Things to Visit in Melbourne: Laneways, Coffee, and Culture

Melbourne's most famous street art laneway, covered floor-to-ceiling in graffiti and murals that change constantly. Free to visit any time. The art extends into surrounding laneways — AC/DC Lane, Duckboard Place, and Centre Place are all within 2 blocks. Visit on a weekday morning for fewer people in your photos.

Narrow European-style laneways lined with tiny cafés, bars, and boutiques. Degraves Street is the most photographed café strip in Melbourne. A flat white costs A$4.50-5.50 at the laneway cafés. Morning weekdays are quieter; the lunchtime rush packs the outdoor tables.

Melbourne's oldest shopping arcades (Block Arcade dates to 1892) feature mosaic tile floors, ornate ceilings, and independent shops. The Block Arcade's Hopetoun Tea Rooms have served afternoon tea since 1892 — the queue can be 30-45 minutes on weekends.

Multiple companies offer free walking tours (tips-based) covering the city's history, architecture, and hidden laneways. Tours run 2-3 hours from Federation Square. The street art-focused tours specifically cover the art scene, stenciling techniques, and commissioned vs. illegal work.

Australia's oldest and most visited art gallery has two locations: NGV International (St Kilda Road) and NGV Australia/Ian Potter Centre (Federation Square). Permanent collections are free at both. The annual winter blockbuster exhibition draws massive crowds — book timed tickets for A$28-35.

Melbourne's central civic square hosts the Ian Potter Centre, ACMI (Australian Centre for the Moving Image, free), and regular public events. The architecture — deconstructivist panels of zinc, sandstone, and glass — is polarizing but photogenic. Free Wi-Fi throughout the square.

The museum (A$15) has an excellent Aboriginal cultural exhibit, a dinosaur collection, and the Melbourne Story gallery. The adjacent Royal Exhibition Building (UNESCO World Heritage, A$10 guided tour) hosted Australia's first Parliament in 1901.

Australia's largest stadium (100,000 capacity) is hallowed ground for cricket and Australian Rules football. Tours (A$35, 75 minutes) run on non-event days and include the players' changing rooms, the Long Room, and the National Sports Museum. Attending an AFL match (March-September, from A$25) is the ultimate Melbourne experience.

Melbourne's largest open-air market has operated since 1878. The food hall has deli meats, cheese, bread, and fresh produce. The general merchandise section (clothing, souvenirs, leather goods) runs Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and weekends. Wednesday summer night markets (November-March, 5-10 PM) have street food, bars, and live music.

Melbourne's café culture has made brunch an art form. Smashed avocado on sourdough (A$18-24) is the cliché, but the best cafés push boundaries — think matcha pancakes, Turkish eggs, and mushroom ragout. Smith Street (Collingwood), Brunswick Street (Fitzroy), and Chapel Street (South Yarra) have the highest density of café options.

Melbourne invented the dim sim in the 1940s — a larger, meatier cousin of Chinese siu mai. South Melbourne Market sells the most famous version (A$2 each, steamed or fried). It's a quintessentially Melbourne food that you won't find anywhere else in the world.

Victoria Street in Richmond is Melbourne's 'Little Saigon' — packed with Vietnamese phở restaurants, bánh mì bakeries, and Asian grocery stores. Footscray in the west is even more diverse with Ethiopian, Indian, Vietnamese, and Chinese restaurants. A full meal in either area costs A$12-18.

Melbourne's original hipster neighborhood has vintage clothing shops, record stores, craft breweries, and some of the city's best restaurants on Brunswick and Gertrude streets. The Rose Street Artists' Market (weekends, free entry) showcases 120+ local makers and artists.

The beachside suburb 6 km south of the CBD has a famous Luna Park entrance face (rides from A$12), a Sunday craft market on the Esplanade (10 AM-5 PM), and penguin viewing at dusk on the St Kilda breakwater (free — bring a flashlight). The Acland Street cake shops have been serving since the 1930s.

The Southbank promenade runs along the Yarra River from Federation Square to Crown. Sunday craft markets fill the promenade. The free Eureka Skydeck viewing at Crown's rooftop bar is an alternative to the paid Eureka Skydeck 88 (A$28) — just buy a drink instead.

One of the world's great coastal drives, stretching 243 km from Torquay to Warrnambool. The Twelve Apostles limestone stacks are the highlight — visit at sunrise or sunset for the best light and smallest crowds. A full day trip from Melbourne is doable (4.5 hours driving round trip) but staying overnight in Apollo Bay or Port Campbell is more relaxed.

Australia's premium cool-climate wine region, just 60 km east of Melbourne. Over 80 wineries offer cellar door tastings (usually free or A$5-10 redeemable against purchases). Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are the signature varieties. Organized day tours cost A$120-180 including lunch and 4-5 winery stops.

The Penguin Parade (A$30) on Phillip Island's Summerland Beach shows hundreds of little penguins waddling ashore at sunset — one of Australia's most popular wildlife experiences. It's a 2-hour drive from Melbourne. Book the 'Penguins Plus' upgrade (A$70) for closer viewing platforms and smaller crowds.