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Melbourne

The cultural capital of Australia inspires with its creative flair. Because Melbourne is more than just the skyline on the Yarra River. Between street art, hip cafés and diverse culture, there is a lot to discover here. But experience it for yourself - on a stroll through the laneways, a flat white in Fitzroy or a sunset on St. Kilda Beach!

31/01/2024

dear(travel)diary,

my Australia road trip started in Melbourne - for two reasons: Firstly, it just made more sense for me to start in the south in a big city and drive north along the coast. Secondly - and this was the real reason - I really wanted to go to the Australian Open! So the first stop on my trip, which fittingly started in January parallel to the Grand Slam tennis tournament, was immediately clear.

Funnily enough, a friend from school was there at the same time. Moritz also wanted to experience the Australian Open and then explore Australia. So I booked myself into the same hostel as him - the Selina St. Kilda (affiliate link). I was staying outside the city center of Melbourne, but close to the beach. Somehow St. Kilda immediately triggered a familiar feeling in me. I really liked Melbourne, including the city center, but St. Kilda had a special place in my heart.

That's why it wasn't so easy for me to move to my housesit (affiliate link) in Brunswick during my second week in Melbourne. I even made the journey from the north of Melbourne to the south several times just to be close to the beach again. But don't worry, I've also explored the rest of the city - and can therefore give you the best tips for Melbourne!

xx Chiara

Overview:


What to See

  • Melbourne's top sights: Brighton Bathing Boxes, State Library of Victoria and Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne
  • Explore St Kilda: St Kilda Beach, Point Ormond Lookout, The Esplanade, Acland Street & Luna Park Melbourne
  • Stroll along Southbank: Southbank Promenade and Shrine of Remembrance
  • CBD - in the middle of the city: Flinders Street Station, Federation Square, St Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne Town Hall, Parliament House, The Block Arcade, H&M (Bourke Street), Hosier Lane (street art spot), Degraves Street (hipster cafés & breakfast spot), Chinatown, Cook's Cottage, Princess Theatre, Fortress Melbourne, Melbourne Skydeck, Marvel Stadium and Arts Centre Melbourne
  • Discover the markets: Queen Victoria Market, South Melbourne Market, St Kilda Esplanade Market Chapel Street Bazaar
  • Green oases in Melbourne: Fitzroy Gardens, Carlton Gardens & Albert Park Lake
  • Experience art, history & more in one of the museums: Shrine of Remembrance, THE LUME Melbourne (immersive exhibition), National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne Museum, City Gallery, Old Treasury Building, Old Melbourne Gaol, Australian Sports Museum, ACMI - Australian Centre for the Moving Image, Immigration Museum, Melbourne Aquarium
  • Explore the trendy districts: Fitzroy & Brunswick Street, Brunswick & Sydney Road, St Kilda, Chapel Street, Southbank, Degraves Street, Chinatown & Docklands


Where to Eat & Drink

Melbourne is not only know for its good coffee, but also offers a number of culinary highlights. The bar and nightlife is also impressive. So you could spend weeks testing your way through all the good cafés, restaurants and bars. I have already tested some of them. My favorites, I present to you here:


Where to Stay

I mostly stayed in hostels in Australia. Fortunately, my experiences were consistently good. My favorites in Melbourne were Selina St Kilda (now: Roamer St Kilda) (affiliate link) and Selina Central (now: Bounce Melbourne) (affiliate link).

However, I also stayed for a week for free in Melbourne via TrustedHousesitters (affiliate link). All I had to do was look after a cat. TrustedHousesitters (affiliate link) lets you move in with private individuals and in return you look after their house and usually their pets while they travel. The concept is great if you want a cheap but good place to stay.


From A to B

Melbourne has a good public transportation network. Within the city center, you can even use the streetcars for free. For all journeys outside the city center, you need the Myki card. This is a rechargeable card for local public transport. You can buy the Myki card online or from a machine at train stations or kiosks (any 7Eleven) for 6 AUD. You can also top it up there or online.


Costs

I was in Melbourne for almost 2 weeks, those were my expenses:

  • Accommodation: approx. 165€
  • Public transportation: approx. 35€
  • Food: approx. 60€
  • Cafés & restaurants: approx. 180€
  • Drinks: approx. 120€
  • Uber: approx. 100€
  • Australian Open: 72€ night session and 47€ ground ticket
  • Museum: approx. 9€


I have put together a list of all the places on Google Maps.

You can find the list here.

1 Week in Melbourne

Itinerary



Day 1 – First Steps in the heart of the city: Flinders Street Station & Federation Square, St Paul’s Cathedral, Degraves Street, Hosier Lane, State Library of Victoria & Eureka Skydeck for Sunset, dinner in Chinatown

Day 2 – Southbank & Green break: Stroll along the Southbank Promenade, relax in the Royal Botanic Gardens (including a stop at The Terrace Café), visit the Shrine of Remembrance & sundowner at one of the bars by the river

Day 3 – Culture & Classics or Shopping tour: National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), ACMI, Queen Victoria Market Night Market (if open seasonally) or during the day: Walk through the halls of Queen Victoria Market & shopping in CBD

Day 4 – Trendy neighborhoods & Street vibes: Fitzroy & Brunswick Street – Vintage, Art & Creative Cafés, continue towards Brunswick & Sydney Road, drinks at a Rooftop Bar (e.g., Naked for Satan)

Day 5 – St Kilda: Walk along the St Kilda Promenade, picnic or reading time at the Point Ormond Lookout, stroll down Acland Street, visit Luna Park (optional on a Sunday morning for the St Kilda Esplanade Market) & drive to the Brighton Bathing Boxes for sunset

Day 6 – Shopping, Architecture & Markets: Block Arcade & Chapel Street Bazaar – for those who love to browse, Melbourne Town Hall & Parliament House & eat at South Melbourne Market

Day 7 – Parks & Panoramic views: Walk through Fitzroy Gardens, continue to Carlton Gardens & Royal Exhibition Building, afternoon at Albert Park Lake (jogging or relaxing by the Water)


4 seasons in one day

If you spend more than half a day in Melbourne, you’ll likely experience it for yourself: this city has a real talent for running through all four seasons in just one day. Sunshine in the morning, a sudden storm at noon, a touch of autumn in the afternoon – and clear blue skies by evening.

The reason lies in Melbourne’s unique location between the ocean and the mountains. Weather systems shift quickly, and the cool southern wind (a.k.a. “The Southerly”) can bring sudden drops in temperature at any time.

Tip: Dressing in layers is your best bet – sunglasses, an umbrella, and a sweater in your backpack are never a bad idea in Melbourne. And remember: just laugh it off. The wild weather is all part of the city’s charm.