Melbourne is the capital of Victoria and is the second most populous city in Australia. The city has a rich history as it was home to First Nation People for over 40,000 years and eventually became a hub for arriving immigrants. Melbourne is a young and bustling city with constant events and activities going on – most notably hosting the Grand Prix and Australian Open annually.
Experience the City Center!
There is so much to do in the Melbourne CBD you may get overwhelmed but it is pretty easy to see it all. There is seriously something for everyone in this fun filled city center.
Wander around the Bourke Street Mall: It is impossible not to find something you’ll love in this city mall. From sweets to crystals to Louis Vuitton there is plenty to shop around for. Check out all of the different arcades in the area (sorry Americans, an arcade here is just a walkway to get from one portion of the mall to another), specifically the beautiful Royal Arcade. They all have their own character and shops as well – seriously, you could spend a whole day seeing Bourke Street and you still wouldn’t have found everything.
Walk through Chinatown: Because Melbourne was once a hotspot for Chinese Immigrants, this authentic Chinatown is a must-see. Just walking down Little Bourke Street is fun, but the food options are what will really pull you in!
Nearby Chinatown is the Victoria State Library. Go for the picturesque view, the informational collections, or to simply work and read in the dome – this place is easy to lose track of time inside.
Check out the Queen Victoria Market: Melbourne is famous for its markets so you can definitely find plenty of them, but if you can only manage to fit one in, go to this one! The Queen Victoria Market is a massive market stretching about three entire blocks with everything you could imagine. There are fruit stands, artisan goods, food trucks, clothes, souvenirs, used books, delis, and so much more. The market is open every morning except for Wednesday, when it switches to the Summer Night Market from December through March.
Explore Federation Square and nearby street art: Fed Square is a hub for community events and socialization. There is usually some event going on in the square, especially in the summer time. A short walk away from Fed Square is Hosier Lane and AC/DC Lane both of which are alleyways filled to the brim with graffiti. Sometimes you’ll even catch someone doing a new piece!
See some Museums:
The classic museum of the city is the Melbourne Museum slightly north of the CBD. It has an entry fee of $15 and has permanent exhibits about First Nation People and dinosaurs, as well as an IMAX movie theater.
Some art centered museums are the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) and the Australian Center for the Moving Image (ACMI) both with a mix of permanent installations and temporary exhibitions to check out. They are free to enter but specific exhibitions have separate fees.
Finally, if you are interested in learning about the history of Australian immigration, head to the Immigration Museum or the Museum of Chinese Australian History.
Head to the Beach!
Although far from the CBD, Melbourne has several beaches that are an easy tram ride away. Grab a picnic, water, and sunscreen and make a day out of these fun filled beaches!
NOTE: Because Melbourne is located on the inside of a bay, its beaches have little to no waves. The water is calm, relaxing, and perfect to just float and cool off in. However, if you’re looking for surf, you’ll need to head much further out of town.
Port Melbourne is the nearest beach to the city. 25 minutes away by tram, this is a pretty average beach but definitely does the trick. It is also home to Princes Pier, a nice spot to sit back and watch the sunset.
The next closest beach is St. Kilda Beach. Although a smaller beach, what makes St. Kilda so great is the town. The main road is filled with shops, restaurants, and delicious ice cream options that are all perfect at the end of a long beach day. Melbourne’s Luna Park is also located in the area if you are looking to spend some money on rides at this iconic Australian amusement park chain.
Finally, the famous beach 50 minutes by train from the CBD: Brighton Beach. Although a pretty average sized beach, what makes it so well-known is its brightly painted bathing boxes all along the coast. These little houses actually cost an insane amount of money to own but they are certainly gorgeous to look at! If I’m being honest though, there isn’t much else to see or do in the town of Brighton.
Relax and Enjoy Nature!
The Royal Botanic Garden is a must do. There are endless paths to wander around, grassy areas to picnic or read, and the opportunity to be rowed around the lake with Punting on the Lake. In the summertime there is a Moonlight Cinema every night except for Mondays and Melbourne’s Shakespeare in the Park often holds different performances around the gardens. Nearby is the Shrine of Remembrance built to honor those who served in the Australian military.
The Carlton Gardens are another beautiful area to check out. Right by the Melbourne Museum and the Royal Exhibition Building, its numerous plants, grassy areas, and fountains are the perfect escape from the CBD.
Slightly larger and nearby Carlton are the Fitzroy Gardens. These have a slightly more quirky vibe to them but are beautiful nonetheless. They include The Conservatory, The Fairies Tree, many statues, and the Model Tudor Village – all of which are free to wander around and see.
Finally, if you are sick of admiring the Yarra River from its coast and would like to actually be on the water, rent a GoBoat. They are bit expensive for a solo trip, but the boats can hold up to 8 people, so gather a group of friends together and split the cost for a fun trip along the river!
Take a Day Trip!
Feeling like getting away from the skyscrapers and noise? There are several options for road trips out of the city. Melbourne has lots of options for relaxing escapes from the bustling city.
Phillip Island: This day trip is filled with beautiful views, fun beaches, and cute town activities. When on the island, go to the Nobbies Center to walk around the boardwalks and admire the rocky coast. Phillip Island is known for its penguins and you can sometimes spot them along the walk. If you don’t get enough penguin sightings during the day though, you can pay 28 AUD to watch the penguin parade in the evening
Once satisfied with the numerous outlooks around the area, head to the town of Cowes for some beach time and ice cream! You can pick up a game of mini golf at Grumpys Crazy Golf or just check out the random thrift stores on your way through town. At Cowes Beach you can head out onto the pier and jump into the water from varying heights of dock alongside locals and tourists!
The Great Ocean Road: Although it can be a good driving-filled day trip, I do recommend turning this one into a multi-day trip. There is so much to see along the road and to do it all in one day is just a lot of driving, but it is definitely possible to get from Melbourne to the 12 Apostles and back in one day if that’s what you want to do!
There is plenty to do along the way, but here are some of the most scenic bits:
- Sunnymead Archway
- Reef Lookout
- Split Point Lighthouse
- Gibson Steps
- The 12 Apostles
- Loch ard Gorge
- The Arch
- Baker’s Oven
- London Bridge
- The Grotto
The Great Ocean Road stretches all the way between Melbourne and Adelaide but all of the sights listed above are up until Port Campbell. On my trip I stayed close to the coast, but you can make some inland stops as well to see the Redwoods or various waterfalls along the way. Now you see why I recommend multiple days to see everything!
Party the Night Away!
With its many backpackers and tourists, you can usually find something going on any night of the week. Below are some of the top spots!
- Rev’s – Known for opening Thursday night and not closing until Sunday, Rev’s is definitely an icon of Melbourne. It isn’t the safest club, but if you’re up for a pricier entrance fee then it’ll be a good time.
- Electric – Electric is small but fun! Normally playing R&B and full any day of the week, this is an easy and free option when out on Chapel Street.
- Yah Yah’s – This club is known for its young crowd and live music. Definitely a highlight of Fitzroy nightlife.
- Hidden Bars – Melbourne has several speakeasy style bars. They are usually not very busy but definitely fun to find.
- Fall from Grace is attached to State of Grace bar. Find State of Grace’s library, pull a specific book and voila! You’re in a hidden bar.
- Trinket Bar – Find the wardrobe inside and open it up. It’s that simple!
- Jungle Boy – It looks like random shop closing down for the night, but if you ask to see inside the fridge the worker will know what you mean!
- The Crowne Casino – Not a club but definitely a can’t miss. Of course go for some lighthearted gambling, but also don’t miss the connected Holey Moly Mini Golf bar or the fire show on the river that happens every hour.
Neighborhood Nightlife
Melbourne’s nightlife is spread out around different neighborhoods mainly including the CBD, Fitzroy, and St. Kilda. The CBD has good bars and Fitzroy tends to be great for live music venues.
The better clubs are in St. Kilda but careful on weeknights because the trams stop running around midnight. If you’re a partier, I recommend you just have your accommodation in St. Kilda.
How to Get to Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital of Victoria and second largest city in Australia. It’s a 1-2 hour flight from Sydney or you can catch a Greyhound or Premier bus from the east coast as well. The international airport is about 40 minutes out of the city but there’s a bus that makes transport between the city center and airport extremely easy.
How Many Days in Melbourne?
Depending on the season, I recommend spending about a week in Melbourne. Melbourne summers are absolute perfection and filled with activities to choose from while winters can get pretty chilly and miserable at times. If you’re there in the summer you can definitely have a good several weeks in the major city!
Check out my full Australian East Coast Itinerary HERE!
Many people debate whether Melbourne or Sydney is the better city. For me, Sydney is simply memorable and generally enjoyable as such a major city of the world. Melbourne is much less iconic but it has so much character and so many events happening that you truly never run out of things to do.
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