All citiesMelbourne Things to do and walking itinerary
Australia Melbourne travel guide
30 things to do in Melbourne, where to stay, airport transfers. Pick places on the map and get a day-by-day walking route from your hotel with steps, kilometres and minutes.
Top things to do in Melbourne
- Carlton Gardens — garden in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (visit ≈ 45 min)
- National Gallery of Victoria — art museum in Melbourne, Australia (visit ≈ 120 min)
- St Patrick's Cathedral — cathedral in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (visit ≈ 35 min)
- Melbourne Zoo — zoo in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (visit ≈ 150 min)
- Melbourne Museum — museum in Victoria, Australia (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Federation Square — public square in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (visit ≈ 15 min)
- Shrine of Remembrance — memorial located in Kings Domain on St Kilda Road, Melbourne, Australia (visit ≈ 15 min)
- St Paul's Cathedral — cathedral in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (visit ≈ 35 min)
- Melbourne Aquarium — aquarium in Melbourne, Australia (visit ≈ 150 min)
- Cooks' Cottage — cottage museum in Melbourne (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Immigration Museum — museum in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Melbourne Athenaeum — theatre in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (visit ≈ 20 min)
- Old Melbourne Gaol — former jail in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia and now a tourist attraction (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Australian Sports Museum — museum dedicated to Australian sport, located in Melbourne, Australia (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne — botanical gardens in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (visit ≈ 45 min)
- East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation — heritage-listed synagogue in East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Grainger Museum — museum about Australian music and the life and work of Percy Grainger (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Fitzroy Gardens — park in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (visit ≈ 45 min)
- Flagstaff Gardens — urban park in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (visit ≈ 45 min)
- Albanian Mosque, Carlton North — Albanian mosque in Victoria, Australia (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Albert Park and Lake — park in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (visit ≈ 45 min)
- Princess Theatre — theatre in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (visit ≈ 20 min)
- Regent Theatre — theatre and cinema in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (visit ≈ 20 min)
- Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral, Melbourne — church in Melbourne, Australia (visit ≈ 35 min)
- Coop's Shot Tower — shot tower in Melbourne, Australia (visit ≈ 40 min)
- Treasury Gardens — park in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (visit ≈ 45 min)
- Batman Park — urban park on the northern bank of the Yarra River in central Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (visit ≈ 45 min)
- Museum of Chinese Australian History — museum in Melbourne, Australia (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Fawkner Park — park in South Yarra, Victoria, Australia (visit ≈ 45 min)
- Hellenic Museum — museum in Melbourne, Australia (visit ≈ 120 min)
2-day Melbourne walking itinerary
Starting point: CBD. The top 8 places at a normal pace (up to ~10 km of walking a day), in this order. Change places or your hotel on the map and the route is recalculated; distances are estimates with a street allowance.
- Day 1 (≈ 8.5 km · 11,450 steps · 1 h 52 min on the way): National Gallery of Victoria → Shrine of Remembrance → Melbourne Aquarium → Carlton Gardens
- Day 2 (≈ 4.9 km · 6,650 steps · 1 h 6 min on the way): Melbourne Museum → St Patrick's Cathedral → St Paul's Cathedral → Federation Square
Where to stay in Melbourne
- CBD: Laneways, cafés and the free tram zone.
- Southbank: Hotels, the arts precinct and restaurants on the Yarra.
- Fitzroy: Bohemian bars, vintage shops and street art.
- St Kilda: Beach, pier and lively evenings.
- Carlton: Italian restaurants and Lygon Street near the centre.
Getting from the airport to Melbourne
- Melbourne (Tullamarine) (MEL): SkyBus express ≈ 30 min.
Getting around
The free tram zone in the centre is very handy; beyond it you need a myki card. The CBD is ideal on foot.
Classic places to eat
- Pellegrini’s Espresso Bar: An unchanged Italian espresso bar since 1954.
- Grossi Florentino: An elegant, mural-lined Italian restaurant since 1928.
- Flower Drum: An elegant home of Cantonese cooking since 1975.
- Queen Victoria Market: An open market since 1878, famous for hot doughnuts.
- MoVida: Spanish tapas on Hosier Lane.
- Lune Croissanterie: World-famous croissants; go early.
- Brunetti: Italian pastries and coffee in Carlton.
- Young & Jackson: A historic pub on the Flinders Street corner since 1861.
Romantic views
- Royal Botanic Gardens (Afternoon): A city oasis of lakes and wide lawns.
- Hosier Lane (Afternoon): A famous lane covered in ever-changing graffiti.
- Southbank Promenade (Evening): A lit-up evening walk along the Yarra River.
Football stadiums in Melbourne
- Melbourne Rectangular Stadium: Home of Melbourne Victory FC, Melbourne City FC
- Lakeside Stadium: Home of South Melbourne Football Club
Good to know before visiting Melbourne
- Fine: Declare all food, plant and animal products at customs; failing to declare is heavily fined.
- Fine: Nicotine vapes may only be bought from pharmacies; importing or buying elsewhere is illegal.
- Fine: Many areas are alcohol-free zones where public drinking is banned.
- Fine: Smoking is banned in outdoor dining areas and on most beaches.
- Warning: Traffic drives on the left.
- Warning: Swim only between the red-and-yellow flags; rip currents are dangerous.
Extra rules for Victoria / Melbourne
- Warning: Some city intersections require a "hook turn" from the left lane to turn right.
- Trams are free in the CBD Free Tram Zone; elsewhere touch on with myki.
- Emergency: 000
- Plugs: I, 230V
- Tap water: Tap water is safe to drink.
- Tipping: Tipping isn't expected; 10% for great service is a nice extra.
Sources: UK FCDO — Foreign travel advice: Australia, Wikivoyage — Australia, T.C. Dışişleri Bakanlığı — Türk vatandaşlarının tabi olduğu vize uygulamaları · For information only; rules change, check official sources before you go. Last checked: 2026-10
Melbourne travel FAQ
- How many days do you need in Melbourne?
- The top 8 places in the centre take about 2 days at a normal pace on a walking route from your hotel. Allow 4 days for the top 20 places within walking distance.
- What are the top things to do in Melbourne?
- Highlights: Carlton Gardens, National Gallery of Victoria, St Patrick's Cathedral, Melbourne Zoo and Melbourne Museum. The map has 30 things to do in total.
- Where to stay in Melbourne?
- CBD: Laneways, cafés and the free tram zone. Other options: Southbank, Fitzroy, St Kilda and Carlton.
- How do you get from the airport to Melbourne city centre?
- Melbourne (Tullamarine) (MEL): SkyBus express ≈ 30 min.
- How do you get around Melbourne?
- The free tram zone in the centre is very handy; beyond it you need a myki card. The CBD is ideal on foot.
- What is the emergency number in Melbourne?
- Emergency: 000.
- Do you tip in Melbourne?
- Tipping isn't expected; 10% for great service is a nice extra.
Nearby cities
Canberra · Sydney · Queenstown · Wellington · Auckland · Port Moresby · Port Vila · Honiara
Australia travel guide: all cities · All cities