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Melbourne has earned a fantastic reputation for being a fun and friendly cosmopolitan city. Not only is there an endless amount of excitement to be had in wandering amidst the alleys and laneways, but Melbourne has also been christened the culinary capital of Australia too!

So if you’ve got a limited amount of time in this thriving metropolis, what are the key things to check out? Here are some quick tips: what not to miss.

Quick Recommendations for Attractions, Food, Culture and Shopping in Melbourne

Attractions

Heading up to the Eureka Skydeck is probably the best way of getting a good view of the city. But if you don’t fancy being 297 metres above Melbourne, then taking the City Circle Tram is a great way of getting your bearings, and the little history lesson that’s piped through the speakers can give you a good grounding of how the city grew.

If you’re feeling a little more energetic, then taking a walk along the Yarra River is another great way to see the sights that range from the magnificent skyscrapers of the CBD to the lush Royal Botanic Gardens.

A panoramic view of the Yarra River flowing through Melbourne and the Yarra Trail on it's banks. This is a composite of 5 individual images taken with a Canon 5D and 24-105mm f/4L IS lens.

Food

What better way to treat yourself for all of that sightseeing than by checking out Melbourne’s incredible culinary heritage. The CBD is a great place to find a chic cafe or restaurant with funky places like the 1000 £ Bend being particularly popular amongst the locals for its great brunch options.

Culture

Melbourne is full of fun cultural attractions too. Whether it’s checking out the famous street art on Hosier Lane or seeing a concert at legendary live music venues like The Corner Hotel, it seems that people in Melbourne really know how to have fun.

But one of the best options has to be to go to the Southbank and Arts Centre that incorporates theatres and performance spaces, and even has a cool arts and craft market every Sunday to give you chance to pick up some great takeaway street food.

Southbank Mural. Melbourne

Shopping

And finally we couldn’t miss out some of Melbourne’s awesome shopping attractions. From the foodie delights at the legendary Queen Victoria Market to some newer outlets like the DFO South Wharf, there are plenty of places where you’ll get the opportunity of picking up a bargain.

In addition to this, the Fitzroy area is packed with plenty of cool vintage shops, and with chic streets like Brunswick Street giving you another chance to enjoy some great takeaway food, it seems like there’s no end of fun to be had in Melbourne.

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Lonely Planet Pocket Melbourne

Lonely Planet Melbourne & Victoria

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Megan is an Australian Journalist and award-winning travel writer who has been blogging since 2007. Her husband Mike is the American naturalist and wildlife photographer behind Waking Up Wild; a website dedicated to opening your eyes to the wild & natural world.

Committed to bringing you the best in adventure travel from all around the globe, there is no mountain too high, and no fete too extreme! They haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on their list.

If you enjoy getting social, you can follow their journey on FacebookTwitterYouTubePinterest and Instagram.

Photo credits: Yarra River by Diliff via Wikipedia Commons. Southbank Mural by Bernard Spragg. NZ.

    14 Comments

  1. Melbourne is a great city to spend time in. The people of Adelaide will undoubtedly contest which city is the country’s culinary capital but there’s no doubting Melbourne is a fine place.

  2. HI There,
    Had applied for visit visa but failed,I will try next time with hope to get success .
    Regards,
    jawed

  3. I loved Melbourne when I visited- especially that it has this hipster vibe in some areas with vintage and boutique stores, street art (so amazing- I have way too many photos of it), and the cafe culture. It felt like a very livable city.

  4. I’d love to visit melbourne! It’s the flight that puts me off a little (we’re in London) but it definitely looks gorgeous! Really lovely post :)

  5. I’ve never really explored Melbourne properly – work trips aren’t always the best way to see a place properly. However, we DID spend a week in Melbourne’s west – but weirdly, the top attraction (for my birdo partner) – the Western Treatment Plant – never seems to make it onto the ‘top things to do in Melbourne’ lists. I don’t understand it, haha!

  6. I lived in Melbourne for a few months, loved the city but hated the rain. The tram was a highlight though, unique way to see the city.

  7. I spent 3 weeks in Melbourne and I loved it. Hossier Lane was one of my favorites. SUper cool alley and lots of street art. I also enjoyed the attractions you could reach for a day like Great Ocean Road and the Penguins. I seriously enjoyed my time in Melbourne.

  8. Melbourne is one of my favourite cities! I hope to make it my third home one day. I love the arts and beer scene in Melbourne and I have that exact same Melburn picture from my visit. Great article :)

  9. I did some research into Melbourne for a project a while back and as a result it’s been on my list for ages! The food capital of Oz sounds so good!

  10. That sky deck sounds so cool! But you know for me, it’s always going to be about the food. I would love to visit Melbourne soon. It sounds like such an amazing city.

  11. I would definitely do the sky tower in Melbourne. I would love checking out the street art too, seems like there is a lot to see and do here. I love vintage stuff so I would enjoy checking out those shops

  12. Melbourne looks like a fun and industrial city. When I was reading your post I was thinking of London and NYC.I still haven’t had a chance to visit Australia. I am not sure if I am going to Australia, I should go to Cydney or Melbourne. Do you have any suggestion?

  13. I have a friend who recently visited Melbourne and she really loved it! More than the place, the people there made her vacation an awesome one. I think your quick tips plus the locals who are very willing to help will make someone’s travel in Melbourne amazing, Meg!

  14. Perfect fit for someone like me who’s fascination is reading blogs. I can mostly relate. Keep sending them please!

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