Melbourne is one of the most exciting cities to visit in Australia, famous for its laneways & hidden bars, cafe culture and thriving arts & entertainment scene. There is so much to see & do in Melbourne that planning what to do in Melbourne can be overwhelming for first time visitors!

The very best things to do in Melbourne include visiting the NGV and the South Melbourne Market, exploring neighbourhoods like Fitzroy, Carlton and St Kilda, and experiencing classic Melbourne bars, restaurants & pubs.

I’ve lived in Melbourne for nearly a decade, and have rounded up the best things in Melbourne for first time visitors to help you plan an unforgettable trip, whether you’re planning a weekend city break or are visiting as part of a larger trip around Australia.

10 Best Things to Do in Melbourne For First Time Visitors

National Gallery of Victoria (NGV)

The National Gallery of Victoria is the best art gallery in Australia – and it’s free! The NGV International on St Kilda Road has a staggering permanent collection as well as hosting a spectacular blockbuster show each summer and winter, which is ticketed. The NGV Australia in Federation Square is one of the best galleries for Australian Art in the country.

Explore Fitzroy

Fitzroy is the coolest neighbourhood in Melbourne, even though Collingwood, Thornbury, Brunswick and Northcote now also compete for the title. Fitzroy however, remains of the best neighbourhoods in Melbourne for first time visitors to explore, to get a feel for the city. Explore Smith St, Gertrude St and Brunswick Street to see the best of Fitzroy’s bars, pubs, restaurants & shops.

South Melbourne Market

The South Melbourne Market is one of Melbourne’s three major, historic food markets, and in my opinion, is easily the best of the bunch. It’s my go-to for taking visitors in Melbourne, and my family love to visit nearly every time they come to Melbourne. Unlike the Queen Victoria Market, the South Melbourne Market is predominantely food-focused, making it a great place for a grazing breakfast or lunch.

Alongside fresh produce, meat & seafood, the markets are packed with hot food stalls, cake shops & patisseries, delis, oyster bars & more! Go for a grazing breakfast or lunch on the weekend, and arrive before 9am to enjoy the market before the crowds set in.

Carlton Gardens & Royal Exhibition Building

The Carlton Gardens is one of Melbourne’s loveliest public parks, and is home to the UNESCO World Heritage Listed Royal Exhibition Building, and the Melbourne Museum. Stroll through the gardens with a coffee, check out the gorgeous Royal Exhibition Building, and then wander into Carlton.

Lygon Street

Lygon Street in Carlton is Melbourne’s Little Italy, and a quintessential place to visit for first time visitors in Melbourne. Lygon Street is a mix of old school and new school Italian bars and restaurants, including new classics like D.O.C., King & Godfree and Johnny, Vince & Sam’s. Don’t miss the beautiful independent bookstore, Readings Carlton.

Discover Melbourne’s coffee culture

To be honest, you’ll find excellent coffee all over Melbourne, but if you’re not from a coffee-mad city like Melbourne, it’s a must-do while you’re in the city. Some of my favourite spots for coffee are Traveller in the city (serving Seven Seeds Coffee), and Code Black Coffee.

Other local favourite coffee brands to look out for are Proud Mary, Market Lane, St Ali and Industry Beans.

St Kilda Beach

St Kilda Beach is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Melbourne, and is a great spot for a stroll and some people watching, when the weather is good. While it’s not an ocean beach (it’s on the bay), St Kilda is a lively area and iconic Melbourne neighbourhood. The recently renovated St Kilda Pier has a swim deck, which is a popular hangout on hot summer’s days.

Degraves Street & Centre Place

Degraves Street is one of the most famous laneway streets in Melbourne, and is a must-visit for a classic Melbourne experience. Degraves Street runs into Centre Place, which is just as charming and continues the laneway vibes.

Dine at one of Melbourne’s best Italian restaurants

Melbourne is famous for its Italian heritage and food culture, which was shaped by waves of Italian immigrants over the course of the 20th century. There are dozens of excellent Italian restaurants in Melbourne, which means its easy to find something that suits your taste and budget.

From historic institutions like Pellegrinis, Di Stasio and Grossi Florentino to hot reservations like Tipo 00 and Grill Americano, to neighbourhood joints like Park St Pasta, don’t miss out on enjoying the best Italian food outside Italy.

See a show 

Melbourne is the arts & culture capital of Australia, so seeing a show is one of the best things to do in Melbourne. Throughout the year, Melbourne welcomes operas, musicals, play, orchestral concerns, the ballet, comedy and more, to theatres around the city. 

The best places to see a show in Melbourne are the Arts Centre in Southbank, the Forum for live music, the Regent Theatre and the Princess Theatre in the city and the historic Palais Theatre in St Kilda.

Extra things to do if you have more time

Free things to do in Melbourne

• Laneways – Melbourne is famous for its cobblestone laneways, especially in the CBD. Explore Melbourne’s best laneways like Hosier Lane, AC/DC Lane, Little Bourke Street, Flinders Lane and Little Collins Street to discover Melbourne’s best bars, restaurants and shopping.
• Brighton Bathing Boxes – The Brighton Bathing Boxes on Dendy Beach in Brighton are a Melbourne icon, and one of the best things to do in Melbourne on the southside. The 19th century beach huts are painted in a rainbow of colours and patterns, and make a beautiful photo spot. 
• Sunset at Point Ormond – Located on the Bay Trail in Elwood, Point Ormond has one of the best views in Melbourne, over the bay, Elwood Beach, and to the city skyline in the distance. It’s at its absolute best in autumn and spring, when it’s warm enough to sit outside, but before the summer flies come out in full force.
• Albert Park Lake Trail – Albert Park Lake is one of the best spots in Melbourne for a walk or a run, with a 5km trail looping around the lake. It’s the location for the F1 Grand Prix in March, which makes it inaccessible in the weeks leading up to the race.
• Fitzroy Gardens – Take a break from the urban streets of Fitzroy and wander through the historic Victorian gardens, which include a 1930s, Spanish-style conservatory of hothouse flowers.
• Queen Victoria Market – The Queen Vic Market is the largest covered market in the southern hemisphere, and a historic Melbourne landmark. While I prefer the South Melbourne Market for eating & drinking, the Queen Vic Market is still a classic Melbourne sight, and conveniently located on the fringe of the Melbourne CBD.
• Ride a tram – Melbourne has an extensive tram network, which covers the CBD and several suburbs. You can ride the tram for free within the Melbourne CBD. If your journey goes outside the CBD, you’ll need to buy a Myki card and pay for your fare.
• Flinders Street Station – A symbol of Melbourne, Flinders Station is a beaux-arts train station at the intersection of Flinders and Swanston Street, one of the busiest crossings in the city.
• FedSquare – Opposite Flinders Street Station, FedSquare is a public space fringed by bars and restaurants, and in summer you’ll find the Australian Open being projected onto large screens in the square.
• State Library of Victoria – Don’t miss the gorgeous La Trobe Reading Room at the State Library of Victoria, which is free to visit.

Food & drinks

• Visit a classic Melbourne pub – Melbourne has the most vibrant pub culture in Australia, and there are hundreds of pubs to choose from. Visit the oldest pub in Melbourne at The Duke of Wellington, or landmark institutions like Hotel Esplanade (The Espy) in St Kilda. International travellers won’t want to miss trying a chicken parma, the iconic Australian pub meal.
• Dine at historic Melbourne restaurant – Melbourne is full of beautiful old restaurants which had stood the test of time. Some of the best are France-Soir, Cicciolina, Grossi Florentino and for something casual but no less precious, Pellegrini’s.
• Score a reservation at Gimlet – Melbourne has no shortage of fine dining restaurants, but Gimlet is the toughest reservation in town since it was placed on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants List the year it opened.
• Discover Melbourne’s best cocktail bars – Melbourne has dozens of world-class cocktail bars, the best of which can be found in the Melbourne CBD and Fitzroy. If you make one reservation, make it Death & Co, the recently-opened outpost of the iconic Death & Co cocktail bar from East Village, in New York City.

Sights in Melbourne

Major Events

• Australian Open – The Australian Open is one of four Grand Slam tennis tournaments in the world, and is the most exciting event on Melbourne’s calendar every January. Buy a ground pass to soak up the atmosphere and catch early matches on the outer courts, or book tickets to a specific day or night match.
• Melbourne International Comedy Festival – Melbourne Comedy Fest is a highlight of Melbourne’s festival calendar, held in April every year at dozens of venues across the city.

Day trips from Melbourne

• Yarra Valley – The Yarra Valley is one of Australia’s top wine regions, and the perfect day trip from Melbourne! The best way to visit the Yarra Valley is to book a Yarra Valley day tour from Melbourne, so you don’t have to worry about driving between wine tastings.
• Mornington Peninsula – The Mornington Peninsula is another world-class wine region, famous for pinot noir. Beyond wineries, check out beautiful Safety Beach at Dromana, stop for lunch in Sorrento or spend a day at Alba Hot Springs. You’ll need your own wheels, or to join a winery day tour from Melbourne.
• Ballarat – Step back in time in Ballarat, the largest and most beautiful town in the Victorian Goldfields. Stroll the 19th century streets, browse at Collins Booksellers, have lunch at Pancho or explore the Ballarat Botanic Garden. You can get the V Line train from Melbourne to Ballarat, which takes 90 minutes and departs from Southern Cross Station.

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