The best free things to do in Melbourne

Best free attractions in Melbourne

State Library of Victoria

328 Swanston St, Melbourne

The State Library of Victoria is Australia’s oldest public library and one of the first free public libraries in the world. The heritage building, which was established in 1854, is a kaleidoscope of stunning spaces, from its 19th century Ian Potter Queen’s Hall and contemporary theatrette to the La Trobe Reading Room (aka Domed Reading Room). Book a free History of the Library Tour, check out Ned Kelly’s armour, join a free Storytime session or bask in the beautiful surroundings with a picnic on the lawn and a game of giant chess on the forecourt.

Or try your local library

Melbourne is full of great local libraries too, from Narre Warren's family-friendly Bunjil Place Library to Dockland's sustainable masterpiece Library at the Dock.

Along with massive collections of books to choose from, libraries in Melbourne also offer digital media (audio books, DVDs, video games), internet access and activites for children. Some libraries even feature podcast studios, 3D printers and sewing machines - visit your local library to see what's on offer.

Shrine of Remembrance

Birdwood Ave, Melbourne

The Shrine of Remembrance has served as Victoria's National War Memorial for almost 100 years. Adjacent to the Royal Botanic Garden's Melbourne, the Shrine exists to honour and remember the service and sacrifices made by Australian and Victorian servicemen and servicewomen.

The building itself is a sight to behold, an imposing and grand ediface inspired by two ancient buildings: the Tomb of Mausolus and the Parthenon. The Shrine hosts rotating exhibitions exploring the many facets of Australia's defence history and maintains a regular calendar of remembrance services for various regiments and battalions. 

A last post service is held every Sunday at 4.45pm and is a great way to finish your trip to the Shrine. 

Read more: Ultimate visitor's guide to the Shrine of Remembrance.

Parliament House

Spring St, East Melbourne

Step inside the halls of parliament with a free tour of Parliament House. An expert guide leads these tours, which take guests through the legislative chambers and parliamentary library. Tours are free but only run outside of parliament's sitting times - visit the website for details. There are no bookings so it's recommended arriving 30 minutes before the tour time to secure your spot.

City Circle trams

Various locations

Melbourne’s free City Circle trams let tourists and locals travel in style aboard a vintage W‑Class Route 35 tram. Running every 12–15 minutes from 9.30am to 5pm, the iconic carriages loop clockwise around the CBD, connecting Docklands to Parliament and offering an easy way to see the city.

The City Circle trams stop outside many major Melbourne attractions and train stations: hop on near Flinders Street Station, Parliament House, Melbourne Aquarium or State Library Station. 

Queen Victoria Market

Queen St, Melbourne

There's always something interesting happening at the Queen Victoria Market. Melbourne's biggest market is full of food trucks, artisan shopping stalls and occasionally live performances. 

Parents can pick up a Kids Passport from the Visitor Hub then journey around the market collecting stamps before returning to the hub to claim a prize. Many traders also offer free samples to help you decide what to buy. 

The market regularly hosts free‑to‑attend events and festivals throughout the year, timed to coincide with key cultural moments, including major celebrations for Lunar New Year, Christmas and Easter. Busy during the day? Summer and winter night markets are held once a week and feature live performances, music, street food and more.

Keep in mind the market is closed Mondays and Wednesdays. 

Free outdoor activities in Melbourne

Herring Island 

Punt access via Como Landing, Alexandra Ave, South Yarra

Go island hopping without leaving the city with a trip to Herring Island. The 3.2 hectare man-made island in the middle of the Yarra River, just 3km from the city centre, is home to a sculpture park, walking trails, picnic and barbecue facilities, as well as plenty of wildlife.

The island is accessible via is a free punt service if you don’t own your own boat or kayak. You can catch the ferry from Como Landing between 11am and 5pm on weekends and public holidays from January until Easter Monday. 

Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne and Cranbourne

Melbourne: Birdwood Ave, Melbourne & Cranbourne: Ballarto Rd & Botanic Dr, Cranbourne

Melbourne is home to not one, but two outstanding botanic gardens. On the edge of the CBD you'll find the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, a horticultural paradise that includes a fern gully, herb and medicinal garden, arid garden, children's garden, expansive lawns and so much more. The large lake in the Melbourne Botanic Gardens is a pleasure to walk around and even offers paid boat rides from spring to autumn each year.

The Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne showcase the splendour of Australia's native flora and bush landscapes. The award-winning garden is home to around 1,900 plant species, as well as 10km of walking tracks, cycling trails, a lookout tower, playgrounds and places to picnic and barbecue. 

More free gardens to visit in Melbourne

There are plenty of beautiful free parks and gardens to visit within inner Melbourne. Highlights include Carlton Gardens, Parliament Gardens, Treasury Gardens and Fitzroy Gardens (which features Cooks' Cottage and the dinky model Tudor village). 

Sky Park at Melbourne Quarter

693-699 Collins St, Docklands

Suspended above Collins Street in the Melbourne Quarter precinct, and accessible via a dramatic staircase (or glass lifts), you’ll find Sky Park. The elevated urban garden is a lush oasis surrounded by towering skyscrapers and offers city slickers a verdant escape from the heat-conducting confines of the concrete jungle.

Enjoy a picnic lunch or stop in to recharge your soul (and your phone battery) using the park’s free USB charge points. Sky Park is currently open to the public from 8am-6pm, Monday to Friday.

Tackle a Melbourne walking track

There are countless walking tracks located across Melbourne, from the famous to the hidden gems. Some of the best to choose from include:

• The 1,000 Steps, Ferntree Gully National Park, Tremont
• The Tan, Melbourne
• Darebin Parklands, Alphington
• Albert Park Lake, Albert Park
• Wilson Reserve, Ivanhoe
• Yarra Bend Park, Clifton Hill

Cycle one of the city's best bike trails

Whether you're riding solo or with the family, Melbourne has plenty of gorgeous urban bike trails. From coastal reserves to bush sanctuaries to wetlands, there's plenty to explore on two wheels. Some of the best bike trails include:

• Merri Creek Trail (Coburg to Abbotsford)
• Hobsons Bay Coastal Trail (Spotswood to Altona)
• Main Yarra Trail (Fairfield to Southbank)
• Bay Trail (Port Melbourne to Seaford)

Swim at one of Melbourne's best beaches

Melbourne is home to some beautiful beaches. Even during the cooler months, many Melbourne beaches are an excellent day‑trip option for beachcombing, picnics or walks. Highlights include:

• St Kilda Beach
• Half Moon Bay 
• Altona Beach
• Edithvale Beach
• Williamstown Beach

Free events, exhibitions and cultural experiences in Melbourne

Free museums and galleries in Melbourne

From art to science to music, there are a range of free permanent exhibits across Melbourne’s leading contemporary art galleries. Galleries and museums with free entry to their permanent collections include:

• The NGV International (international art)
• The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia (Australian art)
• ACMI (Australian screen culture - TV, film, gaming and more)
• The Australian Music Vault (Australian music history and artefacts)
• The Koorie Heritage Trust (art, history and culture of the First Peoples of south-east Australia)
• ACCA (contemporary Australian art)
• Science Gallery Melbourne (the intersection of art and science)
• Victoria Police Museum (police history in Victoria).

Federation Square

Cnr Swanston St & Flinders St, Melbourne

If you want to experience a free gig, movie, performance or workshop then Federation Square is the place to go. Located opposite Flinders Street Station, Fed Square boasts a large and diverse schedule of free events year-round.

Live music and open-air movies are a mainstay throughout the year, as are classes in tai chi and yoga. The square often hosts activations that tie-in with calendar events and current happenings in the city too, so it's always worth dropping by to see what's on.

Free festivals and events

From comedy to the arts, there's usually a festival happening in Melbourne. While many festival events are ticketed, there are often a few experiences that are free and open to the public. 

For example, Melbourne International Comedy Festival will in 2026 host three free comedy radio tapings with Charlie Pickering, while the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra usually hosts a free summer concert series at Sidney Myer Music Bowl.

The annual Moomba festival over the March long weekend is also free to attend with plenty of gratis entertainment on offer (such as the Moomba Parade and wacky Birdman Rally). The AFL Grand Final Parade is another free event always worth turning out for, as are Christmas activations like the Myer Christmas windows.

Read more: A beginner's guide to watching the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.

Melbourne street art

Melbourne is the country’s street art capital and, if you’re yet to explore the vibrant urban alleys that have earned the city its reputation, there’s no time like the present. From edgy laneway works to colourful commissioned pieces, Melbourne’s CBD is painted with an ever-changing street art display.

While Hosier Lane is the most popular street art location for tourists (and it does boast an ever evolving array of art) there are other works that should not be missed. Highlights include Blender Lane, Duckboard Place, AC/DC Lane and the kitschy miniature gallery in Presgrave Place. Take a self-guided tour and see what you can find. 

Buskers in Melbourne

Melbourne is also known for its vibrant street entertainment scene that sees buskers flaunting their talents throughout the CBD

The best known busking spot is Bourke Street Mall (outside H&M and Myer) but buskers can be found along Swanston Street and Southbank Promenade. Buskers are often present Southern Cross Station (Bourke Street end) during concerts at Marvel as well, and may even get into the spirit by playing songs from the current touring band.

Free family-friendly things to do in Melbourne

Penguins at St Kilda

Pier Rd, St Kilda

St Kilda is home to a colony of around 1,400 Little Penguins which can be visited twice a night for free. 

Phillip Island Nature Parks (who also manage the Phillip Island Penguin Parade) offer two nightly penguin viewing experiences every night in St Kilda. 

Unlike the ticketed Phillip Island Penguin Parade, the St Kilda penguin viewings are free to attend. Bookings are essential, however, as sessions are capped to better protect the birds - book your free tickets online.

Enjoy one of Melbourne's best playgrounds

There are magical playgrounds to experience in every corner of Melbourne, from splash parks in the outer suburbs to inner-city adventure playgrounds where risky play is encouraged. 

Some of the top playgrounds to try in Melbourne include Eltham North Adventure Playground, Aughtie Drive Adventure Playground in Albert Park, Wyndham Park in Werribee and Lincoln Square Playground in Carlton (which also has the honour of being Melbourne's oldest public playground).

Read more: Discover the full list of the best playgrounds in Melbourne.

Play a game at a free sports court

There are plenty of free sports courts hidden in parks and gardens across Melbourne. Albert Park, Carlton Gardens, Prahran Park and Richmond Citizens Park, for example, have free-to-play basketball courts - just bring your own ball. There are also free tennis courts all over Melbourne. Contact your local council to find the nearest free tennis court to you.

Read more: Guide to major sporting events in Melbourne

Fire up a riverside BBQ 

Level up your weekend grill game by taking your tongs riverside. Pull up a picnic table overlooking the Yarra River and fire up one of the city’s free barbecues. There are plenty of picnic spots along Alexandra Avenue between the Swan Street and Morell bridges, as well as along Birrarung Marr.

Best day trips from Melbourne with free attractions and activities

Melbourne is surrounded incredible towns and parks that you can spend a day or more exploring. While driving to these destinations may allow you additional freedoms, many of these locations can also be reached by public transport from Melbourne.

Geelong

This port town is home to the Spirit of Tasmania and has plenty of free attractions to tempt tourists. Take a stroll by the waterfront and discover the colourful Bay Bollard characters, drop into the 'Dome' library or neighbouring Geelong Gallery, and make time to visit Booln Booln Cultural Centre - a place where all people are welcome to learn about local Wathaurong culture (and spot some wallabies on the lawn). 

Read more: The best free things to do in Geelong.

Ballarat

You don’t need deep pockets to enjoy a great day out in Ballarat, a former gold‑mining town. Start with a walk around Lake Wendouree or Ballarat Botanic Gardens, making sure you check out the Prime Minister's Avenue and Conservatory while there. Ballarat Art Gallery is exemplary and regularly hosts free exhibitions, while the town’s strong commitment to the arts sees festivals held throughout the year, with both free and ticketed events. Highlights include the Begonia Festival and the Ballarat International Foto Biennale, next held in 2027. 

Read more: The best free things to do in Ballarat.

The Dandenong Ranges and Yarra Valley

The lush, forested Dandenong Ranges and Yarra Valley present ample free opportunities for rekindling your relationship with nature. Free parks to explore include the Alfred Nicholas Memorial Gardens, the Dandenong Ranges Botanic Gardens and the Warburton Redwood Forest. Steavenson Falls near Marysville is a spectacular hike too. 

Read more: The best free things to do in the Yarra Valley.

Mornington Peninsula

While it's renowned for its luxury offerings, a trip to the Mornington Peninsula doesn't have to break the bank. In addition to the numerous, pristine beaches you can visit, other free activities on the Mornington Peninsula include snorkelling the Octopus's Garden at Rye Pier, seeing the view from Arthur's Seat, strolling along Millionaire's Walk and discovering new artists at Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery.

Read more: The best free things to do on the Mornington Peninsula.