City guide · Australia
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria and the second-most populous city in Australia.
4 ready itineraries · 3, 5, 7, 10-day plans
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria and the second-most populous city in Australia. The city's name generally refers to a 9,993-square-kilometre (3,858 sq mi) area, comprising an urban agglomeration of 31 local government areas.
The name is also used specifically to refer to the local government area, also named the City of Melbourne led by Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece, whose administrative area is centred on the Melbourne central business district and some immediate surrounds. right|thumb|Royal Exhibition Building located in Carlton Gardens and built for the 1888 International Exhibition thumb|right|Avenue of English elm trees in Fitzroy Gardens thumb|right|Cathedral Arcade, an art deco ground floor arcade of the Nicholas Building Melbourne is a great city for arts, culture, dining, and events. Visitors frequently comment on the "good vibe" of the city, which can only be understood by experiencing it for yourself.
- Best for
- First-time visitors who want Melbourne without a car. The 3-day plan stays inside walking range of City.
- Skip if
- Skip Melbourne if you only want a beach week or an airport layover. This cluster is for people who will walk most days.
Pick a trip length
One plan per length — open it and walk the days in order.
- 3days3-day itineraryA long weekend walking Melbourne.Open plan →
- 5days5-day itineraryPopularA first visit to Melbourne with room for one extra neighborhood.Open plan →
- 7days7-day itineraryA slower week in Melbourne, with one day outside town.Open plan →
- 10days10-day itineraryFirst-time visitors who want a full Melbourne trip with day trips.Open plan →
5-day preview
Skim the walking days, then open the full plan.
- 1
City
Walk City in Melbourne. Start at Dights Falls, then Saint Augustine's Catholic Church and Regent Theatre. Stay on foot.
Dights Falls · Saint Augustine's Catholic Church · Regent Theatre · Weary Dunlop Memorial · …
- 2
City
Walk City in Melbourne. Start at Playhouse Theatre, then Historical Marker and La Mama Theatre. Stay on foot.
Playhouse Theatre · Historical Marker · La Mama Theatre · Salvation Army Carlton · …
- 3
City
Walk City in Melbourne. Start at Christ Church Kensington, then St Mary's Coptic Orthodox Church and Greek Orthodox Church of Sts Constantine and Helen. Stay on foot.
Christ Church Kensington · St Mary's Coptic Orthodox Church · Greek Orthodox Church of Sts Constantine and Helen · Richmond Uniting Church · …
- 4
City
Walk City in Melbourne. Start at Gasworks Theatre, then Queen Victoria Memorial and RMIT Capitol Theatre. Stay on foot.
Gasworks Theatre · Queen Victoria Memorial · RMIT Capitol Theatre
- 5
Day trip toward File:Port Melbourne Beacon Cove.jpg
Leave Melbourne for the day. Come back to the same bed.
File:Port Melbourne Beacon Cove.jpg · Victoria (state) · File:South Melbourne Townhall.jpg
Where to stay
Bases that fit the walking plan.
The centre
3 to 5 nights
First-time visitors
Stay inside walking range of the first-day stops in Melbourne.
Getting there & when to go
Lock timing and airport basics early.
Best time
Melbourne works year-round for a walking trip. Shoulder months are easier on crowds and hills.
- Shoulder months
- High season
- Low season
- Rain days
Airport
Melbourne Airport (MEL)
thumb|A Melbourne tram Melbourne's CBD is laid out in an orderly grid system, similar to Manhattan, meaning that navigating the CBD is easy. Melbourne has a comprehensive public transport system consisting of trams, trains, and buses. Trams criss-cross the city, trains extend to the outer suburbs, and buses cover the remaining destinations. Transport Victoria coordinates all train, tram and bus services within the state.
- Public transit from MEL30 to 60 minutes · Local ticket price. Check the operator the week you fly.
- Taxi or licensed ride hail20 to 45 minutes · Treat any number you see online as an estimate, not a quote.
Practical notes
Short reads before you book.
Understand
thumb|300px|Flinders Street Station, the Yarra River and central Melbourne skyline thumb|St Michael's Uniting Church built in 1866 The British settlement of Melbourne commenced in 1835 when settlers from Tasmania led by John Batman "purchased" land on Port Phillip Bay and the Yarra River from the local Aboriginal people. The streets of central Melbourne were carefully laid out in 1837, with some streets 30 metres wide.
Initially dubbed Batmania after its founder, the settlement was soon renamed Melbourne after William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne, the British Prime Minister at that time. The first British lieutenant-governor, Charles La Trobe, arrived in 1839 – his Cottage still stands and can be visited in the Kings Domain.
Get in
The city is primarily serviced by Melbourne Airport at Tullamarine which has international flights and a comprehensive domestic schedule. Avalon Airport is more distant, partway between Melbourne and Geelong, and hosts only a couple of domestic routes (Jetstar to Sydney & Gold Coast).
Finally, five regional destinations can be reached on light aircraft from Essendon Airport ( ): King Island and Flinders Island in Tasmania, and Dubbo, Orange and Wollongong in NSW. For general aviation, the aforementioned Essendon Airport as well as Moorabbin Airport ( ) in the southeastern suburbs of the urban area, are the airports of choice.
Get around
thumb|A Melbourne tram Melbourne's CBD is laid out in an orderly grid system, similar to Manhattan, meaning that navigating the CBD is easy. Melbourne has a comprehensive public transport system consisting of trams, trains, and buses.
Trams criss-cross the city, trains extend to the outer suburbs, and buses cover the remaining destinations. Transport Victoria coordinates all train, tram and bus services within the state.
Stay safe
The Australia-wide emergency number is 000, with the ambulance service, fire department and police being available through this number. It is important to take care around tram lines.
Trams are heavy and it can take over 100 metres for a tram to safely stop. Even if a tram has passed, look carefully both ways, as trams will often run nose-to-tail on busy corridors like Swanston Street.
Related guides
Helpful next pages for Melbourne.