Best 31 Tourist Places to Visit and Fun Things to Do in Melbourne

February 21, 2023 Mustafa Natalwala 3445 Views

Melbourne is the capital city of the Victoria state of Australia. It sits on the southern coast of Australia facing Port Philip Bay. Some of the most fun things to do in Melbourne City include exploring coastal attractions and activities. You can enjoy the beaches, leisure activities, boat cruises, water sports, scuba diving, surfing, and more.

The city is also surrounded by wonderful natural terrains including mountains, valleys, and forests. So you can also enjoy several outdoor activities to do in Melbourne on land as well including hiking, trekking, climbing, adventure sports, and more.

As for the best places to visit in Melbourne, you have museums, art galleries, cultural centers, historical buildings, entertainment venues, amusement parks, markets, and more. In terms of learning about history, you will come across Melbourne tourist attractions that shed light on post-colonial, colonial, pre-colonial, and aboriginal history.

The region has been home to Aboriginal Victorians for more than 40,000 years. It is also one of the most important meeting places for the Kulin nation clans. Although, there are very few things to see in Melbourne that depict this aspect of the region’s history. But, you can still experience the aboriginal culture through art, dance performances, artifacts exhibited in museums, certain cuisines, and music.

The majority of Melbourne attractions are dominated by colonial and post-colonial history. You will see several historical buildings and monuments built in the 1800s and 1900s. You can get a complete overview of Victoria’s history at the Melbourne Museum. Another major aspect of history and culture that you get to explore during Melbourne sightseeing is art. The city has a bountiful collection of Australian, aboriginal, colonial, and foreign artworks.

While you are exploring Melbourne tourist spots take time to enjoy the little quirks of the city in its foods, festivals, nightlife, and sports. The city is the sports capital of Australia and there is an entire museum dedicated to different sports. It is one of the most interesting places to see in Melbourne.

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Table of Contents

Top 31 Tourist Places to Visit in Melbourne in 9 Days (Trip Itinerary)

Day 1

1. St. Pauls Cathedral

This church was built between 1880 and 1931. It is one of the best places to visit in Melbourne city if you admire classic European architecture. The church was built in Neo-Gothic design with polychromatic brickwork, a timbered roof, and banded stonework. One of the best features of this church is the Moorhouse Tower Lantern which directs natural light towards amber windows and dalle de verre panels. It is one of the most beautiful things to see in Melbourne city. You will need about an hour to explore this church.

2. The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia

This art gallery is renowned for its art collection as well as its architecture. There are several cross-connections between the galleries in the center and you can experience shifting view lines. It is also one of the best Melbourne tourist attractions to see indigenous, colonial, and contemporary Australian artworks. You will need about 2 hours to tour this gallery.

3. Australian Centre for the Moving Image

This gallery celebrates various aspects of cinematography through visual exhibits, art installations, workshops, lectures, screenings, studio events, and more. It is one of the most fun things to do in Melbourne city if you are interested in camera art or filmmaking. The centre also exhibits several historical footages and explores the history of the art form as well as Australian filmmaking. The place also has interactive exhibits and indoor things to do in Melbourne. Explore the exhibits’ emergence, voices, sensation, and game lab for these cinematic experiences. You will need about 2 hours from Melbourne sightseeing to tour this place.

4. Federation Square

This public square is considered the heart of the city. You will almost always something or the other happening on this street. The place hosts events, performances, art shows, fashion shows, screenings, exhibitions, and more. The square is also surrounded by several Melbourne attractions featuring beautiful architecture. You can easily spend 30 to 45 minutes to enjoy watching people and places at this square when you visit Melbourne.

5. National Gallery of Victoria

Established in 1861, this is the oldest art museum in Australia. The museum is home to more than 68,000 pieces of art. It is one of the best things to do in Melbourne city for art admirers. You can see historical artworks hailing from Asia, the Americas, Africa, and Europe. The collection includes creations of masters like Rodin, Picasso, El Greco, Monet, Rembrandt, Cezanne, and many more. You will need about 2 hours to tour this gallery.

6. Eureka Tower (Melbourne Skydeck)

The observation deck in this tower is elevated at a height of 297.3 meters. It is one of the best Melbourne tourist spots to get a wonderful 360-degree view of the city. This is the highest observation deck in the entire Southern Hemisphere and also has the fastest lifts in that region. Take an hour to enjoy Melbourne sightseeing from this vantage point.

I suggest you should get an Entry Ticket to Melbourne Skydeck in advance.

7. Melbourne Sea Life Aquarium

This aquarium houses more than 10,000 marine animals including sharks, whales, squids, octopuses, sawfishes, turtles, pythons, frogs, crocodiles, seahorses, cuttlefish, sea dragons, jellyfishes, and many more. The place is also known for some unique experiences and indoor activities to do in Melbourne such as interaction with penguins, dining under a glass aquarium, glass bottom boat ride, scuba diving, and so on. It is one of the best places to go in Melbourne for family tourists and you can easily spend 2 to 3 hours at this place.

I suggest you should get an Admission Ticket to SEA LIFE Aquarium in advance.

8. Crown Casino and Entertainment Complex

This complex has it all for leisure and entertainment. You can visit here for shopping, dining, casinos, games, spas, bowling, and other top things to do in Melbourne. You can also see a light and sound shows played at night by Four Seasons from this complex. People can easily spend a couple of hours from Melbourne sightseeing and enjoying this place.

Day 2

1. Queen Victoria Market

This historic market dates back to 1878. You can buy a variety of fresh produce, street food, deli food, handicraft items, food products, electronics, fashion, jewelry, accessories, etc. It is also one of the best tourist places in Melbourne to buy souvenirs. You can easily spend a couple of hours roaming this market.

I suggest you should try a Barbeque Class at Queen Victoria Market. And if you are interested in trying different foods then you should go for a Foodie Tour at Queen Victoria Market.

2. Old Melbourne Gaol

This gaol is a bluestone building and courtyard built alongside City Police Watch House and Old Magistrate Buildings. It was built in the 1800s and is intricately linked to the history of crime and legal justice in the city. It is one of the most important historical places to see in Melbourne. The building served as a military prison during WWII and storage for the Victorian Police. It is also one of the best things to do in Melbourne at night owing to its late evening tours “Night in the Watch House”, “Ghosts? What Ghosts?”, and “The Hangman’s Night Tour”. You will need at least an hour to tour this historical place.

3. Parliament House Victoria

Built-in 1856 and was designed by Peter Kerr and George Knight. Their architectural vision still remains unfulfilled. This building is also built from Bluestone and is known for its wonderful classical decor. You can explore only a few parts of this building including the Public Gallery, Legislative Council, and Legislative Assembly. Even from the outside, it is one of the best Melbourne sights for those who admire historical architecture. You will need 30 to 45 minutes to tour this building.

4. St. Patricks Cathedral

This church was built between the late 1800s and early 1900s and is known for its Gothic Revival architecture. It was designed by William Wardell, who sought inspiration from 14th-century English Churches. The church is made from bluestone and sandstone. It is one of the best places to visit in Melbourne city if you admire the classical architecture. You will need about an hour to explore this church.

5. Royal Exhibition Building

Built in 1880, this building is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was the first building in the country to achieve this status. It is one of the most beautiful things to see in Melbourne. The architecture Joseph Reed uses a blend of different styles of architecture including Byzantine, Italian, Romanesque, and Lombardic. You will need about an hour or so from Melbourne travel to tour this building.

6. Melbourne Museum

This museum exhibits the political, cultural, and environmental history of Victoria. It is the largest museum in the southern hemisphere. It is one of the most popular Melbourne tourist attractions for families. Some of the highlights of this museum include a living forest, dinosaur skeletons, blue whale skeletons, Koorie people artifacts, and more. You will need about 2 to 3 hours to tour this museum when you visit Melbourne.

Day 3

1. Shrine of Remembrance

This monument honors Australian soldiers who lost their lives serving the country. It narrates the stories of several soldiers and also looks at the history of wars fought by Australians. The monument is built in the style of ancient Greek temples with a pyramid top inspired by the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus in Turkey. It is one of the most magnificent Melbourne sights and you will need an hour to explore it.

I suggest you should book a Cultural Guided Tour of the Shrine of Remembrance in advance.

2. Royal Botanic Gardens

These gardens house more than 50,000 plants and exhibit 19th-century style layouts. The complex is divided into several sections of themed gardens. It is a great place if you are looking for outdoor activities to do in Melbourne. Some of the most popular gardens in the complex include Camellia Collection, Australian Forest Walk, Oak Lawn, Fern Gully, Herb Garden, and Tropical Display. You will need 2 hours from Melbourne sightseeing to tour these gardens.

I suggest you should go for a Guided Aboriginal Heritage Walk at Royal Botanic Gardens.

3. National Sports Museum (Australian Sports Museum)

This museum is a part of the Melbourne Cricket Ground and exhibits the highlights of Australian Sporting history. It holds more than 3,000 artifacts from a variety of sports including cricket, football, rugby, netball, gymnastics, baseball, racing, and more. It is one of the most interesting Melbourne attractions. The museum also looks at the influence of sports on Australian culture. You will need about an hour to tour this museum.

I suggest you should book a Guided Tour of Melbourne Cricket Ground and Australia Sports Museum.

4. IMAX Melbourne Museum

This is the 3rd largest IMAX theatre in the world and is one of the most fun things to do in Melbourne city. You can watch action movies, 3D films, and amazing documentaries at this place. The venue also has several other entertainment facilities. You will need about 2 to 3 hours for a film.

Day 4

1. Polly Woodside

Built-in 1885, this ship has traveled more than 1.5 million km around the world. The ship gives you an insight into a mariner’s life in the 19th century. One of the best things to do in Melbourne is experiencing the sailor or pirate life on this ship. These take place on the first and third Sundays of each month. You will need 2 hours to tour this boat.

2. Melbourne Zoo

This zoo houses more than 300 species of animals including kangaroos, elephants, wombats, baboons, giraffes, platypus, tigers, gorillas, orangutans, lions, snow leopards, Tasmanian devils, and many more. It is one of the top Melbourne tourist spots for families. The zoo is also popular for several animals encounters and other interesting outdoor activities to do in Melbourne. You will need 2 to 3 hours to tour this zoo.

I suggest you should get your Entry Ticket to Melbourne Zoo in advance.

3. Luna Park

This historical amusement park is one of the most fun places to go in Melbourne. You can enter the park for free, only the rides are chargeable. The park has arcade games, carnival rides, a roller coaster, Ferris wheel, dodgem cars, and several other rides to enjoy. You can easily spend a couple of hours at this park.

Day 5

1. Sovereign Hill

This open-air museum recreates the gold rush era of the late 1800s. The alluvial gold rush was one of the biggest gold rushes in history and served as the foundation for the Ballarat Pastoral settlement. You can see various aspects of this era including houses, bars, mining, lifestyle, fashion, culture, food, music, and so on. It is among the best places to visit in Melbourne to experience history. The actors recreate the world during that time and you can also participate in some of the experiences. You will need about 2 hours for this museum when you visit Melbourne.

I suggest you should get your Ticket to Sovereign Hill in advance.

2. Ice Bar Melbourne

This bar is themed after everything snow. It has ice sculptures, ice furnitures, and even the glasses are made from ice. It is one of the most popular nightlife venues to enjoy during Melbourne travel. Do try one of their signature ice-themed drinks while you are here. You can spend an hour or so enjoying this place.

I suggest you should book your Tour of IceBar Melbourne in advance.

3. ArtVo Immersive Gallery

This interactive art space has 11 themed galleries featuring more than 100 paintings. These creations are designed as optical illusions and visual experiences. Unlike other art galleries, this place encourages you to touch and interact with the artworks in your own way. It is one of the most popular tourist places in Melbourne to click Instagram worthy photographs as you can do a lot of creative stuff with the artworks. You will need about an hour to tour this gallery.

I suggest you should get your Ticket to ArtVo Immersive Gallery in advance.

4. River Cruise

You can enjoy a wonderful ride over the Yarra river during Melbourne travel. There are a variety of boat cruises available including lunch/dinner cruise, sunset cruise, Melbourne sightseeing cruise, night boat tour, kayaking tour, and so on. You will need at least an hour for this cruise.

I suggest you should go for a Melbourne City Highlights River Cruise.

Day 6

1. Yarra Valley Tour – Wineries, Train Ride & Hot Air Balloon

This valley holds some of the most wonderful experiences, but you need to take a small break from exploring Melbourne attractions. The valley has several wineries, so you can go on a wine-tasting and estate exploration tour in this valley. You can also ride the famous Puffing Billy Steam train exploring the natural sights of the valley along with morning tea. The ride culminates with a tour of the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie. Though for the most incredible Melbourne sights, you should go for a Hot Air Balloon Ride over this valley. You can see the valley, lakes, river, hills, wineries, and other beautiful sights while flying above them. This journey is especially beautiful at the time of sunrise and sunset. You will need to take out a day from Melbourne sightseeing to enjoy this valley.

Here I am suggesting top-rated tours and activities that you should try at Yarra Valley.

Day 7

1. Great Ocean Road

This coastal route stretches for 240 kilometers and is known for its rich natural beauty and wildlife. You can drive along the road and explore a few nature trails on foot. It is one of the most fun things to do in Melbourne outside the city. Some of the biggest attractions you will come across along the routes are Twelve Apostles Rock Formation, Great Otway National Park, Port Campbell National Park, and several beaches. The two national parks that fall on this route are top spots for outdoor activities to do in Melbourne such as hiking, camping, and wildlife safari. They are especially known for grey kangaroos and swamp wallabies. You will need at least a day to tour this route.

I suggest you should book a Full Day Tour to Great Ocean Road in advance.

Day 8

1. Phillip Island

This island is one of the most beautiful Melbourne tourist attractions. The island is blessed with beautiful beaches, forests, coastal scenery, and wildlife. It is home to penguins, kangaroos, seals, and a variety of birds. The island is also home to small towns and villages with unique attractions of their own. You can also enjoy a variety of adventure sports in Melbourne on this island such as kayaking, whale spotting, dolphin spotting, boat cruises, hiking, cliff diving, surfing, beach activities, and more. You can make a day trip to Philip Island when you visit Melbourne.

I suggest you should book a Full Day Trip to Phillip Island in advance.

2. Boat Cruise – Cruise Tour, Whale Watching, Dolphin Spotting, Island Tours

You can venture out into the ocean in a boat to see a variety of sights and aquatic wildlife. These tours originate from several places in and around Melbourne (including Philip Island). You can explore the oceans to see rock formations, corals, aquatic life, islands, coastal cliffs, and more. There are special tours to spot whales and dolphins. You can also take boat cruises to visit the small islands close to the coast. Take a few hours to cruise the great blue sea.

Here Below I am suggesting some of Top Rated Tours and Activities that you should try in Melbourne

3. Adventure Sports

You can have an adventure on land, in the sea, and in the sky during Melbourne travel. People can go for hiking, trekking, and camping in a variety of terrains such as forests, canyons, valleys, coastal cliffs, and more. You will come across a variety of small and large animals in these terrains. Along the coast, you can go for surfing, jet ski, swimming, kayaking, paddle boarding, and so on. Further, into the ocean people can enjoy some of the best things to do in Melbourne such as scuba diving, snorkeling, whale spotting, dolphin sightseeing, and boat cruises. In the sky, you can enjoy hot-air balloon rides, skydiving, paragliding, helicopter tour, and more.

Here below I am suggesting top-rated Adventure Activities to Do in Melbourne.

Day 9

1. Grampians National Park

This national park sits 260 km outside the city, but is worth visiting for some of the most beautiful natural things to see in a Melbourne trip. You will see canyons, streams, evergreen forests, rock formations, mountains, waterfalls, and more. People come here for a variety of top things to do in Melbourne such as bushwalking, rock-climbing, wildlife spotting, and exploring aboriginal cultural heritage. You will need at least a day to explore this National Park.

I suggest you should book a Full Day Tour of Grampians National Park.

If you are looking for more tourist places in Melbourne, check out the sections below. We have put together an exhaustive list of attractions and activities to enjoy in and around the city.

Things to do in Melbourne

Monuments, Museums & Historical Places to Visit in Melbourne

The National Gallery of Victoria
Melbourne Museum
State Library Victoria
The Shrine of Remembrance
Old Melbourne Gaol
ACMI – Australian Centre for the Moving Image
Royal Exhibition Building
Science Works Museum
The Ian Potter Centre
The Immigration Museum
Heide Museum of Modern Art
Australian Sports Museum
Australian Centre for Contemporary Arts
Cooks Cottage House Museum
Parliament House
Yering Station Winery
St. Paul’s Cathedral
Old Treasury Building
Melbourne Town Hall
RAAF Museum
ArtVo Optical Illusions Gallery
Pt. Leo Estate Sculpture Garden
Abbotsford Convent
McClelland Sculpture Garden and Gallery
St. Patrick’s Cathedral
Ian Potter Museum of Art
Arthurs Street Eagle Gondola Ride
The Bellarine Railway
Enchanted Adventure Amusement Park
Montsalvat Artists’ Colony
The Lume Melbourne Art Museum
Nissarana Gallery
Buxton Contemporary Art Gallery
Flinders Lane Gallery
Tolarno Gallery
RMIT Gallery
Outre Gallery
Arc One Gallery
Fox Galleries
Anna Schwartz Gallery

Nature & Wildlife Tourist Spots in Melbourne

Healesville Sanctuary
Werribee Open Range Zoo
Peninsula Hot Springs
Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation
Bellarine Peninsula
Dandenong Ranges National Park
The You Yang Ridges
Point Nepean National Park
William Rickets Sanctuary
Philip Island Wildlife Park
Organ Pipes National Park
Mount Donna Buang
Shire of Mornington Peninsula
Mornington Peninsula National Park

Entertainment & Leisure Tourist Spots in Melbourne

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria
Melbourne Skydeck
Melbourne Zoo
Melbourne Cricket Ground
Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium
Luna Park Melbourne
Crown Casino & Entertainment Complex
Puffing Billy Railway
Fitzroy Gardens
Carlton Gardens
Albert Park
Funfields Amusement Park
Alfred Nicholas Memorial Garden
LEGOLAND Discovery Centre
Birrarung Mar Park
Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden
Yarra Bend Park
Collingwood Children’s Park
Werribee Park
Dominique Portet Winery
Rippon Lea Estate
Gumbuya World Amusement Park
Flagstaff Gardens
Kokoda Track Memorial Walk
Melbourne Park
Domaine Chandon
St. Kilda Botanical Gardens
Ashcombe Maze & Lavender Gardens

Shopping in Melbourne

Queen Victoria Market
Direct Factory Outlets
Swanston Street
Melbourne Central
South Melbourne Market
Collins Street
Acland Street
Prahran Market
Brunswick Street
The Rose Street Artists’ Market
Block Arcade
Bourke Street Mall
Bridge Road
St. Kilda Esplanade Market
Toorak Road
Chadstone Shopping Centre
Fountain Gate
Carlton Farmers Market
The District Docksland
Melbourne Emporium
Sydney Road
Chapel Street

Beaches in Melbourne

St. Kilda Beach
Brighton Beach
Dendy Street Beach
Elwood Beach
Williamstown Beach
Altona Beach
Sorrento Ocean Beach
Point Leo Beach

Offbeat Places, Tours, & Adventures in Melbourne

Dolphin Spotting
Whale Watching
Hot Air Balloon Ride
Helicopter Ride
Beach Activities
Water Sports
Surfing
Scuba Diving
Snorkelling
Yarra River Cruise
Hiking
Trekking
Swimming
Boat Cruise
Coastal Trails
Paddleboarding
Wildlife Tours
Skydiving

Sightseeing in Melbourne

Fed Square
Flinders Street Railway Station
Hosier Lane
Brighton Bathing Boxes
St. Kilda Pier
Chinatown Melbourne
Collins Street
Great Ocean Road
Chapel Street
Palais Theatre
Swanston Street
Princess Bridge
West Gate Bridge
Mornington Peninsula
Port Philip

Food, Dining, Restaurants, & Street Food in Melbourne

Woodfired Pizzeria
Serai
La Spaghettata
Grill Americano
Tiamo
Minamishima
Milk the Cow
Freyja
Brunetti Classico
Gimlet
Seven Seeds Coffee Roaster
Nomad
Humble Rays
Poodle Bar & Bistro
Chin Chin
Attica
Cutler & Co.
Amaru
Vue de Monde
Chae
Flower Drum
Warabi
Rockpool Bar & Grill
Vue de Monde
Anada Bar & Restaurant
Tedesca Osteria

Where to Stay in Melbourne?

Here we have listed Top Rated Luxurious, Mid-Range, and Budget Hotels in Melbourne. You can check the below listed hotels for your perfect stay in Melbourne.

Luxurious Hotels

Mid-Range Hotels

Budget Hotels

Custom Tours Package in Melbourne

How to Reach Melbourne?

By Air

Melbourne Airport is the primary domestic and international airport to reach the city. You can get direct flights to reach Melbourne from several cities in Asia, Europe, Oceania, and North America. Some of the well-known origin cities include Beijing, Delhi, Auckland, Kuala Lumpur, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Denpasar, Hong Kong, Taipei, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Jakarta, Tokyo, Bangkok, Santiago de Chile, Honolulu, Hamilton Island, Manila, Doha, Singapore, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and many more. You can get buses and cabs to get to the city from the airport.

If you want to visit Melbourne from Sydney, Gold Coast, or Sunset Coast, you can also use Avalon airport to get to the city. You can get trains from Lara station to reach Melbourne. People can also use buses and intercity cabs for the journey.

By Road

Melbourne sits on 3 train networks: V/L Line, NSW Trainlink, and Great Southern Rail. These routes make Melbourne travel possible from several cities in Australia such as Adelaide, Brisbane, Portland, Albury, Hobart, Queenstown, Devonport, Perth, Sydney, and many more.

The bus network also connects Melbourne with the majority of cities, towns, and regions in Australia. Although, if you plan to reach Melbourne by car, you should head for routes M1, M31, M8, or M11.

By Water

You can get boats and ferries for Melbourne travel from Devonport in Tasmania. The ferry journey is 10 hours long and runs every day between the two ports.

Image Reference

St. Paul’s Cathedral – George Bayliss / Flickr
The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia – Jules Antonio / Flickr
Australian Centre for the Moving Image – Wojtek Gurak / Flickr
Federation Square – Yun Huang Yong / Flickr
National Gallery of Victoria – Donaldytong / Wikimedia Commons
Eureka Tower (Melbourne Skydeck) – PublicDomainPictures / PixaBay
Melbourne Sea Life Aquarium – Blaise Alleyne / Flickr
Crown Casino and Entertainment Complex – Paolo Rosa / Flickr
Queen Victoria Market – Crisco 1492 / Wikimedia Commons
Old Melbourne Gaol – Allan Henderson / Flickr
Parliament House Victoria – John Torcasio / Wikimedia Commons
St Patrick’s Cathedral – Douglas Paul Perkins / Wikimedia Commons
Royal Exhibition Building – a.canvas.of.light / Flickr
Melbourne Museum – Francisco Anzola / Wikimedia Commons
Shrine of Remembrance – Bex Walton / Flickr
Royal Botanic Gardens – Chris Newton / Flickr
National Sports Museum (Australian Sports Museum) – Aaroncrick / Wikimedia Commons
IMAX Melbourne Museum – Johntorcasio / Wikimedia Commons
Polly Woodside – Bernard Spragg. NZ / Flickr
Melbourne Zoo – James Sinclair / Flickr
Luna Park – Michael Baragwanath / PixaBay
Sovereign Hill – Peterdownunder / Wikimedia Commons
Ice Bar Melbourne –
ArtVo Immersive Gallery –
River Cruise – Nick-D / Wikimedia Commons
Yarra Valley Tour – Wineries, Train Ride & Hot Air Balloon – Senning Luk / Flickr
Great Ocean Road – moerschy / PixaBay
Philip Island – Chensiyuan / Wikimedia Commons
Boat Cruise – Cruise Tour, Whale Watching, Dolphin Spotting, Island Tours – Andrew Riedel / PixaBay
Adventure Sports – Russell Charters / Flickr
Grampians National Park – westewoud / Flickr