What to see, where to stay and the best time to visit Melbourne, Australia.
Photo: John Simmons / Pexels
Melbourne is a coastal Australian city of 5,350,705 people. Many of the main sights are in the CBD: Queen Victoria Market, State Library Victoria, Federation Square and the Hosier Lane and Degraves Street laneways. Art, gardens and sport are close by in Southbank, South Yarra and East Melbourne. St Kilda adds a beach. The best months to go are December, January, February and March.
Most main sights take between 1 hour and 2–3 hours each. Melbourne Museum and St Kilda each need half a day. Add time for food and nightlife in Fitzroy and Collingwood.
Southbank
Australia's oldest public art museum, with international collections at NGV International on St Kilda Road and Australian art at the Ian Potter Centre in Federation Square. It is a strong choice on a rainy day.
South Yarra
Large, landscaped gardens with lakes, lawns and plant collections from around the world, a short walk from the city centre. Good for a slow walk or a picnic when the weather is fine.
Melbourne CBD
A large open-air and covered market selling fresh food, deli goods, clothes and souvenirs. Go in the morning for the food halls. Parts of the site are being redeveloped, so some areas may be closed or moved.
Melbourne CBD
Narrow lanes and arcades in the city centre known for street art, small cafés and bars. Hosier Lane is covered in graffiti art, and Degraves Street is a good place for coffee. It can get crowded with photo groups.
East Melbourne
One of the world's largest sports stadiums and the home of Australian cricket and Australian rules football. See a match if you can, or take a stadium tour and visit the Australian Sports Museum inside.
Melbourne (Kings Domain)
Victoria's main war memorial, set in parkland near the Botanic Gardens. There is an exhibition space below, and the balcony gives a good view back towards the city skyline.
Carlton
The museum covers natural history, science and Aboriginal culture, including the Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre. Next door, the Royal Exhibition Building is a UNESCO World Heritage site set in the Carlton Gardens.
Melbourne CBD
A grand public library in the city centre, known for its domed reading room. Entry is free and it has small exhibitions on the history of Victoria.
Melbourne CBD
A public square across from Flinders Street Station, with cultural venues including the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI). It is a useful meeting point and a starting place for walks along the Yarra River.
St Kilda
A seaside suburb with a beach, a long pier, the Esplanade and the old Luna Park amusement park. It is easy to reach by tram from the city. The bay is often windy and cool outside summer.
Average weather and our month score, from 10 years of climate data.
| Month | High / low | Rain days | Sunshine | Sea temp | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best month: January | 26°C / 16°C | 8 days (72 mm) | 11.1 h/day | 22°C | 8.3/10 |
| Best month: February | 26°C / 15°C | 6 days (32 mm) | 11.1 h/day | 22°C | 8.9/10 |
| Best month: March | 24°C / 14°C | 7 days (38 mm) | 9.7 h/day | 21°C | 8.6/10 |
| April | 20°C / 11°C | 9 days (66 mm) | 8.4 h/day | 18°C | 8.2/10 |
| May | 16°C / 9°C | 12 days (62 mm) | 7.4 h/day | 15°C | 6.6/10 |
| June | 14°C / 7°C | 11 days (60 mm) | 6.9 h/day | 12°C | 5.4/10 |
| July | 13°C / 7°C | 12 days (56 mm) | 6.9 h/day | 11°C | 4.9/10 |
| August | 14°C / 7°C | 13 days (59 mm) | 7.9 h/day | 12°C | 5.5/10 |
| September | 17°C / 8°C | 13 days (68 mm) | 9.2 h/day | 13°C | 6.7/10 |
| October | 20°C / 10°C | 12 days (80 mm) | 9.9 h/day | 16°C | 7.6/10 |
| November | 22°C / 12°C | 11 days (82 mm) | 10.7 h/day | 18°C | 7.8/10 |
| Best month: December | 25°C / 14°C | 8 days (66 mm) | 11.5 h/day | 21°C | 8.3/10 |
A best month, scoring 8.3. Highs reach 26.4°C with 7.5 rain days and 11.1 hours of sun. The sea is at its warmest, 22.4°C.
The top-scoring month at 8.9. Highs are 25.6°C, with just 5.6 rain days. It is the driest month, at 32 mm.
Still a best month (8.6). Highs are 24°C, with 6.9 rain days and 9.7 hours of sun. Nights cool to 14°C.
The last best month before winter, scoring 8.2. Highs drop to 20°C, with 8.9 rain days. Pack a layer for 11.2°C nights.
Rated good (6.6). Highs are 16.2°C and rain falls on 11.9 days. Expect cooler, wetter weather, so plan some indoor time.
Only ok (5.4). Highs are 13.6°C, lows 6.9°C, with 10.7 rain days. Cold and often grey, so not a good month for outdoor plans.
The weakest month, scoring 4.9. Highs are 13.2°C, with 12 rain days and 6.9 hours of sun. Choose another month if you want warm weather.
Only ok (5.5). Highs are 14.2°C, with 12.9 rain days, the most of the year. A poor choice if you plan to spend time outdoors.
Improves to good (6.7). Highs are 16.5°C, but rain still falls on 12.8 days. Sunshine rises to 9.2 hours a day.
Back to a best month (7.6). Highs are 19.6°C, but there are 12.1 rain days and 80 mm of rain. Bring a rain jacket.
A best month (7.8). Highs are 21.8°C, with 10.9 rain days. It is the wettest month, at 82 mm, so pack for rain.
A best month, scoring 8.3. Highs are 24.6°C, with 8.4 rain days. It is the sunniest month, at 11.5 hours a day.
Climate averages 2015–2024 · Best time to visit Australia →
The best areas to base yourself and who each one suits.
Good for first-timers, short stays, public transport users
The city centre is a grid of main streets and narrow laneways full of cafes, bars and shops. You can walk to many sights, and trams and trains leave in every direction. It can feel busy and noisy on weekdays, and some streets go quiet late at night.
Good for first-timers, arts lovers, couples
Southbank sits on the south side of the Yarra River, a short walk from the CBD. It is close to the main arts venues and has a riverside path lined with restaurants. It is mostly high-rise towers, so it can feel less personal than older inner suburbs.
Good for food lovers, nightlife, repeat visitors
These inner-north suburbs have old terrace houses, street art, independent shops and many bars and cafes. They are a good base if you want to eat and drink well and see a more local side of the city. Streets near the main strips can be loud at night, especially at weekends.
Good for beach lovers, backpackers, relaxed stays
St Kilda is a seaside suburb with a pier, a foreshore path and a long history as a nightlife area. It is a good choice if you want to be near the water, and trams run to the city. The trip into the CBD takes longer than from inner suburbs, and some streets are rowdy late at night.
Good for shoppers, couples, style-focused travellers
These suburbs south-east of the centre are known for shopping streets, cafes and a well-known food market in Prahran. Train and tram links make it easy to reach the city. Chapel Street can be noisy at weekends, and the area feels more polished than characterful.
Good for families, quiet, food lovers
Carlton is just north of the CBD, with wide streets, parks, the University of Melbourne nearby and a long Italian food tradition on Lygon Street. It is calmer than the CBD but still walkable to the centre. Evening options are fewer than in Fitzroy or the CBD.
Typical journey times and fares from the airport and other cities.
| Route | By | Time | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney → Melbourne NSW TrainLink XPT runs twice daily (day and overnight) from Sydney Central to Melbourne Southern Cross via Albury. The trip takes about 11–12 hours. The $18 'online saver' is the lowest advertised fare. Seats must be reserved before travel. | train | 11 h | 18 AUD ↗ |
| Sydney → Melbourne Firefly Express runs a daily overnight coach from Sydney Central (Pitt St bays) to Melbourne Southern Cross along the Hume Highway. It takes about 12 hours. Fares start at $60 one way. Free WiFi, USB charging and a toilet on board. | bus | 12 h | 60 AUD ↗ |
| Melbourne → Adelaide The Overland (Journey Beyond) runs 2 times a week in each direction, a daytime trip of about 10.5 hours. The fare from $160 comes from Rome2Rio (rome2rio.com/Train/Adelaide/Melbourne), not from the operator. Book early because there are only a few departures. | train | 10 h 30 min | 160 AUD ↗ |
| Melbourne → Adelaide Direct flights from Melbourne Airport (MEL) to Adelaide (ADL). About 3h20m including getting to and from the airports. The fare range is a Rome2Rio estimate (not an operator page), so compare airlines when you book. | flight | 3 h 22 min | 89–254 AUD ↗ |
Melbourne takes its espresso coffee seriously. Locals order a flat white at small laneway and suburban cafés, often with a long weekend brunch such as eggs or smashed avocado on toast.
Warm, sugar-coated doughnuts filled with hot jam. The best-known place to buy them is the doughnut van at Queen Victoria Market, where people eat them while shopping.
A thick, Chinese-inspired dumpling of pork and cabbage, steamed or deep-fried. Locals buy them at fish and chip shops and at South Melbourne Market, usually with soy sauce.
Slices of potato dipped in batter and deep-fried. Victorians call them potato cakes, and they come as a side at almost every fish and chip shop.
Grilled lamb or chicken wrapped in pita with tomato, onion and tzatziki. It reflects Melbourne's large Greek community and is a popular late-night meal after going out.
A rice noodle soup with beef or chicken in a clear, spiced broth. Locals go for it on Victoria Street in Richmond or in Footscray, both areas with many Vietnamese restaurants.
February is the best month to visit Melbourne, with the highest score of the year at 8.9. It has the fewest rain days, at 5.6, and only 32 mm of rain. Daytime highs reach about 25.6°C with 11.1 hours of sun. March, January and December are also top months. They have highs between 24°C and 26.4°C and long sunny days.
July is the weakest month to visit Melbourne. It scores only 4.9, the lowest of the year. Highs reach just 13.2°C and nights drop to 6.7°C. Expect about 12 rain days and 6.9 hours of sun. Go only if you mainly plan indoor sights, such as the National Gallery of Victoria or State Library Victoria.
Yes, but mainly in summer. The sea is warmest in January at about 22.4°C and in February at 21.7°C. By March it is still about 21°C. In winter the water gets cold, down to 10.6°C in July. Plan beach time at St Kilda for the warmer months.
November has the most rain by volume, with about 82 mm. October follows closely at 80 mm. August has the most rain days, at 12.9, and September is close behind at 12.8. Both months are also cool, with highs of 14.2°C and 16.5°C. February is the driest month, with 32 mm.
Plan several full days to see Melbourne's main sights at a relaxed pace. The National Gallery of Victoria, the Royal Botanic Gardens and the MCG each take 2–3 hours. Queen Victoria Market and the laneways each need 1–2 hours. Melbourne Museum and the Royal Exhibition Building need half a day, and so does St Kilda.
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