Check out our guide to Melbourne’s iconic attractions, from tiny laneways to the city’s 100,000 seat stadium, the MCG.
The city of Melbourne, in the south of Australia, is renowned for its laneways, street art, and museums. It’s a wonderful place to visit, with many iconic attractions that will be enjoyed by everyone.
Do what the locals do and have breakfast in a quirky cafe, stroll through one of many great museums or galleries, or take a walk along the river, by the city’s iconic Fed Square and the MCG.
Read on to find out more about the top Melbourne attractions that you won’t want to miss during your visit.
Explore Melbourne’s city centre
Any day of the week you can leave your hotel and stroll the streets of Melbourne’s city centre. You’ll find plenty happening, from street artists at work, to buzzing cafes, to pop up shops and displays. Make sure you leave time during your visit to Melbourne to wander the streets and explore the city.
Laneways
Melbourne’s laneways are what bring soul to the city. Stepping off the main streets will reveal some of the best cafes, bars, and boutique shops. Many of them are Melbourne institutions that have stood the test of time. Check out our guide to Melbourne’s laneways, or just head out and discover them for yourself.
Shopping Arcades
A popular pastime of Melburnians is shopping. And with some many shops to choose from, it’s not hard to see why. To step back in time, visit The Royal Arcade (first opened in 1870) or the Block Arcade (first opened in 1892). They are both designed in the style of a grand European shopping arcade. Stepping inside, you’ll feel a world away from the modern Melbourne streets.
Bourke Street Mall
Melbourne’s most iconic shopping strip is the Bourke Street Mall. Free from traffic, with just trams running through, this is often considered the heart of Melbourne. Big name retailers have taken up residence in the mall, including Australian department stores Myer and David Jones. You’re also likely to find musicians a street performers bringing life to the shopping strip.
Discover incredible street art
Everywhere you go in Melbourne, you’ve got a chance to see fantastic street art. From large murals on city buildings to less-permanent chalk drawings on the sidewalk. To discover some of the best art-filled destinations, head for the laneways. In particular, AC/DC Lane, Meyers Place, Blender Lane and Union Lane.
Federation Square was opened in 2002 with the promise of becoming Melbourne’s meeting place. The large plaza buzzes with energy every day of the week. Catch the latest entertainment on the stage and large screen were regular events or performances happen for free.
You can also visit some great museums and galleries within Fed Square, such as the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI), the Ian Potter Centre for Australian art, or the Koorie Heritage Centre to discover Indigenous culture and history.
Visit the MCG
Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) is world-renowned to lover’s of cricket. It opened in 1953 to host the Melbourne Olympics and has been renovated several times. The 100,000 capacity stadium is the largest in the Southern Hemisphere.
These days the stadium is the arena for cricket matches, AFL (Australian Football League) games and music concerts. The MCG is the place to go to see Melburnians at their most passionate – cheering on their sporting team.
Tour the Royal Botanical Gardens
Step off the city streets and into a green paradise, in Melbourne’s Royal Botanical Gardens. The gardens border the Yarra River and have more than 50,000 plants and 8,500 different species.
To take a tour of the gardens, we recommend the Aboriginal Heritage Walk which you can visit as a self-guided experience, or with an Aboriginal guide. You will get a glimpse into Australia’s Indigenous culture through the local plants and how they were used for food, tools and medicine.
Explore Australia’s best museums
From history to art, immigration and sport, Melbourne’s museum’s are a place to learn and experience something new. We recommend taking time in your holiday to visit at least one of these museums. However, you might find it hard to choose!
Check out the Melbourne Museum for a whole host of exhibits, including the Science and Life Gallery or the Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre. Visit the National Gallery of Victoria to experience Australia’s oldest and largest art museum.
Heide Museum of Modern Art was founded by art supporters John and Sunday Reed back in 1934. They welcomed contemporary artists into their home, creating an intellectual environment and these days part of the museum is still in the original house.
To learn about Melbourne’s heritage and culture, a visit the Immigration Museum is a must. Modern Melbourne has been shaped by the people who have migrated to the city. From the Gold Rush to post-war migration, you can learn about how and why people arrived to live in the city.
On Tour with Go West
We hope you’ve enjoyed our guide to Melbourne’s most iconic attractions. If you are planning a visit to our wonderful city – also consider a day trip to discover Melbourne’s amazing surrounds. We are spoilt with a spectacular coastline, an abundance of wildlife and some fantastic national parks. Join us on a Go West Tour to discover them for yourself.
On a Go West Tour you have the opportunity to learn more about the history of Melbourne. Find out how the city has grown and developed over the years. Learn more about the First Nations people who lived in the areas surrounding Port Phillip Bay. Discover how the city today celebrates it’s rich and diverse history.
If you are interested in the Victorian Gold Rush, our Grampians National Park Day Tour features a stop in the historic gold mining town of Ballarat. Our morning tea break is held at the location of the Eureka Rebellion, where thousands of miners took a stand to defend their rights. It was an important moment in the Gold Rush era, and in the history of Australia. The rest of our tour visits a wonderful national park with mountains, wildlife, waterfalls and walks amongst nature.
Written by: Leah Furey – Digital Content Coordinator @gowest.com.au