Top Reasons To Go

Top Reasons To Go

Top Reasons to Go

Eclectic Arts

Melbourne regards itself as the artistic and cultural capital of Australia. It's home to the Australian Ballet and opera, theater, and dance companies -- from the traditional to the avant-garde. The Melbourne International Arts Festival, the city's cultural highlight, runs for 17 days in October and includes diverse theater, dance, visual arts, opera, and music events.

The Great Outdoors

Melbourne is an excellent jumping-off point for outdoor adventures, including bushwalking, biking, surf-and-turf trips down the Great Ocean Road, boat cruises along the Yarra River, and forays to any of Victoria's outstanding national parks.

Fabulous Markets

Melbourne has nearly a dozen major markets selling an amazing array of fresh produce to eclectic fashion and unusual bric-a-brac. The huge Queen Victoria Market (The Vic) has more than 1,000 stalls and is a must. Others include the "foodie heaven" Prahran Market, Greville Street, brimming with wonderful clothes and jewelry, and St. Kilda's Sunday market, filled with pottery and all things arty.

Sizzling Nightlife

Melbourne's nightlife centers around King Street and Flinders Lane, with dozens of retro-style bars and clubs. The chic hotels tend to have hip cocktail lounges with an A-list clientele. Crown Casino's two nightclubs and the numerous bars along Southgate add life to the city center.

Sports Galore

Melburnians, like Aussies in general, do love a good match. The Melbourne Cup horse race in November brings the entire city to a standstill. The same is true of Australian Rules Football, one of a few varieties of "footy." Scenic Albert Park Lake in South Melbourne is home to the Australian Grand Prix in March. The Australian Open is held at Melbourne Park in January.

International Cuisine

Melbourne's dining scene is a vast smorgasbord of cuisines and experiences. Chinese restaurants on Little Bourke Street are the equal of anything in Hong Kong. The Richmond neighborhood's Victoria Street convincingly reincarnates Vietnam. And a stroll down Fitzroy Street in St. Kilda finds everything from sushi and Singapore laksa (spicy Malaysian noodle soup) to spaghetti and som tum (Thai green papaya salad).