Melbourne
Currency
AUD
Language
English
Timezone
Melbourne
Continent
Oceania
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.
Top Activities in Melbourne
landmarkRoyal Exhibition Building
from €18
museumNational Gallery of Victoria
Free
parkCarlton Gardens
Free
landmarkFederation Square
from €12
landmarkFlinders Street
from €12
museumMelbourne Museum
from €16
landmarkState Library Victoria
from €12
landmarkOld Melbourne Gaol
from €10
landmarkQueen Victoria Market
from €10
landmarkSaint Patrick's Cathedral
from €13
landmarkCrown Melbourne
from €11
landmarkCooks' Cottage
from €10
landmarkShrine of Remembrance
from €12
landmarkSouthern Cross
from €11
landmarkSaint Paul's Cathedral
from €11
museumImmigration Museum
from €14
landmarkArts Centre Melbourne (Theatres Building)
from €10
Bourke Street Mall
from €8
museumACMI
Free
landmarkPrincess Theatre
from €9
activitySea Life Melbourne Aquarium
from €45
landmarkPolly Woodside
from €10
museumAustralian Centre for Contemporary Art
from €14
landmarkRichmond
from €10