Free things to do in Melbourne
1. Walk the laneways and arcades
Start at Flinders Street Station, then wander Degraves Street and Centre Place for coffee, the 1890s Block Arcade and Royal Arcade, and Hosier Lane for ever-changing street art. Mornings are quieter for photos.
2. National Gallery of Victoria (NGV)
Australia’s oldest public gallery is free to enter. NGV International is on St Kilda Road, with its famous stained-glass ceiling in the Great Hall; the Ian Potter Centre at Federation Square shows Australian art. Details: NGV.
3. Royal Botanic Gardens
Thirty-eight hectares of lawns, lakes and trees, a short walk from the city. It is free, and the circuit around the Ornamental Lake is lovely in autumn.
4. Shrine of Remembrance
Climb to the balcony for one of the best free views of the skyline. Entry is free.
5. Federation Square and ACMI
The square is the city’s meeting point. ACMI, the museum of screen culture, has a free permanent exhibition that is great on a rainy day.
6. State Library Victoria
Look up at the domed La Trobe Reading Room from the upper galleries. Free, and one of the most photographed interiors in Australia.
7. St Kilda beach and pier
Take tram 96 to St Kilda for the Esplanade, Luna Park’s famous entrance and sunset on the pier. Little penguins live in the breakwater, and volunteers sometimes guide viewing at dusk.
8. Brighton bathing boxes
Eighty-two colourful beach huts on Brighton beach, about 25 minutes by train from the CBD (Middle Brighton station, then a short walk).
9. Ride the free City Circle tram
The heritage City Circle tram (route 35) loops around the CBD and Docklands for free, with commentary about the sights.
10. Fitzroy and Collingwood
Brunswick Street and Smith Street are lined with cafés, vintage shops, bars and street art. Gertrude Street is good for independent boutiques.
Paid attractions worth it
11. Queen Victoria Market
The market is free to enter; you pay for what you eat. Go for hot jam doughnuts, deli food and fresh produce. It is closed on Mondays and Wednesdays, so check opening days at Queen Victoria Market.
12. A match or tour at the MCG
The Melbourne Cricket Ground holds about 100,000 people. Watch AFL football (March–September) or cricket in summer, or take a stadium tour on non-event days. See MCG.
13. Melbourne Museum and the Royal Exhibition Building
Natural history, First Peoples galleries and a living forest gallery, next to the UNESCO-listed Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton Gardens.
14. Melbourne Skydeck
The observation deck on level 88 of the Eureka Tower gives 360° views; the glass cube “The Edge” slides out over the street for an extra fee.
15. Melbourne Zoo or Healesville Sanctuary
See koalas, kangaroos and platypus. Healesville, in the Yarra Valley, focuses on Australian wildlife and pairs well with a winery day.
16. A night out on a rooftop bar
Melbourne’s bars hide up stairs and down alleys. Rooftop bars in the CBD are busy on warm evenings.
17. A footy, tennis or racing event
January brings the Australian Open, March the Formula 1 Grand Prix at Albert Park, and the first Tuesday of November the Melbourne Cup horse race, a public holiday in the city.
Day trips from Melbourne
18. Great Ocean Road and the Twelve Apostles
One of the world’s great coastal drives. A guided day trip takes about 12 hours. See our Great Ocean Road day trip guide.
19. Phillip Island Penguin Parade
Watch hundreds of little penguins waddle ashore at sunset, about two hours from the city. See Phillip Island Penguin Parade.
20. Yarra Valley wineries
About an hour away, with cellar doors, chocolate makers and morning hot-air balloon flights over the vineyards.
Practical tips
- Trams inside the CBD and Docklands are free. Outside the zone, tap on with a bank card, phone or myki.
- Many cafés close by 3–4pm, but restaurants and bars stay open late.
- Carry a jacket: temperatures can drop 10°C in an afternoon.
More Melbourne guides
- Melbourne travel guide
- Melbourne itinerary: 3, 4 or 5 days
- Where to stay in Melbourne
- Best time to visit Melbourne
- Melbourne Airport to the city
- Great Ocean Road day trip
- Phillip Island Penguin Parade
- Australia ETA and eVisitor
FAQ: things to do in Melbourne
What is Melbourne best known for?
Coffee, laneways, food, street art, sport (AFL, cricket, tennis) and arts.
What can you do in Melbourne for free?
The NGV, the Botanic Gardens, the Shrine of Remembrance, the State Library, ACMI, the laneways, St Kilda beach and the City Circle tram.
What should I not miss in Melbourne?
The laneways, Queen Victoria Market and a day on the Great Ocean Road.
Plan your trip to Melbourne
The trusted services we use to plan our own trips.
Some links are affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
