Melbourne is known as the most livable city in the world, and it’s also renowned for its world-class, incredibly delicious coffee. The city offers a wide variety of food styles to choose from, thanks to its diverse population of immigrants. Melbourne is chic, with orderly urban planning, friendly people, modern architecture, and cool street art. Oh my, it’s a complete package! I must admit, Melbourne is the city I love the most and want to keep visiting in Australia. It’s so great, and I genuinely want everyone to experience it.
My Australia review is quite comprehensive. In addition to reviewing the city of Melbourne, I also review the surrounding areas. If you’re planning a short trip here, you might miss out on some amazing highlights! So, if you’re thinking of visiting, make sure you have enough time to explore all that Melbourne has to offer.
8-Day, 7-Night Melbourne and Surrounding Areas Trip
Let me tell you, visiting Melbourne isn’t just about the city itself! Besides the vibrant, colorful city with its excellent coffee, there are many beautiful places to visit outside of Melbourne. If you’re a nature lover, you must not miss the Great Ocean Road, one of the most beautiful road trips in the world, to see the Twelve Apostles standing in the middle of the sea. It feels like you’re in a sci-fi movie. If you have enough time to explore outside of Melbourne, the Great Ocean Road should be the first addition to your travel plan.
If you have more time, I recommend adding Phillip Island to your itinerary. This is a chill day trip that many people will love because you’ll get to see koalas and the world’s smallest penguins returning to their nests. It’s a fantastic experience. Lastly, for those who have even more time and love nature, I recommend going on a beautiful trail in the Grampians National Park. It’s another place where you can escape the hustle and bustle of the city, calm your mind, and enjoy beautiful trails. So, if you’re planning a trip, click below to see the full travel plan.
Melbourne Travel Itinerary
Day | Travel Itinerary |
1 | Melbourne CBD Overnight city: Melbourne |
2 | Melbourne CBD Overnight city: Melbourne |
3 | ตัวเมืองเมลเบิร์น Overnight city: Melbourne |
Where to Stay in Melbourne: Handpicked Recommendations!
For those who are unsure about where to stay in Melbourne, I’ve got a simple guide for you. I’ve categorized people based on lifestyle and first-time visitors to suggest which areas are best to stay in.
1 CBD Area: For First-Time Visitors to Melbourne
The CBD is the heart of the city. It is the most convenient area in Melbourne that offers free trams, numerous restaurants, bars, and the most shopping options in Melbourne.
– Top Luxury and Boutique Hotels (A$260/night ++): QT Melbourne, Ovolo Laneways, The Westin Melbourne
– Good Value Hotels (A$130-260/night): Radisson on Flagstaff Gardens Melbourne, Ibis Melbourne Central
– Budget-Friendly Hotels (Price less than A$130-260/night): The Victoria Hotel, Best Western Melbourne City
– Hostels (Dormitory + Single rooms at a good price): Selina CBD Melbourne, Space Hotel, Queen Victoria Hostel
2. Southbank Area: Near CBD at a Cheaper Price
Southbank is adjacent to the CBD, separated by the Yarra River. This area is great for shopping, with the DFO South Wharf Outlet Mall and the nearby South Melbourne Market offering a variety of food options. Plus, it’s very easy to get to the CBD.
– Top Luxury and Boutique Hotels (A$260/night ++): The Langham, Quay West Suites Melbourne
– Good Value Hotels (A$130-260/night): Ink Hotel Melbourne Southbank
3. Fitzroy Area: Hip Area for Cool People, Lots of Quirky Shops, Close to CBD
Fitzroy is one of the hippest areas in Melbourne. It has a variety of restaurants, cool cafes, boutique and second-hand clothing stores, and even street art at every corner. If you’re visiting Melbourne for the second or third time, staying in this area is a great idea for a chill experience.
– Top Luxury and Boutique Hotels (A$260/night ++): Park Hyatt Melbourne (within walking distance to Fitzroy)
– Hostels (Dormitory + Single rooms at a good price): The Nunnery Accommodation
Getting to Melbourne City from Airport by SkyBus
Getting to Melbourne city from Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL) is easiest by taking the SkyBus. They operate about 6 routes, but tourists typically use 3: Melbourne City, Southbank Docklands, and St Kilda. Which one you should take depends on where you’re staying.
- Melbourne City Express: Picks up from the airport and drops off at one location, Southern Cross Station in the heart of the CBD. If you’re staying anywhere in the CBD, this is the recommended route.
- Southbank Docklands: Picks up from the airport and has several drop-off points in the Docklands and Southbank areas, which are adjacent to the CBD.
- St Kilda: Picks up from the airport and has several drop-off points around St Kilda, including downtown St Kilda, St Kilda Pier, and the Fitzroy area.
As for purchasing tickets, you can buy them at the airport at the SkyBus booth. Walk-in purchases are available. However, if you know for sure which day you’ll be traveling and want a cheaper price, it’s recommended to buy SkyBus tickets through Klook. It’s cheaper than buying at the booth, and they offer monthly discounts. It’s recommended to buy a round-trip ticket because it’s cheaper than a one-way ticket. You only need to specify the date for the first leg of the trip; you can use the second leg whenever you want. > You can purchase SkyBus tickets [through Klook] [through KKday]
Private Airport Transfer in Melbourne
For those who prefer private airport transfers, you can visit the Klook website and find service providers. Prices start at just over a thousand baht per round trip. This is a convenient option for those traveling in groups or with a lot of luggage. You can book a private airport transfer through Klook.
Getting Around Melbourne
For traveling within Melbourne, we can take trams, buses, trains, and scooters. All of these cover the entire city. In reality, we don’t need to rely on taxis at all. Now, there are some things to explain further, especially the Free Tram Zone, where we can ride trams for free within the CBD, how fares are calculated based on zones 1 and 2, and the public transportation card that everyone must buy, which is the Myki card.
Free Tram Zone
For those who stay or travel only in the Free Tram Zone in the CBD, it’s very convenient and saves a lot of money because we can hop on any tram line in this area for free without having to touch any Myki card at all. We can check the boundaries of the Free Tram Zone from the map below. Note: This is only free for trams, buses, and trains are not included, we still have to pay as usual, haha. (Click on the image to view it in a larger size)
Myki Card
Everyone who visits Melbourne is recommended to buy a Myki Card for convenience in all travels in Melbourne. If you don’t buy it and want to pay in cash, it’s very difficult. For trains or buses, we may be able to buy tickets at the station or pay the driver, but for trams, there are only a few stops with ticket machines. Most stops don’t have machines to buy tickets. The Myki Card has a deposit of $6, and the amount on the card depends on how much we top up. We can buy it at any train station, SkyBus booth, and any 7-Eleven branch.
For tourists like us, it is recommended to buy the Myki Explorer card for $16, which includes a Myki card (with a $6 deposit) and $10 on the card, which is enough for one day of travel. It also includes discounts for various tourist attractions. We can buy it at the SkyBus booth and the PTV counter at Southern Cross Station. For discounts on various tourist attractions in Melbourne, click here. click here
Fare Calculation in Melbourne
Whether it’s a tram, bus, or train, all forms of travel are charged the same flat rate, no matter how we travel or mix, it’s the same without having to worry about it. There are only zones of the area, the flat rate for the first two hours, and the flat rate for the whole day.
Now, about the Zone of the area, we don’t have to worry because most of the areas we visit are usually in Zone 1 (the main city of Melbourne). The way fares are calculated is a flat rate for zones 1+2 (there is no charge for only Zone 1). For the first 2 hours, on weekdays and Saturdays-Sundays, they charge a flat rate of $4.4, for unlimited trips. But if we use more than 2 hours, the price will immediately change to a daily flat rate of $8.8 on weekdays and $6.4 on weekends.
The way to calculate that we use public transportation for more than 2 hours is not that we sit for more than 2 hours alone, but they mean the start of touching the card to board the vehicle for the first time and the end of the time count at the last card touch of the day. That means, for example, if we get on the bus at 8 in the morning and another time at 11 o’clock, this is a one-day flat fare. It’s not difficult, right? 🤣
With a solid basic knowledge, let’s start exploring Melbourne!
Day 1 in Melbourne:
Central Business District (CBD) / Yarra River
For the first day of our Melbourne tour, let’s get to know and familiarize ourselves with Melbourne by starting from the central business district, also known as the Central Business District or CBD. This zone is like a hub filled with high-rise buildings, offices, restaurants, and the main shopping area of Melbourne. It’s really the center of everything. If you’re looking for and choosing accommodation, it’s recommended to stay in the CBD zone because not only is everything here convenient, but we can also take trams in the CBD zone. I must say, it saves a lot!
After leaving our luggage at the hotel, let’s start exploring Melbourne. The first point we will anchor is the Yarra River, located at the bottom of the CBD area. The reason why we start here is that we can see the beautiful view of downtown Melbourne by crossing the Yarra River to Southbank and walking along the river. Then, it’s recommended that we cross back to the CBD side via the Princes Bridge to continue to the Flinders Street Railway Station.
Flinders Street Railway Station
Crossing the Princess Bridge, we will come face to face with Flinders Street Railway Station, a train station that is an iconic landmark of Melbourne. Not only is it the first train station in Australia, but the shape and color of the station building are also beautiful with its green balloon dome and yellow building, making it one of the most distinctive architectures of Melbourne.
Seeing Melbourne as a reborn city like this, Flinders Street Railway Station was once the busiest train station in the world in 1926. It was packed with over 200,000 passengers/day, surpassing Gare Saint-Lazare in Paris and Grand Central Terminal in New York.
Hosier Lane
Walking a little from Flinders Street Railway Station, we will continue to Hosier Lane, famous for its street art and graffiti-filled lanes in Melbourne. Let me tell you, apart from Melbourne being famous for its world-class coffee, street art is another thing that makes Melbourne famous and adds color throughout the city. The most photographed street art is at Hosier Lane. Plus, the cool thing about the street art here is that all the walls you see here, inside there are bars, restaurants, and coffee shops. If you come in the evening, you can sit and chill.
For those who are not yet satisfied with the street art at Hosier Lane, I recommend continuing to AC/DC Lane Graffiti, which is a short walk away. I guarantee, you’ll take so many pictures that you’ll get tired of it. 5555555
Brighton Bathing Boxes – Brighton Beach
The last stop of the first day is one of Melbourne’s most famous places, the Brighton Bathing Boxes at Brighton Beach. I believe many of you have seen pictures of these small, colorful houses lined up along the beach, which are actually at Brighton Beach. To get here, you may have to go a little outside the CBD, but it’s not difficult because you can take a train from the CBD’s Southern Cross Station to Middle Brighton Station and then walk a little bit more.
Many people may wonder if these colorful bathing boxes are still in use. The answer is no, they are not. There are 96 of these distinctive bathing boxes that have been lined up to become another famous tourist spot in Melbourne for people to take pictures.
going back to 1860, as the city began to expand along the coast, bathing/dressing rooms began to appear because back then, they didn’t allow people to change clothes or swimwear in public on the beach, or even walk in swimwear on the streets. And that’s why these houses came up. After World War II, many bathing boxes were destroyed, so they collected these bathing boxes and brought them to Brighton Beach and repaired them until they became these colorful houses here.
Bourke Street Mall
For shopping enthusiasts, the most fun shopping spot in Melbourne has to be Bourke Street Mall. This street is closed to pedestrian and tram traffic only, densely lined with shops like H&M and Zara, which are flagship stores, as well as the famous Australian brand Cotton On, and there are luxurious malls filled with name brands like Myer and David Jones for shopping in several blocks. All in all, this is the most complete shopping spot in Melbourne. From here, let’s not talk much, let’s go shopping!
Day 2 in Melbourne:
Higher Ground Cafe
Wake up late on the second day, we will go for a beautiful, chic brunch. The cafe we are going to is not far from our accommodation, it’s a cool cafe decorated with raw brick style ‘Higher Ground Cafe’ near Southern Cross Station. They serve both coffee, which they claim to be Specialty Coffee, and food, both brunch and main course, along with a line of wines. The atmosphere is great, it blends well between the rawness of the bricks and the temporary furniture inside.
For the menu that I ordered, it’s Braised Mushrooms with Fried Polenta, Poached Egg, and Sourdough ($22), which is mushrooms on sourdough bread with poached eggs. This one is very delicious, especially the mushrooms. The other dish is Slow Cooked Tasmanian Salmon ($28.5) which is Tasmanian salmon eaten with beetroot cream dip and poached eggs. This one is also delicious, but I think the salmon could be more delicious and it’s a bit small, considering that salmon in Australia is very cheap. So, I give the mushroom dish the win.
As for the coffee, you can trust almost every cafe in Melbourne to be good to great, and this one is no exception. I ordered a Flat White ($4.2), which they made very well in Melbourne style with a nice smell and good taste. There’s nothing to criticize, only praise. Hahahaha.
Queen Victoria Market
For those who love exploring markets and want to experience the local life here, I highly recommend visiting the Queen Victoria Market. This open-air market is the largest and oldest in Melbourne, with a history of over 140 years and more than 700 shops. The market is so vast that it offers a wide variety of items to explore, from general merchandise like clothes and second-hand items to crafts, fresh produce, meat, and a variety of food. There’s also a food court for those who want a quick bite. If you love shopping at markets, hurry up and visit because the prices here are much cheaper compared to supermarkets. I got a bunch of cute socks at a great price!
The Queen Victoria Market is open every day except Mondays and Wednesdays. Interestingly, they also have a night market on Wednesdays from 5 pm to 10 pm during the summer (November-March) and winter (June-August). If you’re visiting during these times, try to check it out. It’s said to have a great atmosphere with food trucks and live music.
Market Lane Coffee : Queen Vic Market – Victoria ST
After exploring the Queen Victoria Market, I stopped by a famous coffee shop called Market Lane Coffee. They have about six branches across Melbourne, and the one I visited is located right in the market, the Queen Vic Market – Victoria ST branch. This branch has a charming, homely feel in a wooden building tucked away in the market.
Market Lane Coffee is a renowned specialty coffee shop in Melbourne. They source high-quality coffee beans from around the world, roast them themselves, and make every process to ensure a great cup of coffee. They also sell coffee beans, coffee-making equipment, and even offer barista classes.
I ordered an Espresso and a Hot Latte ($5.5), served in minimalistic white cups with chic phrases printed on them, perfect for a photo op. The coffee was excellent, aromatic, and the taste was top-notch. I loved both the coffee and the charming atmosphere of the shop. The price might be a bit higher than local standards, but it’s worth it. I recommend visiting if you’re at the market, but if you’re not, try to find their other branches. They’re all equally good.
National Gallery of Victoria (NGV)
Next, I visited the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), the oldest, grandest, and most visited gallery in Melbourne. They host exhibitions in all art-related fields, from painting, fashion, textiles, and photography, to various art forms from around the world. Every time I visit, there’s always a world-class exhibition waiting. The first time I went, there was a Dior exhibition, and the most recent visit featured works by KAWS. All were impressive.
I didn’t spend much time there this time as I had to rush to another place, but if you have ample time and are interested in art, I recommend setting aside some time to explore. They have numerous exhibitions running simultaneously, and if you want to see them all, it might take half a day. About 60% of the exhibitions are free, but some special shows have separate admission fees, like the KAWS exhibition.
The State Library of Victoria
It’s hard to believe, but The State Library of Victoria has become one of Melbourne’s must-visit attractions. The library’s interior architecture is stunning and unique. What’s more, it’s the oldest public library in Australia, established in 1854, and it was the first public library in the world to offer free entry to the general public.
One highlight of The State Library of Victoria is the La Trobe Reading Room, a large hall with over 320 reading tables arranged in an octagonal shape. It’s incredibly beautiful. If you want to see the top view of this reading room, you can take the elevator to the 6th floor. Trust me, you don’t want to miss this!
In addition to the gorgeous reading room, the library also has permanent exhibition galleries and numerous reading and book-borrowing rooms. If you love libraries or reading, I recommend grabbing a book you like, finding a quiet spot, and chilling out. The atmosphere is just perfect.
Day 3 in Melbourne:
Lune Croissanterie CBD
I left the hotel late and the first thing I did today was go out for breakfast. When many friends who had visited Melbourne before asked if I had tried the famous Melbourne croissant ‘Lune Croissanterie’, I was intrigued because I hadn’t been there yet. On the last day, when I had some free time, I decided to visit the shop as per my friends’ recommendations. The branch of Lune Croissanterie that I visited was located in the CBD, which was convenient and didn’t require a long trip. There’s another branch in Fitzroy.
Personally, I think Lune Croissanterie is a super cool croissant shop and café. Everyone who comes to eat here lines up from the cashier to the front of the shop. Inside, there’s only a counter bar for indoor dining. There are no seats, so everyone stands in a cool line to eat. I love the atmosphere of the shop, and the logo, a croissant rocket, is super cool.
They offer a variety of croissants and flavors. I chose the Almond Croissant ($9.5) and a Flat White coffee ($4.5). The almond croissant was delicious, but I was a bit disappointed because I had high expectations from all the praise I had heard. I thought it would be more delicious if it was a bit warm. The coffee, however, was excellent. The taste was smooth and it paired well with the croissant. Despite the slightly high price, I recommend trying it out.
Melbourne Museum
Another museum I highly recommend in Melbourne is the Melbourne Museum. They have a variety of interesting exhibitions, especially in the fields of natural history and cultural history. Some exhibitions are free, while others have a small fee. If you enjoy visiting museums, you’ll find this one very interesting. It’s one of the best museums in Australia, in my opinion.
The Wild Animal zone is one of the highlights here. I’m not sure if the exhibits are replicas or actual stuffed animals, but they have a complete collection of birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. It’s a great place for kids, they’ll be excited!
Another zone that surprised and excited me in this museum is the Bugs Alive! zone. They have collected real insects for us to see, lots of them. Honestly, I think this zone is incredibly eye-opening. They have everything from insects, butterflies, and even hundreds of types of beetles for us to see, from common to the rarest ones. This is really great. I spent a long time here, it was very enjoyable.
In addition to the two zones mentioned, there are many other interesting zones such as The Mind, which explores science in terms of psychology and thought processes, Gut Feelings, which explores instincts, Dinosaur Walk, and Forest Secrets. You can see that their exhibitions are very diverse. And the best part of this museum is that all the zones I mentioned are free! It’s really great and I highly recommend it.
Fitzroy Garden
Having some free time and not much to do, I decided to visit Fitzroy Garden to admire the flowers, trees, and grass. If you enjoy public gardens, Fitzroy Garden is a great option in Melbourne. It’s filled with trees, wide-open grass fields, and flowers scattered along the paths. It’s quite lovely.
In Fitzroy Garden, there’s also Cook’s Cottage, the home of Captain James Cook, the English explorer and navigator who discovered Australia and declared it a British colony. This cottage is the real deal, originally located in Yorkshire, England, before it was gifted to Australia and relocated here. You can enter the cottage, but I didn’t because there’s an entrance fee.
Besides Cook’s Cottage, you can also stroll around and see the Model Tudor Village, a cute little model village. These models were a gift from Lambeth, England, in gratitude for the food aid Australia provided during World War II. After a leisurely stroll, you can continue exploring outside.
Luna Park Melbourne
When it comes to amusement parks in Melbourne, the first thing that comes to mind is Luna Park Melbourne. The entrance is a giant funny face that you walk through to enter the park. The atmosphere is incredibly classic, like the amusement parks or carnivals you see in Western movies.
Believe it or not, Luna Parks exist all over the world. The original one is in New York and they expanded globally, including Australia, before World War I. Now, many of them have closed down. The remaining Luna Parks in Australia are in Melbourne and Sydney. They’re very old and classic, I must say!
I didn’t plan to ride any of the attractions, I just wanted to see the atmosphere and take some photos. The entrance fee to the park is $5, and you can buy tickets for each ride at the ride itself. Luckily, when I went there, it was late in the evening and they didn’t charge an entrance fee anymore. They let me in for free!
The amusement park is a bit old and small, but the atmosphere is great and it’s a great place for photos. If you have some free time, it’s a nice place to take some pictures.
St. Kilda Beach
Finally, the last stop in Melbourne City is St. Kilda Beach. In the evening, the beach here is wonderful. The atmosphere and vibe of the beach are lively. Many people bring their children, partners, or pets for a walk. Nearby, there’s a group of people playing beach volleyball. The atmosphere is really good.
Besides St. Kilda Beach, I recommend walking to St. Kilda Pier. Especially watching the sunset here is incredibly beautiful. And in the evening, there are small penguins that come up from the sea and return to their nests. If you’re lucky, you’ll see them. They’re incredibly cute (I saw them on Phillip Island, not here). Personally, I think visiting here is a great way to end the Melbourne city trip and it made me like Melbourne even more.
After exploring the city of Melbourne, where to next?
As I mentioned earlier, Melbourne isn’t the only place to visit. There are a ton of attractions around the city. The main places I’ve visited are the Great Ocean Road, Phillip Island, and the Grampians. You can continue your journey to these places. However, if you’ve already explored all these areas, consider flying to Sydney or Tasmania for your next adventure. Landing in the city of Hobart in Tasmania would be a pretty cool experience, wouldn’t it? Ha!
รีวิวเที่ยวออสเตรเลีย ทั้งหมดจาก HASHCORNER
— SYDNEY (NSW) SERIES —
► รีวิว Sydney / ซิดนีย์ (EP1)
► รีวิว Blue Mountains / บลูเมาเท่น (EP2)
— MELBOURNE (VIC) SERIES —
► รีวิว Melbourne / เมลเบิร์น (EP1)
► รีวิว Grampiants / แกรมเปี้ยน (EP2)
► รีวิว Phillip Island / ฟิลลิปไอส์แลนด์ (EP3)
► รีวิว Great Ocean Road / เกรทโอเชี่ยนโรด (EP4)
— QUEENSLAND (QLD) SERIES —
► รีวิว Brisbane – Gold Coast / บริสเบน – โกลด์โคสต์ (EP1)
— TASMANIA (TAS) ROAD TRIP SERIES —
► รีวิว Hobart + Bruney Island (EP1)
► รีวิว Mount Field National Park + Lake Pedder (EP2)
► รีวิว Tassman National Park + Freycinet National Park (EP3)
► รีวิว Bay of Fires + Launceston (EP4)
► รีวิว Cradle Mountain National Park (EP5)
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