Melbourne has dozens of beautiful free parks and gardens you can visit - here are some of the best to enjoy across the city.
Melbourne
Final thoughts on the best things to do in Melbourne
Best things to do and see, and places to eat in Melbourne, Victoria
Whether you’re a local or a visitor, discover Melbourne’s best attractions, along with the hidden gems and lesser‑known spots that make this city endlessly surprising.
In a city as vibrant as Melbourne, there’s no shortage of things to do, see, and eat. The challenge is narrowing it down, because it’s a destination where a great day out can be as simple as a strong coffee, a stroll between neighbourhoods and a picnic in the park - or as bold as a world-class museum or gallery or big sporting event followed by an award‑winning meal and a hit musical.
Melbourne can feel instantly familiar – the laneways, trams, and historic buildings – yet still surprise you if you know where to go. Among it's newest attractions are the Metro Tunnel and Skyline Ferris Wheel alongside the Yarra River.
Use this handy guide to discover the city’s distinct character and charm.
You’ll also find plenty of inspiration for things to do in Melbourne through the RACV News & Lifestyle content in the RACV App. And if you’d like updates delivered straight to your inbox, you can subscribe to RACV News.
Get your bearings on the 88th floor of Melbourne Skydeck. Image: Visit Victoria
Top 5 things to do in Melbourne
- Melbourne Skydeck – best city views
- Royal Botanic Gardens – nature escape
- Hosier Lane – street art
- Queen Victoria Market – food & culture
- St Kilda Esplanade – sunsets & seaside
Landmark & iconic attractions in Melbourne
Whether you’re reconnecting to Melbourne or showing a visitor around, exploring the city's top tourist attractions reminds you of why this city is so special. Get your bearings on the 88th floor of Melbourne Skydeck, with expansive views across the city and beyond.
Flinders Street Station is an icon of the city, with its instantly recognisable facade and access to Melbourne’s river-to-gardens corridor. It's a short walk from Federation Square, where the award-winning glass-roofed Atrium stands proud. Exit along the Birrarung (Yarra River) path for a relaxed stroll, watching the skyline shift with every bend.
No visit to Melbourne is complete without time exploring the laneways. Check out the quirky boutiques, Hosier Lane’s street art, and stop by a café to sample the city’s renowned coffee culture.
Block Arcade in Melbourne's CBD is an iconic 19th-century shopping arcade. Image: Visit Victoria.
Best heritage, art & cultural attractions in Melbourne
Melbourne is home to world-class arts and cultural events and heritage institutions. The National Gallery of Victoria is a must-do for art lovers with exhibitions spanning contemporary art, design, fashion, and architecture.
At Federation Square, explore Australia’s national museum of screen culture (ACMI) and some of the country’s finest Australian art at the Ian Potter Centre. Nearby, Koorie Heritage Trust is dedicated to Aboriginal arts and culture or stop by the Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre in Carlton to discover Victoria’s Indigenous peoples (Koorie) traditions through exhibitions, storytelling, and artwork.
Melbourne's 19th-century gold rush spurred grand public buildings like the Old Treasury Building, Parliament House, State Library and Royal Exhibition Building. Wander through the Block Arcade in Melbourne's CBD. This 19th-century shopping arcade is admired for its Victorian Mannerist architecture, intricate mosaic floors imported from Europe, and grand glass canopy.
Equally grand, and only a 35 minutes’ drive from the CBD, you'll find Werribee Park Mansion. It is one of the largest and most opulent properties in Victoria and part of Werribee Park. You'll also find the impressive Victoria State Rose Garden here.
ST. ALi Cafe in South Melbourne epitomises Melbourne's coffee culture. Photo: Visit Victoria.
Best coffee in Melbourne
Melburnians take their coffee seriously and visitors are guaranteed to find a superb espresso or latte to their liking at numerous places across the CBD and inner suburbs.
Award‑winning Axil Coffee, which has cafés across Melbourne, is also home to the 2025 World Barista Champion. Several of its locations are just a short walk from RACV City Club.
If you like a beautifully crafted croissant with your brew, Le Petit Gateau in Little Collins Street is your go-to destination for pastries, cakes, coffee, and matcha lattes.
For coffee with heart, visit STREAT in the foyer of RACV’s Melbourne headquarters in Bourke Street, where every cup helps support disadvantaged young people.
Other coffee institutions famed for their specialty roasts include Dukes in Flinders Lane, Fieldwork in Degraves Street, Brother Baba Budan in Little Bourke Street, St ALi's in South Melbourne and Proud Mary in Collingwood.
If you love coffee culture and don't mind a queue, then venture along the laneway at the rear of 493-495 Little Bourke St, where you'll find Patricia Coffee Brewers. Attired in stylish leather aprons, the friendly staff create a lively atmosphere, with an offering of still or sparkling water while you wait.
Pellegrini's in Bourke Street, which opened in 1954, is said to be one of first cafes in Melbourne to have an authentic Italian espresso machine.
If in doubt, try a Melbourne coffee walking tour.
Indulge in creative share plates, or unwind with cocktails or a local wine at Sojourn.
Best restaurants in Melbourne
Melbourne boasts a huge foodie scene with more than 3,500 cafés and restaurants. When deciding where to eat, focus on the neighbourhoods you’re exploring, then follow your appetite (or nose).
In the CBD, you’ll find every type of cuisine, from quick dumpling houses to award‑winning fine dining. Key dining precincts include Chinatown in Little Bourke Street, the top end of Collins Street, Flinders Lane, and Hardware Lane. Healeys Lane was declared Melbourne's Koreatown in 2025.
For a spot in the centre of the action, make your way to Transit Rooftop Bar in Federation Square. If you're wondering where to eat and drink before a theatre show, try The Essence at the Melbourne Marriott, which is near the Comedy Theatre, or grab a bite at quirky laneway eatery Sojourn, which also has one of Melbourne's best rooftop bars.
If you love Italian, discover Scugnizzo Ristorante, one of Melbourne's charming laneway restaurants. For catch ups or date nights, there's Mister Munro Restaurant in Little Collins Street.
For the cuisine curious, sample tasty bites from stallholders at Queen Victoria Market. Operating since the 1800s, it is one of Melbourne's best markets.
Fitzroy and Collingwood impress with creative global-fusion fare, with new openings commonplace. For authentic Vietnamese cuisine, head to Richmond or Footscray; the latter is also great for Ethiopian dishes.
RACV Members save up to 20% (up to $25) off or enjoy 2-for-1 offers at hundreds of restaurants and cafes in Melbourne and Australia wide.* To access, download the RACV App.
Moody lighting heightens the theatrics at Curious Bar, which is hidden away off Flinders Lane. Image: Visit Victoria.
Best bars in Melbourne
Melbourne’s bar culture is as much about the setting as what’s in the glass, especially while sipping a cocktail or wine from one of the many rooftop or underground bars.
After-work drinks are easy to come by in the city. Try the OakRoom at Batman's on Collins Street, set inside the historic State Savings Bank. If you're chasing a vibrant atmosphere, Bourke Street Green is the place for great cocktails, gins and local tap beverages.
Caretaker’s Cottage, tucked away in Wesley Place in the CBD, has recently been named the best bar in Australasia and ranked 19th in the world on the 2025 World’s 50 Best Bars list.
Those who love speakeasy vibes can slip into Nick and Nora's or Apollo Inn for a glamorous evening. If you're an RACV Club Member, the Wine Bar at City Club has similar 1920s Prohibition-era charm. Or, if you enjoy a little mystery, Eau De Vie and Berlin Bar both hide behind unmarked doors. For something more playful, head to the subterranean Curious Bar.
If sea air and sunset cocktails are calling, make your way to St Kilda. The Hotel Esplanade (the Espy), operating since 1878, is considered a true Melbourne icon.
Best parks and gardens in Melbourne
One of Melbourne’s best secrets is how quickly you can swap city sounds for birdsong. With so many nature-focused free things to do in Melbourne, locals and visitors are spoilt for choice.
The Royal Botanic Gardens offer an uplifting reprieve, with native and international flora on the city’s doorstep. If you're interested in historical experiences in Melbourne, the Royal Historical Society of Victoria runs weekly tours of the city's oldest public park, Flagstaff Gardens.
Fitzroy Gardens invite respite from the bustle of the CBD, positioned on its southeast edge, while Albert Park Lake is popular for walking, biking, rowing, and picnicking.
For those seeking a more immersive nature-focused escape filled with lush ferns and a verdant forest, weave the Dandenong Ranges into your Melbourne stay. Only 35km from the CBD, it’s home to one of the region's most popular bushwalks – the Sherbrooke Falls Trail - along with the Kokoda Track Memorial Walk, a 1,000-step local rite.
Melbourne is the only major city in the world where you can glide over the city in a hot air balloon. Photo: Global Ballooning.
Best events and festivals in Melbourne
In summer, Melbourne’s stacked festival calendar can easily fill your weekends without effort. Midsumma brings a lively LGBTQIA+ arts and culture programme in late January, while every March, Moomba turns the city into a community playground.
Attracting great talent, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival is the most coveted spot in Australia for local and international comedians. The Melbourne Food & Wine Festival sees Victoria’s top chefs – and region-wide produce – on the line-up.
In autumn, attend the Melbourne International Film Festival, Melbourne Fringe, or take in the illuminating art and sound installations at Now or Never. In winter, Firelight lights up the Docklands for three days, with fire performers, live music, and food trucks.
More: Ultimate guide to summer festivals and events in Melbourne 2026
Best sporting events in Melbourne
You don’t need to be a die-hard sports fan to appreciate all Melbourne attracts sporting-wise. From big hitters like the Australian Open in January, the AFL Grand Final in September and the Melbourne Cup Carnival every November, to the weekly pilgrimages to watch AFL and NRL games, sport is woven into the city’s weekends, headlines, and conversations.
The Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground is one of the city’s signature summer experiences, as is the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, taking over Albert Park with a festival atmosphere that spreads well beyond the track.
For a behind-the-scenes glimpse into why the city is so passionate about sports, book a tour of the MCG or visit the Australian Sports Museum.
More: Ultimate guide to major sporting events in Melbourne
If you're looking for a quirky experience, join a ghost tour in Old Melbourne Gaol. Image: Visit Victoria
Best quirky things to do in Melbourne
Even if you’ve been there, done that in Melbourne, there’s still plenty to uncover across the city’s quirkier or lesser-known attractions. Wander the floors of the Art Deco Nicholas Building on Swanston Street, home to 200+ artists and creatives. Five kilometres away, Abbotsford Convent is a former nunnery-turned-creative art space with tranquil grounds, fun events, and hands-on workshops to inspire.
For history with a dark edge, the Old Melbourne Gaol captures the imagination, sharing its macabre history with its after-dark ghost tour and Hangman’s Night Tour. It's one of Melbourne's best historical experiences, along with a self-guided audio tour of Abbotsford Convent's Medieval French ecclesiastic grounds.
Spooky to some, a wildlife wonder to others, head to Yarra Bend Park – Melbourne's largest inner-city bushland - before dusk to see thousands of bats leave their nest to feed.
More: Regional Victoria's coolest and quirkiest small towns
Final thoughts on the best things to do in Melbourne
Melbourne offers an unbeatable mix of culture, food, nature, and iconic attractions, making it one of Australia’s most exciting cities to explore.
From landmark favourites like Melbourne Skydeck, Federation Square and the Royal Botanic Gardens to neighbourhood gems across Fitzroy, Carlton, St Kilda and beyond, there’s something for every type of traveller.
With world‑class dining, vibrant bar scenes, major sporting events, and festivals happening all year, Melbourne consistently delivers unforgettable experiences.
Whether you’re planning a weekend away or a deeper dive into the city, this guide highlights the best things to do in Melbourne to help you make the most of your visit.
*Terms and conditions apply. Offer must be redeemed through the RACV App. Offer cannot be used with any other dining discount or promotional offer. A single voucher may be used per dining bill. A single voucher can only be redeemed once per day. Offers are for dine-in use unless otherwise stated. See website for full terms and conditions.
