Its fortunes built in the gold rush of the 1850s, Melbourne, the capital of the state of Victoria in Australia, is one of the world’s most prosperous cities. Apart from the obvious commercial affluence, it also boasts a wealth of experiences that can be enjoyed by the inveterate traveller. There’s a lot you can do on your Melbourne itinerary, with some splendid museums, entertainment venues, excellent restaurants, beautiful public spaces, and a lively, multicultural vibe waiting to be explored.
Melbourne itinerary: The best time to visit
Melbourne is in the Southern Hemisphere; so, spring here is from September to November, summer is from December to February, autumn is between March and May, and winter is from June to August. Your choice of when to visit would depend on what type of weather you enjoy best. We recommend that you plan your Melbourne itinerary in the shoulder period of spring, or in December, when the temperatures aren’t too high and the crowds are not yet in. Even if you’re there at Christmas time and the climate is far from cold, the illuminations across the city, the fab projection mapping on the Town Hall, and the window displays in some iconic stores are enough to put you in high spirits.
Melbourne itinerary: Day 1
Most visitors fly into the island of Australia, although there are some magnificent cruise ships you can voyage on to get there. Tullamarine Airport, the second busiest in Australia, is about 20 km from the Central Business District (CBD). Depending on the time your flight arrives, it should take 30 to 90 minutes to reach your hotel in or around the CBD. Make sure not to carry any items that are not legally allowed into the country, or you may get held up at customs. Their strict biosecurity restrictions mean that all foodstuff, clothing with fur or feathers, and shoes that have been worn on a farm or in contact with a river, all need to be declared. No fake designer goods are permitted, so you’d better leave that faux Vuitton at home. If you’re carrying wooden or leather items as gifts, they may need to be quarantined.
A taxi is the most comfortable way to get to your hotel in the city centre, although express transfers with free wifi by SkyBus are also available every 15 minutes. We found Citadines Melbourne on Bourke quite modern and central and Oaks on Collins very spacious and well appointed, although you can pick from budget hotels such as Ibis and Best Western as well as luxury properties like The Westin, InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto, an IHG Hotel, The Hotel Windsor, The W, The Langham, and many more, or charismatic five-star boutique hotels like The Motley. Once you’re comfortably ensconced in your hotel and ready to explore the city on Day 1 of your Melbourne itinerary, we recommend easing into the experience by taking a stroll along the Southbank Promenade, pausing to gawk at the beautiful bridges, and stopping for some of their world-famous coffee or wine at one of the many excellent establishments along the way. If there on a Sunday, you could check out the weekly arts and crafts market.
Itinerary day 2
Begin Day 2 of your Melbourne itinerary with a roving breakfast at the historic Queen Victoria Market. Several gourmet stalls offer something for every palate (and dietary preference), as well as fresh produce, cheese, meat, and a chance for lovers of seafood to shuck the freshest of oysters off the shell! Once your appetite is sated, feed your curiosity by exploring the city. Whether you book a tour, hire a private vehicle, or just figure out how to get around using public transportation, there’s plenty to see. Try the City Circle Tram, a free hop-on/hop-off service that will take you around Melbourne’s main sights and give you a little history via its onboard commentary.
Explore the Australian city with our guide to the best things to do in Melbourne.
If you’re focussing on the historic buildings, start with the iconic and very central Flinders Street Train Station and Melbourne Town Hall, and marvel at the high Victorian architecture of Hotel Windsor and the grand collonaded front of the Parliament House. Stop by the Princess Theatre whose origins date back to the days of the gold rush, and visit the Royal Exhibition Building. You could stroll through the Fitzroy Gardens and even visit the legendary Captain Cook’s cottage. The Shrine of Remembrance war memorial is special and a stop worth making to honour Australian soldiers who fought in any war.
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We recommend indulging in an Aussie high tea to round off your colonial day out. Whether you go full-on traditional at The Hotel Windsor, which has been serving up its signature selection of delicious scones, dainty sandwiches, and tea since 1883, or sign up for a two-hour long high tea cruise on the Yarra River that glides you past Victoria Harbour, Williamstown, and Hobson Bay, the experience is sure to be a highlight of your Melbourne itinerary.
Melbourne itinerary: Day 3
For Day 3, head to the Melbourne Zoo, a great way to get an introduction to the unique wildlife of Australia. More than a zoo in the conventional sense, it works as a conservation space that helps many critically endangered species. Several behind-the-scenes experiences can be pre-booked at the same time as you book your entrance tickets, a chance to understand how the keepers interact with the various species and learn about different ways that you can help support, act, and fight extinction. After this, you could walk by the lake in the Royal Botanic Gardens or explore interesting neighbourhoods for some shopping and dinner in the CBD such as Little Italy (Lygon Street, although Bourke Street and Little Bourke have some of the best Italian restaurants) or the very vibrant Chinatown (we recommend the soupy xiaolongbao at homegrown Juicy Bao as well as the more famous chains like Hawker Chan and Tim Ho Wan here).
Book your stay at InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto, an IHG Hotel via Booking.com
Book your stay at InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto via Agoda.com
Melbourne itinerary: Days 4 & 5
If you’re a cricket buff, a visit to the impressive Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) is an absolute must on Day 4 of your Melbourne itinerary, if not earlier. Located on Brunton Avenue in East Melbourne, the MCG is a compulsory pilgrimage for sports fans and a must-see for any visitor to the city. Sign up for their tour for a visit to their wonderful Australian Sports Museum, see the actual stands (and perhaps kiss the ground?), get the best view from the leather couches of the historic “Members Only” Long Room, proudly pose with Sachin Tendulkar’s framed photograph, and participate in a mock post-game analysis in the media centre with one of their legendary guides! Another great place for sports enthusiasts is the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne Park, also known as the National Tennis Centre, the main venue for the Australian Open. You can see it from the outside or book seats or a swish Superbox for an event here.
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If you follow Formula One, you might like to drive around the Albert Park Circuit, used annually as a circuit for the Formula One Australian Grand Prix and other races. Another activity for some adrenalin-pumping fun is a visit to the Melbourne Skydeck on Riverside Quay. You get to travel up 88 floors in only 38 seconds and take 360-degree views of Melbourne from almost 300 metres up in the air! The adventurous can step out on the Edge and be suspended over a transparent glass or, if you like to play it safe, go for the virtual reality experience in the Melbourne Skydeck Voyager Theatre to experience 16 Melbourne locations in Super 8K high-definition, along with sounds, scent, and movements.
If shopping is your sport of choice, head to Bourke Street Mall, a pedestrian-only thoroughfare packed with high-street brands and interesting stores. Collins Street has luxury labels and Block Arcade for gourmet goodies, Brunswick Street offers some unique but trendy merch, while Chapel Street is filled with more affordable shops.
Explore more with our selection of Australia’s top destinations and experiences.
Reserve Day 5 of your Melbourne itinerary for a deep dive into the city’s cultural scene. The city’s graffiti and street murals manifest in a unique ‘laneway’ art scene across the CBD, with stencils, tags, and creative work everywhere, especially in lanes like Hosier. After art to your heart’s content, head to the seaside suburb of St Kilda. This fascinating neighbourhood has a colourful history, from being a residential area for the rich to a bohemian hub. Most of the streets of St Kilda and the affluent areas around it are lined with grand 19th-century Victorian mansions and terraces that are a treat to see.
You can also visit the striking Luna Park, an amusement park delighting revellers since 1912. Spend a pleasant afternoon at the Acland Street Village, shopping for vintage fashion, relish Polish cake from Monarch Cakes, a St Kilda institution, and wash it down with beer, wine, or a green smoothie from one of the many hipster cafes on the stretch or on Fitzroy Street.
A short distance from this fun area is the beach at Brighton, which boasts 82 colourful bathing boxes. Built for changing into swimwear in Victorian times, today they are an expression of their respective owners’ artistic tastes, each painted with bright hues and cheerful designs. An Instagrammer’s dream, the spot is predictably very popular.
Enjoy some sun, sand, sea and surf with our selection of the best beaches in Australia, boasting over 10,000 glistening coastlines across its bay.
Book your stay at The Westin Melbourne via Booking.com
Book your stay at The Westin Melbourne via Agoda.com
Melbourne itinerary: Days 6 & 7
Rent a vehicle for a road trip that starts from Phillip Island, approximately two hours away, for a day of discovering Victoria’s wildlife. Take a cruise with Wild Oceans Eco Boat Tour to see Australia’s largest fur seal colony. Visit the Koala Conservation Centre to spot the adorable marsupials in their natural habitat from a raised boardwalk. If you want to get even more up close, stop by the Maru Koala and Animal Park to pat a koala and feed kangaroos. Get a glimpse of farm life at Churchill Island nearby. At The Nobbies Centre, the stunning visual exhibit titled the ‘Antarctic Journey’ takes you across the Southern Ocean to Antarctica to teach you all about the continent and its inhabitants is as much worth a look as the glorious ocean from the breezy boardwalks outside. If you’re here in winter, you could even spot some majestic whales migrating past. Make it in time before sunset so you can witness the most amazing Penguin Parade, where hundreds of Little Penguins waddle home from the day of fishing in the sea! Day 6 is definitely a red-letter day on your ideal Melbourne itinerary.
Stay overnight so you can enjoy a relaxed morning on Day 7. There are beautiful beach homes for the taking in Cowes or Rhyll nearby. Later in the day, indulge in wine tastings at one (or three!) of the excellent wineries in the Yarra Valley nearby. Get attuned to the taste and cold-climate terroir of Australian wines, sip on some Chardonnay at Oakridge Wines or Rob Dolan, pour some Pinot Noir at Pimpernel Vineyards, get giggly over bubbly at Domaine Chandon, or sample sips from the many family-owned wineries in this region before heading back to Melbourne in time to take in a magnificent musical at Her Majesty’s Theatre in the theatre district of the East End if you aren’t ending your trip and flying out of Melbourne tonight.
Book your stay at The Hotel Windsor via Booking.com
Book your stay at The Hotel Windsor via Agoda.com
Day 8
If you’ve decided to stay longer, make Day 8 of your Melbourne itinerary memorable by driving westwards from Melbourne to the You Yangs Regional Park where you can spend the day with Janine Duffy on one of her Echidna Walkabout Tours to glimpse kangaroos, koalas, and many other Australian animals in the bush and get hands-on with helping to make their environment more hospitable.
Later, do a beer flight at the Forrest Brewing Company’s micro-brewery and diner that also doubles up as a hangout for mountain bikers in the Otways Hinterland. In the evening, do a short trek to a Platypus Dusk Tour in a canoe with Otway Eco Tours, where you can spot the unique Duck-billed Platypus, an egg-laying mammal that lives in the water! Check into an ecolodge or lighthouse (yes, the Cape Otway Lightstation actually lets you sleep in a lighthouse keeper’s cottage!) at Cape Otway, before you continue your journey on the Great Ocean Road.
If these timeless beacons fascinate you, explore our selection of the world’s oldest lighthouses still standing tall.
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Day 9
On Day 9, the drive from here to the Twelve Apostles, off the shore of Port Campbell National Park, is guaranteed to be one of the most ooh-worthy in your life and surely a must-do on your Melbourne itinerary. The blue waves of the Southern Sea, the pristine beaches along the way, and the pretty towns and villages you pass by are all picture-perfect and tempting. The towering structures jutting from the sea are limestone stacks formed by wind and water erosion. And while they aren’t really 12 in number, it’s still a spectacular sight and one worth taking an expensive ride with 12 Apostles Helicopters to see from the air. The chopper will take you on an awe-inspiring flight over Loch Ard Gorge, London Bridge, and as far as the Bay of Islands. You’ll see the Great Ocean Road from a spectacularly different perspective as well as the fantastic rock formations that make up the Twelve Apostles, The drama of the wild waves and the 50-metre-high ‘apostles’ is something that stays with you long after you’re back on terra firma.
Just a short distance away, at the end of the Great Ocean Road, the picturesque seaside city of Warrnambool is home to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village built around the Warrnambool Lighthouse dating back to 1858, a time when many Western settlers came to Australia by sea. Watch the exciting light and sound show that brings alive the stories of thousands whose fortunes were made or shattered along the Shipwrecked Coast in the 19th century. The fortunate few who survived the journey to Australia to start a new life in a foreign land lived to tell the tale and this dramatic depiction brims with tragedy, romance, history and hope.
Explore our selection of the best hotels in Melbourne to book yourself an unforgettable stay.
This morning, visit Tower Hill, where Victoria’s largest dormant volcano makes for a beautiful haven for wildlife, and the Worn Gundidj Visitor Centre gives you an idea of the aboriginal heritage of the area. Apart from the cultural insights and connection through a special place and an indigenous lens, you can also buy some beautifully painted boomerangs with authentic aboriginal artwork and bush produce.
Day 10 – Hooroo, Melbourne!
It’s Day 10, time to return to Melbourne and prepare for your flight home. Your last-minute souvenir shopping could include opal gemstones (almost 95 per cent of the world’s supply comes from Australia), the thick brown Vegemite spread (an acquired taste), and Tim Tam chocolate biscuits that are universally loved. Make sure you ascertain which terminal of the airport your flight is taking off from and reserve some time for even more shopping.
Book your stay at W Melbourne via Booking.com
Book your stay at W Melbourne via Agoda.com
Things to remember while travelling to Melbourne
Melbourne is a very welcoming city that is one of the coolest and most fun places in Australia in terms of its vibe and activities for all tastes and budgets. There’s a lot to explore and having a plan (like this one) chalked out will help you make the most of it. While a lot of the most obvious landmarks are colonial, the city of Melbourne acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land they govern, the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Bunurong/Boon Wurrung peoples of the Kulin, paying respect to their Elders past and present. As it honours the unbroken spiritual, cultural, and political connection they have maintained with this unique place for over 2,000 generations, it’s important that visitors understand and respect it too.
Book your stay at The Langham Melbourne via Booking.com
Book your stay at The Langham Melbourne via Agoda.com
shop the best travel experiences here
(Feature Image Credit: Andrey Bayda/Shutterstock)
Related: Most Beautiful Places To Visit In Australia
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
-How many days should I spend in Melbourne?
This vibrant city has so much to offer that you’ll need at least a week to explore it adequately and much more if you want to unpack its varied goodness.
-Are there any day trips I can take from Melbourne?
There are several amazing places that are accessible from Melbourne as day trips. Be it wine trails in the Yarra Valley or driving down the Great Ocean Road to the 12 Apostles, the state of Victoria has destinations that can be easily reached and enjoyed.
-What should I pack for my trip to Melbourne?
As they say, the weather in this city can cover all four seasons in a day. Make sure you have many layers, so you can go from hot to cool to rainy or windy in spring and summer and cold to colder in autumn and winter! Comfortable walking shoes for all seasons, a cap, scarf, jacket and shades are a must.
-How do I get around Melbourne?
The tram system is great, and taxis are available in most areas. Renting a vehicle for longer road trips makes for a pleasurable driving experience.
-Do I need a visa to visit Melbourne?
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of citizenship or residency status.
-What are some family-friendly activities in Melbourne?
The Melbourne Zoo is the perfect family-friendly activity in Melbourne. Another is Monopoly Dreams, a multi-sensory experience that takes you into the world of the world-renowned board game using 4D technology, physical challenges, and interactive games. Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience is an immersive walk into an illuminated forest in Mount Martha that’s spellbinding for Potterheads of all ages.
-Where can I find the best dining options in Melbourne?
Melbourne has some excellent restaurants, Attica in Ripponlea, Philippe and Vue de Monde on Collins Street, Flower Drum on Market Lane, and hundreds more. The CBD and St Kilda have the highest number of good dining options.
-What activities are available in Melbourne besides sightseeing?
From dining in the dark to skydiving over the Great Ocean Road to hot-air balloon rides with breakfast, Melbourne has a lot to offer. There are cruises on the Yarra River, plenty of art, theatre, and sporting events, farmers’ markets, craft fairs, heritage walks, marathons, seasonal festivals and much more.
Written By
Priya Pathiyan
A chronicler of all things culture and lifestyle. Priya\'s forte is fresh perspective on everything. She writes for mainstream newspapers and magazines, specialised publications as well as the leading digital platforms. She also helps first-time visitors to her beloved Mumbai truly understand the mega metropolis through her immersive tours. An inveterate global traveller herself, Priya loves to savour the charms of a destination, sampling unique local ..Read More
