Melbourne, Australia is the culture capital of the country and is a great place to wander, explore, and take in the food, art, music, history, and sports that make this city so vibrant. It does not have the architectural icons that define other cities around the world, such as Sydney. However, by just wandering through the alleys and streets of the city, you can experience the energy and understand the appeal of the city.
The Starter 3-Day Itinerary to Visiting Melbourne, Australia
The following itinerary is intended to be a starting point for visiting Melbourne. It allows you to balance between taking tours to get a better understanding of the city and the surrounding area and exploring different neighborhoods independently to take in the true personality of the city.
MORNING
AFTERNOON
EVENING
DAY 1
Free walking tour of Melbourne’s Central Business District
Explore the the laneways of central Melbourne
Attend the Queen Victoria Night Market or head to Fitzroy for some nightlife
DAY 2
Explore the culture of the city through some markets, museums, or monuments
Take a tour of Phillip Island to see the penguin parade
DAY 3
Explore Brighton Beach
Walk to St. Kilda and explore the neighborhood
Check out the South Yarra neighborhood for some nice architecture, shopping, and food
Day 1: Getting to Know the Culture of Melbourne
Part 1: A Free Walking Tour through Melbourne’s Central Business District
Melbourne is a modern metropolitan city and can be challenging to appreciate without a local perspective and guide. Many of the most charming parts of the city are hidden in laneways (alleys) and it can be helpful to have a local introduction to the city prior to exploring it on your own. For this reason, we recommend starting your time in Melbourne with a walking tour of the city.
This tour with I’m Free goes through some of the major sights, gives you an understanding of the different neighborhoods to explore independently, and shows you some of the best ways to truly appreciate the city. It runs daily at 10:30 AM and starts at the State Library. (You may want to arrive early for the tour because the State Library is worth visiting to see the main reading room and some historical artifacts, such as Ned Kelly’s armor. You’ll learn more about him and his legend on the tour.) Their guides are locals to Melbourne and work for tips, so your tour will be engaging and informative.
The 3-hour tour ends at an amazing viewpoint, allowing you to take in the city skyline. It will be a convenient place to determine how you want to spend the rest of your day. And for tips, you can pay the guides with cash or card.
Part 2: Explore the Laneways of Central Melbourne
Option 1: Take Another Tour to Uncover More of Melbourne’s Culture
If wandering through the city on your own intimidates you or you are looking for more structure and information when it comes to understanding the laneway culture of Melbourne, then consider going on a tour. I’m Free tours provides a free walking tour every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday afternoons that dives deeper into the culture of the city, including taking you to unique laneways and arcades and touching on the different cultural facets of the city. You can learn more about the tour here. (Their website lists out some of the places they visit on the tour which could help you build out your independent walk to explore laneways if you cannot attend the tour.)
Option 2: Explore the Laneways on Your Own
From the free walking tour of the morning, you will notice how the true culture and life of the city is located in the laneways and arcades (covered passageways) throughout the city. This is where the best restaurants, boutiques, and artwork thrives. You can spend the afternoon wandering through the different laneways, trying starters or appetizers from a variety of restaurants (this is one of our favorite ways of trying a variety of restaurants), grabbing cocktails/mocktails or coffees throughout (Melbourne is known for its coffee culture and delicious brews), taking photos of the different murals, and people-watching at different destinations. Some laneways, such as Hosier Lane, have become incredibly popular over the years through social media.
Start at Hosier Lane and wander through the different alleys to explore the downtown area. Some other lanes and arcades worth checking out are AC/DC lane (which celebrates the rock culture of the city), Centre Arcade, Block Arcade, Tattersalls Lane, and Paynes Place. You can’t go wrong by just peeking down an alley and checking out the restaurants, shops, and artwork it may have. If you are looking for a great restaurant in one of the laneways, we recommend By Korea in Tattersalls Lane for delicious Korean cuisine, allowing you to dive into the Asian influence that has permeated the city.
Part 3: Exploring Evening and Nightlife Options in Melbourne
Queen Victoria Market - Night Market on Wednesdays During the Summer Months
If you are in Melbourne on a Wednesday during the summer months, you should look into visiting the Queen Victoria Night Market. Located next to the Queen Victoria Market, this weekly event is a great place to try a multitude of cuisines, shop at the stalls of small businesses, and listen to some live performances. The food ranges from Spanish paella to West African dishes so anyone can find something delicious to eat. You’ll see a mixture of locals and tourists alike enjoying the warm summer evenings here.
Fitzroy Neighborhood
If you aren’t in town on a Wednesday in the summer, then you can spend the evening exploring another part of town, the Fitzroy area. Technically, Fitzroy is considered a suburb to the city of Melbourne but don’t let that deter you. It really is walking distance to the Central Business District of the city. This is considered the bohemian and youthful part of the metropolitan area and is full of restaurants, bars, clubs, and boutiques. You can spend the evening wandering along the main street of the neighborhood, Brunswick Street, to explore the different shops. Some places that are worth checking out in this area include Naked for Satan for a nice rooftop bar with views of the sunset over the skyline, the Black Pearl for cocktails in a speakeasy-style bar, or the Napier Hotel for a classic Australian pub vibe.
How to Travel from the Airport
The Skybus
Especially if you are traveling alone and staying in the city center or Southbank...
To get into Melbourne efficiently, you can take the Skybus from the airport to the city center Southern Cross bus station. This bus picks up passengers from the different terminals at the airport and drops people off in the city center at the bus terminal. Tickets can be purchased at the bus pick-up locations and you can even get a round-trip ticket for a small discount. This option is most cost effective for those traveling solo or with and if you are staying walking-distance to the Southern Cross bus station in the central business district of Melbourne. (If you are traveling with more than 2 people, it will be more cost effective to get an Uber to get to your destination.)
Day 2: Getting Inside and Outside of the City
This day is centered around getting to the Phillip Island little penguins in the evening, which is a unique experience of getting to see hundreds of little penguins (yes, that is their name and they are the smallest penguin in the world) walk ashore to their homes on this special coastline of Australia. We talk about the different ways to get to this experience below. However, this only happens at sunset so let’s talk about the best things to do prior to heading out to the island. The start time of tours and the penguin parade range depending on the time of the sunset in the summer versus the winter, so keep this in mind when planning your itinerary.
Part 1: Diving Deeper into the Melbourne Culture
Visit Museums and Some Memorials
The National Gallery of Victoria is free to visit and has a strong collection of Australian and international artwork. Its International building contains artwork from around the world, with a strong collection of Asian art. Beyond its main collection, the museum also regularly has impressive rotating exhibitions that are ticketed. The second building of the museum (located across the street) celebrates Australian art from both Indigenous and Non-Indigenous cultures within the continent. It’s a great place to dive deeper into the complex culture that inhabits this country.
Beyond the art museum, you can also visit the Royal Botanic Gardens to see some of the different plants from all around Australia. You can also make your way to the Shrine of Remembrance, a memorial commemorating those who have fought for the country. Inside the shrine is a commemorative stone. You can also climb to the balcony of the shrine to get a beautiful view of the skyline of the city. In addition, the memorial hosts a small museum explaining the different wars that Australia has participated in, giving a nice history on the international participation of the country over the last 200 years. It is free to visit the Shrine itself but you can also pay for a 45 minute guided tour, which will give you some additional context of the structure and the history.
Finally, you can visit the Melbourne Skydeck, a skyscraper that will give you views over the whole city. We recommend getting just the general admissions ticket, which gives you access to the panoramic views on the 88th floor of the building along with a small outdoor viewing platform.
Check Out the Queen Victoria Market
If you are not visiting Melbourne on a Wednesday in the summer (or you can’t get enough of fun markets!), you will want to check out the Queen Victoria Market on a Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, or Sunday in the morning. This market is full of produce stalls, food carts, and small business stands. If you are staying in an apartment-style accommodation, you can look to this market to get your grocery shopping done. It’s a great place to people-watch and collect some special souvenirs from local vendors.
Part 2: Discovering the Wildlife Around Phillip Island
Phillip Island is an island located 140 kilometers (85 miles) from the city of Melbourne and is a great way to see some unique wildlife to the entire country of Australia and this particular region especially. The island is a sanctuary to an enormous little penguin colony that makes their way to shore every evening. This is called the penguin parade and seeing them arrive and waddle their way to their homes is a unique and special opportunity. The great thing about attending the penguin parade here is the consistency and likelihood of seeing these cute animals. Because this is a sanctuary and the colony is so large, seeing a few hundred penguins walking up the beach is very likely to happen. (Obviously, these are wild animals and there is no guarantee of if/when they will appear.)
To attend the penguin parade, you can reserve the experience on your own or attend the sanctuary with a tour group. Either way that you visit Phillip Island, there are some things that you should consider when going to the penguin parade.
- Try to bring a towel or picnic blanket to sit on the sand while waiting for the penguins. There are steps that you can sit on but the closest seating areas are on the sand. You can also bring snacks to eat while waiting for the penguins to arrive.
- Bring a warm jacket, beanie and whatever else you may want to stay warm because the temperature can really drop after the sun sets.
- You cannot take photos of the penguins during your time in the sanctuary. Their eyes are incredibly sensitive and the flash of the camera will make them permanently blind. To protect the penguins, the sanctuary has banned all use of any camera after sunset, which means that you will not be able to photograph the penguins since they arrive after the sun goes down.
- After you see a few groups run up the beach, head back on the boardwalk and follow them as they make their way to their homes below.
Visiting the Island with a Tour
The easiest way to get to the penguin parade of Phillip Island is with a tour that will allow you to visit different parts of the island and culminate at the penguin parade. Because the penguin parade happens after sunset, going on a tour means that you will not personally have to do the 1.5 hour drive back into Melbourne in the dark. The start time of tours may range depending on the time of the sunset in the summer versus the winter, so keep this in mind when planning your itinerary.
The other aspect that could change the start time of different tours are the variety of itineraries different companies provide based on what you want to explore. If you want to see some different Australian animals, consider a tour that includes a visit to the Moonlit Sanctuary Conservation Park or the Koala Conservation Reserve, or a tour that allows you to add it as an upgrade. The conservation park has many different animals endemic to Australia and will even allow you to interact with koalas, kangaroos, and more while the Koala Conservation Reserve specifically handles koalas and their rehabilitation.
The other place that most tours visit is Nobbies Point with boardwalks that allow you to see the rugged coastline of Phillips island. You may have the opportunity to see some seals resting on the rocks at this point (but this is definitely not guaranteed.) The tours then go to the Phillip Island Nature Parks Penguin Parade to see the penguins make their return to their homes on land. After, you will be driven back into Melbourne.
Visiting the Island Independently
Different Ways to Get Around Sydney
Public Transportation
The public transportation system includes buses, metros, and trams. You need to purchase a transportation card from a train station to pay for public transportation. However, if you are taking the tram within the Central Business District, the tram is free to use. You can only use one card per person so if you are traveling with multiple people, you will need to purchase multiple cards and load money onto each of them. You need to tap onto and off of each form of transportation you use, except for the free zones.
Walking
Walking is the best way to explore neighborhoods, appreciate the coastline, and take in all the personality that the city has to offer. When combined with public transportation, you can get anywhere in the city.
Uber
The city has Uber and taxis, which are efficient forms of transportation that can be used if public transportation is not available.
Day 3: Taking in the Beach Life of Melbourne
Melbourne is located on the coast of Australia, something you may not recognize if you only stay in the city center. These beautiful beaches are fun to spend the day at. (Be cognizant that the sun in the southern hemisphere is much stronger than that in the northern hemisphere so be extra careful with sun protection.) Here is how you can explore the Melbourne coastline and visit two of the beaches.
Part 1: The Boxes of Brighton Beach
Brighton Beach is famous for its “boxes” that line the beach. These sheds are owned by local community members as storage spaces for their beach equipment. The boxes started in the late 1800s and have continued to increase to today’s quantity of around 90. They have maintained their original style and each box is painted with a variety of colors. Their colorful uniqueness have attracted tourists to check out the fun feature of this beach
Getting to Brighton Beach
To get to Brighton Beach from the city center, you can take the Sandringham train line from Flinders Street (in the city center) to the Middle Brighton Station. This direct train line makes it easy and efficient to get to the Brighton area. When you get off the train, you can walk through the center of Brighton, which is a cute shopping street with a variety of boutiques and small businesses to explore on your way to the beach.
Part 2: Walking to St. Kilda
After relaxing on Brighton Beach and seeing the boxes, you can start your walk along the coast to St. Kilda beach. The walk between the two beaches is approximately 6.5 kilometers (4 miles) and gives you beautiful views of the coastline and city skyline. Make sure you bring a water bottle with you along this walk, especially on warm, sunny days. You will be able to refill it in St. Kilda at the water refill station. St. Kilda beach is a very popular spot for locals and tourists alike to relax on. This is a long stretch of beach with a boardwalk lined with palm trees, giving you the option to lay out on the sandy beach or relax under the shady palms. In addition, the center of St. Kilda on Acland Street is a popular spot for young backpackers and locals to hang out, grab a drink, and enjoy the Melbourne weather. It’s a great spot to grab a snack after your walk and time in the sun.
Part 3: Exploring Evening and Nightlife Options in Melbourne
South Yarra Neighborhood
The South Yarra area in Melbourne is another neighborhood that is great to explore and walk around because of its beautifully preserved historical architecture, boutiques, art galleries, lounges, restaurants, etc. Spend time walking on Chapel Street and Toorak Road before finding a nice restaurant or cocktail bar for the evening.
Where to Stay in Melbourne
Central Business District
For those who are looking for convenience…
This is the most popular location for tourists who are spending a short amount of time in the city and want to efficiently explore all the main sites of the city.
Fitzroy
For those who are interested in young culture and nightlife…
This bohemian neighborhood is a great place to stay to integrate into the nightlife and shopping scene of Melbourne and a great area for those in their 20s and 30s.
Southbank
For those who want the modern high-rise vibe…
If you are in the city for a convention or want the modern conveniences of a new hotel or high-rise, this area is for you. It is a newer part of the city and the accommodations align with this.
St. Kilda or Brighton
For those who want a local beach environment…
If you are coming to Australia to take advantage of the coastal lifestyle, you will want to look into these areas. It’s a place for backpackers and families alike to take advantage of the weather and beaches.
Other Things to Look Into in Melbourne: Sports
Melbourne is such a diverse metropolitan city, appealing to a variety of different travelers and tourists. Above, we discussed the more historical things to do in the city. However, it is also known for its strong sports culture, hosting many popular tournaments for the sports most practiced in Australia. Here is a breakdown of a few things to look for, either as a reason to visit the city or as something additional to do when you are in Melbourne.
Major professional sports in Melbourne all happen in Melbourne Park, the major sports complex of the city. The facilities are all about 30-40 minutes walking distance from the Central Business District of the city, making it very accessible for visitors and locals to attend.
Australian Open (Tennis) | January
This Grand Slam tournament is one of the four major tournaments that happen throughout the year for tennis and occurs at and around the Rod Laver Arena. The tournament happens over two weeks in January and the great thing about this sport is that there are so many tennis matches happening throughout any given day, giving you a variety of opportunities to see the top players in the sport.
You can purchase general admissions tickets that allow you into all of the tournament grounds. Many matches are played on small courts with general admissions seating available. If you want a guarantee to see some of the best players, you can upgrade your ticket to purchase a seat in one of the stadiums, which is where the most anticipated matches are played. Even without purchasing these saved seats, you can watch matches in the stadiums and sit in any seats that aren’t being used at the moment, knowing that you may have to move if the person who purchased the seat arrives. (Your best chance for this is early in the tournament when there are many matches being played and some of the matches are not as well attended.)
Australian Rules Football (AFL) | April - September
Australian rules football is the most popular sport in Australia and is a derivative of rugby (similarly to American football). If you enjoy American football or Gaelic football, you may be interested in attending one of these games. Made of teams of 18 players, the athletes attempt to move a ball down a field to score points through posts, all while thwarting opponents who can tackle and block. The games are played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and Marvel Stadium. They are exciting and attending one is highly recommended by locals to experience the fun sports culture of the city.
Cricket (Twenty20) | December - February
Cricket is a popular international sport and a single match can typically take up to 5 days. It is complex and slow and may not be for everyone. However, a new version of the sport has been introduced called Twenty20 or T20, which limits the amount of time a match takes to 3.5 hours, making it more enticing for those who do not know much about the sport. The Big Bash League is the Australian league that plays with these rules and supports two teams in Melbourne, one that plays at the Melbourne Cricket Grounds and the other that plays at the Marvel Stadium. Look up the rudimentary rules of the game before going to a match so you can immerse yourself into the game.
Melbourne Cup (Horse Racing) | first Tuesday in November
If you are interested in horse racing, the most popular day of the year is the first Tuesday in November when the city of Melbourne takes a holiday to watch and celebrate the sport. The race occurs at the Flemington Racecourse and it is vital to dress up for the event. You will be among the who’s-who of the state of Victoria to watch the top horse race of the country.
Australian horse racing is a year-round sport so you may be able to attend an event no matter when you visit Melbourne. You will also often see the races being played at pubs and bars throughout the country where betting on the races is part of the culture.
Read More About the Blueprint Travelers' Personal Experience in Sydney
Update 47: Exploring the Food, Art, Nature, and More of Melbourne, Australia
We experienced the rich culture of Melbourne, Australia by visiting many of its neighborhoods, culinary destinations, and cultural institutions.