Melbourne: Cheap Flights & Best Hotels

Melbourne Travel Guide

Introduction

Melbourne wears its personality in its laneways. Australia's second city is known for coffee culture, street art, live music, sport and food, and for a tram network that threads through Victorian-era boulevards and modern towers alike. It is less about a single landmark than about atmosphere: hidden bars, packed stadiums, markets and leafy parks. It is also the gateway to the Great Ocean Road, Phillip Island's penguins and the Yarra Valley wineries.

Choosing When to Go

Melbourne is famous for changeable weather, sometimes "four seasons in one day", so layers are essential whenever you visit.

• March to May (autumn): Often settled and mild, with golden leaves in the parks. A favourite time for many visitors.
• September to November (spring): Gardens in bloom and a busy events calendar, including the Melbourne Cup horse race in early November.
• December to February (summer): Warm to hot, with occasional heatwaves, and big events such as the Australian Open tennis in January.
• June to August (winter): Cool, grey and sometimes wet, but great for galleries, cafés and the city's indoor culture, with lower prices. Winter is also football season.

Top Attractions

1. Laneways and arcades – Wander Degraves Street, Centre Place and the Block Arcade for cafés, then find the street art in Hosier Lane and AC/DC Lane.
2. Federation Square – A cultural hub opposite Flinders Street Station, home to the Australian Centre for the Moving Image.
3. Queen Victoria Market – A historic market for fresh produce, deli treats and souvenirs, with night markets in some seasons.
4. National Gallery of Victoria – Australia's oldest public art museum; entry to the permanent collection is generally free.
5. Royal Botanic Gardens – Sweeping lawns and lakes beside the Yarra River, next to the Shrine of Remembrance.
6. Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) – One of the world's great stadiums, for cricket in summer and Australian Rules Football in winter; stadium tours are available.
7. St Kilda – A beachside suburb with a pier where little penguins can sometimes be seen at dusk, a historic amusement park and cake shops on Acland Street.
8. Fitzroy and Collingwood – Independent shops, live music venues and some of the city's best cafés.

Trips Out of Town

• Great Ocean Road: One of the world's great coastal drives, to the Twelve Apostles limestone stacks. It is a long day trip; staying overnight is more relaxed.
• Phillip Island: The evening Penguin Parade, when little penguins come ashore.
• Yarra Valley: Wineries, gourmet food and hot-air ballooning.
• Dandenong Ranges: Forests and the historic Puffing Billy steam railway.

Food and Coffee

Melbourne takes coffee very seriously; try a flat white or a long black in a laneway café. Waves of migration have shaped the food: Lygon Street in Carlton is known for Italian food, Victoria Street in Richmond for Vietnamese pho, Chinatown on Little Bourke Street for dumplings, and the city has strong Greek, Lebanese and Ethiopian dining. The south-eastern and western suburbs, including Dandenong, have many Indian and Sri Lankan restaurants. Vegetarian and vegan food is easy to find almost everywhere.

Getting There and Around

Melbourne Airport (MEL), at Tullamarine, is the main gateway. The SkyBus express coach connects it to Southern Cross Station in the city. Avalon Airport serves some domestic routes.

Melbourne has one of the largest tram networks in the world. The Free Tram Zone covers the CBD, which makes city sightseeing easy. Outside that zone, use a myki card (or check current options for contactless payment) on trams, trains and buses. The city centre is compact and walkable, with flat streets suited to cycling.

Where to Stay

• CBD: Laneways, shopping and the Free Tram Zone.
• Southbank: Riverside hotels near the arts precinct.
• St Kilda: Beach vibes and nightlife.
• Fitzroy and Collingwood: Creative and lively.
• South Yarra and Richmond: Shopping, dining and good transport links.

Budget Tips

• Make full use of the Free Tram Zone in the CBD.
• Many galleries, gardens and street art lanes are free.
• Use free public barbecues in parks for picnics.
• Look for lunch specials in Chinatown and on Victoria Street.
• Book Great Ocean Road and Phillip Island trips together as a package if they suit your plans.

Practical Information

• Visa: Nearly all visitors need a visa or electronic travel authority to enter Australia. Check the official Department of Home Affairs website.
• Currency: Australian dollar (AUD).
• Weather: Pack layers and a light rain jacket year-round.
• Biosecurity: Declare food, plants and animal products when you arrive.
• Plugs: Type I.

Before You Book

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