Your ultimate seven-day Melbourne itinerary

Melbourne has long had a reputation as stylish and cultural, and you'll get a sense of that as soon as you walk the streets of the city center. Among the grand heritage buildings constructed in the middle of the 19th century are colorful street art and hip cafes.

Any good Melbourne itinerary will take visitors through the city's laneways, along the Yarra River, and into the art galleries and museums. But some of the best things to do in Melbourne are also found in its alternative inner-city suburbs, multicultural food precincts, and proud sporting heritage.

From the city, it's easy to reach some highlights of regional Victoria, so this seven-day Melbourne itinerary also includes two day trips to see native animals, rural scenery, and world-class food and wine.

Morning

To ease into the trip, begin your seven-day Melbourne itinerary in the city center, wandering past historic buildings like the Melbourne Town Hall and St Paul's Cathedral down to the iconic Flinders Street Station.

Across the road in Federation Square, a modern cultural precinct that often holds open-air public events and has three free museums worth visiting. ACMI is the national museum of the moving image, with exhibitions about Australian movies, television, and video games. The Ian Potter Centre holds the National Gallery of Victoria's collection of Australian art, while the Koorie Heritage Trust has a small gallery area for temporary exhibitions about Indigenous culture.

Afternoon

Federation Square has several restaurant options for lunch, including Taxi Kitchen, with a menu combining Australian and Asian flavors. It's then just a short walk to Southbank, from where scenic cruises of the Yarra River depart. From the boat, you'll see sights like the Royal Botanic Gardens and the Docklands precinct, with commentary covering the city's Gold Rush history and modern transformation.

Evening 

Returning to Southbank, spend the evening in this contemporary dining precinct set along the Yarra River. Street performers and art installations entertain visitors along the waterfront promenade, while many of the restaurants offer al fresco dining. The western end is dominated by the bustling Crown Melbourne, a casino complex that includes a high-end hotel, bars, and top restaurants like Rockpool Bar & Grill.

Morning

While the main streets of central Melbourne boast heritage buildings and modern skyscrapers, it's the narrow laneways that hold the city's alternative culture. Spend the morning exploring this side of Melbourne to find cool street art, hip cafes, and boutique shopping. Don't miss AC/DC Lane (named for the famous Australian band) for its murals or Centre Place for its coffee. To make the most of the morning, a laneways tour is a great way to get the full story from a local.

Afternoon

This afternoon, jump on one of Melbourne's renowned trams and head to St Kilda. This coastal suburb has the city's main beach and along with the sand, there's a wooden pier that you can swim from if the weather is nice. There are also walking trails along the coast, including to the colorful Brighton bathing boxes.

One of St Kilda's biggest attractions is the historic Luna Park, a small theme park first opened in 1912. The mix of rides, including rollercoasters and dodgem cars, are suitable for the whole family. As sunset approaches, head to the breakwater to see the local colony of penguins return to their burrows.

Evening 

St Kilda has long had a bohemian atmosphere, which makes it one of Melbourne's best neighborhoods for some evening entertainment. Grab a meal at one of the restaurants or catch some live music at the art deco Palais Theatre or the Hotel Esplanade – known as The Espy. With a host of traditional pubs and trendy cocktail bars, the nightlife goes until late.

Morning

Melbourne is a great base for day trips and, although many visitors go to the scenic Great Ocean Road, the seven hours of driving makes it a long excursion. Instead, consider a day trip to Phillip Island, about 90 minutes south of Melbourne, either as a self-drive or a guided tour, for a wonderful way to see Australian wildlife and coastal landscapes.

Once you arrive, start at the Koala Conservation Reserve, where treetop boardwalks get you close to koalas in the eucalyptus forest. For more Australian animals, you could then go to the Phillip Island Wildlife Park to see wombats and echidnas and even feed the kangaroos.

Afternoon

The main town on Phillip Island is Cowes, which is a great spot for lunch and also has a long sandy beach for a swim. The island's most famous beach is Woolamai, although the rough water is for surfing not swimming. Here, you can stroll along some of the Cape Woolamai Circuit Walk for views across the headland.

Then, drive to the Nobbies, with dramatic clifftop vistas at the tip of the peninsula. Follow the wooden boardwalks to see a blowhole, rugged rocky landscapes, and Australia's largest fur seal colony at Seal Rocks.

Evening 

For many people, the highlight is from sunset, with the Phillip Island Penguin Parade. This is when the little penguins return from the water and waddle up the sand to their burrows. You'll need a ticket to enter and can then see them from a grandstand, underground viewing area, or premium beachfront tour.

Morning

Melbourne considers itself the sporting capital of Australia, and the Melbourne Cricket Ground is at the heart of the action. With a capacity of about 100,000 people, it's full of heritage dating back to its opening in 1853.

This morning, join a tour of the MCG to be shown through the stands, onto the grass, and behind the scenes by a member of the Melbourne Cricket Club. Make sure to also visit the stadium's Australian Sports Museum for interesting exhibits and interactive games.

Alternatively, see if there are any sporting events being held at the MCG while you're in town because going with all the local supporters is a great way to experience some Australian culture.

Afternoon

Spend the afternoon discovering the alternative suburbs of Collingwood and Fitzroy, just north of the MCG. You can walk there in about 20 minutes through Fitzroy Gardens. There, large murals on the old industrial buildings give the streets a creative vibe.

Browse the art galleries, vintage clothing stores, and record stores, along with microbreweries in historic warehouses, like the popular Stomping Ground. Collingwood has excellent dining options, including a modern Australian menu at Ides or the Middle Eastern-inspired Maha North.

Evening 

After dinner, you may feel like a drink at one of Fitzroy or Collingwood's trendy bars. For some local expertise, join a hidden bars tour where the guide will take you to some of their favorite places to share fascinating stories about these vibrant inner-city neighborhoods.

Morning

Did you know Melbourne is the world's only major city you can ride a hot air balloon over? For this special experience, wake up early today and take a sunrise balloon ride, gliding peacefully for an hour with incredible views of the Central Business District and Yarra River.

After the early start, relax at one of the city's cafes. Melbourne is famous for its coffee culture, so pull up a stool somewhere like League of Honest Coffee, Hardware Societe, or Manchester Press.

Afternoon

If it's a pleasant day, stroll through the Royal Botanic Gardens, founded in 1846 along the river and now housing a collection of more than 8000 plant species. Its Aboriginal Heritage Walk is a good way to learn from an Indigenous guide about the cultural significance of the site.

Then, across the road from the gardens is the NGV International, the largest art gallery in Australia. Entry is free for the permanent collection, which includes paintings, sculptures, and fashion. You may also enjoy a traditional high tea with sandwiches and scones at the gallery's Tea Room.

Evening 

Nearby is Melbourne Skydeck, an observation deck 984 feet up the city's tallest building. If you arrive just before sunset, you'll be able to take in the sweeping views as the city lights create a colorful nightscape.

For dinner, head to the inner-north suburb of Carlton and its Lygon Street area known as Little Italy. Melbourne has a large community of European heritage who claim restaurants here—like Toto's Pizza House—are as good as in Italy.

Morning

One of Victoria's best wine regions, the Yarra Valley, is only an hour's drive from central Melbourne, making it an excellent day trip to see the countryside and meet local producers. You can join a tour of the Yarra Valley, or it's easy to explore the region independently if you have access to a car in Melbourne.

In the morning, you could start with Healesville Sanctuary, a zoo with a focus on breeding threatened native animals. Or you may prefer to visit producers like the Only Mine Chocolate Factory or Yarra Valley Dairy. Australia's best preserved steam train, Puffing Billy, takes passengers over timber bridges between small towns, and there's also the TarraWarra Museum of Art.

Afternoon

As a cool-climate wine region, the Yarra Valley is known for its chardonnay and pinot noir. You can taste them at cellar doors ranging from rustic sheds to large modern buildings with epic views. Some of the most popular are Domaine Chandon, Yering Station, and Balgownie Estate, but there are dozens to choose from.

For some variety, you'll also find craft breweries and gin distilleries, including the iconic Four Pillars Gin that's now known across the world as one of Australia's most famous spirits.

Evening 

Many of the wineries have excellent restaurants that stay open for dinner, so extend your day trip with a meal in the Yarra Valley before driving back to Melbourne. Quarters at Hubert Estate has a menu suitable for foodies and families, while Meletos serves elegant Italian-inspired fare.

Morning

On the northern edge of the city center is Melbourne's only World Heritage Site. Called the Royal Exhibition Building, it was constructed in 1880 for an international expo, is still used today for fairs, and was where the first Parliament of Australia was opened in 1901.

Guided tours take you inside the Royal Exhibition Building to areas the public can't normally access. You can combine it with a visit to the neighboring Melbourne Museum, which has exhibitions for all ages focusing on things like dinosaurs, Indigenous culture, and Victorian history.

Afternoon

For lunch, head just down the street to Queen Victoria Market, a large shopping precinct opened in 1878 bursting with delicious aromas. Along with numerous restaurants, there are fresh food stalls and stores selling items like clothes, books, and Australian souvenirs.

For the rest of the afternoon, you could continue the shopping spree at the department stores on Bourke Street Mall or along Chapel Street, which is known for its boutique stores. If you'd prefer some final sightseeing, you're close to the Old Melbourne Gaol, which once held notorious prisoners like bushranger Ned Kelly and is now a fascinating museum.

Evening 

The Victorian capital is famed for its excellent food scene, so why not finish this seven-day Melbourne itinerary with dinner at one of the city's best restaurants. Many of them are in the Central Business District, so head to Farmer's Daughters for a focus on local produce, Embla for the atmosphere of a European wine bar, or Gimlet for a sophisticated meal and cocktails.

You don't need to spend a whole week in Melbourne to see its highlights. On a shorter Melbourne itinerary, there are a few top experiences you can focus on:

• Take a tour through the laneways of the city center to discover the stories behind the street art and cafes.
• See the large collection of artworks at the two main buildings of the National Gallery of Victoria.
• Browse the boutique stores, galleries, microbreweries, and live music of creative communities like Fitzroy, Collingwood, and St Kilda.
• Join a local cricket club member for a tour of the largest stadium in Australia, the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
• Head to Phillip Island for the day to see the dramatic coastline, an Australian fur seal colony and the famous penguin parade at dusk.

Melbourne is a relatively easy city for travelers, but there are a few things to know before visiting Melbourne that will help:

• To travel on Melbourne's public transportation, you'll need the official Myki card preloaded with credit. However, the trams are free within the Central Business District, and you don't need to tap on or off to ride them until they leave the free zone.
• Melbourne Airport is about 14 miles from the city center and doesn't have a direct train line. There are regular buses to Southern Cross Station, while taxis or rideshare are available 24/7.
• When choosing where to stay in Melbourne, you'll find inner-city suburbs like Fitzroy, Collingwood, and St Kilda have a fun atmosphere, but the Central Business District is generally the most convenient for sightseeing.
• Using cash is not common in Melbourne and many small businesses won't accept it. Paying by tapping a credit card will be the easiest option in most situations.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed are those of the author and don't necessarily reflect the official policy or position of our company.