Melbourne is one of my favorite cities in the world – it’s fast, vibrant, and cultural. It’s European but at the same time still very much Australian. The accents are smooth, almost as much as the coffee, and there is live music every night of the week in the various bars and dives all over the city. The public transit is clean and fast and the trams cover a good number of routes.
Each neighborhood is distinct and lovable for whatever mood and experience you’re craving. The city is lit up in colors from the amount of street art you’ll find around every corner. And I dare say that Melbourne has the best dumplings I have ever tried in my life, I still daydream about them today.
As you can probably tell, there are countless ways to fill your days in this Aussie city. Melbourne may not be as popular of a tourist destination as Sydney, but it holds its own in terms of versatility and unique experiences. These are the 12 experiences everyone who comes to Melbourne should have at some point during their stay.
People watch at Flinders Street/Federation Square
The equivalent of the town square of the city, Federation Square is where a lot of the action takes place and is a great meeting spot for friends. There are numerous museums, eateries and coffee shops around, as well as free Wi-Fi that a lot of the uni student and tourists take advantage of by the droves.
Flinders Street Station is also right there, where you’ll go when you want to be whisked away to another part of Victoria and beyond. I always think of this part of the city as the bringing together of north and south since the Yarra River cuts through here.
It’s a great little spot to feel the essence of the city in all of its hustle and bustle and there are sometimes even events going on in Federation Square if you’re lucky. Last time I was there a magician was performing with a top hat and a bunny, I’m not even joking.
Go on a street art scavenger hunt
Melbourne is known for its colorful streets and the talented artists that you can sometimes spot creating new masterpieces on the sides of unsuspecting walls. Hosier Lane in the CBD is famous for its outrageous street art, but I enjoy heading to the likes of Fitzroy and Collingwood to discover more of the neighborhood street art.
The great thing about the street art in Melbourne is you’ll discover it when you’re least expecting it. I love cities with hidden beauties in nooks and crannies everywhere.
Spend a day at the free museums
The great news for budget travelers in a fairly expensive country is that Melbourne has a thing for free museums. If you want to explore more of the city culture in addition to the street art, make sure to go to one of the many free museums all around the city center. This is especially a good option on the horridly frigid/windy days Melbourne is so fond of having.
My recommendations for the best free museums that are all super close to each other include the interactive Australian Center for the Moving Image (ACMI), the more avant-garde Ian Potter Centre, and the classic National Gallery of Victoria (NGV).
Go to a footy game
More than anywhere else in the country, you’ll find a strong addiction to Australian Football League, also known as the AFL or footy, in Melbourne. If you live in Melbourne, you better pick a team and you better support them like a champ on game days. I’m talking full getups of scarves, hats, socks, you name it. I felt like I was going to a Hogwarts quidditch match the first time I rode a tram on my way to a game. Everyone was decked out in there respective houses, I mean, team colors from head to toe.
There is typically a lot of friendly yelling and drinking at these games, and even though you probably won’t really know what’s going on unless you were born in Australia, it still is one of the most quintessential Melbourne experiences you can have. The game was invented in Melbourne, after all.
Read a book at the State Library of Victoria
The most beautiful and ornate library I’ve potentially come across in my travels, the State Library of Victoria is all class. As you walk in you’ll be mesmerized by the stark white walls and stories of books that wind up to the ceiling, it is every book nerd and/or architect’s dream. It’s a great place to take a rest from sightseeing, pick up a great book, or make a stop into the delicious cafe next door, Mr Tulk.
Photo via Flickr
There is even a Ned Kelly exhibition in the library that gives you a quick history of the Australian bushranger with his homemade armor on display.
Stroll through Queen Victoria Market
One of my favorite activities to do during my time in Melbourne was to stroll through the Queen Victoria Market, which is open everyday expect Mondays. Whether I was grocery shopping or people watching, the Queen Victoria Market has it all.
Photo via Flickr
There are fresh fruits, veggies, dairy, meats, but also countless souvenirs and handmade goods. There are a good handful of street musicians that hang around as well and some delicious takeaway foods. My personal favorite were the AUD$2 Turkish Boreks. The market spans two city blocks and is inside, outside and under canopies in some parts. It seriously has everything and it’s a place that brings together both tourists and locals alike.
Go to the top of the Eureka Skydeck
Although touristy as any large city tower is, the Eureka Skydeck is especially unique because it’s the highest public viewing point in the whole Southern Hemisphere. Be whisked away on a super fast elevator that takes you up to a lookout at 935 feet for arguably the best view in Melbourne.
Photo via Flickr
Melbourne is a gorgeous city full of lights and color and bustle. It’s mesmerizing being able to see if from that high up, it’s hard to convince yourself to come down. Tickets are about AUD$20, and it’s well worth it to add $5.50 to your ticket to experience the sun & stars package, allowing you to see the view both during the day and at night. The “edge” experience, on the other hand, was a bit of a bore, so I would pass on that one.
Have a beach day in St. Kilda
Although it may seem a bit far from the rest of the city, St. Kilda is a great little spot in Melbourne, and proof that there is actually a beach to escape to outside the city. It’s sometimes easy to forget that Melbourne actually resides on the coast of Australia.
Photo via Flickr
There are great little cafes and restaurants over here that are right along the beach, and even a historic amusement park called Luna Park with a view of the waves. St. Kilda has a completely different vibe from the rest of Melbourne, but it’s worth the relatively quick tram ride to come explore it for yourself.
Sip Coffee on Degraves Street
An experience that has become more cliche and touristy nowadays, you definitely won’t find the best coffee in Melbourne on Degraves street, but you will get the full European laneway cafe experience that Melbourne has become famous for.
Cafes and restaurants line the little laneway called Degraves in the CBD. Pick which place looks best to you and grab a flat white to sip out on the cobblestones. Make sure to also stop in at Centre Place nearby for the same street cafe culture (and better coffee) without so many tourists.
Start your night at a rooftop bar
And lastly, you can’t go to Melbourne and not experience at least one rooftop bar. As I mentioned before, Melbourne is a gorgeous city, especially when it’s lit up at night. There are various rooftop bars at which to admire the city and sip on a cocktail.
Photo via Flickr
My two favorites in the CBD would include Rooftop Bar (above the Toff), which also has an outdoor cinema in the summer, and the eccentric Madame Brussels, where staff are decked out in tennis getups and you’re served warm cocktails in teacups.
You can’t go wrong with a rooftop experience in Melbourne, and there’s nothing better to make you feel like a class act on a night out in town.
Have you been to Melbourne before? What are your favorite experiences to have in the city?
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Mimi founded The Atlas Heart to create a community of travelers inspired to see the world. Follow her on The Atlas Heart for more great stories and photos of a worldwide adventurer.
I think Melbourne was my Favourite city in Australia. Would love to go back and try some of these out :]
The Fernweh Wolf / Travel & Lifestyle Blog
I absolutely loved Melbourne when I was there! I loved how you could find some amazing street art wherever you were in the city and it would totally take you by surprise. There’s some seriously amazing street art in Fitzroy 🙂