Melbourne Guides Attractions Events in Victoria

Take a sip of integral Melbourne history in Lygon Street, Carlton. Carlton was the place where the city's famous café culture was born with the arrival of Melbourne's first espresso machine at one of the street's Italian-owned cafes in the 1950s.

Melbourne's own Little Italy is crammed with double-storey Victorian terraces featuring endless cafes and restaurants serving steaming bowls of pasta, espresso and delicious gelati. Charming waiters will try and entice you to step inside or take a seat for sidewalk service. Old favourites like Tiamo and University Café are as warm and welcoming as they are traditionally tasty.

Further down Lygon Street you'll find bookshops, galleries and plenty of shops selling the latest European and Australian fashions. The crowd here is mixed, from students at the nearby university to the literary set buying up big at Readings bookstore and older Italian men just watching the world go by. Don't miss the Lygon Street Festa in October – a celebration of traditional and contemporary Italian culture and one of Australia's largest outdoor street festivals.

For a taste of Melbourne's history, take a walk through Carlton Gardens and the World Heritage listed Royal Exhibition Building and on into the Melbourne Museum, which houses everything from dinosaur bones and Melbourne Cup hero Phar Lap, to a full set from popular TV soap, Neighbours. It also features touring exhibitions and the spectacular IMAX movie experience.

Take some time to explore the Melbourne General Cemetery, final resting place of some larger than life Australians including Burke and Wills, Eureka Stockade activist Peter Lalor and one-time Prime Minister Robert Menzies.

Head to Carlton on tram number 1 or 22 heading north from Swanston Street or bus numbers 20, 201, 203 or 207 from Melbourne Central.

East Melbourne is an inner city suburb of Melbourne, located between the CBD, Jolimont and Richmond. Walk through the quiet residential streets to see some of Melbourne's largest and oldest Victorian homes and terrace houses. Explore the green expanse that is Treasury Gardens. Walk the extensive system of pathways that meander through the park and connect directly to the Fitzroy Gardens, or from the large embankment that runs the length of the gardens and offers extensive views. The garden’s fine lawns are a lunchtime retreat for many city workers, as well as being an ideal place for a picnic, barbecue or kick of the football.

While in East Melbourne take a tour of the famous Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). As a super stage of Australian sport, the Melbourne Cricket Ground traditionally has provided the live drama to thrill millions worldwide. But backstage the Melbourne Cricket Ground Tours provide a treasure trove of sporting history and an unforgettable experience. For a quick and cheap authentic Vietnamese meal, head to nearby Victoria Street, and for current season’s styles at bargain prices make a beeline to the factory outlets and warehouse shops that line Swan Street and Bridge Road in Richmond.

Inner suburban Fitzroy is Melbourne’s bohemian heart. An edgy mix of alternative, artistic and trendy elements, it has a fascinating collection of young designer and retro clothes shops, bookshops, galleries, cafés and restaurants, and a vibrant nightlife.

You'll get a feel for the suburb with a short walk along Brunswick Street, Fitzroy's backbone. See quaint and quirky shops and eclectic art on offer in studios and galleries. Pick up bargain recycled fashion, arty homewares, locally made jewellery or just a colourful bunch of flowers.

Brunswick Street's cool cafés, restaurants and boisterous bars offer anything at any time, serving all-day breakfasts and coming alive at night with crowds of locals turning up to eat, drink and enjoy themselves. The area around Brunswick Street is a good place to get a no-nonsense, decent meal with gastro pubs like the Napier, the Rose and the Standard to choose from.

Nearby Smith Street is an interesting multicultural streetscape that's an alternative to the ever-popular Brunswick Street. Known for its vegetarian and whole foods, you'll also find plenty of budget-friendly Asian, Greek, Moroccan and Middle Eastern eateries, as well as an increasing number of stores stocking local designer wares. Gertrude Street is also emerging as an edgy place to explore, with an odd collection of boutiques, cafés, pubs and bars.

Situated between Brunswick and Smith streets, Johnston Street is Melbourne's Spanish quarter and has a range of tapas and flamenco bars. Every year the road is closed to host the two-day Hispanic-Latin-American festival. It's no surprise that bohemian Fitzroy is also the centre of the alternative Melbourne Fringe Festival every September/October.

Take tram 112 from Collins Street or number 86 from Bourke Street and within 15 minutes you’ll be deep in Fitzroy.

Melbourne, the capital of the state of Victoria, is set around the shores of Victoria's Port Phillip Bay and boasts a lively and cosmopolitan pulse, with chic boutiques, buzzing cafés and bars, immaculate gardens and festivals and popular sporting events. The city sits on the Yarra River, about five kilometres from the bay.

One glance at a map and it's obvious Melbourne is a planned city: a tidy, balanced grid of neatly angled streets. But beneath this sense of restraint lies a restless creative energy. Discover the work of talented local artists, architects and designers in stylish fashion boutiques, buzzing laneway cafés, hidden galleries and trendy bars.

Melbourne is a city of style and sophistication, with an inviting cosmopolitan atmosphere. It is a melting pot of cultures reflected in its microcosm of restaurants, cafés, bistros and bars. Melbourne's dining offers a dizzying spread of great cuisines, serving meals from the substantial and classic to the truly exotic.

From locally designed originals to the best of international fashion brands you'll be spoilt for choice in Melbourne's shopping precincts. Explore the inner city shopping centres and the city's myriad of arcades and laneways.

The CBD is made up of many precincts – enclaves with their own distinct flavour and charm. Some are just a lane or two, while others cover a suburb or a busy CBD street. Spend time experiencing the richness of Melbourne’s different cultures from the Greek Quarter around Lonsdale Street, Italian in Lygon street, Vietnamese in Victoria Street to the Chinese culture in Chinatown and the upmarket Paris End of Collins Street.

Leave time to admire the elegant Victorian-era streetscapes, take in a film or food festival and add a visit to one of the many galleries and opulent theatres.

Port Melbourne is a stylish blend of Melbourne's old and new, and a long-time arrival point for ships from across the Strait and around the world.

Once a concentration of transport and manufacturing industry, today it is a buzzing bayside suburb featuring striking residential developments alongside restored public buildings and workers' cottages.

Since the 1830s, Port Melbourne has been the arrival point for millions of shipping passengers. Station Pier is the docking point for the Spirit of Tasmania ferry service from Devonport, Tasmania, and for international cruise ships, which are in port between November and March each year. Head to the pier on a warm summer evening, pick up some fish and chips and sit by the water imagining life on an enormous ocean liner in days gone by.

Tree-lined Bay Street has a fascinating collection of old fashioned pubs, hotels and historic buildings housing specialist retailers, boutiques and contemporary eateries. You'll also find a large number of film and recording studios, as well as publishers and production houses in the area. Beacon Cove is a new residential development that has given rise to more sophisticated eateries reflecting the bayside way of life.

Year-round, walkers, runners and cyclists pound the palm-lined path that hugs the Port Melbourne foreshore, and continues all the way through St Kilda to Frankston.

Take the number 109 (Port Melbourne) tram from Collins Street and within 20 minutes you'll be sitting by the sea.

Best known for its bargain designer and seconds shopping along Bridge Road and Swan Street, vibrant Richmond is also the place to go for Greek or Vietnamese food, languid all-day breakfasts and great live music.

Richmond is one of the Melbourne's earliest settlements and these days is where many of Australia's finest fashion designers have their factory outlets and seconds stores – pick up bargains at Mimco, Country Road and Atelier. Stop on Swan Street or Bridge Road for lunch in a restaurant or café, many of which offer a genuine taste of Greece. Church Street is the place to go for designer furniture and objets d’art. Try for a booking and savour the tastes at stylish mod-Oz restaurant, Pearl.

Nearby Victoria Street, or Little Saigon, is the heart of Melbourne's Vietnamese community. Wander among the long stretch of eateries, bakeries, butchers, fishmongers and grocers and grab a bite along the way. Don't expect white linen tablecloths and hovering waiters – Victoria Street is about the hustle and bustle of fast, fresh and exceptional Asian food at a bargain price.

Bars and live music thrive in Richmond, the Corner Hotel being one of Melbourne's most famous intimate live-music venues, hosting big-name bands alongside obscure newcomers. Just across Swan Street, Dizzy's Jazz Club is known for its quality acts. Sip a cocktail in refined surrounds at Der Raum, or celebrate the hops and tour the Carlton & United Breweries’ brewhouse in Abbotsford.

From the city, you’re just 10 minutes from Richmond. Take the number 70 tram from Flinders Street to Swan Street or number 109 from Bourke Street to Victoria Street, number 48 or 75 from Flinders Street to Bridge Road. Alternatively, jump on the train and travel just one stop from Flinders Street Station.

Visit South Melbourne, one of Melbourne's oldest suburbs and its beautifully restored public buildings, terrace houses and stately mansions to see how Melbourne's grand past embraces the present. Nearby Albert Park is a contained area worth a visit for its cafés, delis and scenic outdoor activities. Time your visit for mild March, when the area gets into gear for the Formula 1™ Australian Grand Prix.

Running through the heart of South Melbourne is cosmopolitan Clarendon Street, featuring restored Victorian shopfronts housing fashion, food and coffee outlets. An eclectic range of independent retailers stretches toward the bay along Coventry, Dorcas, Bank and Park streets – you'll be rewarded for your time with items to covet. Stop for a refreshing drink at one of South Melbourne's impressive pubs.

The lynchpin of South Melbourne is the South Melbourne Market, a fixture of the area since 1867. You'll find characters, charm and fresh produce galore at the market, as well as unusual homewares to take home.

Sandwiched between South Melbourne and Port Phillip Bay is Albert Park, popular year-round for its cafés and delis and swag of leisure facilities along Bridport Street. Most popular is Albert Park Lake. Embark on the circuit around the lake and surrounding parklands and join Melbourne's inner city dwellers jogging, sailing, cycling or rowing. Stop for a dip at Albert Park beach if the temperature heats up. Also in the neighbourhood are the Albert Park Golf Course and the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre, as well as the Formula 1™ Australian Grand Prix racetrack.

Jump on tram 12 from Collins Street or number 1 from Swanston Street to get to South Melbourne and Albert Park.

Strut your stuff along Chapel Street and after arming yourself with internationally renowned designer labels from the vast array of fashion boutiques in Prahran and South Yarra, seat yourself at a chic café or bar and get ready to see and be seen.

Chapel Street is the backbone of Prahran and South Yarra and is lined with trendy shops selling all things groovy and hip from cutting edge fashion to funky homewares and inspiring gifts. Browse Australian designers like Scanlan & Theodore, Colette Dinnigan and Bettina Liano.

Nearby Toorak Road and High Street are also well-known shopping strips, offering understated sophistication with exclusive shops and boutiques.

Detour to Greville Street (just off Chapel Street in Prahran) for offbeat retro clothing and eclectic gifts, jewellery and record stores. If you're in the area on a Sunday afternoon, wander through Greville Street Market. For fantastic fresh food and discount shopping don't miss the Prahran Market on Commercial Road.

Cool bars and cafés like Caffé e Cucina, Café Domo, Pieroni and Chinois are as much about fresh food and cocktails as providing great scope for people-watching, a common pastime in this part of town. Fashion devotees, art students, 30-something professionals, models, techno kids and skaters are all part of the landscape here.

Drag yourself away from the shops and head north for a walk along the banks of the Yarra or take in the precinct's high society history at the beautiful Como House, where you can wander around the manicured gardens and peek inside the 1850s Victorian-era mansion.

Catch trams 72, 8 or 6 from Swanston Street or take the train from Flinders Street Station to either Prahran or South Yarra stations.

The Southbank promenade along the Yarra River is one of Melbourne's most popular dining precincts, with its riverside setting and fantastic views of the city skyline. The promenade has a broad range of cafes and restaurants, all the way from the Southgate complex to the Crown Casino, many with outdoor terraces and balconies where you can dine alfresco and watch street performers and passing pedestrians while taking in the stunning views of the cityscape as it lights up at night.
The Southgate complex and Crown Casino are widely known for their stylish boutiques and eclectic galleries. Shop for luxury lingerie, seductive perfumes and fabulous designer pieces from Versace, Burberry, La Perla, Mont Blanc and Prada.
Head up to St Kilda Road on the south bank of the Yarra River and explore Melbourne's vibrant arts precinct, incorporating the Australian Ballet, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, The National Gallery of Victoria, the Victorian Arts Centre, Playbox Theatre and The Malthouse. On Sundays, the Arts Centre Market spreads out along the eastern end of the riverbank with a colourful range of local arts and crafts.
For a different perspective, jump onboard a scenic cruise, water taxi or gondola outside the Southgate complex and float along the Yarra River.
Southbank is easily accessible by foot, car, tram or train.

Cycle or skate along St Kilda’s palm-lined foreshore then make a dash for an alfresco dining table on Fitzroy or Acland streets against the panoramic backdrop of Port Phillip Bay.

St Kilda, Melbourne’s favourite playground, was once a seaside resort for genteel Melburnians to take the sea air. In the 1960s and 1970s it took on a seedier edge, but today its racy atmosphere has largely been replaced by a heady dose of cosmopolitan cool.

Any tram with St Kilda beach displayed from Bourke, Swanston or Collins streets will get you here to join the Melburnians who flock to walk, cycle and skate along the foreshore. Take advantage of a windy day and dive into the water to sail, windsurf or kitesurf. Release your inner child amid the amusements and rides at iconic Luna Park. When its time to rest, sit in an outdoor café with a coffee – or something a little stronger.

Away from the foreshore, you'll find much of St Kilda's activity concentrated in Fitzroy and Acland streets. Fitzroy Street is renowned for its cool cafés, restaurants and bars, with tables spilling onto the footpath. It is one of Melbourne's most attractive eating and drinking streets. Nearby Acland Street is a bustling, vibrant street with an eclectic mix of restaurants, wine bars and continental cake shops. During the day the streets are lined with people drinking lattes; at night they're buzzing with clubbers and night owls making the most of the pubs, bars and clubs often featuring international bands or DJs.

St Kilda has long been treasured for its independent vibe. Don’t miss the selection of independent music and book stores, as well as second-hand furniture and a growing collection of fashion boutiques.

Werribee and the greater region of Werribee Park offers visitors a wealth of activities and attractions that are easily accessible from Melbourne, including Victoria’s Open Range Zoo, Werribee Park Mansion, Shadowfax Winery and the State Rose Garden.
The Chirnside family originally owned much of the Werribee Plains and built Werribee Park Mansion, the largest private residence in Victoria, in the late 1870s. Today the mansion has become one of Victoria's major tourist attractions after being bought by the State Government and restored to its original splendour. The 12 hectares of park include beautifully kept gardens and a farmyard area complete with authentic blacksmith facilities.
Garden-lovers will be in heaven as they take in the sights and smells of the State Rose Garden, which boasts more than 4,500 plants in its collection. The best time to view the roses is between November and May, and the Garden Party held every March is not to be missed.
Follow one of the many scenic trails winding their way through the You Yangs Regional Park through beautiful terrain. Watch migratory wading birds at the Point Cook Coastal Park during the summer months. For a truly wild experience, come face-to-face with giraffes, zebras, meerkats, wallabies, emus and other grassland animals from around the globe at Victoria’s Open Range Zoo.
The Werribee Park Precinct is approximately 30 minutes from Melbourne via the Princes Highway.

Jump on a ferry and cross to Williamstown, a quiet waterfront suburb that offers a relaxing alternative to the bustle of city life. Enjoy a sumptuous meal by the water at Nelson Place and stunning views of Melbourne's city skyline through the masts of moored boats.

It's hard to pull yourself away from Nelson Place, with its range of arts, crafts and other speciality shops in historic buildings. You'll find everything from galleries to classic vinyl and CD shops and don't miss the craft market on the third Sunday of each month.

Discover the history of Williamstown, which was established in 1837 as Melbourne's first port. Explore the interior of the replica of the Enterprize, which was the first vessel to carry European settlers up the Yarra and into Melbourne. You can even charter the vessel on weekends.

For another touch of history, stop off at Gem Pier and take a look at the HMAS Castlemaine, a World War II minesweeper converted into a maritime museum. Pause at the Time Ball Tower on Point Gellibrand, built by convicts in the mid-1800s to tell ships the time. It's still in use today.

There are activities for the whole family in Williamstown. Scienceworks offers an exciting, interactive science experience for the whole family. Grab your bucket, pack a picnic and paddle in the shallows at the lovely Williamstown bay beach. Take a ferry ride across the bay to St Kilda or down the Yarra River to Southbank.

Williamstown is approximately 15 minutes from Melbourne via the West Gate Freeway. Ferries from Southgate run every two hours from 11am daily and take about an hour, or take the half hour ferry ride from St Kilda Pier weekends. Williamstown is a 30-minute train journey from Flinders Street Station.