Melbourne CBD guide: where to eat and explore

Arriving in Melbourne

Trains at the platforms of Southern Cross Station in Melbourne on a bright day, the city towers beyond.

SkyBus, the airport express bus, connects Melbourne Airport directly with Southern Cross Station on the western edge of the city centre, and is the simplest way into the city.

A taxi or rideshare takes about half an hour, depending on traffic.

Interstate and regional trains and coaches arrive at Southern Cross Station too.

Getting around

A green and yellow tram stopped at a platform in front of Flinders Street Station, with passengers waiting under the shelter.

Trams are free inside the Free Tram Zone (PDF), which covers the city centre: hop on and off wherever you like, with no ticket needed.

Beyond the zone, buy a myki, Melbourne’s reusable travel card, at a station or convenience store, or tap on with your bank card, phone or smartwatch.

The journey planner shows every tram, train and bus.

The city centre

Melbourne city centre from above at sunset, its rectangular grid of streets laid out between the towers, with parkland and Parliament along the lower edge.

Broad streets with laneways threaded between them make the city easy to find your way around on foot.

At its western edge, Southern Cross Station is the city’s transport hub, and the Docklands waterfront lies a short walk west.

Walking and travel times on this page are from Southern Cross Station.

Laneways and the precincts

A narrow city laneway at night, hung with round illuminated café signs on both sides and lit shopfronts below.

Tucked between the main streets, Melbourne’s laneways hold much of the city’s best coffee, dining and bars.

Chinatown, Australia’s oldest, has stretched along Little Bourke Street between Swanston and Exhibition Streets since the 1850s.

The Greek precinct is on Lonsdale Street.

From Southern Cross StationBourke Street Mall, 8 minutes by public transport

Docklands

Docklands is where the city meets the water: Victoria Harbour, lined with restaurants and cafés.

It lies a few minutes beyond Southern Cross Station.

Marvel Stadium, home to major concerts and sport under its retractable roof, stands between the station and the water.

From Southern Cross StationMarvel Stadium, 3-minute walk

Southbank

Southbank’s riverside promenade, lined with restaurants and bars, looks back across the Yarra to the city skyline.

Crown, the riverside entertainment and casino complex, is at its western end, with restaurants on the river.

From Southern Cross StationCrown, 14-minute walk

Carlton and Lygon Street

A domed nineteenth-century exhibition hall standing among lawns and tall mature trees under a clear sky.

Carlton Gardens hold the Royal Exhibition Building, built for the 1880 world’s fair and now World Heritage-listed.

Lygon Street is Little Italy: Italian and Mediterranean restaurants, cafés and delicatessens from the post-war migration that gave Melbourne its coffee.

Melbourne Museum and the IMAX cinema stand beside the gardens, on Nicholson Street.

From Southern Cross StationLygon Street, 28 minutes by public transport

A barista pouring steamed milk into a coffee, a leaf of latte art forming in the cup.

Eat and drink

Our recommendations

Coffee

Melbourne takes coffee seriously, and the best of it is found in compact rooms on side streets.

Brunch

A late breakfast that stretches into lunch: the meal Melbourne does best.

Restaurants

Noodles tossed in a wok over open flame in a restaurant kitchen.

Dinner, from a shared table on Flinders Lane to the riverside at Crown.

Bars

Many of the city’s best bars are up staircases and behind unmarked doors. Each rewards the search.

St Kilda beach on a sunny day, families on the sand and in the shallows, palm trees along the foreshore.

Things to do

In the city

A free walking tour — I’m Free Walking Tours, opens in a new tabMeets at the State Library Victoria on Swanston Street; pay what you think it is worth.
The City Circle tram — Transport Victoria, opens in a new tabRoute 35, free, on a loop around the city centre. Its stops include the corner of Spencer Street and La Trobe Street.
Melbourne Zoo — Zoos Victoria, opens in a new tabIn Royal Park: the Upfield line train to Royal Park Station, or the route 58 tram.
Queen Victoria Market’s night market — Queen Victoria Market, opens in a new tabIn season, an evening of food stalls and music at the market.
Melbourne Skydeck — Melbourne Skydeck, opens in a new tabThe observation deck at Eureka Tower in Southbank, with the city laid out below.
The Shrine of Remembrance — Shrine of Remembrance, opens in a new tabThe war memorial on St Kilda Road, with its galleries and the city view from its balcony.
St Kilda — Phillip Island Nature Parks and Parks Victoria, opens in a new tabThe beach, the pier and Luna Park, by the route 96 tram from the city. The little penguins come ashore at the breakwater about half an hour after sunset; viewing is free, and booking ahead secures your place.

Day trips

The Great Ocean Road — Visit Victoria, opens in a new tabThe coast road west of Melbourne and the Twelve Apostles, by car or coach.
The Yarra Valley — Visit Victoria, opens in a new tabWineries and their tasting rooms (cellar doors) east of the city; the Dandenong Ranges are an hour’s drive.
Phillip Island — Phillip Island Nature Parks, opens in a new tabThe Penguin Parade, where the penguins come ashore at dusk every evening, about two hours from Melbourne.
The Mornington Peninsula — Visit Victoria, opens in a new tabHot springs, beaches and wineries, a little over an hour from Melbourne.

The Melbourne Cricket Ground packed for a cricket match on a bright day, the crowd filling the stands around the oval.

Major events

Dates change each year. Times are from Southern Cross Station; allow longer on event days.

The Australian Open — Tennis Australia, opens in a new tabTennis, January · Melbourne Park, 20 minutes by public transport
The Australian Grand Prix — Australian Grand Prix Corporation, opens in a new tabFormula One, March · Albert Park, 36 minutes by public transport
The AFL Grand Final — Melbourne Cricket Ground, opens in a new tabAustralian rules football, September · the MCG, 13 minutes by public transport
The Melbourne Cup — Victoria Racing Club, opens in a new tabHorse racing, the first Tuesday in November · Flemington Racecourse, 24 minutes by public transport
The Boxing Day Test — Melbourne Cricket Ground, opens in a new tabCricket, from 26 December · the MCG, 13 minutes by public transport

Before you travel

Power is 230 volts, with Type I plugs: two flat pins angled in a V, usually with a third, upright earth pin. Most visitors need an adaptor.
Tipping is not expected.
Melbourne tap water is safe to drink.
Traffic drives on the left; look right before you cross.
The emergency number is 000, free from any phone.
The weather can change within a day, so dress in layers.

An Australian Type I plug: two flat pins angled in a V, with an upright earth pin.

Melbourne CBD — a guide for your stay

Arriving in Melbourne

Getting around

The city centre

Laneways and the precincts

Docklands

Southbank

Carlton and Lygon Street

Stay in the heart of it all

Eat and drink

Coffee

Brunch

Restaurants

Bars

Things to do

In the city

Day trips

Major events

Before you travel

For the latest information