Melbourne holidays

Stylish and sophisticated, Australia’s cultural capital is no runner-up. Holidays to Melbourne take advantage of its grand parks, lush Victorian gardens and seaside vistas, but also delve into its tight grid of laneways brimming with risk-taking art studios and high-concept cocktail bars. Need an extra jolt to get you going? Melbourne is famous for its coffee. 

Melbourne holiday highlights

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Sports rule

Melburnians are passionate about sports and Aussie Rules football is the main game. In fact, nine out of 18 pro teams call Melbourne home. In summer, it’s all about cricket and test matches at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (the MCG). Time your holiday to Melbourne for the Grand Prix at Albert Park or grand slam tennis at the Australian Open in January. 

Victorian grandeur

Thanks to the gold rush in the 1850s, Melbourne transformed from a settlement into a city. And you can see the results in elegant Victorian-era landmarks like the Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton Gardens and the Old Treasury Building. Modelled after Milan’s famed Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, the Block Arcade in the city centre is a perfect spot to admire architecture and fashion during your Melbourne holiday.

Art appreciation

Melbourne is the artistic centre of Australia. Explore international collections at the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) and be inspired by the sculptures at the Heide Museum of Modern Art. The creative scene can be a part of cheap holidays to Melbourne. It doesn’t cost a cent to take photos in street-art alleys, like Hosier Lane, and support artist-run galleries in Federation Square. 

Melbourne: Know before you go

Language

English

Currency

Australian dollar ($)

Time zone

UTC+10 (AEST) and UTC+11 (AEDT)

High season

December – January

Low season

June – August

Find the best time to go to Melbourne

Weather in Melbourne

March – May: March is warm and summery, but things cool down once autumn arrives. The good news is you’ll have plenty of blue-sky days.

June – August: Winter mornings and evenings are crisp in Melbourne. Pack warm, windproof layers, as the winds can catch you off guard.

September – November: Spring days are brightened by blooming flowers, including the fragrant ornamental pear. Expect some rain in October and November.

December – February: Summers are warm, dry and often partial to heatwaves. But the city is known for having four seasons in one day, so pack some light layers and a raincoat.

Events in Melbourne

Laneway Festival (January or February): What started in Melbourne as a tiny laneway gig is now one of the country’s hottest music festivals. Choose from a star-studded lineup of global talent in rock, electronic, indie and hip-hop.

Melbourne Food & Wine Festival (March): Dozens of events take over the city to celebrate Melbourne’s fantastic food and drink scene. Dine at celebrity chef pop-ups, attend sommelier-guided tastings and feast on street food.

AFL Grand Final (September): Maybe the most important day on the calendar for locals is the last Saturday of September when two teams battle it out for the AFL (Australian Football League) premiership. The atmosphere at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and across every pub in town is electric.

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The best neighbourhoods in Melbourne

Melbourne CBD

The Central Business District (or CBD) is where to stay in Melbourne for convenience. You’ll be close to the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne Museum and the riverside restaurants of Southbank. Tours in the CBD cover anything from street art to the haunts of infamous gangsters and the best places to buy chocolate.

Good for: Shopping, convenience, street art

Fitzroy

Just a short tram ride from the CBD, Fitzroy is the place to find vintage clothes on Brunswick Street and local creatives at the Rose Street Artists’ Market on weekends. This is one of the best areas to stay in Melbourne for dining. Sample everything from fried chicken at Belles Hot Chicken to sophisticated dishes at Cutler & Co.

Good for: Restaurants, vintage clothing, local art

St Kilda

The best neighbourhood to stay in Melbourne for the beach, St Kilda has much more to offer than surf and sand. Ride the roller coaster at Luna Park, relax at casual beach bars and enjoy a stand-up act or concert at the historic Palais Theatre. Acland Street is a must-visit, but go on an empty stomach because this shopping strip is famous for its bakeries. If you’re overwhelmed by the choices, try the chocolate Kooglhoupf at Monarch Cakes.

Good for: Beach, nightlife, family activities

Things to do in Melbourne

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Family friendly things to do

The Melbourne Zoo heads the list of things to do with family in Melbourne. Meet lowland gorillas and Asian elephants. Then plunge into the world of stingrays and sea turtles at SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium. Inspire little athletes in the family with a visit to the Australian Sports Museum inside the MCG. Spark the interest of curious kids with the interactive exhibits at Scienceworks.

Shopping

The Queen Victoria Market is the headline attraction for shopping in Melbourne. Move beyond this massive outdoor market to find galleries and craft shops in Federation Square. Discover original fashion in Emporium Melbourne and hunt for souvenirs at the Bourke Street Mall. If you are a thrifty shopper, join locals looking for bargains at Spencer Outlet Centre. 

Beaches

Reach the beaches in Melbourne by train or rental car. Most of the best spots are within a 30-minute drive of the CBD. At St Kilda, enjoy sand, surf and amusement park rides. There’s plenty of room to spread out and have a picnic on the wide, sandy shore at Williamstown Beach. For great photo ops, head to Brighton Beach, famous for its colourful bathing boxes.

Nightlife

Experience Australia's 24-hour city through the nightlife in Melbourne. Sip cocktails with trendsetters in Fitzroy or the CBD and find a new favourite band at the concert venues in St. Kilda. Clubs like Revolver Upstairs and Brown Alley are open late. Choose spots like Angel Music Bar if you prefer to relax with jazz in the background. 

Places to eat

Restaurants in Melbourne serve everything from creative contemporary cuisine to street food. Brunswick Street is great for international favourites like Vietnamese ‘banh mi’, while Lygon Street is the city’s Little Italy. Start the day experiencing Melbourne’s famous coffee scene in Federation Square or Fitzroy. For a special night out, Collins Street has fantastic fine dining venues such as Society and Reine, set in the former Stock Exchange building.

Free things to do

Avoid admission fees at highlight attractions like the Royal Botanic Gardens and the free collections at NGV International. Other free things to do in Melbourne include exploring the worlds of film and video games in ACMI (free except for special film screenings). The Motley Bauhaus hosts free jazz concerts on Saturdays, and street performers take the stage on the Bourke Street Mall almost every day. 

Plan your holiday to Melbourne

Budget

It’s possible to enjoy a cheap holiday in Melbourne with great food and free gallery visits. The city is a hub of affordable eats. You can usually find an inexpensive sit-down meal for around 25 Australian dollars ($). Look out for weeknight pub meals, incredible Vietnamese, Thai and Lebanese restaurants, and bakeries. A short taxi ride will cost you around $11.

Day trips from Melbourne

For animal lovers, a day trip to Phillip Island is a must. You’ll have front-row seats to the sunset penguin parade, the largest fur seal colony in Australia and glimpses of short-tailed shearwaters migrating from Alaska. To visit some of the country’s best wineries, join a tour or hire a car to explore nearby Mornington Peninsula, Yarra Valley, Geelong and Macedon Ranges.

Getting around Melbourne

Trains, trams and buses cover the entire metro area, but you can travel by tram for free within the CBD. Pay for fares using the Myki card, sold at convenience stores and train stations. Public Transport Victoria offers an app for planning trips and topping up Myki cards. Consider a hire car if you want to travel beyond the Melbourne metro.

FAQs about Melbourne holidays

July brings the coolest conditions for a Melbourne holiday. Book your trip sometime then and you'll experience lows of 4ºC (39ºF).
Melbourne is generally considered a safe place, especially if you're in the main tourist spots. As with any destination, stay aware of what's going on around you and keep belongings secure. Check any travel alerts or safety tips to ensure your holiday to Melbourne is relaxing and stress-free.
The warmest month in Melbourne is January, when temperatures hit a maximum of 29ºC (84ºF).
Catch the highlights of Melbourne in three days, but plan for four days or more if you visit the beach or want to catch a sporting event. Avid shoppers and art lovers can easily fill five days and those looking for cheap holidays to Melbourne will find plenty to do within budget.
English is what you can expect to speak and hear daily. From friendly greetings to distinct local expressions, you'll likely pick up a few new terms during your city break in Melbourne.
Book your Melbourne flights and hotels for May, the most affordable time to go based on ticket prices. With the cash you save, consider upgrading your hotel or adding some travel perks like priority seating and extra legroom.
You'll be using the Australian dollar (AUD) while on your trip to Melbourne. Besides your cards, consider having some cash on hand for things like small purchases and getting around.
Your city break in Melbourne can vary in price based on anything from your trip length to travel dates. To find the best deals on Melbourne flights and hotels, avoid locking yourself into fixed dates and look out for early bird offers and promotions.
Holidays to Melbourne are enjoyable in this safe and clean cosmopolitan city. Experience urban Australia at restaurants, nightlife venues and art galleries. Even in the heart of the CBD, you're only a 20-minute tram ride from the beach.
With around 10 cm of rainfall, October is the wettest month. If you're going on your Melbourne holiday then, you might want to include some indoor fun in your plans. Eat at one of the city's top restaurants, head to an art gallery, or hit the shops for some retail therapy.
Temperatures dip to 10°C in July and hover between a beach-friendly 20°C and 30°C from November through March. These warmer months are drier, with five or six rainy days per month. Note though that Melbourne is known for having four seasons in one day, so pack layers and a raincoat.