Melbourne is one of the most liveable cities in the world, and one of the most exciting cities to visit in Australia. Melbourne is often referred to as Australia’s capital of culture, food & sport, and manages to juggle these many titles all at once! I’ve lived in Melbourne for nearly a decade and have written this Melbourne travel guide to give you a brief overview of the best things to see & do in Melbourne and help you plan your trip.

The best things to do in Melbourne include visiting the NGV, exploring the city’s vibrant laneways and finding its hidden street art, indulging in Melbourne’s world class coffee culture & hospitality scene, and exploring neighbourhoods like Carlton, Fitzroy and St Kilda. I’ve also added some ideas for day trips from Melbourne near the end of this Melbourne guide.

A brief history of Melbourne

The Traditional Owners of the lands we know today as Melbourne are the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Bunurong Boon Wurrung peoples, of the Eastern Kulin nation. The Eastern Kulin nation is an alliance of five Aboriginal nations in southwestern Victoria, with two of these nations coinciding with the area of Melbourne. 

European settlement led to the dispossession of land, violent colonisation and the introduction of European diseases which all led to a dramatic decline in population of First Nations peoples. Despite this, Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Bunurong Boon Wurrung people and culture survived, and their people & culture continue in Melbourne today.

In the late 19th century, the Australian Gold Rush made Melbourne the richest city in the world . It attracted immigrants from all over the globe, mostly from China and Southern Europe, seeking their fortunes in a new country. The city still has beautiful historic buildings and bridges, and the most impressive art gallery in Australia, as a result of this wealth. Even more importantly, the immigrants who flooded the city from all over the world have been instrumental in making it one of the most dynamic cities in Australia. “Marvellous Melbourne” as it was known, developed a reputation as Australia’s capital for arts, culture and shopping.

Today, Melbourne conjures up images of laneways covered in vibrant street art, teeming with cafes, hidden bars and tiny, bustling restaurants. In the 1990s, it became one of the first cities to celebrate street art rather than shun it & inspired hundreds of other cities across the world in doing so.

The best things to do in Melbourne

There is so much to see & do in Melbourne! Below are some of the highlights, but if you need help putting it all together check out my itinerary for 3 days in Melbourne.

See a show – Live entertainment is a huge part of living in Melbourne. There’s always something on at the Arts Centre or any of the city’s beautiful historic theatres, and the city has excellent ballet, opera, theatre and concert programs year-round. 

The Forum in the city is one of Melbourne’s most iconic live music venues, but there are also dozens of small live music venues dotted around the city, particularly in the CBD and Richmond. 

Attend a major event – Major annual events include the Melbourne International Comedy Festival in April, the Melbourne International Jazz Festival in June and Melbourne International Film Festival in August.

Street art – Melbourne is one of the first cities in the world to embrace street art, and you’ll find it all over the city. Hosier Lane is the most touristed laneway, but in recent years it has been overtaken by graffiti apart from one piece on the side of a building that remains out of reach from vandals. You’ll find street art throughout laneways in the CBD, as well as all over the city – the best neighbourhoods for street art outside the CBD are Fitzroy and Richmond.

Melbourne’s laneways  – Melbourne is famous for its vibrant laneways, which are lined with hole in the wall coffee shops, tiny restaurants and hidden bars. More often than not, they’re also beautified with street art. There are great laneways all over Melbourne, but you’ll find most of them in the city. The best laneways can be found in the Melbourne CBD, off Flinders Lane between Elizabeth and Exhibition Streets, and off Little Collins Street and Little Bourke Street.

Visit the NGV – The National Gallery of Victoria is the best art gallery in Australia – and it’s free! The NGV International on St Kilda Road has a staggering permanent collection as well as hosting a spectacular blockbuster show each summer and winter, which is ticketed. The NGV Australia in Federation Square is one of the best galleries for Australian Art in the country.

Parks & gardens – There are lots of reasons that Melbourne is so livable, but a major one is the abundance of green space in a city of this size. There are beautiful gardens all over Melbourne, but the prettiest are the Royal Botanic Gardens, the Fitzroy Gardens on the edge of the city and the Carlton Gardens, which are home to the UNESCO World Heritage Listed Royal Exhibition building.

Explore Lygon Street, Melbourne’s Little Italy – Melbourne is such a dynamic and exciting city because of the thousands of immigrants that poured in from all over the world over the last century. Melbourne’s most famous immigrant enclave is Lygon Street in Carlton, which is Melbourne’s historic Italian neighbourhood. 

Hit Melbourne’s city beaches – Melbourne may not have a Bondi Beach, but there are still a number of pretty bayside beaches close to the CBD. St Kilda Beach is the perfect spot for a sunset beach picnic and the colourful Bathing Boxes at Dendy Beach in Brighton are a Melbourne icon.

Visit Melbourne’s historic markets  – Melbourne has dozens of markets, but visiting at least one of the city’s three historic produce markets is an essential part of any trip. Head to the South Melbourne Market for an excellent fish sandwich at one of the outside food stalls, get coffee & a delicious gozleme at the Prahran Market or try one of Melbourne’s famous hot jam doughnuts at the Queen Victoria Market, which is the largest covered market in the southern hemisphere.

Attend a major sporting event  – Melbourne is totally sports mad, so soak up the atmosphere at one of the city’s many live sporting events. From March-September, catch footy fever at a live AFL game at the MCG – the city has multiple teams, which only increases the rivalry amongst fans at every game. Major international sporting events include the Australian Open in February, the Grand Prix in March and the Boxing Day Test (cricket) in December.

The Best Neighbourhoods to Explore in Melbourne

Check out my rundown of the best neighbourhoods to visit in Melbourne for more ideas and more detail.

Melbourne CBD – Melbourne’s city centre is much more than a corporate district, with dozens of laneways teeming with hidden cafes, bars and restaurants, ever-changing street art and plenty of great shopping.

Fitzroy – Head to Smith St & Gertrude St to discover Melbourne’s coolest neighbourhood. Serious coffee snobs will feel right at home.

Carlton – Melbourne’s historic Italian neighbourhood is best-known for Lygon Street, Melbourne’s own Little Italy. Don’t miss the Carlton Gardens and the UNESCO World Heritage listed Royal Exhibition Building.St Kilda – Home to Melbourne’s closest city beach, the famous vintage amusement park Luna Park and the famous pastry shops of Acland Street, St Kilda is one of Melbourne’s most popular neighbourhoods for visitors. Come for a sunset picnic on St Kilda beach.

The Best Cafes & Coffee in Melbourne

Brunch is big business in Melbourne, and I’ve never found another city in the world that does it quite as well.

Higher Ground, City – Perfect for travellers staying in the city, Higher Ground is a perfect example of Melbourne’s restaurant-for-breakfast style cafes, from the team behind some of Melbourne’s favourite cafes.

Alimentari – Alimentari is a gorgeous deli & cafe in the heart of Fitzroy’s lively Smith Street. Except to wait for a table, but it’s worth the wait.

The Kettle Black – One of Melbourne’s best cafes, the Kettle Black is one of the first cafes from the same group as Higher Ground. Housed in a beautifully restored, 1880s Victorian terrace house, Kettle Black is a true Melbourne brunch experience!

The Best Restaurants in Melbourne

Attica – A permanent fixture on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants, Attica is the best restaurant in Australia. Despite it’s world class ranking, Attica is refreshingly down to earth. Attica’s menu explores native Australian ingredients, and is a unique dining experience for serious foodies.

Gimlet – The toughest reservation in town these days, Gimlet shot straight onto the World’s 50 Best List when it opened in 2021. A perfect special occasion restaurant, Gimlet is housed in the historic Cavendish House in the Melbourne CBD, and makes for a high glamour dining destination.

Reine & La Rue – Housed in a former bank, Reine & La Rue is the most beautiful dining room in Melbourne. The European menu skews French, and is another excellent choice for an unforgettable restaurant in Melbourne.

Explore more: The Best Restaurants in Melbourne

The Best Bars in Melbourne

Kirks Wine Bar – A go-to wine bar for many Melburnians, Kirks Wine Bar is a Euro-style wine bar on Hardware Lane in the Melbourne CBD. 

Punch Lane – A pioneer laneway bar, Punch Lane has been a Melbourne institution for more than two decades. The dark, cosy wine bar is at it’s prime in winter, and it’s the perfect place in the city for a night of wine, cheese and charcuterie.

Siglo – Tucked away above Spring Street, its easy to miss Siglo. The European-style bar & restaurant is always busy, and the terrace is one of my favourite spots for a wine or cocktail and snacks during spring and summer.

Lui Bar – For some of the best views in Melbourne, head to the Lui Bar on Level 55 of the Rialto Tower. Drinks aren’t cheap, but it’s worth splurging on a round to enjoy the ocean views.

The Best Pubs in Melbourne

There’s a pub on just about every other street corner in Melbourne, and every Melburnian has a favourite local (or two). From historic pubs to modern revivals, these are my favourites.

The Duke of Wellington – Melbourne’s oldest pub, The Duke, has been lovingly restored for the 21st century, across three levels. Catch live sport on the ground floor, visit the restaurant and cocktail bar on the middle level or head to the stylish rooftop on the third floor for small plates & views to Fed Square.

The Espy (Hotel Esplanade) – The Espy is a landmark Melbourne pub, with a long history. Located on the bay in St Kilda, The Espy is a choose-your-own-adventure kind of place, with a classic pub and a band room, as well as a Cantonese restaurant, Mya Tiger, and Italian-American restaurant, Louey’s, and a gorgeous cocktail bar, The Ghost of Alfred Felton, all hidden inside the labyrinthine old pub.

Yarra Botanica – On a sunny day, there’s no better place to be than the decks of Yarra Botanica, a floating bar & eatery docked on the banks of the Yarra River. Access Yarra Botanica from along the promenade in Southbank, and enjoy some of my favourite views of the Melbourne CBD.

The best time to visit Melbourne

Melbourne is known for its temperamental weather, which can go from 40 degrees and scorching to cool and rainy in the space of a few hours. Summer is often late in Melbourne, so if you’re after mild spring weather, visit from November-December, for more guaranteed heat, visit from January-early March, or to catch a beautiful (but crisp) Autumn, visit from mid-March to May.

It doesn’t snow in Melbourne, but it does get cold in winter and is coldest from late June-early September. If you’re after some Australian sunshine (and heat), come in January or February.

The best day trips & side trips from Melbourne

Melbourne is the capital of Victoria, a small southern state packed with wine regions, beaches, valleys, mountains, national parks and cute country towns.

Yarra Valley – The Yarra Valley is Melbourne’s premier wine region, and one of the most awarded wine regions in Australia. The Yarra Valley can be reached in about an hour by car, and there are plenty of bus tours from Melbourne which cover the region. Check out my guide to the best wineries in the Yarra Valley for more ideas.

Mornington Peninsula – 90 minutes’ drive from Melbourne, the Mornington Peninsula is one of the most beautiful and accessible regions of Victoria. Make a day trip to Sorrento,  visit the beautiful Safety Beach at Dromana or visit the Mornington Peninsula’s best wineries like Ten Minutes by Tractor and  Main Ridge Estate. The region is known for its award-winning pinot noir.

Great Ocean Road – It’s best to take a few days to tackle Australia’s most scenic drive, The Great Ocean Road. It starts at Torquay, about two hours’ drive west of Melbourne, and continues all the way to the South Australian border. Highlights include the 12 Apostles (pictured), Loch Ard Gorge and several other beautiful natural sights inside Port Campbell National Park, beach towns like Torquay, Lorne and Port Campbell, and Great Otway National Park a little further inland.

Explore More: The best travel destinations in Victoria.

Where to stay in Melbourne

Melbourne CBD (Downtown) – Melbourne is one of those rare cities where staying in the heart of the CBD can actually be a good idea. 

The best part of the CBD is the southeast corner, so anywhere south of Bourke Street and East of Elizabeth or Swanston Streets. It’s fairly compact though, so it doesn’t really matter. King Street and the area around Southern Cross Station can be a little seedier. 

Southbank – There are lots of hotels in Southbank, which is a short stroll across the bridge to the city and is right near the arts centre and the NGV. 

Fitzroy – To experience Melbourne more like a local, stay in Fitzroy, which is a trendy inner city neighbourhood just north of the CBD.

Have you been to Melbourne? Would you like to go? Let me know what you think in the comments!

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