Melbourne

Australia·Oceania

Currency

AUD

Language

English

Timezone

Melbourne

Continent

Oceania

Our guide

Discover Melbourne

Melbourne is found through its laneways rather than its avenues: the centre is a grid pierced by narrow passages covered in murals and full of cafés. The Royal Exhibition Building, a World Heritage site, housed Australia's first parliament in 1901 and still commands the Carlton Gardens. The National Gallery of Victoria is the country's oldest and most visited. Federation Square, opposite Flinders Street station and its yellow arcades, is where the city arranges to meet. The State Library Victoria is worth going inside for its domed octagonal reading room.

When to go

Southern hemisphere. December to February is hot and dry; March to May brings the best light and mild temperatures. Winter, June to August, is cool and grey without being harsh. Melbourne has a deserved reputation for four seasons in a day: the city drops from twenty-five degrees to fifteen in an hour, and an extra layer is never wasted.

Getting around

The tram network is the largest in the world and free throughout the central zone — a rare arrangement that changes how you move. Beyond it, a Myki card is required. Trains serve the suburbs and the bay. The centre walks well, and walking is the only way to find the laneways, which appear on no tourist map.

Where to eat

Coffee is taken seriously and the inheritance is Italian: our data puts Italy far ahead of every other cuisine, a trace of post-war immigration. Brunch is a late-morning institution. The covered markets, the Queen Victoria Market among them, have held the city since the 19th century. Seven halal addresses are listed.

Good to know

The Australian dollar is the currency and contactless payment is the norm. Tipping is not expected. The UV index is high even under cloud at this latitude: hat and cream earn their place out of season too. And plan to go back for a different jacket — the swing within a single day is the local conversation topic and it is founded.

Smart Planning