AU
Melbourne
A city of laneways, coffee, street art, galleries and sport, with day trips to the coast and wildlife
A city of laneways, coffee, street art, galleries and sport, with day trips to the coast and wildlife
Hosier Lane, opposite Federation Square, is covered with constantly changing murals and graffiti. Nearby lanes such as Degraves Street and Centre Place are lined with small cafés.
Photo: -wuppertaler, CC BY 4.0
Opened in 2002, the city’s main public square holds ACMI (the museum of screen culture) and the Ian Potter Centre, which shows Australian art from the National Gallery of Victoria.
Photo: DXR, CC BY-SA 4.0
A large open-air and covered market dating from 1878, selling fresh produce, deli food and clothing. It is closed on Mondays and Wednesdays.
Go hungry; there are many food stalls.
Photo: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0
Built for the 1880 International Exhibition in the Carlton Gardens, it was the first building in Australia to be listed by UNESCO, in 2004. The Melbourne Museum stands next to it.
Photo: DXR, CC BY-SA 4.0
The MCG holds about 100,000 people and hosts the AFL Grand Final and the Boxing Day cricket Test. Stadium tours and the Australian Sports Museum are open on non-event days.
Photo: Pattav2, Public domain
Melbourne is known for its coffee and brunch culture. Try Greek food in the city’s large Greek community, Vietnamese in Richmond and Footscray, Italian on Lygon Street, and dumplings in Chinatown.
Many of the best cafés and bars are tucked away in the laneways.
Melbourne Airport (MEL) is about 30 minutes from the city on the SkyBus express. Trams are free within the CBD Free Tram Zone; the Metro Tunnel, which opened in late 2025, added new underground stations in the city centre.
Use a myki card for trams, trains and buses outside the free zone. Everyone except New Zealand citizens needs a visa or travel authority. Most European passport holders can apply online for a free eVisitor; citizens of the US, Canada, the UK and some other countries can use the ETA, applied for through the official AustralianETA app (A$20 service charge). Both allow stays of up to three months per visit. Australia has strict biosecurity rules, so declare any food, plant or animal products on arrival. Check current rules before you travel.
Australia uses the Australian dollar (A$). It is an expensive country for accommodation and eating out, though free beaches, parks, museums and walks help keep costs down. Tipping is not expected.
Prices rise during the Australian Open and major sports events.
Laneways, markets and a coastal day trip.
Walk the laneways, see Hosier Lane and Federation Square, and visit the NGV International on St Kilda Road.
Visit Queen Victoria Market, the Royal Exhibition Building and the Melbourne Museum, then dinner on Lygon Street.
Take a full-day trip to the Twelve Apostles along the Great Ocean Road.
Tour the MCG and walk along the bay at St Kilda.
🛂 Entry rules: every visitor needs a visa or ETA
Everyone except New Zealand citizens needs a visa or electronic authority before travelling to Australia. Passport holders from the US, Canada, the UK, Japan, Singapore and several other countries can use an ETA (subclass 601): apply in the official Australian ETA app, which charges an AUD 20 service fee. It allows stays of up to three months at a time for 12 months.
EU and some other European passport holders can instead get a free eVisitor (subclass 651) online. Other nationalities need a Visitor visa.
Official information: Australian Department of Home Affairs: ETA · Reviewed September 2026
Carry layers; the weather can change quickly.
Trams are free within the CBD zone; outside it, tap on with a myki.
Book tickets early for big AFL and cricket matches.
The Phillip Island penguin parade is a popular evening trip.
Quick answers for planning time in Melbourne.
Yes, within the Free Tram Zone in the CBD. Outside it, you need a myki card.
Yes, with the surrounding Carlton Gardens, it was listed in 2004.
Yes, as a long day trip by car or tour; staying a night is more relaxed.
Usually Tuesday and Thursday to Sunday; it is closed on Mondays and Wednesdays.
March to May and September to November, when it is mild; summer can bring very hot days.
Offline maps are useful outside the cities, where mobile coverage can drop out.
Free
Australians mostly use SMS and iMessage, but many tour operators also use WhatsApp.
Free
Planning a wider trip? Our Australia travel guide covers getting there, costs, when to go and more.