Melbourne
Melbourne
The Fodor's Five
The five things you need to know before traveling to Melbourne
Melbourne is a melting pot of cultures and diversity.
Melbourne is one of the most diverse cities in Australia. Its strong cultural representation is evident through great restaurants, eateries, open markets, and bars. You will find anything from Ethiopian food in the West, Italian food on Lygon Street, and good old Aussie Indigenous tucker in the heart of the city. Queen Victoria Market is a good spot to see it all under one roof. You can also go on a food tour and discover great pubs, the city's cafe culture, and street art.
Look into the city’s famous laneways.
Melbourne has some cool eccentric artworks on display in the smaller, discreet streets called laneways. So when in Melbourne, be sure to veer off the main streets and into the smaller avenues for boutique shopping, a quick bite to eat, and art discoveries. There’s Centre Place filled with cafes; ACDC Lane, a street that honors Aussie rock legends AC/DC and is now filled with cool eateries; and be sure to pass through Flinders Lane and drop into the newly opened W Melbourne, which celebrates the city's cool coffee culture, laneways, and local art under the one roof.
Discover your inner foodie when in Melbourne.
It is nationally known that Melbourne is the culinary capital of Australia. Although the city doesn’t have a Michelin guide or international restaurant rating system, excellent restaurants can be found all around the city and even in the suburbs. There's a lot of buzz around posh pub-grub, where young chefs are pushing boundaries with French-techniques but using Aussie ingredients from the bush.
Melburnians love their sports.
The city is a sporting capital. Go to a cricket match, visit the Australian Open, or maybe watch a real Aussie football match. You can also go running around the city, which Melbournians call “the tan,” and kayak on the famous river too. Melbourne has a season for everything, so be sure to check out all the major sporting events.
Venture out of the city.
If you want to see other parts of Victoria, venture out of the city and check out the region. Unlike the city where there is a great train and tram network, to make the most of your trip to regional Victoria, you need to rent a car. There are wonderful destinations like the Yarra Valley, which has award-winning wineries and boutique hotels like the Jackalope Hotel and Re-em Yarra Valley.
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MELElectrical Outlets
230-40V/50Hz; wall outlets take slanted three-prong plugs and plugs with two flat prongs set in a V.Currency
Australian dollarLanguage
EnglishElectrical Outlets
230-40V/50Hz; wall outlets take slanted three-prong plugs and plugs with two flat prongs set in a V.Currency
Australian dollarNearby Airports
MELNeighborhood Guides
Discover the best neighborhoods in Melbourne with curated recommendations from our editors.
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Neighborhood Guides
Discover the best neighborhoods in Melbourne with curated recommendations from our editors.
Local Weather
Neighborhood Guides
Discover the best neighborhoods in Melbourne with curated recommendations from our editors.