Melbourne. It’s used primarily by JetStar and AirAsia.

If you’re coming from Manila, the easiest and most convenient flights are offered by Philippine Airlines. PAL, the country’s four-star flag-carrier, uses a 309-seater Airbus A330-300. They use the Melbourne Tullamarine Airport. Travel time is only around 8 hours.

Regular fares can go as low as USD233 one-way, which can still go lower when there’s a promo. All bookings come with FREE 25kg baggage allowance and a hot meal, a snack, and complimentary alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.

All seats are equipped with personal TV screen featuring an impressive collection of movies and series, and in-seat USB power supply! I binge-watched episodes of Young Sheldon onboard! Haha. It’s also myPAL wi-fi enabled!

MELBOURNE AIRPORT TO CITY CENTER

The easiest way to travel between the airport and the city center is by taking the SkyBus , which runs for 24 hours (varying frequencies throughout the day). The journey lasts 30-45 minutes, depending on traffic.

After emerging from the Immigration and Customs inspection area, head to the exit to your right. Immediately outside, you’ll fine the SkyBus stop. You’ll know you’re at the right place when you see the electronic ticket kiosks and a ticket booth.

You can book a SkyBus ticket via the electronic machines here. Note that these machines don’t accept cash, only credit cards. Fare: AUD 19.75, one-way; AUD 38, roundtrip. All buses are equipped with FREE wifi.

You can also book online. You can score a slight discount if you book with Klook ahead of time.

There is also a cheaper option: taking the public bus. But it takes a lot longer! If you’re interested, you can read about it here: MELBOURNE AIRPORT TO CITY CENTER!

AVALON AIRPORT TO MELBOURNE CITY CENTER

Avalon Airport (AVV) is located in the city of Geelong, roughly an hour away from Melbourne CBD. Just like at Melbourne Airport, you can catch the SkyBus to the city center. However, it is NOT available 24 hours.

• First trip: 9am
• Last trip: 12 midnight

The bus passes through Werribee before reaching Melbourne. It terminates at Southern Cross Station.

• Fare: A$24 one-way, A$46 round-trip.
• Travel time: 1 hour.

You can book at the airport when you arrive but you can also book online in advance for a slight discount.

SOUTHERN CROSS STATION TO YOUR HOTEL

Whether they’re coming from Melbourne Airport or Avalon Airport, all SkyBus units bound for Melbourne CBD terminates at Southern Cross Station . If your hotel is nearby, you can just walk from the station. This is just one of the reasons why the Southern Cross area is the best place to stay in the city. Just use Google Map to navigate.

If your hotel is located in other parts of the CBD, you have plenty of options too. If you’re arriving between 6:30am and 7:30pm, you can avail of the complimentary transfer from Southern Cross Station to a stop near your hotel. This is FREE-OF-CHARGE for those who took the SkyBus. It operates 7 days a week, 06:30 to 19:30. You can find the stop closest to your hotel here .

If your hotel is closer to Central Station, you can also travel by tram (free), train (fare: A$4.40), taxi (fare: around A$10.6), or Uber (around A$8.6) to Central area.

HOW TO GET AROUND MELBOURNE

If traveling within CBD, I prefer walking. Melbourne is a very pretty city, with a distinct European vibe that other Australian cities don’t possess. You’ll also stumble upon delightful surprises like artful graffiti and food kiosks.

By Public Transportation

There are plenty of options to get around including trams, trains and buses. But how do you know which is the best option for your desired destination? If you own a smartphone, you can download the PTV app. PTV stands for Public Transport Victoria, the agency that governs and runs the tram, train, and bus systems in this part of Australia. You can download here: iOS , Android .

On the app’s Journey Planner, enter your origin and destination and it will present a selection of routes that you may take. Pick one based on your schedule and preferences.

FREE Tram Zone

For visitors, one of the best things about Melbourne is its iconic FREE TRAM . You don’t need to get any sort of pass or ticket to avail of this; just hop into the tram. It’s FREE as long as you’re traveling WITHIN the FREE TRAM ZONE.

If your starting or ending point is outside the zone, the A$4.40 2-hour rate will apply.

Outside the free tram zone, you have plenty of options. But wait, before that, let me introduce to you the myki .

How Does the myki Card Work?

Melbourne’s public transportation systems no longer accept cash payments. Instead, they use the so-called myki , an electronic reloadable card. Even if you’re a tourist staying in Melbourne for a few days, you will need to get a myki card if you want to use the train and the bus, and the tram outside the free zone.

The problem is: myki is confusing to newbies.

So how does it work? Using it is easy to understand. Onboard the tram and the bus and at the entrance gate to the train station, you simply “touch on” the card at the start of the journey and “touch off” when you reach your destination. Easy.

It’s the pricing that is a bit complicated. But it gets less confusing once you get the hang of it. Let us break it down:

• The card costs AUD 6. That’s just for the card itself. You will need to top it up after.
• The standard fare is AUD 4.40, which is good for 2 hours — that is 2 hours from the moment you first use or touch on the card. However, if you touch on after 6pm, the 2-hour fare is valid until 3am the next day.
• The daily fare is AUD 8.80. This is the maximum you can spend per day as long as you’re traveling within Melbourne City (Zone 1) and suburbs (Zone 2). Meaning, if you use the card once, you’re gonna get charged A$4.40 for the first 2 hours. If you use it again after 2 hours, you’ll be charged A$8.80, valid for another 2 hours. But if after 2 hours, you decide to use it again, you will no longer be charged because the A$8.80 daily cap is already reached. Same with succeeding uses on that day. It sort of automatically becomes an unlimited pass.
• On weekends, the daily cap is only AUD 6.40. Same reduced rate applies to public holidays.
• A 7-Day myki Pass is available for only AUD 44. This is a good deal if you’re exploring Melbourne for 7 days. Note that these are consecutive days.
• Passengers 5-18 years old can avail of the 50% concession discount. The card price becomes only A$3, weekday fare A$2.20 for 2 hours, daily rate A$4.40, weekend daily cap A$3.2, and 7-day pass cost A$22. Passengers younger than 5yo can travel for FREE.
• You don’t need a myki when traveling by tram within the FREE Tram Zone. If you have a myki, you DO NOT need to touch on your card if within the Free Tram Zone. But if your starting or ending point is outside the zone, the A$4.40 2-hour rate will apply.

Here’s a quick summary of the fares (as of 2019).

There is actually a lower fare that applies when traveling within Zone 2 (suburbs far from the city center), but since most tourists will be coming from Zone 1, let’s not go into detail because it will just make matters more complicated.

IMPORTANT! Don’t forget to touch on and touch off when traveling outside the free zone. Ticket inspectors sometimes patrol the area and make random checks. I’ve seen it before. If you’re caught trying to score free rides, you may be fined around A$250!

MORE INFO: MELBOURNE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

By Uber or Taxi

If you’re in a hurry and money is not an issue, you may take the taxi or Uber.

Uber is generally cheaper than taxi. I once tried taking a cab from Southern Cross to Central Station and I was charged A$ 10.60 for the ride. Another day, I used Uber on the same route and paid only A$ 8.60.

By Sightseeing Bus

Another way to get around Melbourne conveniently is by taking the Sightseeing Bus, which passes by 27 attractions throughout the city (including St. Kilda). As you go around, you can get more information about each stop with the audio commentary guide installed at each seat. If you feel like you want to explore a site further, you can hop off easily and just wait for the next sightseeing bus when you’re done.

There are two routes: Melbourne City Tour and St. Kilda Tour. You can switch to experience both, if you have the time. There are two variants available: 24-hour and 48-hour passes.

THINGS TO DO IN MELBOURNE

Great ocean road.

Melbourne is already my seventh destination in Australia but I have to say that the Great Ocean Road is one of the most breathtaking journeys I have taken. This 243-km road runs along the southern coast of Victoria, Australia. Constructed by soldiers from 1919 to 1932, it is the largest war memorial ever built in the world.

The Great Ocean Road starts from the city of Torquay and ends in Allansford, but tours usually culminate at the 12 Apostles site, a group of limestone isles at the Port Campbell National Park. The park and its spectacular views became the highlight of our entire trip. If you can do only one tour from Melbourne, make it this one!

I don’t think it’s ideal to do this by public transport, so you’re left with two options: by car or by group tour. If you know how to drive and you have a driving license, do it. Otherwise, join a group tour, like we did. (We don’t drive!)

The great thing about joining a group tour is you get to learn more about each stop. Along the way, you’ll drop by some scenic viewpoints and meet koalas and native birds like the Australian cockatoo!

Melbourne City Tour

The map of Melbourne’s city center is dotted with several historic landmarks and interesting spots including the following:

• Federation Square
• Melbourne Museum
• Old Melbourne Gaol

Queen Victoria Market

• Melbourne Zoo
• Fiztroy Gardens

You can go around in many ways. For short distances, you can simply walk or take the free tram. For longer distances, you may take the train or the bus, as detailed in the How to Get Around section above. Just enter the attraction or the nearest station on the PTV app and follow the directions.

You can also take the hop-on hop-off bus tour. The City Sightseeing Bus will take you to 27 spots around the Melbourne city center and St. Kilda. Booking a pass means you have unlimited access to this bus for 24 or 48 hours.

The Queen Victoria Market, aka Vic Market, is one of the most popular spots in Melbourne. At seven hectares occupying two blocks, this 19th century market is the largest market in the city and the largest open-air market in all of the Southern Hemisphere.

It is divided into several sections trading a smorgasbord of products — meat, deli, organics, and dry goods, to name some. There’s also a small food court within the complex. But the most popular section among tourists is the Dairy Produce Hall, where you can enjoy tasty international snacks. Here are some of the treats you shouldn’t miss.

• Borek Shop (Dairy Produce Hall). A borek is a Turkish delicacy which is basically baked filled pastry. The filling can be a number of ingredients, but here at Vic Market’s Borek Shop, they offer three versions: cheese and spinach, potato and vegies, and spicy lamb. Cheese-and-spinach seems to be the most popular, but I have a love-hate relationship with cheese, so we got the lamb borek. We loved it. My mom, especially. She even bought another one and took it back to our hotel. Haha. Price: A$4 each.
• Bratwurst Shop & Co. (Dairy Produce Hall). Bratwurst is a variety of German sausage traditionally made of veal or beef. Not sure what type of meat is used by this shop, but I think it’s beef and pork. They have a wide selection: spicy, mild, cheese, black pepper, weisswurst. The sausages are grilled nicely and then put in a roll. You also get to choose the trimmings including mustard and sauerkraut. Price: A$5 for the sausage only, A$5.80 with all the trimmings.
• American Doughnut Kitchen (Outside, Queen Street). This donut shop whips out jam-filled goodness, best enjoyed hot. After trying it, I even returned another day to have another dose of it. That’s how much I enjoyed these donuts! Set in a 1950s van, you’ll find it parked along Queen Street, right in front of the Organics section. It’s impossible to miss because of the long, long queue leading to it. Don’t worry because the line moves fast. Price: A$5.50 for 5 dougnuts.

Some months, they also open a Night Market at the same site, but this is not open year-round. Usually there’s one in winter.

You can totally do this on your own (as I did), but if you want to learn more about the market — historically and gastronomically — you can join a food tour!

Klook’s food tour includes not only the stroll but tasting some of the best that the market has to offer. You’ll also enjoy a glass of Victorian wine!

How to get to Queen Victoria Market: Ride a Yarra Tram (Route 19, 57, 58 or 59), which stops outside the Market. If you’re staying near Melbourne Central, you can just walk. It’s only a few blocks away. Operating hours: Tuesday, Thursday, 6am-2pm; Friday, 6-am-5pm; Saturday, 6am-3am; Sunday: 9am-4pm. Closed: Mondays, Wednesdays.

Melbourne Star Observation Wheel

Spinning slowly at the Docklands, the Melbourne Star Observation Wheel faces Port Phillip Bay. At 120 meters, its highest point offers wonderful 360-degree views of the harbor and the central business district. It is perfect for families.

Klook sells DISCOUNTED and skip-the-line tickets to this wheel. When you book with Klook, all you need to do is print out or save the voucher on your phone. No need to fall in line for tickets. No need to exchange it for another ticket. Just walk straight though the entrance and find the boarding queues. There are two lines: alcohol and non-alcohol. An in-cabin audio guide will add depth to your experience.

Eureka Skydeck

At 297m, the Eureka Tower is the tallest building in Melbourne and the second tallest building in Australia. Visitors may take the southern hemisphere’s speediest elevator to its observation deck, at 285 meters above ground, for a fantastic 360-degree view of the city.

If you’re feeling adventurous, you can avail of the Skydeck+Edge package and stand on the glass floor!

How to get there: Take the train to Flinders Street Station then travel on foot over the bridge to the other side of the river. The walk should take about five minutes. Hours open: 10am – 10pm, daily. Last entry is 9:30pm.

Phillip Island

Phillip Island is situated southeast of Melbourne, over 3 hours away by train/bus or around 2 hours by car. As a tourist destination, it is best known for the nightly Penguin Parade, in which fairy penguins, walk on the shore in groups after a day of fishing. The fairy penguins are the smallest species of penguins in the world. It attracts about 3.5 million visitors every year.

Although it doesn’t look much on the map, Phillip Island is huge. Aside from the Phillip Island Nature Park, where the penguin parade happens, it is also home to the historic Churchill Heritage Farm, the Koala Conservation Centre, and the Seal Rocks, where you can see dozens of fur seals frolicking on the coast.

It’s easy to reach Phillip Island by public transportation. You can catch a V/L bus at Southern Cross Station going to Cowes, which is the main township of Phillip Island. ( Schedule here! ) But there’s a catch. The buses are few and far between. That’s not all.

‼️ IMPORTANT! Public transportation on the island is very limited, so it’s pretty difficult to get around. There is a taxi service, which is expensive. Moreover, the last bus back to Melbourne leaves Cowes at around 6:30pm. It’s a problem if you plan to watch the penguin parade, which is the highlight of any Phillip Island visit. The parade happens at sunset, which is sometime between 5:30pm in summer and 8:45 in winter. Cowes and the Penguin Parade area are 20-30 minutes apart so even in summer, it is unlikely that you’ll catch the last bus out. Some visitors choose to just stay overnight in Cowes.

If you don’t want to stay overnight in Phillip Island, you can rent a car or join a group tour instead. Driving on your own is the most ideal so you have total control of your car. You can even drop by St. Kilda or Brighton Beach along the way. But if you can’t drive or you don’t have a license, you can join a group tour instead. Some tours also make a stop at Brighton Beach.

There are many Phillip Island offers on Klook but I’ve narrowed it down to only two. (See links below.)

The first link will take you to the Klook page where you can book DISCOUNTED attraction tickets only, no transfers, good for those with their own ride. The second link will take you to the DISCOUNTED DAY TOUR page. It’s a guided day tour package inclusive of transfers to and from Melbourne, hotel pick up and drop off, and a guide-driver service. The tour also stops at Brighton Beach where you can see their famous colorful beach boxes.

Werribee Open Range Zoo

We had to choose between Melbourne Zoo and the Werribee Open Range Zoo, and we chose the latter. Although both are managed by Zoos Victoria, the Werribee Open Range Zoo is much, much larger. It’s vast, spanning 225 hectares of land next to Werribee River, giving the animals plenty of space to move around.

The Australian Journey Walk will lead you to the kangaroos, emus, and koalas. But the rest of the site is impossible to be explored on foot. You can take the FREE safari bus tour to see much of the site. Yep, the bus tour is already covered by the entrance fee. Multiple tours happen a day. You just need to show up and queue up at the Safari Station. From the main entrance, turn right — multiple times a day. Along the way, you’ll spot dozens of animals including rhinoceros, hippopotamus, ostrich and zebra.

If you want to take your experience to the next level, you can join an off-road safari tour . This is different from the bus tour, which follows a fixed path. The off-road tour uses a smaller open vehicle that goes off the trail and much closer to the animals. This tour happens only twice a day so if you choose to do this, make sure you make it to the zoo in time for your schedule.

Klook offers both discounted entry tickets and the off-road safari tour. The cost of the off-road tour already covers the entrance fee so you DON’T need to book separate tickets.

How to get to Werribee Zoo: From Melbourne CBD, take the train to Werribee Station (A$ 4.40). Outside the station, you’ll immediately find the bus stop. Catch Bus 439 Werribee South and alight in front of Werribee Zoo. Note that there’s only one bus per hour. First bus leaves Werribee Station at around 6am, last bus around 7pm. See updated schedule here . (Click To Werribee South !) Hours open: 9am-5pm, daily. Entrance fee: Adult, A$38; Child 4-15yo, FREE on weekends/holidays, A$19 on weekdays.

Brighton Beach

Although located 14 km south of the city center, Brighton Beach has become an icon for Melbourne. Thanks to its 82 brightly painted and uniformly shaped bathing boxes! Along with St. Kilda, this is one of the most accessible beaches from the city so you can come here to swim, lounge on the sand, or simply admire the view. There are also cafes around the area.

How to get to Brighton Beach: From Melbourne CBD, hop on the train on the Sandringham Line and get off at Middle Brighton Station. From here, it’s a 15-minute walk to the Brighton Bathing Boxes.

St. Kilda is a suburb located 6km southeast of Melbourne CBD. It has emerged as the city’s backpacking district because it has the right ingredients — exciting nightlife, accessible beach, and a wide array of budget-friendly hostels, restaurants, and cafes. Key tourist sites include Luna Park and the Sunday art market.

You can explore St. Kilda on your own by using the public transportation. You can also use the City Sightseeing Bus (hop-on hop-off service), which also plies a St. Kilda route, stopping at major attractions in the city.

Other Melbourne Attractions

• Old Melbourne Gaol. Standing along Russel Street, this museum used to be a prison, where 135 people, including some of Australia’s most notorious criminals, were executed by hanging. Today, you can also do a ghost tour of the premises. Entrance Fee: A$28. Hours open: 9:30am — 5pm. Last entry: 3:30pm.

SAMPLE MELBOURNE ITINERARY

Here’s a sample 5-day Melbourne itinerary. This assumes the following:

• You’re arriving at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport.
• You’re staying at a hostel in the city center for A$30 per night.
• Your hostel has a shared kitchen where you can prepare your breakfast and dinner. For lunches, you can eat out with a budget of A$15 per meal.
• Prices below are in Australian dollars.

Note that the times here are just estimates, for sample purposes only. Actual times may vary so double check before your trip.

Feel free to change anything in the itinerary in order to match your preferences or flight schedule.

DAY 4 – BRIGHTON BEACH & ST. KILDA 07:00 am – Train to Middle Brighton Station, A$8.80 (whole day) 07:41 am – Walk to Brighton Bathing Boxes 08:00 am – Enjoy the beach, explore nearby sites 10:00 am – Train + tram to St. Kilda 10:36 am – Explore St. Kilda Beach 11:30 am – Lunch, A$15 12:15 am – Continue exploring St. Kilda 02:00 pm – Luna Park, A$22 (2 rides only) 04:00 pm – Tram back to Melbourne 05:00 pm – Explore Melbourne CBD, buy souvenirs 07:00 pm – Back to hotel, dinner

DAY 5 – DEPARTURE 04:00 am – Check out 04:37 am – SkyBus to Melbourne Airport 05:10 am – Arrival at airport 05:20 am – Flight check-in 08:00 am – Flight out

If you follow the itinerary above, prepare to shell out at least AUD 415 (PHP 14800, SGD 393, USD 290, EUR 257) per person excluding accommodations, airfare, travel tax, and shopping expenses.

If you’re able to book $30-accommodations, the itinerary will cost you AUD 535 (PHP 19100, SGD 507, USD 373, EUR 331) per person excluding airfare, accommodations, travel tax, and shopping expenses.

We added a little bit of extra allowance to cover incidental expenses, price adjustments, and other costs we might have missed.

There are many ways to reduce the budget. If you’re a group, you can split some of the costs. If one of you can drive and has a license, you can also save a lot by renting a car instead of joining the Great Ocean Road Tour.

More budget tips in the next section.

OTHER MELBOURNE TIPS FOR THE POOR TRAVELER

• Book a hostel with an open kitchen so you can prepare your meals on your own. On your first day, hit the grocery and shop for ingredients or ready-to-eat food. I usually buy bread and some filling, and it lasts for days. Doing this can drastically reduce your food expenses.
• If booking a hotel, choose one with a ref and microwave. You can buy cooked food items at the grocery too. Sometimes, I would purchase a pack of ready-to-eat chicken wings then I put the leftovers in the ref and just reheat it.
• If you must eat out, do so for lunch. Often, you’ll be out exploring in the day anyway. They have your dinner at the hostel/hotel. Note also that Australian servings are huge. You can just buy one and share.
• For dinner, you can also visit food courts at closing time (around 8pm). They usually pre-pack the last servings of the day and put them on sale. At Melbourne Central, many of the shops sell 2 rice meals or noodles with protein for only A$10. Yep, that’s only $5 each. But it only happens at closing time.
• Melbourne tap water is potable. You don’t need to purchase bottled water. Just bring a reusable water bottle with you and refill whenever you’re back at the hotel. A small bottled water costs A$4 at restaurants. If you must buy bottled water, drop by a grocery store or supermarket and buy a big bottle instead, which costs only $1.5-2.5.
• For souvenirs, you can find cheap ref magnets and keychains at specialty shopping section of the Queen Victoria Market. Ref magnets are at A$4 per pack or A$10 per 3 packs. Each pack contains 4-12 pieces.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT MELBOURNE

Is melbourne safe.

Melbourne is a low-risk destination. Australia in general is one of the safest in the world.

Like most big cities around the globe, pickpocketing and transport accidents can happen, so you must never be careless. But if you’re worried about violent crimes, while it’s there, it doesn’t happen all the time. Just practice common sense, keep your valuables with you, and don’t invite trouble.

Do we need a visa to visit Melbourne?

Australia requires all visiting foreigners to have a visa, e-visa, electronic travel authority (ETA), or similar document. The only exception are the citizens of New Zealand, which can avail of a Special Category Visa (SCV) which can be obtained upon arrival.

Thankfully, nationals of several countries (including the Philippines) can apply for a visa online. It’s easy to apply. Here’s our step-by-step guide: AUSTRALIAN VISA REQUIREMENTS!

Are Immigration and Customs in Melbourne strict?

Yes. Immigration and Customs officers in Australia in general are very strict. Make sure you’re not bringing in any prohibited items or undeclared regulated items. They often do thorough baggage inspection. Aside from using sniff dogs, they may also require you to open your bags and show the content to them.

Cigarettes and food served to you on your flight are PROHIBITED.

Most food items must also be declared.

To check whether or not the item you’re bringing with you is allowed, visit this page: Australian Border Force .

When is the best time to visit Melbourne?

First of all, Australia is in the Southern hemisphere, so Australians enjoy summer in December-February and winter in June-August.

The amount of rainfall is pretty consistent year round, but the period between June and November gets drenched the most. Summer is the driest, but downpours are not uncommon even in these months.

Hence, the best time depends on the activities you want to enjoy. If you like the beach or you’re feeling festive, summer is a good time to visit. It’s also when the Australian Open happens. However, it is also the peak season so expect most attractions to be crowded and cost of almost everything to be higher than usual.

If you’re on a budget winter is okay because airfare and accommodation rates fall.

I personally prefer traveling to Australia in the shoulder periods: autumn (March-May) and spring (October-November). The temperatures are pleasant — not too hot, not too cold — and prices are great.

What type of power plug / socket is used in Melbourne?

Is Melbourne expensive? What are the usual costs of common items?

The cost of living in Australia in general is pretty high. Melbourne is not an exception. Here are the usual costs (in Australian dollars):

• Meal without drink from budget restaurant: $10-15
• Meal without drink from mid-range restaurant: $15-20
• Meal with drink from fast food chain: $10-20
• Fried rice from restaurants: $6-10
• Bottled water (350mL) from restaurant: $4
• Bottled water (1.5L) from grocery: $2
• Tram/Train/Bus fare: $4.40
• Coffee: $4-5
• Beer from restaurant: $10
• Beer from grocery: $5-6
• Bread (500g): $3-5

What is the tipping custom in Melbourne?

You don’t need to tip. Tipping isn’t obligatory in Melbourne or anywhere in Australia.

But if you can if you enjoyed the service! 5% is safe. For exceptional service, 10% should suffice. You can also just round off the bill.

What is the escalator etiquette in Melbourne?

Stand on the left, walk on the right.

Where is the best place to exchange money in Melbourne?

I spotted a lot of money changers around the Central area, and the rates aren’t that bad when I checked.

However, I still prefer just making withdrawals from an ATM. If you have Maestro, Cirrus, Visa, MasterCard Debit cards, you can withdraw from ATMs. Or before your flight, go to your local bank and buy AUDs.

What is better: Sydney or Melbourne?

Never been to Sydney (yet) so I can’t compare. But I know one thing: I love Melbourne. It is perhaps my favorite Australian city so far!

2️⃣0️⃣1️⃣9️⃣ • 7️⃣ • 3️⃣

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Thanks for this Yosh! Been waiting for this.

No prob! Took me a long time to finish it, haha. Hope you find it useful! :)

Hi Sir Yosh! How did you get connected while in Melbourne? Did you buy local sim card or rented a pocket wifi? Thanks po in advance.

Great article. Thanks for sharing.

Have a great day.

Hey ! thanks for such a great post.and many interesting point are cover in this blog. and this post is helpful for me . again thanks for a posting a interesting artical…

Love that you have stuff on Australia. I have a list of things to do with kids for free in melbourne, but I’m excited to try the grown ups list! :)

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Itinerary: 3 Days in Melbourne

Melbourne is Australia’s second largest city and is considered Australia’s capital of food, culture and sport. It might not have a world-famous icon like the Opera House, but there is much more to do in Melbourne beyond the famous street art and cafe culture.

If you had just three days in Melbourne, I’d recommend spending a day each in the CBD, the southside and the northside.

Explore More: Melbourne Travel Guide

Friday: City Centre

Ngv international.

The National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) is the best art museum in Australia, and luckily, it’s also free which means there are no queues to get in. The NGV has two locations, the NGV International on St Kilda Road (my favourite) and the NGV Australia at the Ian Potter Centre in Fed Square. At the NGV International, you can check out artefacts from the Ancient world (Greece, Italy and the Americas), marvel at Medieval masterpieces and precious Renaissance paintings and sculptures, as well as art from Asia, India and modern times. There are free guided tours twice daily too. I definitely recommend visiting the NGV on a weekday if you can, when you’ll have the museum nearly to yourself.

Flinders Street Station & Fed Square

After the NGV, head across the beautiful Princes Bridge into the Melbourne CBD. As you walk along the bridge towards the city, you’ll have views of Melbourne’s two most iconic sights: Flinders Street Station and Federation Square. Fed Square’s design ruffled a few feathers when it opened in 2002, but it’s since become a well-loved part of Melbourne’s unique skyline. Behind Fed Square is the iconic, towering St Paul’s Cathedral. Three major sights, down!

Check out Melbourne’s famous street art

Melbourne is famous for it’s street art, particularly in the laneways in the CBD. Hosier Lane is the most famous laneway for street art, but they can be found all over the city. You’ll find the most dense collection of street art in the laneways off Flinders Lane (like Hosier Lane, ACDC Lane), but also off Little Bourke Street.

Laneway wanderings

Melbourne’s laneways aren’t just splattered with street art, they’re also crammed with bars, restaurants and cafes. Degraves Street & Centre Place are the most famous laneways for eating and drinking, but keep in mind that these are the most touristy. My picks for the two connected streets are Shandong Mama Mini in Centre Place and the French baguette window in Degraves.

Dinner & drinks in the city

My favourite cocktail bars along Melbourne’s laneways are Eau De Vie and 1806 . Don’t forget to check out some of the city’s rooftop bars: Siglo is simply gorgeous and   The Duke Rooftop is one of Melbourne’s newest rooftop bar, perched on top of the city’s oldest pub, and has views out to Fed Square and the historic Forum building.

Chin Chin and MoVida are the most popular restaurants for tourists, but my favourite restaurants in the Melbourne CBD are Trattoria Emilia and San Telmo . Check out my full list of the best restaurants in the Melbourne CBD for more ideas.

Take advantage of Melbourne’s cultural capital and see a show. There are three major theatres in the CBD, as well as at Hamer Hall & the Arts Centre, just across the Yarra (next to the NGV). There is always something on, check out the Arts Centre website to check upcoming shows for your visit. If you’re seeing a show in Southbank at the Arts Centre, Fatto is a great spot for a pre or post show drink, with beautiful views of the Melbourne skyline.

Saturday: Melbourne’s Southside Neighbourhoods

Breakfast at the market.

Melbourne has dozens of markets, but there are three major food markets which rule the roost.

The Queen Victoria Market is the largest covered market in the Southern Hemisphere, and is the oldest in Melbourne. It’s in the northern end of downtown Melbourne, and is the busiest.

The Prahran Market and South Melbourne Market are smaller, but are my favourites. They’re less touristy, and have more of a community atmosphere. I used to do my weekly shopping at the South Melbourne Market when I first moved to Melbourne, and now I live closer to the Prahran Market, so I do my shopping there. Both markets have plenty of stalls and cafes serving breakfast and lunch – my favourites at the Prahran Market are the gozleme stand, the grilled cheese cart and the occasional mushroom burger BBQ pop up outside the coffee shop. At the South Melbourne Market, I can never resist the $10 fish sandwich from the bread & fish peddler outside Claypots Evening Star – if you’d rather sit at a table than on a crate, eat inside at Claypots, which is also fantastic.

Shop on Chapel Street

Chapel Street is Melbourne’s famous shopping & nightlife precinct, which runs through four neighbourhoods on the southside. Chapel Street gets progressively grungier as you work your way down from South Yarra  in the north, through to Prahran , Windsor and, then finally, St Kilda in the south.  If you’ve gone for breakfast at the Prahran Market, you’ll be a block away from Chapel Street.

The best places to eat on Chapel Street:    Lucky Penny for cafe-style fare, Oriental Teahouse for modern Chinese and Leonard’s House of Love for down and dirty Southern USA-style comfort food. Start in the northern end, so you wind up in St Kilda in the afternoon.

Bayside beauty in St Kilda

St Kilda is one of my favourite neighbourhoods in Melbourne , and it’s a must-visit for any first time travellers to the city. This bayside neighbourhood is full of cool bars, shops and fantastic food.

If it’s not too cold, head down to St Kilda Beach (not to swim), but to watch the sunset over the water. You can walk down St Kilda pier at dusk to spot Little Penguins as well, which you can spot climbing all over the rocks at the end of the pier.

Best places to eat in St Kilda:   Radio Mexico and Las Tapas.

Sunday: Northside Neighbourhoods

Brunch in richmond.

Brunch is big business in Melbourne, and those avocados aren’t going to eat themselves. Try one of Richmond’s best brunch spots, like Pillar of Salt  or St Thomas  (the most relaxed of the bunch) on Church Street, or Fifty Acres or Touchwood , both on Bridge Road. After breakfast and coffee, check out the shops along Church Street, Swan Street & Bridge Road.

Wander Fitzroy

Head to Fitzroy for lunch and wander around Smith St & Gertrude St, which have the best cafes & shops in the area. Some of my favourite spots in Fitzroy are Transformer (upscale vegetarian dining), Panama Dining Room and Bad Frankie, which specialise in jaffles (toasted sandwiches).

Tick off a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Melbourne’s Royal Exhibition Building is the city’s only UNESCO World Heritage site, and one of the few manmade sites in Australia that has made the cut. This 19th century pavilion is the centrepiece of the beautiful Carlton Gardens, which are a great place for a picnic or just a break from the city.

If you’re so inclined, the Carlton Gardens is also home to the Melbourne Museum.

Over indulge in Melbourne’s Little Italy

Be warned: it’s impossible not to overindulge in Carlton. Carlton is Melbourne’s famous Italian neighbourhood, which centres around Lygon street. Milk the Cow is one of my favourite places to take visitors in Melbourne – you can order cheese flights matched with sparkling or still wine, whiskey or beer. While you wait for a table, have a glass of wine next door at Heart Attack & Vine.

Dodge the Lygon Street tourist trap trattorias and enjoy the real deal for dinner at DOC pizza, followed by a sweet treat from Italian food emporium Brunetti.

What’s your favourite thing to do in Melbourne? What would you like to do on your first time visiting the city?

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The Ultimate 7-Day Melbourne Itinerary 2023

Planning a trip to the land down under, but not sure where to start? We’ll do the heavy lifting for you. Here’s our 7D6N Melbourne itinerary that covers everything you need to do in this bustling city!

Often known as the cultural capital of Australia, Melbourne sure does live up to its reputation. With hidden gems tucked away in iconic laneways, amazing coffee shops at literally every corner, and a thriving art scene that never fails to inspire us, this city is teeming with excitement and wonder, and we can’t wait for you to explore all that it has to offer. 

From cult-status cafes to nature’s marvels and other local gems, discover all that Melbourne has to offer in our comprehensive week-long travel guide! Read on for a glimpse of your next adventure 👇

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Getting Around

While there are plenty of taxis you can hail on the street, there are ridesharing options like Uber, Ola, and Shebah, an all-female rideshare service, which offer more convenience.  However, you should definitely make use of their trams and extensive train and bus networks as these tend to be more affordable and just as convenient. Purchase a Myki Card for fuss-free travel!

Day 1: Melbourne City Centre

As with most guides you’ll find online, you’ll be advised to start off your Melbourne adventure in the CBD — and with good reason! Here’s where all the magic happens and it’s where you can find some of the most iconic cafes and restaurants.

Manchester Press

Image Credits: Visit Melbourne

No trip to Melbourne is complete without a trip to Manchester Press, home of some of the most to-die-for bagels. Order the Bacon and Maple — a sweet-savoury dream machine that’ll leave you wanting more, we promise.

🕒 Opening Hours: Daily, 8 AM – 3:30 PM

📍 Address: 8 Rankins Lane, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia

The Ultimate 7-Day Melbourne Itinerary 2023: Find out more here

Queen Victoria Market

Image credits: Eater

Then, make your way towards Queen Victoria Market just a short distance away to feast your eyes and stomach on more food and fresh produce.

🕒 Opening Hours: Tues, Thurs, Fri, 6 AM – 3 PM. Sat, 6 AM – 4 PM. Sun, 9 AM – 4 PM. Closed on Mondays and Wednesdays

📍 Address: Queen Street, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia

Shotstop Coffee & Donuts

Image credits: Concrete Playground

Continue ambling along the laneways and discover hidden gems of all stripes. Don’t forget to stop by Shortstop Coffee & Donuts for their artisanal donuts and purchase a box or two, because you’ll likely want to try them all.

🕒 Opening Hours: Daily, 8 AM – 5 PM

📍 Address: 12 Sutherland St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia

Hosier Lane & St. Paul’s Cathedral

Image credits: Nomad + Living

If you enjoy art, visit Hosier Lane for the iconic wall murals. Then, pay a visit to St. Paul’s Cathedral just across the street to admire the Neo-Gothic architecture. Because the CBD falls within the Free Tram Zone, you can easily cover most of the attractions in the area. However, we reckon travelling by bike would be the best option — you get to look out for hidden gems and more importantly, work up an appetite!

Lucky Liu Kitchen & Bar

Image credits: TripAdvisor

Cap off your first night with a meal at the famed Lucy Liu Kitchen and Bar, conveniently located a walking distance from Hosier Lane. Order their Soft Shell Crab Jianbing and Fried Chicken Ribs, but if you’re hungry, they have omakase-style set menus too. We’d recommend making a booking ahead of time to avoid disappointment!

🕒 Opening Hours: Daily, 12 PM – 11 PM

📍 Address: 23 Oliver Lane, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia

Day 2: South Melbourne

South melbourne market.

Image credits: Alto Cibum

Make a trip down south and explore one of Melbourne’s oldest suburbs. Start the day over at the iconic South Melbourne Market, where you’ll be able to enjoy an impressive variety of food and drink, from freshly baked French-style pastries to authentic Banh Mi, and even homely Turkish food. 

Grab your daily cuppa from the many roasters in the area, and explore the rest of the market. From fresh flowers to gorgeous boutiques, there’s plenty to see and do in this versatile market!

🕒 Opening Hours: Wed, 8 AM – 4 PM, Fri, 8 AM – 5 PM, Sat & Sun, 8 AM – 4 PM. Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays

📍 Address: 322-326 Coventry St., South Melbourne VIC 3205, Australia

National Gallery Of Victoria

Image credits: Public Galleries Association Of Victoria

Then, make your way toward the National Gallery of Victoria. While we think the permanent collection of Australian, Indigenous, and international art pieces will keep you occupied for the most part of the day, you can also expect a wide variety of special exhibits too. However, entry fees may apply to these exhibits. Otherwise, entry into the museum is free!

🕒 Opening Hours: Open daily, 10 AM – 5 PM

📍 Address: 180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne VIC 3006, Australia

The Kettle Black

Image credits: Broadsheet

A midday snack is always in order when on holiday, so head over to The Kettle Black for their delicious selection of pastries, desserts, and their stellar coffee.

🕒 Opening Hours: Mon – Fri, 7 AM – 4 PM, Sat & Sun, 8 AM – 4 PM

📍 Address: 50 Albert Rd, South Melbourne VIC 3205, Australia

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria

Image credits: Visit Melbourne

Then, take a nice stroll towards the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria for some serious eye candy. Spend the rest of the afternoon walking through the 36-hectare garden and discover all sorts of plants and flowers that are native to Australia. Stay for the sunset, and catch a movie in the park with their Moonlight Cinema series. Remember to book early and bring a cosy blanket!

Naked For Satan

Image credits: Freewheel Weekends

If you’re staying in the city, make your way to Naked For Satan for a nightcap. We love its rooftop bar, delicious cocktails, and tapas-style snacks — the perfect end to a long day out! 

🕒 Opening Hours: Mon – Thurs, 12 PM – 12 AM, Fri & Sat, 12 PM – 2 AM, Sun, 12 PM – 4 PM

📍 Address: 285 Brunswick St, Fitzroy VIC 3065, Australia

Day 3 & 4: Yarra Valley & Dandenong Ranges

Coming from Singapore, a trip out to Melbourne is already a huge change of pace. But if you’re really looking to immerse yourself in nature and disconnect from the real world just for a little while, we’d recommend spending a couple of days out in the famed wine region and its surroundings.

Image credits: ST.ALi

Start your day with a hearty breakfast at the iconic ST. ALi to fuel up for your hour-long drive out. If you’re a fan of a savoury brekkie, their Koo Koo Ca Choo hits the spot. Otherwise, their decadent Banoffee Madelines are a must-order. Don’t forget to order yourself a cuppa or two — you’ll need it!

🕒 Opening Hours: Open daily, 7 AM – 5 PM

📍 Address: 12 – 18 Yarra Pl, South Melbourne VIC 3205, Australia

Embark On A Wine Tour In Yarra Valley

Image credits: Tourism Guide Australia

Once you arrive in Yarra Valley, take your pick from over 70 wineries. If you’re a self-professed wine connoisseur, go ahead and curate your very own cellar door experience. Otherwise, there are plenty of tours you can choose from on Klook for a fuss-free experience.

Warrartina Lavender Farm

Stay for the night in one of the many hotels and Airbnbs in the vicinity before making your way out to the Dandenong Ranges for a day of peace and tranquillity in nature. Stop by Warrartina Lavender Farm en route to the national park, and admire the stunning views as you savour a variety of lavender-themed sweet treats, drinks, and snacks.

🕒 Opening Hours: Wed – Sun, 9 AM – 5 PM

📍 Address: 105 Quayle Rd, Wandin North VIC 3139, Australia

Dandenong Ranges National Park

Once you arrive at Dandenong Ranges National Park, amble along the trails that give you breathtaking views of waterfalls and mountain ranges. Don’t forget to pack a small snack to fuel your adventure!

Day 5: St. Kilda & Prahran

Galleon cafe.

Image credits:  Klook

Grab a quick breakfast over at Galleon Cafe, a cosy, unpretentious coffee house located just three minutes from our highlight of the day, the historic Luna Park. Remember to eat light because of all the exhilarating rides you’ll be taking!

🕒 Opening Hours: Fri, 6 PM – 10 PM, Sat, 11 AM – 10 PM, Sun, 11 AM – 7 PM

📍 Address: 18 Lower Esplanade, St Kilda VIC 3182, Australia

Chapel Street Bazaar

Image credits: Chapel Street

Make your way over to the melting pot of cultures that is the suburbs of Prahran, located just a short tram ride from St. Kilda, where you’ll be greeted by a vibrant array of shops, bars, and cafes. Check out the Chapel Street Bazaar, and if you’re lucky, you’d be able to find some hidden gems while rifling through dozens of vintage clothing and furniture stalls.

🕒 Opening Hours: Mon – Sat, 10 AM – 6 PM, Sun, 12 PM – 5 PM

📍 Address: 217 Chapel St, Melbourne VIC 3181, Australia

Greville Street

Image credits: Chapel Street

Then, head over to Greville Street, a must-visit when you’re in Prahran. Once the epicentre of bohemian culture in Melbourne, Greville still retains its boho aesthetic, which has been a draw for many local independent retailers. Not to be missed along this charming street, include shops like Brick + Mortar Supply, Handworks Nouveau Papery, and the iconic Grenville Records.

Yoku Ono Ramen + Sake

Image credits: SBS

For a hearty dinner and a cheeky drink or two, head over to Yoku Ono Ramen + Sake. Prahran is known for its wide array of Asian cuisine, and this Japanese joint does not disappoint.

🕒 Opening Hours: Wed – Sun, 12 PM – 3 PM, 5.30 PM – 10 PM

📍 Address: 6A Anchor Pl, Prahran VIC 3181, Australia

Revolver Upstairs

Image Credits: Time Out

Finally, head over to Revolver Upstairs, a Melbourne establishment not to be missed, and prepare for an evening of fun at this highly respected and notorious party institution.

🕒 Opening Hours: Hours vary

📍 Address: Level 2/229 Chapel St, Prahran VIC 3181, Australia

Day 6: Bush Rangers Bay, Cape Schanck

If you plan to get out of the city once more but don’t intend on doing the whole Great Ocean Road trip, then Cape Schanck is a great alternative that isn’t too touristy.

Image Credits: Broadsheet

You know the drill — start your day at a cafe of choice. Today, we recommend Hardware Société for a hearty breakfast. Go for their baked eggs for a protein-packed meal or treat yourself to their fried brioche. Then, grab their coffee to-go and begin your journey down south.

🕒 Opening Hours: Open daily, 8 AM – 2:30 PM

📍 Address: 123 Hardware St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia

Bushrangers Bay Walking Track

The journey will only take you slightly over an hour, so this leaves you plenty of time to explore all that Cape Schanck has to offer. Head for the Bushrangers Bay Walking Track, and enjoy the gorgeous coastal scenery — a sight for sore eyes. Then, make your way to the tidal rock pools hidden amid the hulking basaltic landscape and relax to the sound of crashing waves from a distance. Don’t forget to pack lots of water and some snacks — it can get very warm. 

After a long day by the Bay, you can start to make your way back to the city. But before that, remember to fuel up! There are plenty of eateries peppered along Cape Schanck and en route to Melbourne city with small bites to help tide you through till dinner.

Image Credits: The City Lane

For some reason, fast food always tastes best after a long day out. We recommend heading over to 8bit, a retro video game-themed burger and hot dog joint that serves up some of the most delicious fast food there is. Grab the 8bit dog, a side of chilli cheese fries, and wash it all down with a Nutella milkshake, then head back to enjoy that delightful food coma.

🕒 Opening Hours: Open daily, 11 AM – 11 PM

📍 Address: 8 Droop Street, Footscray, Melbourne VIC 3011, Australia

Day 7: Fitzroy

On your last day, it’s all about taking things slow. An eclectic suburb, the Fitzroy neighbourhood is the perfect place to visit if you love all things artsy.

If you happen to be around over the weekend, pay a visit to the Rose Street Artists’ Market where you’ll get to meet talented local artists and makers selling a wide array of artisanal products — the perfect place to get some unique souvenirs for your loved ones. 

🕒 Opening Hours: Sat & Sun, 10 AM – 4 PM

📍 Address: 60 Rose St, Fitzroy VIC 3065, Australia

Lune Croissanterie

Image Credits: Nice Food And Healthy

No trip to Melbourne is complete without paying a visit to Lune Croissanterie, and thankfully, there’s an outlet just a couple of minutes away!

🕒 Opening Hours: Mon – Fri, 7:30 AM – 3 PM, Sat & Sun, 8 AM – 3 PM

📍 Address: 119 Rose St, Fitzroy VIC 3065, Australia

Lost & Found Market

Then, wander along the streets and check out the thrift shops in the area. We’d recommend visiting the weird and wonderful Lost & Found Market, a huuuuge warehouse full of vintage fashion, furniture, art, records, and all things quirky and kitschy.

🕒 Opening Hours: Open daily, 11 AM – 5 PM

📍 Address: 288 Brunswick St, Fitzroy VIC 3065, Australia

Cutler & Co

Image Credits: Cutler & Co

Once you’ve worked up an appetite with all that shopping, make your way down for your final dinner of the trip. This time, we’re going fancy, paying Cutler & Co, part of Andrew McConnell’s repertoire of establishments which includes the likes of Cumulus Inc. and Supernormal, a visit. Housed in a former metalworks factory, Cutler & Co is truly an establishment not to be missed — so book early!

🕒 Opening Hours: Wed – Sat, 5:30 PM – 11 PM, Sun, 12 PM – 11 PM

📍 Address: 55/57 Gertrude St, Fitzroy VIC 3065, Australia

Gelato Messina

Image Credits: The Weekend Edition

As we know, dessert stomach is a thing. After dinner, make your way to Gelato Messina and take your pick from over 50 different flavours, with Hokey Pokey, Pear & Rhubarb, and Coconut & Lychee our top picks. Grab your cones, sit by the road, and watch the world go by, a fitting way to end your Melbourne trip!

🕒 Opening Hours: Sun – Thurs, 12 PM – 10:30 PM, Sat & Sun, 12 PM – 11 PM

📍 Address: 237 Smith St, Fitzroy VIC 3065, Australia

A Week of Adventure Awaits In The Land Down Under

As you can tell, there are simply too many things to experience in Melbourne. So we hope that this list can help take away the stress of planning out an itinerary. And no matter if you’re off thrift shopping or drinking your weight in coffee, don’t forget to use your YouTrip Card to enjoy those wholesale exchange rates !

As Singapore’s favourite multi-currency wallet, we aim to get those pesky fees out of the way and help you save on your travels. With the best foreign exchange rates, no longer will you have to deal with those long queues at money changers! So if you’re looking for a go-to travel card, sign up for your complimentary YouTrip card today with promo code < YTBLOG5 > to get FREE S$5 in your account! Then, head over to our YouTrip Perks page for exclusive offers and promotions — we promise you won’t regret it. For more great tips and articles like this, join our Telegram (@YouTripSG) and subscribe to our free weekly newsletter here or down below.  

And while you’re at it, why not join the conversation with thousands of #YouTroopers in our very own Community Telegram Group @YouTripSquad ? Get tips and tricks to everything YouTrip including exclusive invites to exciting events and experiences, & be part of the #YouTripSquad! 💜

Stay safe and happy travels!

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Shire of Mornington Peninsula

Mornington Peninsula is also one of the most popular attractions and leisure in Melbourne. Especially, in the summer, there are many exciting music activities. Come here, you can watch live performances of Indian bands and international concert performances at Rod Laver stage. In particular, this peninsula is home to a variety of entertainment programs with thousands of bars and nightclubs for you to have the opportunity to delight in your choice.

This is one of the most popular attractions in Melbourne, which gives you great moments of entertainment, relaxation and the opportunity to participate in the ideal recreational activities in the summer. You will be attracted at from the beginning when striding on the blue sea shore or immersed yourself in some shopping activities or exchanges at the display area selling fashion goods, along with diverse dishes …

Yarra River

The Yarra River flows through Melbourne city, creating great views on the both banks. Visiting the Yarra River, visitors should take a walk around the banks or sit on a scenic boat, because this will give you the opportunity to admire the many fascinating sights of the city. Sailing on the Yarra River is not only a great way to sightseeing, but also a trip to discover the history of the river that is considered as the heart of Melbourne city.

Eureka Tower

The 91-storey Eureka tower with 301m high is located in the heart of Melbourne city, named follow the famous historic Eureka Stockade battle. The tower is designed with a slender, fragile beautiful but extremely strong. Especially, when going to the top floor of Eureka tower, visitors can see the whole city and beyond can see the mountain covered by the green of beautiful trees and bay.

Eureka Tower Address: 7 Riverside Quay, Southbank VIC 3006, Australia Phone: (03) 9693 8888 Hours: 10AM–10PM Url: https://www.eurekaskydeck.com.au

Melbourne Museum

Melbourne Museum was built in 1880 to host the International Exhibition. This building is also the venue for the first Australian Parliament in 1901. The museum has a modern architecture divided into 8 separate design rooms in 3 floors, which showcases art collections design, culture and many original artifacts.

Melbourne Museum Address: 11 Nicholson St, Carlton VIC 3053, Australia Hours: Daily 10am-5pm. Closed: Good Friday and Christmas Day Tickets: Adult: $15, Child (to 16 years): Free Url: https://museumsvictoria.com.au/melbournemuseum/

State Library of Victoria

This is also an interesting spot you should not ignore. Coming here, you can find from Ned Kelly’s romantic story to the notes of witchcraft, discovery. Or you can join a free tour for about an hour in the room reading Cowen Gallery, La Trobe Reading Room, …

Melbourne Museum Address: Corner Russell & La Trobe Sts, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia Phone: 03 8664 7000 Hours: Monday to Thursday 10am–9pm / Friday to Sunday 10am–6pm Url: https://www.slv.vic.gov.au

Australian Centre for the Moving Image

One of the most visited places in Melbourne is the Australian Centre for the Moving Image, a museum that showcases many famous art collections in Melbourne. The museum is open from Monday to Friday, starting from 10am to 6pm.

Australian Centre for the Moving Image Address: Federation Square, Flinders St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia Hours: Museum: Open daily 10am — 5pm / Cinemas: Open daily until late / Shop: Open daily 10am — 5pm Url: https://www.acmi.net.au/

Melbourne Zoo

Visiting Melbourne you can not ignore this large zoo, which is home to more than 320 special animals, most of them are typical Australian species.

Melbourne Zoo Address: Elliott Ave, Parkville VIC 3052, Australia Hours: 8AM–5PM Url: https://www.zoo.org.au/melbourne

Dome houses and small artistic alleys

Wandering in the mazes and walkways of buildings around the winding, elegant streets of Flinders, Collins, and Bourke … is the most fun way to explore life in Melbourne. In addition, the small alleys, abandoned buildings with street art in Springvale also attract tourists because of the strange and special.

Read more:  Explore Hosier Lane – The famous graffiti lane in Melbourne .

Other things to do in Melbourne

Coming to Melbourne, one of the exciting experiences is that you should enjoy good drinks and follow the South Pacific-style performances at 62-70 Johnston Street, Fitzroy . You will be immersed in the lively atmosphere, the excitement will help you relieve the stresses of everyday life. This place is only open from Wednesday to Sunday. If staying up late, the price will be more expensive than usual.

Besides, traveling to Melbourne will be missing when you do not try the musical life, theater experience with special performances every evening on every week. One of the special places in Melbourne is Esplanade in St Kilda – a good pub, lively music, is a high-class pub that hosts the famous show Rockwiz.

Esplanade in St Kilda Address: 11 The Esplanade, St Kilda VIC 3182, Australia Hours: 9AM–1AM Phone: 61 3 9534 0211 Url: https://hotelesplanade.com.au/eat/

Some cheap shopping places in Melbourne are also where attract visitors. In which, Emporium is the most popular and beloved shopping and dining center in Melbourne city. There are many beautiful and diversified fashion products, especially Uniqlo brand that makes the fashionista crazy.

Emporium Melbourne Address: 287 Lonsdale St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia Hours: 10AM–7PM Phone: +61 3 8609 8221 Url: https://www.emporiummelbourne.com.au/

The Astor Theatre: Address: 1 Chapel Street, St Kilda; Phone: +61 3 9510 1414; Monday – Saturday (Closed on Tuesdays) opening hours from 6:30 pm – late night, Sunday open from 1:00 p.m. – late night; www.astortheatre.net.au .

Abbotsford Convent is one of the famous and beautiful tourist destinations in Melbourne. Just 4km from the CBD, the Convent – with its historic buildings and garden surrounds – is a leading not-for-profit arts, cultural and learning precinct. Address: 1 St. Heliers, Abbotsford; Phone: +61 3 9415 3600. Url: https://abbotsfordconvent.com.au/ .

In addition to the fascinating sightseeing, entertainment places as mentioned above, there are many other beautiful tourist attractions such as Museum and St. Paul Church, Flinders Station.

Melbourne travel blog: What and where to eat in Melbourne?

Some delicious dishes like grilled Australian crocodile, Tasmania beef, Bush Tucker, Kangaroo meat… are all specialty dishes in Melbourne. Below, these are some famous delicious, cheap restaurants in Melbourne you should refer to:

Vue de Monde : Address: 55th floor, 525 Collins, Melbourne; Phone: +61 3 9691 3888; Tuesday – Friday and Sunday open from afternoon to 2am; Monday to Saturday open from 6pm – 9:15pm.

Bar Lourinhã : Address: 37 Little Collins Street; Phone: +61 3 9663 7890; Monday – Thursday open from afternoon to 11pm, Friday open from afternoon to 1am, Saturday open from 4pm – 1am.

Supper Inn Chinese Restaurant : Address: 15 Celestial Ave., Melbourne; Phone: +61 3 9663 4759; Open daily from 5:30 pm to 2:30 am.

I Love Pho : Address: 264 Victoria St., Richmond; Phone: +61 3 9427 7749; Open daily from 9 am – 10 pm.

Rita’s Cafeteria : Address: 239 Johnston, Abbotsford; Phone: +61 3 9419 8233; Open daily from 7h30 am –11 pm.

Especially is Lentil As Anything restaurant in Abbotsford Convent, Melbourne is the place you should not miss while traveling in Melbourne. The restaurant is famous for Australian cuisine in particular and European cuisine in general, coming here you will enjoy many delicious dishes, attractive drinks, while you just need to spend the amount of money you want into the wooden box at the counter Cashier after eating.  Address: 1 St. Heliers St. Abbotsford 3067 / Phone: 9419 6444 / Hours: 9am-9pm.

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One Day in Melbourne: Things to Do, Itinerary & Map

By Author Jurga

Posted on Last updated: November 10, 2023

Planning a one day trip to Melbourne and looking for tips on how to see the best of Melbourne in one day? Wondering what are the best things to do in Melbourne or how to best plan your time? This article with insider tips and recommendations should help you make the most of your short time in the city. Read on!

Melbourne is one of Australia’s most lively and vibrant cities and there is plenty to see and do! Known as a foodie destination, but also for its colorful street art and stunning architecture, Melbourne also has some excellent museums, as well as sporting and cultural events…

With so many awesome things to do in Melbourne for the whole family , you could easily spend a week or more in the city and doing day trips nearby . However, if you’re just passing through and want to see the best of Melbourne in a day, then this guide should help you do just that.

In this article, we cover the best things to do on your first trip to Melbourne , focusing on the main highlights. In addition, you can find a map, tips for getting around the city, and recommendations for the best places to stay . We also included a suggested one day Melbourne itinerary. Find out!

The author of this guide is Melissa who is the writer behind Thrifty Family Travels and Queensland Camping She lives in Queensland, Australia, and has visited Melbourne many, many times. So this one day Melbourne itinerary is filled with insider tips that should help you make the most of your short trip to this bustling city.

Getting Around Melbourne

First things first. The easiest way to get around the Melbourne city center (aka Melbourne CBD) is on foot and by tram. The next thing you need to know is that Melbourne has an awesome City Circle Tram system that is FREE of charge.

This free tram route operates in a circle and you can travel in both directions. With trams running every 12 minutes, this is a very convenient way to get around the city center.

If you happen to stray a little bit too far from the City Circle Tram route, you can use rideshares like Uber or DiDi. That way you don’t waste too much time.

Hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus is also a good option for those who want to see as much as possible in a day. The bus is not really necessary if you are only planning to stay in the city center. But if you want to see more of Melbourne and visit places that are a bit further away, then it can be a good way to do it in just a day.

The actual CBD of Melbourne is not overly big, so you can see quite a lot in a day. To help you work out where everything is, I’ve put together this map so you can easily make your way around the city.

You can easily walk between many of the attractions and take a tram for the places that are somewhat further away.

How to use this map:  Use your computer mouse (or fingers) to zoom in or out. Click on the icons to get more information about each place. Click the arrow on the top left corner for the index. Click the star next to the map’s title to add it to your Google Maps account. To view the saved map on your smartphone or PC, open Google Maps, click the menu and go to ‘Your Places’/’Maps’. If you want to print the map or see it in a bigger window, click on ‘View larger map’ in the top right corner.

Now that you know how best to get around the city and where everything is, let’s take a look in detail at what you can see and do in Melbourne in a day.

Things to Do in Melbourne in 1 Day

Flinders street railway station.

Flinders Street Train Station is one of the main train stations in Melbourne. The building that houses the station is over 100 years old and pretty impressive. It’s an iconic landmark and one of the places to see in Melbourne.

The art-nouveau style building backs onto the Yarra River and has a prominent dome, arched entrance, tower, and numerous clocks. If locals tell you “let’s meet under the clocks” , you’ll find them here. The building is exquisite both inside and out and well worth a few minutes of your time.

Here’s an interesting fact. Not only is the building impressive, but the railway station is also home to Australia’s longest train platform. With 708 meters (0,44 miles), it is also the 4th longest platform in the world!

The pedestrian crossing outside the station is one of the busiest in all of Melbourne. It’s an experience in itself. Crossing the road here is something that you really should do when visiting the city; just be careful!

Federation Square

As you walk across the road from Flinders Street Train Station, you’ll arrive at Federation Square . It’s a bustling heart of the city with restaurants, bars, and a few shops. It’s also a very popular venue for various events. There always appears to be something going here!

The square holds around 2000 events each year such as New Year’s Eve celebrations, the Melbourne Festival, the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival. It is also the site for various public rallies. You can check their official website to see what’s happening there on the day of your visit.

If there is nothing happening on the day you visit, you could spend an hour or so at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) which is located here. The exhibition is free and is an interesting showcase of how TV, film, and other forms of entertainment has evolved over time in Australia. Often, they also have other exhibitions as well.

TIP: While you’re here make sure you pop on over to the steps of St Paul’s Cathedral for a great view of the area.

Street Art & Melbourne Laneways

Melbourne is a hip city. Its famous narrow laneways are lined with trendy cafes and colorful street art is one of the city’s most popular attractions.

If you like looking for street art, head to Hosier Lane . That’s where the most famous artwork is located. As you find your way there, peer down the various narrow laneways and side streets. If you see a group of people standing around, chances are big that there is some great street art here.

As you are well aware, street art changes all the time, so if you want to see some of the best places, consider joining a guided tour with a local. Here you can find a nice selection of Melbourne street art tours and tours that focus on more local experiences.

Coffee & Shopping Arcades

Supposedly Melbourne has the highest density of cafes and restaurants per capita in the world!

As you stroll around in this area, you’ll come across many excellent little cafes hidden away. It might be a good time to stop for a morning coffee or brunch. If you can’t find anything that you like, then head to Degraves Street . Here, you’ll find lots of cafes with outdoor seating.

If you’re into your shopping you’ll also find a range of super cute boutiques in the area too. Or head to one of Melbourne’s shopping arcades. Even if you are not planning to do any shopping, some of these historic arcades are well worth seeing. Check out the Royal Arcade and the Walk Arcade (both on Bourke Street), and also the Block Arcade on Collins Street.

Melbourne Skydeck (previously Eureka Skydeck)

Next, head back out towards the Yarra River and take the footbridge to the other side. The area on the other side of the bridge is called Southbank. It’s home to a range of restaurants, the Crown Casino and the Melbourne Skydeck.

The Melbourne Skydeck is the tallest viewing platform in the Southern Hemisphere. It’s a great place to get 360-degree views across the city. The Skydeck is located on the 88th floor, but you wouldn’t know it because the elevator ride takes just a few seconds.

If you have no fear of heights, you may want to try the “Edge Experience”. This is the Southern Hemisphere’s highest viewing platform, a glass cube that sticks 3 meters out from the side of the building offering amazing views. It’s a truly exhilarating experience.

TIP: With just a day in Melbourne and limited time, it’s best to get the entry tickets in advance . On busy days, it can save you quite some time.

Good to know: You don’t need more than 15-20 minutes at the Melbourne Skydeck, plus some time to get to the top, etc. In any case, this is something that you can easily add to your one-day itinerary in Melbourne.

Cruise on the Yarra River

If you’re up for it and time permits, why not take a Yarra River Cruise . It’s a great way to get a different perspective of the city and see many different areas, especially for those who only have limited time. During the cruise, you can sit back and relax as you take in the various city landmarks. It’s also a good way to rest your legs from all the walking.

Some of the highlights of the river cruise include seeing the West Gate Bridge, a 19th-century sailing ship, the Polly Woodside, Docklands Crown Entertainment Complex, Princes Bridge, Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Government House, Olympic Park, Herring Island, the Royal Botanic Gardens, and many more.

There are a variety of river cruises available from either the Southbank side of the river or by Federation Square. So, depending on which side you take your cruise from, you can either do this before or after visiting the Skydeck.

Queen Victoria Market

No doubt by now you’ve well and truly worked up an appetite. So head on over to the Queen Victora Market for lunch. This is the largest open-air market in the Southern Hemisphere and features some of Melbourne’s most delicious food!

This place is huge! Any food you can think of, you will find it here. From delicious cheeses from around the world, smoked and cured meats, locally produced wines, freshly cooked donuts, and loads more… So make sure you come with a healthy appetite.

As well as unbelievable food and fresh produce, Queen Victoria Market also houses some great stores selling clothes, antiques, and Aboriginal arts and souvenirs.

Good to know: Queen Victoria Market is open daily except for Mondays and Wednesdays. It closes at 3 PM on weekdays and at 4 PM on Saturdays and Sundays. It’s located a bit further away from the previously mentioned attractions, so you may want to take a free tram to get here faster.

Visit one of the Melbourne Museums

In the afternoon, check out one of the city’s various museums in Melbourne. Depending on your interests, there are loads of options to choose from. With just one day in the city, I suggest you pick just one of the places mentioned below.

A few blocks from Queen Victoria Market is the Melbourne Museum , the largest museum in the Southern Hemisphere. This is a natural history museum where you can see various local historical and cultural artifacts. Here you can learn about the origin of life in Victoria dating back to 600 million years ago, see prehistoric creatures, or learn about Indigenous Culture.

One of my personal favorites is Old Melbourne Gaol . It’s a former jail that has been turned into a museum. For 87 years, this gaol was the home for both minor offenders as well as notorious criminals. It was here that the infamous Australian bushranger Ned Kelly was executed saying the words “such is life”. Wandering through this old prison is a fascinating experience!

This is a good museum to visit as you only need 1-1.5 hours for it. See their website for more information.

Another good option is the Immigration Museum . It’s a fantastic place to learn about the past of the Australian people. This museum is located in the Old Customs House and displays a range of interesting immigrant stories.

Alternatively, you may want to check out the State Library Victoria . The La Trobe Reading Room is spectacular and worth a visit in itself! This impressive reading room has a round shape and is located under a majestic dome. It has become popular with those looking for the best Instagrammable spots in Melbourne.

Other interesting museums to explore include Sceinceworks, the National Sports Museum, the Medical History Museum, and many others. But with just one day in Melbourne, I think you’ll find plenty of better things to do.

Fitzroy Gardens

Historic Fitzroy Gardens is one of the most beautiful parks in Melbourne. It has a model Tudor village, an ornamental shrub, several fountains, lots of flowers, and tree-lined walking paths. There is also a cafe and a playground for kids.

This is not an absolute must in the city, but really nice to see, especially if you are visiting Melbourne with kids. Don’t miss the Cooks’ Cottage and the Conservatory. Kids will love the Dolphin Fountain and the Fairies Tree.

Interesting to know: Captain Cook’s Cottage is the original house of Captain Cook who mapped the east coast of Australia in 1770. The house that originally stood in England, was shipped to Australia in 1934 and re-erected in Fitzroy Gardens.

Melbourne Cricket Ground

Melbourne is a great city for sports fans, especially if you happen to be in town on a Friday or Saturday night. One of the best places to be is the Melbourne Cricket Ground , also known as MCG.

If you enjoy cricket, you may even be able to see a game ( check the MCG events calendar ).

But you can also visit Australia’s favorite stadium even if there is no game. They have an interesting museum and offer behind-the-scenes stadium tours .

Catch a Show

If you’re not the sporty type, then how about seeing a theatre production in the evening? Melbourne has some great performances throughout the year at both the Regent Theatre or Princess Theatre .

Some of the shows are so popular that people often fly down to see them from other east coast cities. On the website of the city of Melbourne , you can find a calendar with all the theater performances and shows.

Dinner in Chinatown

There are numerous wonderful places for dinner in Melbourne such as Southbank along the Yarra River or in Lygon Street. But one of the best places for dinner is Melbourne’s Chinatown .

The most popular dish to eat in Chinatown is dumplings! But of course, you’ll find all sorts of Asia cuisines including Thai food, ramen, yum cha, and more.

There is a range of great places to eat. Just follow your nose or better yet, if you find a place with a long line then you know it’s going to be good. Some popular places include Shanghai Village, ShanDong Mama, Longrain, Mr Ramen San, or Secret Kitchen. I indicated all of these in the map above.

Melbourne’s Chinatown is located in the area between Little Bourke Street, from Swanston Street to Spring Street. Be sure to wander down all the little arcades throughout the area as this is where you’ll often find some of the best places.

One Day Melbourne Itinerary

So there you have it, the best things to do on a one day trip in Melbourne. Below, you can find an overview of a perfect Melbourne itinerary for 1 day, following our suggestions above.

Here’s what your day in Melbourne could look like:

• Start your morning at Flinders Street Train Station .
• Head across to Federation Square and see what’s on, if there is nothing on of interest to you, consider checking out the ACMI.
• Check out Melbourne’s famous street art and grab yourself a coffee from one of the cafes in the narrow laneways.
• Cross the Yarra River and check out the city views from the Melbourne Skydeck .
• If time permits take a cruise down the Yarra River .
• Head to Queen Victoria Market for some lunch.
• After lunch, check out one of Melbourne’s great museums and/or check out Fitzroy Gardens .
• In the evening, watch a game, go to the theatre , or take a pub-crawl tour if that’s more your thing.
• Have dinner in Chinatown .

If you find this itinerary too busy and rather have a more relaxing day instead of trying to see everything, skip one or two places that don’t interest you much. Also, if there is something that you absolutely want to see, you may want to do it first to ensure that you don’t run out of time.

TIP: If you want to see all the highlights of Melbourne in a short time or if you rather go discover some hidden gems in the city, you can also consider a walking tour with a local guide. There are various tours available and they usually don’t take more than a few hours. So you can easily incorporate a tour like that in your one-day itinerary.

If You Have More Time

If you have two or three days in Melbourne, consider taking a day trip to see some of the stunning nature nearby. As nice as Melbourne is, it would be a shame not to explore more of its surroundings.

The most popular day trips from Melbourne are the famous Great Ocean Road (must do!), the Grampians National Park (our personal favorite in the area), and Phillip Island , where, among others, you can expect to see koalas and penguins.

Where to Stay in Melbourne

No matter what your budget is, there are plenty of good accommodation options in Melbourne. If you have just one day in Melbourne, I suggest staying very centrally. That way, you can make the most of your time.

Here are some of my personal recommendations for places to stay in Melbourne city center, depending on your budget:

• $$$$$ Grand Hyatt . This centrally located 5* hotel is one of the top picks in Melbourne. Located within easy walking distance from most of the above-mentioned attractions, the hotel features rooms in different sizes, including big family rooms for up to 6 people.
• $$$$ DoubleTree by Hilton . This is a great centrally located 4* hotel , just minutes from Flinders Street Station and all the cool little Melbourne laneways.
• $$$ The Victoria Hotel . This is the most popular lower-mid budget hotel just a short walk from Federation Square. It’s very centrally located and has thousands of great customer reviews.
• $$ Space Hotel . This is a very popular budget hotel with great facilities (including a movie theatre, rooftop bar, and a gym). It has various room types (most with shared bathrooms), but there are also double and family rooms with private bathrooms.

READ ALSO: Great Ocean Road – Best Places to See

More travel tips for Australia:

• Planning a trip to Australia
• Australia itinerary
• 1 Day in Sydney
• Things to Do in Hobart, Tasmania
• Kennet River Koala Walk
• Kangaroo Island
• Alice Springs to Uluru – Red Center Itinerary
• Darwin Itinerary

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IMAGE CREDITS: Featured image – fotfritz/Depositphotos.com// Federation Square – f11photo/Depositphotos.com// Hosier Lane – Javen/Depositphotos.com// Melbourne street art – ThriftyFamilyTravels.com// Aboriginal art at Queen Victoria Market -zhukovsky/Depositphotos.com// Old Melbourne Gaol – lucidwaters/Depositphotos.com// La Trobe Reading Room – richie0730/Depositphotos.com// Regent Theater – TKKurikawa/Depositphotos.com// Melbourne Chinatown- dbajurin/Depositphotos.com

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Nomadic Notes

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Melbourne Travel Guide

July 9, 2014 By James Clark Leave a Comment

Travel Notes > Australia > Melbourne Travel Guide

Nomadic Notes Blog Posts

Notes on Melbourne: Things I noticed on my annual visit – 2018 Edition

A bemused Melburnian returns to Melbourne after two years absence – Returning to my old home city of Melbourne after being away for two years, and noticing the changes in the city.

Little Saigon in Melbourne – My wanders of the Vietnamese area of Victoria St.

Keith Haring in Melbourne – A mural by Keith Haring survives on a wall in inner Melbourne.

Happy birthday dear Melbourne… – Celebrating the 175th anniversary of the founding of Melbourne in 2010.

Melbourne Tram transformed into a Karachi bus – A cool art project during the 2006 Commonwealth Games where a tram was decorated like a Karachi bus.

Accommodation

Melbourne hotels – Search for discount hotels in Melbourne with lowest rates guaranteed.

Travel Guides

Visit Melbourne – Official travel site for Melbourne.

Melbourne happens to have not one, but two of my favourite trains stations in the world. The first is Flinders Street Station, and the other is Southern Cross station. The two stations were built about 100 years apart and they are both unique in their architectural style. I like Southern Cross for its wave-shaped roof and how it opens out onto Spencer Street. Whenever I return to Melbourne the station is usually the first place I see in the city as the airport bus terminates here.

The World Loves Melbourne – Blog featuring things to do in Melbourne, food, fashion, travel, best cafes, dining, arts, markets, cheap eats, music, and shopping.

My Melbourne – highlights for visitors – Katy from untoldmorsels.com lists some must see and do highlights any visitor should experience, including cafes, coffee, and art.

Local’s tips for visiting Melbourne – By drinkteatravel.com.

Melbourne city guide – By thecitylane.com.

Books About Melbourne

Capital: Melbourne When It Was the Capital City of Australia 1901-28 by Kristin Otto.

In 1901 the founders of the Australian Commonwealth settled on Melbourne as a temporary capital while waiting for the completion of the capital in Canberra. This overgrown village oversaw not only the birth of modern Australia, but many of the wider changes sweeping the world at large.

Guide Books

Lonely Planet Melbourne & Victoria (Travel Guide)

Melbourne Photo Gallery – Photo gallery of my home city, Melbourne.

About James Clark

James Clark is the founder of Nomadic Notes. He has been a digital nomad since 2003, and Nomadic Notes features trip reports, train travel articles , and where to stay guides . He writes about transport and urban development at Future Southeast Asia . Subscribe to the weekly travel newsletter .

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Visiting Melbourne? Explore with this handy Melbourne travel guide

Things to do in Melbourne Melbourne Travel Guide Melbourne Travel Guide

Melbourne Travel Guide?

Melbourne is the capital of the Australian state of Victoria. Golden beaches, art-infused streets, botanical gardens, and an ultra-liberal city life transpires Melbourne. There are plenty of things to do from skydiving, visiting the various attractions, to taking an epic road trip along the great ocean road. Your visit to the garden city will be made easy-peasy with this latest Melbourne Travel Guide. It sums up the top things to do, tips about the culture, journey and stays in Melbourne.

Why Melbourne?

Melbourne was ranked as the world’s most livable city in Global Liveability Ranking by the Economist Intelligence Unit for 7 years. Wonder why? The city is packed with year-round sports events, art galleries, music festivals, food carnivals, fascinating attractions, sandy beaches and a zillion more things to explore. This has put the city on top of the list for not only Australian settlers but also travelers from across the globe.

Top 10 Things To Do in Melbourne

Melbourne Essentials

Language English

Time zone GMT+10

Country Code +61

Socket Type I

Currency Australian Dollars

Melbourne Trip Planner

Take a look at all the travel essentials before you zip your bag!

When to visit

Travel tips, weather in melbourne.

Melbourne in Spring

Spring is the most unpredictable of all seasons and extends from September to November. October is the wettest month of the year and receives a lot of rainfall. Pack a pair of umbrellas, warm jackets and boots before you head towards the city.

Melbourne in Summer

Melbourne is blessed with a warm summer when the temperature is just right for a nice swim along Brighton Beach. Spanning from December to February, summer is the time when the city is most flocked with tourists. Attend music festivals run all week, watch the Australian Tennis Open, and hit the Great Ocean Road.

Melbourne in Autumn

Known for being the best time to visit the city, Autumn sees considerably colder weather to make up for the hot summers. Early mornings are covered with fog while the afternoons are bright and sunny. You can take a stroll through the city’s gardens, and try out all the outdoor activities. It stretches from March to May.

Melbourne in Winter

Before all the leaves fall off the trees, winter sets into Melbourne. The weather is quite windy and often experiences snowfalls. A cup of coffee will surely improve your evening since Melbourne is the coffee capital of Australia. The season lasts from June to August.

Best Time of the Year to Visit Melbourne

Autumn (March to May) is the best time to visit Melbourne. The weather is pleasant to go out and experience the golden leaves falling off trees. It is also the time when the city gets very crowded and sees a hike in fares. If you are travelling on a budget, summer is your best option. With the weather warm and the city not overtaken by tourists, you will have a lot of time and space to explore it. However, pack a lot of sunscreens and hats since the temperatures occasionally go up.

Melbourne Daily Budget Planner

Although Melbourne is not as expensive as Sydney, it is above Australia’s average cost of living. Here is an idea of how much you would need to spend a day in Melbourne. Watch out for our tips to save money in Melbourne ahead.

Budget Traveler : $140 Mid-Range Traveler : $200 Luxury Traveler : $250

Use this tool to further budget your trip to Melbourne.

Visa Requirements

Getting a visa to Australia is relatively easy when compared to other countries. People planning to travel as a tourist can apply for the Australian Visitor visa (Subclass 600) as a business visitor or to visit family. The visa is valid for a temporary stay of 3 – 12 months which leaves ample time to explore the city.

There are 5 subcategories of this visa: Tourist Stream, Sponsored Family Stream, Business Visitor Stream, Approved Destination Status Stream and Frequent Traveller Stream. You can read more about them here .

Melbourne Travel Tips

Indulge in adventure sports Melbourne is a city that loves the outdoors. Some of the outdoor adventures you must try are skydiving and hot balloon rides. If you'd rather spectate, the Australian Open and Formula 1 Grand Prix are a great watch. A tour of the highest cricket ground, MGC, is also a great way to understand the Aussie love for cricket.

Grab a cup of coffee Did you know that Melbourne’s coffee is rated the best in the world? To understand the Melburian’s stance of their home-grown, ground coffee, try a sip of Proud Mary or Alchemy Coffee.

Sync your visit around a festival Cultural and entertainment festivals occur all year round in Melbourne. Whether you are a cinephile, love music, dance or are interested in heritage, Melbourne has a festival for it. Make sure you pay a visit to the city when a festival you fancy is running.

How to Save Money in Melbourne

Make use of the free tram rides.

Riding within the CBD via trams is free. Since Melbourne’s public transport is well connected, you need not worry about not finding a tram station near the top attractions within the city.

Try the local street delicacies

Street food brings the best blend of any region’s palate to your taste buds. Queen Victoria Market, South Melbourne Market, Prahran Market, and Rose St Artists’ Market buzz with bonafide street food while not burning a hole in your pocket.

Tips to tipping

Unlike the USA, Australia has no rules over tipping. There is no mandatory tipping percentage on your bill. Nevertheless, you may tip 10% of your bill or as you like.

Catch a SkyBus for airport transfers

The ride from the airport to the city and back can be taxing. To solve the problem for tourists travelling in and out of the city, Skybus , an airport shuttle, makes transfers from Melbourne Tullamarine Airport to the city with tickets costing as little as $15.

Day Trips From Melbourne

Blue beaches, unique wildlife, spa towns, piquant vineyards, penguin parades and spectacular skydiving spots - find all this and more within a few hours' drive from Melbourne. Breakfree from the inner-city grid, take a day trip from Melbourne to any of the destinations listed below. Get out and explore Melbourne's beautiful backyard!

Skydiving In Melbourne

Skydiving is perhaps one of the most bucket-listed activities. The thrill of jumping off a plane and plummeting towards the earth with terrific views overcoming your fears is an experience of a lifetime. It was first successfully performed over 200 years ago in Paris and ever since, it has made its way to every globetrotter's list. Skydiving in Melbourne is an insanely popular activity. Before you make this 15,000 feet plunge in Melbourne, here's all you need to know about it - the best locations, prices, tips and more.

PS: Headout is an official reseller of Skydive Australia experiences. Earn additional cashback and discounts on your Skydive Melbourne tickets , exclusive to Headout.

Hotels in Melbourne

Melbourne is an extremely picturesque city. One of the best ways to experience the breathtaking skyline of this bustling metropolis is by staying in a room with a view. The hotels here are top-notch and offer more than just a room with an alluring view; splendid, leaving“infinity” pools, world-class lounge, luxury restaurants, well-stocked bars and flattering hospitality.

AUD 78 - AUD 157 per night

• Hotel Grand Chancellor Melbourne
• Best Western Melbourne City
• Oaks Melbourne on Market Hotel
• WRAP on Southbank
• Oaks Melbourne on William Suites

5 star hotels

• The Hotel Windsor
• The Como Melbourne - MGallery by Sofitel
• Peppers Docklands
• The Langham Melbourne
• Zagame's House

AUD 157 - AUD 235 per night

• Travelodge Hotel Melbourne Docklands
• Ciloms Airport Lodge
• The Victoria Hotel
• Brady Hotels Central Melbourne
• Travelodge Hotel Melbourne Southbank

Boutique Hotels

• Treasury on Collins Apartment Hotel
• Pan Pacific Melbourne
• Quay West Suites Melbourne
• The Savoy Hotel on Little Collins Melbourne
• Crown Towers Melbourne

Dining in Melbourne

Must-try Food in Melbourne While there is a wide assortment of dishes and desserts, here are some firm favourites.

• Salt and pepper calamari
• Fairy bread
• Chicken Parma
• Anzac biscuits
• Pigs in a blanket
• Pie floater

Top Recommended 2022

• Flower Drum
• Poodle Bar & Bistro
• Vue De Monde

Best of Australian Cuisine

• St Marina Restaurant
• Bacash Restaurant
• MISTER MUNRO Restaurant & Bar
• The Foodstore Cafe

Romantic Date Ideas in Melbourne

Couples will find that there are many romantic experiences and attractions to indulge in. If you’re out of date ideas, you’ve come to the right place. Here’s a list put together to help you plan your perfect date - one filled with endearing memories, featuring different places and date ideas in Melbourne.

Festivals in Melbourne

Melbourne has a year long calendar of festivals - some cultural, some religious, some patriotic, a few music festivals and so on. Here are the top recurring festivals that you should know of:

• Midsumma Festival: January/February
• Chinese New Year: January/February
• Lonsdale Street Festival: February
• Moomba Festival: March
• Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival: March
• Melbourne International Comedy Festival: March/April
• Melbourne Knowledge: May
• Melbourne International Film Festival: July/August
• Melbourne Fringe Festival: September/October
• Melbourne Festival: October
• Melbourne Music Week: November

Melbourne Culture Tips

A trip to fitzroy.

Fitzroy, Melbourne’s oldest suburb, is a hipster capital. A cosy mix of bluestone and bohemia has resulted in the town bearing the most interest in emerging art, fashion and design. Head to the town to explore the fuse of old and new Melbourne.

A land of many cultures

Although English is the most widely spoken language in Australia, it is a country of many cultures. Before colonization, the indigenous people of Australia resided in lands for over 65,000 years. Today, 25% of Australian citizens were not even born in the country. Melbourne is one of the most populated cities of the country, and is a melting pot of cultures. Hence, don’t identify everyone you see with English roots.

A booze-loving city

Australians love alcohol so much that they came third in the booziest country outside Europe. No wonder so many wineries lay just outside of Melbourne. You cannot miss a drink of Ginger beer, the regional favourite when you are in Melbourne.

Stop by the Melbourne food and wine festival

A gastronomic event awaits you in March. Melbourne Food and Wine Festival is Australia’s largest food festival that presents the longest selection of wine. It is a great way of enjoying the food and understanding the culture of the locals.

What are some things to do in Melbourne?

There are plenty of things to do in Melbourne! For the outdoorsy type, there are plenty of parks and gardens to explore, as well as hiking and biking trails. For those who enjoy shopping, Melbourne is home to many great shopping malls and districts. And of course, no visit to Melbourne would be complete without checking out some of the city's great restaurants, cafes, and bars.

What is the best time of year to visit Melbourne?

The best time of year to visit Melbourne really depends on what you want to do while you're here. If you're looking to enjoy the outdoors, then spring and autumn are the best times to visit, when the weather is milder. However, if you're more interested in checking out the city's nightlife and restaurants, then winter (June-August) is a great time to visit, as this is when Melbourne really comes alive.

What are some must-see sights in Melbourne?

Some of the must-see sights in Melbourne include the Royal Botanic Gardens, the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Federation Square, and Flinders Street Station. Of course, no visit to Melbourne would be complete without taking a ride on the city's famous trams!

What is the best way to get around Melbourne?

The best way to get around Melbourne is by public transport. The city has an extensive tram and train network that covers most of the city, so getting around is relatively easy. If you're staying in the CBD, then walking is also a great option, as many of the main sights and attractions are within walking distance of each other.

Where should I stay when visiting Melbourne?

There are a number of great places to stay in Melbourne, depending on your budget and preferences. If you're looking for something central and convenient, then staying in the CBD is a great option. For those on a tighter budget, there are plenty of great hostels and budget hotels located around the city. And for those who want a bit more space and privacy, there are also a number of apartments and vacation rentals available.

What are some tips for visiting Melbourne on a budget?

There are a number of ways to visit Melbourne on a budget. One great way to save money is to use public transport instead of taking taxis or ubers everywhere. You can also take advantage of the many free attractions and activities that the city has to offer, such as walking tours, museum visits, and markets. And of course, eating out can be expensive, so cooking your own meals or grabbing something from a food court is a great way to save some money.

What are some travel tips while visiting Melbourne?

Some travel tips for visiting Melbourne include being aware of your surroundings, as the city can be quite busy and crowded. It's also a good idea to have cash on hand, as many places only accept cash payments. And finally, make sure to dress appropriately for the weather, as Melbourne can get quite hot in summer and cold in winter.

All Melbourne Guides

Experiences

SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium

Skydive Melbourne

Eureka Skydeck

Phillip Island Penguin Parade

Werribee Open Range Zoo

Melbourne Zoo

Legoland Melbourne

Melbourne To Yarra Valley

Great Otway National Park

Melbourne To Phillip Island Tour

Great Ocean Road Tour From Melbourne

Melbourne Toolkit

5 Spectacular Day Trips

Born and brought up in Bengaluru, Preetha is an introvert living amidst the toil of the metro, chasing her dreams. She is a movie buff, a bibliophile and is fond of old school music. She has an eye for aesthetics and can draw and paint as good as a ten-year-old. She has been passionate about writing since her teen years and is currently exploring herself and the world, one word at a time.

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• Melbourne Travel Tips: For A Relaxing Vacation In This Gorgeous Australian City!

23 Mar 2023

Melbourne is Australia’s bar capital and the center point of unrecorded music—frequently called the nation’s “European Enclave”. The main business region serves its after-work consumers, as well as pulls in a youthful, in vogue swarm. A considerable lot of the city’s more astute bars are concealed in the city’s various restricted paths. Over the Yarra Stream, Southgate offers the arts arcade with a belt of bars and riverside views. With a lot of cultures, exercises, craftsmanship presentations, and unrecorded music, you could without much of a stretch go through over seven days here and not think twice about it. You may wind up like such huge numbers of different voyagers and never leave! Melbourne can enable you to make sense of all that you have to know. This is one of the loved city in Australia and many people experience serious difficulties to leave it after they have visited it once.

Notwithstanding the world-class shopping centers, retail chains, and memorable tourist spots, Melbourne brags an arrangement of one of a kind laneways and arcades that are loaded up within the outdoor restaurants, bistros, road craftsmanship, displays, and shrouded boutiques. Various green spaces add to the brilliance of the city.

7 Melbourne Travel Tips

Arranging a rundown of must-see places in and around Melbourne should be possible effectively with the assistance of manuals and online assets. What is progressively troublesome is making sense of early within data that will assist make your tour or your trip to Melbourne a win. Before you reserve your flight ticket, here are some travel tips for Melbourne, Australia that will make your visit worth remembering.

1. Myki Card

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If you wish to interact a Melburnian in language, there are 2 successful topics: the weather and also the Myki system. The contact-less ticketing system for Melbourne’s transport network value $1.5 billion and has been poked with issues, however, the all-time low line is this: a ‘Myki’ card prices $6. You’ll be able to purchase them at machines and a few booths in any respect train stations and in some stores such as 7-Eleven and Tattersall’s outlets.

However, it is important to remember that you can’t purchase them on the tram or bus. After you purchase a Myki, make a choice from ‘Myki money’ or ‘Myki pass’, that is a set quantity of cash for a collection number of days of unlimited travel. If you take a train, tram or bus, ‘touch on’ your ‘Myki’ by tapping it against the ‘Myki’ reader. After you get off at your station or stop, ‘touch off’ by touching it once more. Tram administrators are typically well behaved and welcoming. They will alert you concerning which stop you require. Do not disturb them while they are operating the cable car. In such a scenario, most local people are cheerful to assist you with your destination direction and other necessary details regarding public transportation subtleties.

Must Read: 11 Things To Do In Melbourne In Winter For A Perfect Oz Vacay

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2. Time Management

Melbourne is a gourmet town, and you’ll notice tremendous low-cost meals in each corner of the town. You’ll additionally strive Michelin-starred food in Melbourne for fewer than $10. Or you can head to Chinatown and check out a number of tremendous low-cost and cheerful dumplings. Our honest town wears the mantle of ‘Late Night Champion’ proudly. Nowhere else within the country are you able to party at all hours then quit for a civilized meal. Several Melbourne restaurants do shut their kitchens at nine or 10 pm, however, there are lots that keep going.

You’ll get a drink late at night-time, however not all over. Melbourne does consider itself as a 24-hour town, however, it is not new york. Several bars shut at 1am and additional shut at three. In regard to shopping Melbourne is thought for its nice shopping, however, do not expect that amazing shop to be open when 5 pm or on Sundays. Several outlets shut pretty early Monday-Wednesday and can be open simply weekday and/or Sunday morning. Your best bets for late-night searching are weekday and Friday nights, with several outlets open till 9 pm on those days. Another thing to remind while shopping at malls that If you would like to take it easy on an escalator stand on the left and chill.

Suggested Read: The 19 Best Places To Go Shopping In Melbourne On Your Next Aussie Trip

3. Pack For ‘Four Seasons’

The temperate climate of Melbourne is comparatively delicate, with heat summers and funky winters. Summer continues from December to February, fall from March to May, winter from June to August and spring from September to November. Temperatures within the winter will get as low as 5°F and in the summer. Rainfall over the year is comparatively low though consistent light-weight rainfall, significantly within the winter months, provides the sensation of a wet town. Melbourne weather will change immensely among each day and it is not uncommon to feel all four seasons over the area of twenty-four hours within the spring and fall months.

Melbourne’s weather is changeable. In winter it’s seemed to be cold and raining, however, you’ll additionally get some beautiful 24-and-sunny days. In summer you may arrive smack-bang within the middle of a 40-degree heatwave, however, it may equally be a cold high of fourteen with an opportunity of showers. So while packing pack for’four seasons’ Bring a coat, boots, and layers, thus you’ll keep comfy once the winds of changes blow. Melbourne views itself as the mold capital of Australia. On the off chance that your inclination is to fit in with nearby design patterns, make certain to incorporate dark attire in your bag. This is another important Melbourne travel tip

Suggested Read: New Year Party In Melbourne: Head To Australia For A Celebration Like Never Before!

4. Free Transportation

Melbourne has an intensive transport system that consists of trains, trams, buses, and taxis. The tram system is the largest of its kind within the world, providing a fun and exciting means of transport. The rail network is additionally one in every of the biggest within the world, covering a large space with sixteen separate lines servicing the town. The public buses within the town give over three hundred totally different routes, with frequent services providing an excellent way to get around. Metered taxis are the foremost convenient choice.

However, Taxis ought to be avoided throughout peak hours. Traveling to the town from Melbourne International airdrome is easy, with an excessiveness of specific bus services, metered taxis and automobile rent services on the market. The town Link expressway connects to the town with a journey time of around twenty minutes on the average. In addition, a free tourer shuttle runs around the town and a part of the inner suburbs from 10 am to 4 pm. Free city circle trams run in each direction around the outer limits of the central downtown and through Docklands from 10am-6pm at 10–minute intervals.

Suggested Read: 3 Best Airports In Melbourne That Are A Perfect Blend Of Stylish Infrastructure & Comfort!

5. Currency Exchange Booths

The Australian dollar (AU$) is that the native currency used in Melbourne and exchange booths are often found throughout the town. Hotels and banks conjointly give an outlet for cash exchange thus guests ought to haven’t any problem finding native currency.Foreign ATM cards are widely recognized in native machines, providing a simple and convenient means that for getting native currency. money is required for small store purchases and public transport. Most restaurants and outlets settle for major credit cards additionally as hotels and tourist attractions.

6. Minimalism In Accommodation

Another essential Melbourne travel tip is that one should not book the stay immediately. Accommodation in Australia can be very expensive. If you plan you can get a pleasant Couchsurfing host, they are all through the nation. In a way, you have a place to remain, as well as you’ll have a local guide that can suggest you about the best places to go and things to see. In addition, your expenses will be lessened.

Another thing to mention is that Melbourne’s cobbled laneways and heritage buildings are charming, however, they’re not always wheelchair-, crutches- or pram-friendly. And though Federation square has achieved its goal of turning into a public area for art, festivals, shows, pop-ups its stairs and jagged paving stones don’t seem to be good for those with special mobility wants. Do your analysis and verify what venues are suited to your wants.

Suggested Read: 5 Water Parks In Melbourne That Will Add More Fun To Your Vacation

7. Culture And Law

Melbourne is a city with a rich and assorted social norms of various ethnicities, religions and sexual inclinations. General great habits are on the whole that is required in this city. There are some popular and elite bars and eateries that require shrewd apparel. Be that as it may, generally, small clothing is essential. Tipping isn’t required albeit warmly invited by eatery and bar staff and in addition in help and cab drivers. Also be respectful reading what you want to carry to home.

If you’d prefer to bring home an Indigenous-made memento, remember that not all Aboriginal art is authentic or ethically sourced. There’s a native Art Code that gives a legal framework for industrial dealings and sets moral standards. If you’re shopping for from a gallery, choose one that’s a signatory to the Code. Besides this, you must perpetually ask for details of the work’s source and proof of. Here another mention is that Try not to convey a Knife or a sharp-edged weapon with you as Melbourne has strict Knife laws.

Safety Hacks For Melbourne

All travel comes with risks and it is important to continuously bear in mind of about your surroundings and take the suitable precautions. Here are few safety tips to follow while you are tripping in the city:

• In a huddled space, keep tuned in to what’s occurring around you and keep together in teams. If by any chance you become separated, organize a meeting point before travel.
• Try not to go to Kings Street if you are not comfortable with strip clubs and obscure joints. Kings Street is a standout amongst the most brutality inclined porn street in Melbourne.
• Pickpockets and thieves are everywhere. To make sure that you simply aren’t a target, keep your wallets, mobile phones, and purses safely tucked away, and ne’er leave them in plain sight. If you’re eating out, keep your purses or briefcases out of sight beneath your chair in bars and eateries, or use a table clip if the venue provides one.
• Never leave your luggage unattended and Always carry your wallet or purse near to you. Also, do not forget to Carry backpacks forward-facing in crowded areas.If your valuables are lost, dial 131 444 for the closest police office. you’ll get to create a full report as short as possible.
• Do not carry massive amounts of money on you, and if you’re using an ATM, take care no one is looking over your shoulder as you enter your PIN.
• Always keep your passports and different valuables in a secured space safe if accessible. And Keep a note of your hotel’s telephone number and address with you at all times. If you are lost, you’ll be able to use this to seek out your way back.

Further Read: Top 10 Indian Restaurants In Melbourne For Those Who Miss Desi Flavors In The Foreign Land

Melbourne has a surprising number of major brandishing occasions all throughout the year. This really energetic city additionally makes a phenomenal base for exploring the Yarra Valley wineries, the incredibly lovely Extraordinary Sea Street, Phillip Island, the Mornington Landmass and the Dandenong Extents. You may never need to leave Melbourne because is a city that gets under your skin. However, you should definitely visit the city get the vibe hoe vibrant and energetic a place can be. So plan a trip to Melbourne for an amazing holiday experience with your loved ones!

Disclaimer: TravelTriangle claims no credit for images featured on our blog site unless otherwise noted. All visual content is copyrighted to its respectful owners. We try to link back to original sources whenever possible. If you own the rights to any of the images, and do not wish them to appear on TravelTriangle, please contact us and they will be promptly removed. We believe in providing proper attribution to the original author, artist or photographer.

Please Note: Any information published by TravelTriangle in any form of content is not intended to be a substitute for any kind of medical advice, and one must not take any action before consulting a professional medical expert of their own choice.

Frequently Asked Questions About Melbourne Travel Tips

Which is the best month to visit Melbourne?

March to May and September to November is the most perfect time to visit Melbourne. The shoulder season is perfect to enjoy pleasant weather, fewer crowds, and great discounts.

What are the best places to visit in Melbourne?

A few most popular places to visit in Melbourne are: 1. Docklands 2. Harbor Town 3. The twelve Apostles at Great Ocean Road . Yarra Valley Wineries 5. Peninsula Hot Springs

What should I know before traveling to Melbourne?

A few useful tips that you should know about before traveling to Melbourne are: 1. A popular rule in Melbourne is “Stand on the left, walk on the right” 2. Pack for all seasons as the weather in Melbourne is quite unpredictable 3. Do your shopping during the day as most of the boutiques closes by 5 pm. 4. Many of our museums and galleries are free 5. Explore the suburbs for some unique experiences.

How safe is Melbourne for tourists?

Melbourne like any other city of Australia is quite safe for tourists but is wise to practice a little caution while traveling in a foreign land.

What parts of Melbourne should I avoid?

Some of the places in Melbourne that should be avoided are: 1. Narre Warren 2. Dandenong 3. Cranbourne 4. Frankston

Are credit cards accepted in Melbourne?

Certain credit cards such as Master Card, American Express, Bank Card, Diners Club, etc are accepted in Melbourne.

Which is the best currency to take to Melbourne?

Australian Dollars which is the official currency of Melbourne is the only currency accepted in Melbourne.

How much cash should I carry to Melbourne?

There is no limit to how much cash you can carry into Melbourne but if your cash exceeds the equivalent of $ 10,000 AUD, you will have to declare it at customs.

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