The city of Melbourne is one that any traveller to Australia should not pass up. With a reputation for being one of the world’s most livable cities, this place has it all when you want food, coffee shops or beaches. But there are plenty more reasons why you will need at least two weeks in Melbourne.
There's so much going on and no chance of growing bored because with everything happening here; from art galleries to museums and restaurants - visitors won't have time!
The city of Melbourne is one that any traveller to Australia should not pass up. With a reputation for being one of the world’s most livable cities, this place has it all when you want food, coffee shops or beaches. But there are plenty more reasons why you will need at least two weeks in Melbourne.
There's so much going on and no chance of growing bored because with everything happening here; from art galleries to museums and restaurants - visitors won't have time!
Best Time to Visit Melbourne
If you are looking for a quieter time to visit Melbourne, the best months of the year, from April-May and September-November, offer reliable weather without tourists. If your idea is sightseeing in summer (December through March), make sure that you dress appropriately with sun protection and stay hydrated. There will be many sporting events like cricket or The Australian Open going on.
Don't worry about the cold Melbourne winter because this time of year has one major perk: low season specials! The weather in between June and August is pretty cool enough. If you're looking for a vacation spot with lower prices than summertime or shoulder seasons, then take advantage while it lasts.
How to Get Around Melbourne
With so much to see and do in Melbourne, you must understand the options you have for getting around the city. Melbourne is a big city, and it’s unlikely you’ll want to walk beyond the city centre, so learning about public transport is vital when visiting Melbourne.
For those of us who've been living in Melbourne for years, it can be hard to remember what life was like before public transport. Since 2008 and the introduction of trains running on rails through the city centre, getting from one side to another has never been more accessible! Nowadays, you have two options: a train or tram that stops at every stop along its route (pretty much) OR an express bus service between significant suburbs with limited stops in-between.
Melbourne is a global city. It's so big, and because it has such diverse attractions there are always tourists around to make the public transport interesting for locals too!
Let me break this down into all of its different parts: trains, trams, buses - you name it; Melbourne can get you wherever in style AND conveniently with Myki cards that have been made available at select stations or 7 Eleven stores.
There's also an Android app that lets commuters enjoy their journey more than ever before by not having to worry about whether they've got enough money left on them after buying lunch from one of these convenience shops!
Melbourne has so many beautiful places to see, but you will need a way into the city.
The Skybus is your best option for getting there easily and quickly! Different routes take you to fascinating locations in Melbourne-the Southbank or St Kilda area just outside the CBD; Southern Cross Station is right on top of it. But if you're looking for something else, look no further than hotel transfers from Uber or taxis with our help!
Where to Stay in Melbourne
The first thing you should think about when visiting a big new city is where to stay.
For those who are unfamiliar with Melbourne or the layout, this can be difficult--you need somewhere safe and comfortable to rest your head at night!
Luckily for these people, I have some advice on places in Melbourne that offer excellent services as well as plenty of helpful information depending on what they're looking for.
Melbourne is an excellent destination for those looking to experience the culture and cuisine of this city.
Many different neighbourhoods can be explored with ease because Melbourne has an extensive public transportation network. Still, it's not necessary to stay in the centre like other major cities worldwide. Where you want your trip to occur will depend on what type of travel you're interested in doing during your time here.
For first-time visitors, staying downtown should suffice due to its easy access by transit or taxi; there are also plenty of restaurants and entertainment options nearby, such as theatres and clubs if desired!
Those who prefer enjoying outdoor activities may enjoy Southbank, which offers shops along with eateries catering specifically towards tourists visiting Australia from abroad, while St Kilda provides
If you're looking for a luxurious stay in Melbourne, Langham Melbourne is an excellent choice. It offers everything needed for a comfortable stay complete with style, from its marble staircase to five-star accommodations and attentive staff members.
Ready to explore the world on a budget? Airbnb is one of the best ways to get your accommodations at an affordable price. Don't live in Melbourne? That doesn't have you for the company - take advantage of their $55 off discount and book now!
Pampering yourself doesn't always have to cost the earth, and with a little bit of research, you can find an affordable budget option that's perfect for your needs. Melbourne is renowned as one of Australia's most liveable cities - but it also has some great options that are low-cost compared to other major Australian destinations too!
The Perfect 7-Day Melbourne Itinerary
Uncovering the best of Melbourne often takes a little digging. But trust us, it’s worth it! To make it all more accessible, it helps if you have a guide like this that shows you all the unique places you should make time to see with your seven days in Melbourne. This Melbourne itinerary not only takes you through the best-known sights in the heart of the city, but it also reveals other exciting parts of Melbourne begging to be explored. You even get the chance to escape the city and experience another highlight in the state of Victoria, the Great Ocean Road.
However, before we get to our Melbourne itinerary, we just wanted to remind you to purchase travel insurance. You never know what will happen, and, trust us, you do not want to get stuck with thousands of dollars in medical bills. As a wise man once said, “If you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel.” So don’t leave home without it.
We use and recommend SafetyWing. For only around $10 a week, it’s a no-brainer. You can get a quick, non-binding quote below:
Even if you don’t get travel insurance with SafetyWing, please contact travel insurance from somewhere. One popular alternative, for example, is World Nomads.
With that bit of helpful advice out of the way, we can now set our sights on all the great places we’ve collected for this Melbourne travel itinerary. Inside, you’ll find all the best things to do in Melbourne to ensure you have as much fun as possible while you’re there.
Day 1: CBD
Melbourne is such a big city that it’s best to break up your time there into the different parts of the city. With that approach, there’s no better place to start than in the CBD. Set out as a grid of streets north of the Yarra River, you’ll find not only office buildings here but also some of the city’s most iconic sights.
Start your day outside the steps of Flinders Street Station, a beautiful building and the oldest train station in Australia. With its Art Nouveau design and unmissable yellow exterior, this heritage building also happens to be one of the city’s busiest spots.
While Flinders St Station was long the favourite meeting point in the city, that honour now belongs to Federation Square, across the road. The square and its strikingly modern buildings have become a major public venue, and there’s always something happening here. Melbourne prides itself on its culture. There are always permanent cultural landmarks like the Ian Potter Centre and the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) to visit on the square.
For the Instagram crowd, Hosier Lane has likely jumped onto your radar. Just a short walk across Flinders St, you have Melbourne’s most well-known street art collection. The graffiti and murals along this back alley are forever changing, but it’s always colourful and edgy.
If you're looking for a coffee or are already after lunch, Flinders Lane is sure to have what you need. Finding cafes in Melbourne is never hard, but here at least you have a dense selection of places to choose from. You could wander until somewhere catches your eye; it won't take long.
Moving through the CBD, make your way gradually to the Bourke St Mall. This pedestrian area is the traditional hub for shopping in Melbourne and is home to long-standing department stores and modern brands alike. Even if you’re not into shopping, it’s hard not to enjoy the old-fashioned feel of shopping arcades like The Royal Arcade and The Block Arcade close by.
Markets are always an excellent way to get a feel for the city you’re in, and there’s a great one in Melbourne, Queen Victoria Market. A city institution, Queen Vic Market is a massive, sprawling open-air market that has everything under the sun.
Finish your day with a stroll through Chinatown along Little Bourke St and dig into the excellent food there. For tasty food in a relaxed atmosphere, head to the Empress of China and get the dumplings.
Day 2: South of the Yarra
Having seen quite a bit of the city centre on your first day, it’s time to take a trip across the Yarra River and see what lies south side. Some might say that Melbourne’s attractions south of the Yarra are even more interesting than those in the CBD.
First things first, getting across the river. As you cross either of the two modern pedestrian bridges here, Sandridge Bridge or Evan Walker Bridge, take a moment to admire the riverfront and the Melbourne Skyline looming large behind you.
Once you’re across the river, you’ll find yourself on the Southbank Promenade. This picturesque pedestrian area runs right by the Yarra River and has all sorts of bars and restaurants. Eventually, the path will bring you to Crown Casino, a popular destination for nightlife, entertainment, and gambling.
Retrace your steps, and you’ll soon find yourself at the foot of the tallest building in Melbourne, Eureka Tower. While it looks tall already from the street, it’ll feel even taller once you take the elevator up to the Eureka Skydeck for some exceptional city views. See if you can get up the nerve to stand in “The Edge”, a glass cube extending off the side of the building with a clear view down beneath your feet.
Back with your feet on the ground again, walk over to the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV). The oldest and most impressive art gallery in the country houses exhibits on Australian art from Indigenous right through to contemporary works. The NGV also boasts a prominent collection of Asian art, as well as some essential international pieces.
Across the road, you’ll find the Kings Domain Park, home to two more landmark Melbourne sights. One is the Shrine of Remembrance, the monumental war memorial honouring soldiers who fought and died in WWI. There’s a lot to get out of this solemn place, the least of which is the fantastic city views from its terrace. The other spot to visit in the park is the Royal Botanic Gardens, full of diverse plant life and a tranquil atmosphere.
Recommendation: See the sights of Melbourne from a different perspective on a 2-hour river cruise. Travel down the Yarra River to see pictures such as the Docklands Crown Entertainment Complex and Government House and catch some rays on the sundeck.
Day 3: Beach Day
Travel to any Australian city on the coast, and you’re going to want to see the beach.
The most accessible place to start is to head down to South Melbourne Foreshore, the nearest beach to the city centre. Backed by a scenic promenade, this beach will immediately soothe your need for sand and sun. As always in Australia, find the beach flags as these are the areas where surf lifesavers are on duty. When the waves are low, it can be quite a safe place to go for a swim.
South Melbourne may be the closest beach spot, but St. Kilda Beach is the most popular choice for locals and tourists alike. The St Kilda Foreshore is lined with walking paths, sports and recreation areas and places to grab a bite or a drink. Sticking out of the foreshore is the St Kilda Pier, a popular place for a stroll and a scenic spot for photos.
While it doesn’t have anything to do with the beach, St Kilda’s other famous attraction is Luna Park, an amusement park. Stepping through the iconic entry formed by the face of “Mr Moon”, it’s hard not to see the charm of this historic amusement park. Fun for the whole family, Luna Park has a full range of rides, from the timeless Scenic Railway roller coaster to the Pharaoh’s Curse and Twin Dragon.
It may seem attractive to some, but the most popular attraction along Melbourne’s beaches isn’t a beach at all. No, it’s the Brighton Bathing Boxes, colourful beachside huts which date back to the turn of the century. This collection of 82 bathing boxes strung out in a row is a fun sight thanks to their bright and playful paint jobs and, if forever, a favourite with photography enthusiasts.
Day 4: Inner Suburbs
It probably doesn’t get said enough, but the inner suburbs of Melbourne are arguably the best thing about the city. This ring of neighbourhoods surrounding the CBD is home to Melbourne’s best restaurants, bars, and cafes. Each suburb has its character and appeal, meaning that every Melbournian has their favourite one to hang out in. If you want to see the best of local life in Melbourne, then these residential areas are where it’s at.
1. Fitzroy
People like to say that Melbourne is a bit hipster, but Fitzroy is the core of hipster culture in the city. Thanks to the hipster scene, Fitzroy is packed with character and is a great place to explore and hang out.
Throughout the city’s oldest suburb, you’ll find endless places to eat and drink, no matter your mood. Cafes like The Fitz Cafe serve up excellent coffee and brunch, around which will fill your stomach. Then there's a great selection of bars and pubs, although the rooftop views from Naked for Satan are hard to say no to.
2. Carlton
On the more traditional end of the spectrum is the suburb of Carlton, a classic choice for many reasons. Carlton’s biggest claim to fame is its Italian community, and the cluster of cafes and Italian restaurants cling to Lygon Street.
Melbournians love to boast that they have the country’s (maybe the world’s) best coffee, a trait that is due to the Italian community here. So sit down for a flat white or a long black somewhere like Heartattack and Vine and judge for yourself. Next, take a stroll over in the Carlton Gardens, admire the Royal Exhibition Building, and visit the Melbourne Museum.
3. Prahran
With its finger on the pulse, Prahran is a chic and modern suburb with plenty to enjoy. The suburb’s best-known feature is Chapel Street, the most popular shopping area in all of Melbourne. While Chapel St stretches into other neighbourhoods to the south, you’ll find plenty of boutiques and fashion labels as you head along. To regain your energy from shopping, duck into the Prahran Market, where grocers and delis sit side-by-side with an international array of cafes. Prahran is also suitable for a night out with trendy bars and clubs that are old favourites like Revolver Upstairs.
Neighbourhoods like Collingwood, Richmond, and Brunswick are also worth exploring, especially for their bars and street art, which will easily please. But if you had to pick just a few Melbourne suburbs to see, the above is the best place to start.
Day 5: Healesville Sanctuary
Getting to see the wildlife in Australia is usually on most visitor’s bucket lists. In Melbourne, the best place to tick that off is at Healesville Sanctuary. Found in Melbourne’s outer north-east, a trip to Healesville Sanctuary is a day well spent.
Unlike other zoos you might find in Australia, the purpose of this sanctuary is to protect and showcase animals native to Australia. The sanctuary’s enclosures are split up into different tracks and sections, focusing on a specific habitat or animal. Wildlife that can be seen at Healesville includes kangaroos, wombats, emus, dingoes, plus an incredible array of birdlife, reptiles, and amphibians.
One of the unique features of Healesville Sanctuary is its platypus program. It’s one of only two places in the world that have successfully bred platypus in captivity, and the cute creatures can be seen from the Platypus track and during the Tales from Platypus Creek show.
Seeing the animals in the sanctuary is one thing, but getting to interact with them is another experience altogether. At Healesville, it’s not possible to hold the koalas, but you can get up close and personal with the sanctuary’s Close-up Encounter program. A more hands-on experience is the chance to feed kangaroos as part of Healesville’s Kangaroo Close-up program.
Day 6-7: Great Ocean Road
The Great Ocean Road is an absolute must add to any Melbourne itinerary. You’ll be heading well beyond the city limits of Melbourne with this trip, but as it’s one of Australia’s most iconic destinations, it’s worth it. Now, it’s possible to make just a day trip to the Great Ocean Road, but it’s best to make an overnight trip as there is so much to see.
Driving out of Melbourne and through Geelong, it's not until you reach the town of Torquay that you finally meet the Great Ocean Road. Please don't get too excited, though and pass right through Torquay as it's a lovely little town that oozes the surf lifestyle. Head down to Jan Juc Beach for your first proper look at the ocean before skipping along to the world-famous surfing spot, Bell's Beach.
As you continue along, now driving down the Great Ocean Road with the coast out your window, make stops at small towns like Angelsea and Aireys Inlet as you go. Not only do they have beautiful beaches to look at, but there are even surf schools where you can go learn to surf.
Depending on how you want to arrange your days, you’ll want to look at where you should spend the night on the coast. Two of the best towns to look at are Lorne and Apollo Bay, as they’re both major residential areas in this region. You shouldn’t have a problem finding accommodation and a good fish and chip shop to tide you over until morning.
The big draw of a trip down the Great Ocean Road is the Twelve Apostles. There are many beautiful stretches of coast in Victoria, but none are quite as epic as this spot and its limestone stacks along eroded cliffs. Despite the name, don’t expect to see twelve piles sitting by the beaches and cliffs here.
An underrated stop along the Great Ocean Road you should make time for is Cape Otway National Park. Despite being on the coast and boasting a picturesque lighthouse, the real hook to Cape Otway is the beautiful forest and the waterfalls found within.
Recommendation: The Great Ocean Walk has been named as one of the best hikes in the world. So if you love the outdoors and have an extra week to spare, hiking the Great Ocean Walk is a once in a lifetime experience you can’t miss.
Day 8 and Beyond
You may be able to see quite a lot of Melbourne in 7 days, but in destinations like these, there’s always more. If you have more time, here are some other things worth adding to your Melbourne itinerary:
- See a Sporting Match: Melbourne is a city that lives and breathes sport, so do as the locals do. What’s on will depend on the time of year, but watching an AFL match is always a good pick.
- Penguins of Phillip Island: Who doesn’t want to see penguins doing their thing in the wild? On a trip to Phillip Island, south of Melbourne, you get to experience exactly that, as Fairy Penguins waddle their way onto the beach at sunset in the famous “Penguin Parade”. You can book a day tour to Phillip Island here.
- Puffing Billy in the Dandenongs: Two things you probably didn’t expect from a Melbourne trip are mountains and steam trains. And yet, that’s what you’ll find in the Dandenong Ranges, home to the heritage Puffing Billy steam railway. You can book a ride on the Puffing Billy here.
With one week in Melbourne, you have a lot to look forward to, and clearly, you can see quite a lot of what Melbourne has going for it in that time. If you’re travelling to Australia, chances are you won’t just stop at Melbourne, nor should you. There are plenty of other fantastic cities in Australia to explore, from Sydney to Perth and Brisbane.
- Federation Square & ACMI.
- Discover Melbourne's Street Art.
- Day 4 – Museums and Galleries. Visit the National Gallery of Victoria. ...
- Day 5 – Browse Melbourne's Suburbs. Prahran Market & Chapel Street.
- Day 6 – Trip to Brighton. Brighton Beach.
- Day 7 – Explore St Kilda. St Kilda.