Melbourne is Australia’s second largest city and cultural capital, with buildings from the Victorian era and offering extensive shopping, museums, galleries, theaters, and large parks and gardens. Many of its almost 5 million residents are from diverse ethnic background as well as sports-loving. The capital of Victoria’s south-eastern state, located at Port Phillip Bay’s, Melbourne is attractive for migrants from around the world and is consistently ranked as one of the most liveable cities in the world.

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Quick facts

Name: Melbourne
Founded: 1835
Population: 4.9 million
Area: 9,990 km²
Known as: Capital of Victoria, ‘City by the Bay’

Main attractions in Melbourne

There are quite a few attractions in Melbourne, both inside the city and in immediate surroundings, so we are listing here only 20-25 of them.

Queen Victoria Market. An authentic, busy, urban market that has been Melbourne’s heart and soul for 140 years. It is a fantastic place to discover new and specialty goods, handmade and unique products, great coffee and food, souvenirs and clothes, home to over 600 small businesses.

Federation Square. This new square has become the meeting place of the city as a host to major cultural attractions, world-class activities, tourist experiences and an impressive range of cafes, bars and specialty shops. With more than 10 million visitors per year, Fed Square has become one of the most visited attractions in Melbourne since its opening in 2002.

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria – Melbourne Gardens. The gardens are a treasured part of Melbourne green area with 38 hectares of lush landscaped gardens and plenty of indigenous and exotic plants.

Puffing Billy Railway. Puffing Billy is one of the world’s finest surviving steam trains. Children and adults alike would love the wind in their hair as they pass through the lush rainforest and beautiful fern gullies of the magnificent Dandenong Ranges National Park, enjoying the views from the famous open-sided carriages.

Yarra River. The Yarra River has many picturesque settings to offer. A variety of barbecue and picnic facilities, fishing platforms and jetties are accessible on the river banks. However, there are parks and paths that are ideal for cyclists, walkers and joggers. Melbourne Zoo. In the beautiful natural environment, only five minutes from the city centre, you can find over 320 species from around the world.

Flinders Street Railway Station. Iconic railway station with domed roof, built in Edwardian style. One of the main attractions and photoshoot location in the city. SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium. If you’re staying in the area, Melbourne Aquarium is a must-visit, especially while traveling with children. It is one of the Southern Hemisphere’s biggest and richest marine life collections. National Gallery of Victoria. Australian and international art museum featuring two galleries. Featuring major international touring exhibitions.

Luna Park Melbourne. Traditional theme park dating all the way from 1912, featuring iconic rides such as Mr Moon, Great Scenic Railway and Carousel. Crown Towers Melbourne. Renowned as one of the best hotels in the country, Melbourne’s Crown Towers is the pinnacle in luxury on the Yarra River bank. The opulent surroundings create an unprecedented grandeur environment complemented by exemplary service.

Melbourne Museum. Based in the area of the Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens, which is listed as a World Heritage site, the museum features a number of exhibition areas with their own permanent collections and temporary displays.

St Kilda Beach, Victoria. Popular beachside neighborhood in Melbourne. Featuring Sunday St Kilda Esplanade Arts and Craft Market, and a Luna Park. Melbourne Cricket Ground. A cultural icon and one of the most popular cricket grounds globally, affectionately known as ‘ The G ‘ to locals and cricket fans all over the world. Werribee Open Range Zoo. Zoo nearby Melbourne, with African-style safari tours in the open plane, 225 hectares savannah.

Shrine of Remembrance. The Shrine was designed and built by First World War veterans, inspired by classical architecture, to commemorate Australians who served in global conflicts throughout our country’s history. Great Ocean Road. Scenic coastal route with many landmarks and beautiful views for spectacular photography opportunity.

Royal Exhibition Building. The building is one of the oldest exhibition pavilions in the world and was originally built for the 1880 Great Exhibition. It also hosted the first Commonwealth Parliament in 1901, and in 2004 it was Australia’s first building to gain a World Heritage List.

Healesville Sanctuary. Only one hour from Melbourne, this wild life sanctuary for animals native of Australia in the stunning Yarra Valley wine region. State Library Victoria. One of the great libraries in the world, the Victoria State Library is the leading reference and research library of the state and a gateway to the information of the world. The Library houses items that show the cultural life, past and present of Victoria and make them available to the public through a variety of services, exhibits and cultural programs.

Dandenong Ranges National Park. Established in 1882, the Park has expanded to around 3500 ha since the initial development of a small reserve near Ferntree Gully. It is renowned for its Mountain Ash Trees (the world’s highest flowering tree) and lush fern gullies.

From other attractions in Melbourne we recommend: Old Melbourne Gaol, Melbourne Star Observation Wheel, Fitzroy Gardens, Chinatown Melbourne, Dandenong, Arts Centre Melbourne and Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park.

Top things to do in Melbourne

Melbourne is large city with many attractions to offer. We listed about 30 of them above. As with many cities in Australia, many exciting attractions are located outside of cities, such as national parks and nature trails and wild life reservations.

If you are adventurous, we recommend to take one of those tours and explore surroundings of Melbourne.

Enjoy!

Festivals and events

Melbourne is packed with festivals and events all year around and here are some top recommendations.

Australian Open (January),

Melbourne International Film Festival (August),

Melbourne International Arts Festival (October),

Australian Moto Grand Prix (October),

Melbourne Cup (second Tuesday in November) and many more.

Read more: Festivals and events in Melbourne

Interesting facts about Melbourne

Here are some interesting facts about this amazing city:

Australia’s first traffic lights were installed in Melbourne in 1912.

In 1956 Melbourne became the first city outside North America or Europe to host the Olympics.

Melbourne was Australia’s capital city between 1901 and 1927.

Read more: More interesting facts about Melbourne

Best time for flights to Melbourne

The peak season for flights to Melbourne is May, June and November. The low season for purchasing tickets is July, August and September.

Melbourne is served by these airports: Essendon Airport (MEB), Tullamarine Airport (MEL) and Avalon Airport (AVV). Direct flights to Melbourne are offered by 24 airlines.

Top hotel offers for Melbourne

These are current top hotel offers for Melbourne. The list is updated automatically when page is refreshed.

Safe travels!

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