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Flinders Street Station, Melbourne

No. 29 Top 100 City Destinations 2025

Melbourne

Australia

Laneways, coffee, art and sport in Australia's cultural capital.

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Photo: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

Melbourne is No. 29 in Euromonitor International's Top 100 City Destinations Index 2025. The capital of Victoria sits on Port Phillip Bay. Its Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004.

Melbourne is known for its laneway cafés and bars, street art, galleries, live music and food. It is also a sporting city, home to the Australian Open tennis in January and the Melbourne Cup horse race on the first Tuesday in November.

Street art in Hosier Lane, Melbourne
Street art in Hosier Lane, Melbourne. Photo: Bernard Spragg. NZ from Christchurch, New Zealand, CC0, source

Best time to go

March to May (autumn) and September to November (spring) are generally pleasant. Summer can bring very hot days.

The weather changes quickly, often several times a day, so bring layers. Winter is cool and grey but good for galleries and cafés.

Top sights

  • 1

    Federation Square and Flinders Street Station

    The city's meeting place, opposite the grand 1910 station.

  • 2

    Laneways and Hosier Lane

    Explore the narrow lanes such as Degraves Street and Centre Place for coffee, and Hosier Lane for street art.

  • 3

    NGV International In our Top 100 Museums

    The National Gallery of Victoria's international collection on St Kilda Road, with free entry to the collection.

  • 4

    Queen Victoria Market

    A historic open-air market for fresh food, clothes and souvenirs, with night markets in some seasons.

  • 5

    Royal Botanic Gardens

    Large, beautifully landscaped gardens beside the Yarra River.

  • 6

    Melbourne Cricket Ground

    The MCG hosts cricket and Australian rules football. Stadium tours and the Australian Sports Museum are open on non-event days.

  • 7

    St Kilda

    The seaside suburb has a pier, a beach and an old amusement park. Little penguins can be seen at the breakwater around dusk.

Getting there

Melbourne Airport (MEL) is about 20 km north-west of the centre. The SkyBus runs to Southern Cross station in about 30 minutes.

Getting around

Melbourne has one of the largest tram networks in the world. Trams in the CBD are free within the Free Tram Zone. Use a myki card on trains, trams and buses, and check the PTV website for the current ways to pay.

The Great Ocean Road and its Twelve Apostles rock stacks are a popular long day trip by car or tour.

Practical tips

Currency
Australian dollar (AUD). Cards and phone payments are accepted almost everywhere. Tipping is not expected.
Language
English.
Safety
Melbourne is generally safe. Use sun protection, even on cool days. The emergency number is 000.
Visa & entry
Everyone except New Zealand citizens needs a visa or an electronic travel authority before travelling. Citizens of the US, Canada, the UK, Japan and several other countries can apply for an ETA through the official AustralianETA app; EU citizens can apply online for a free eVisitor. Apply only through official Australian government channels (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au).
Power
230 V, 50 Hz; plug type I.

Official information: Visit Melbourne (official tourism website). Check opening hours, prices and entry rules there before you go.

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