Essential activities in Melbourne.
Street art laneways (free): Hosier Lane (behind Federation Square, the most famous), AC/DC Lane (homage to the band), Centre Place, Croft Alley, Union Lane. Autonomous walking visit with free map at Melbourne Visitor Centre, or guided tours AUD 35-50/person (Melbourne Street Art Tours).
Victorian arcades: Block Arcade (1892), Royal Arcade (1869, watch for animated statues Gog and Magog ringing every hour for 150 years).
Federation Square and Flinders Street Station: CBD heart, iconic architecture (free, starting point for laneways).
NGV — National Gallery of Victoria (free): Australia's largest international art collection (NGV International at Southbank) and Australian art collection (NGV Australia at Federation Square). Major Aboriginal art collection.
Melbourne Museum (AUD 15): exceptional Aboriginal Heritage zone (Bunjilaka), natural sciences.
Eureka Skydeck (Southbank, 88th floor, AUD 30): panorama, The Edge experience (glass cube suspended at 285 m, AUD 12 supplement).
Royal Botanic Gardens (free): one of Australia's most beautiful gardens, 38 hectares south of CBD.
St Kilda: urban beach, Luna Park (free entry), Acland Street for pastries, fairy penguins on pier at sunset (free, 30-40 individuals visible).
Iconic cafés: Patricia Coffee Brewers, Seven Seeds, Brother Baba Budan, Market Lane Coffee, Manchester Press. Count AUD 5-7 for a flat white.
Brunch: Higher Ground (industrial cathedral), Top Paddock (Richmond), Auction Rooms (North Melbourne), Chez Dré (South Melbourne). AUD 20-30/person.
Signature restaurants: Attica (Ben Shewry, AUD 295 tasting menu, 3-month booking), Vue de Monde (Rialto summit), Cumulus Inc (Andrew McConnell, bistro), Flower Drum (Cantonese since 1975), Chin Chin (Southeast Asian without reservation).
Neighbourhoods to explore: Fitzroy/Collingwood (Brunswick Street, Smith Street — bobo, independent), Carlton (Lygon Street, Little Italy), South Yarra (Chapel Street, chic).
Day excursions: Great Ocean Road (243 km, 2-3 days by car or excursion AUD 120-180), Phillip Island Penguin Parade (1h30, excursion AUD 100-150), Yarra Valley wineries (AUD 130-180 with lunch), Mornington Peninsula (Peninsula Hot Springs AUD 60-100).
Events: Australian Open tennis (January, Melbourne Park, AUD 30-2,000), Australian Grand Prix F1 (March), Melbourne International Comedy Festival (April), AFL Grand Final (September), Melbourne Cup (first Tuesday of November).
Read also
- Melbourne and Victoria — Complete region: Great Ocean Road, Phillip Island, Yarra Valley, Tasmania.
- Great Ocean Road — 243 km of iconic panoramic road: 12 Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge, Cape Otway.
- Sydney — Opera House, Harbour Bridge, Bondi: to combine for the signature duo.
- Australia — Complete guide: world's 6th country, eVisitor formalities, budget, best time.