Melbourne, a city all too often overshadowed by Sydney on the world stage, is the cultural epicenter of Australia. Frequently listed as “The Most Liveable City in the World,” Melbourne offers its visitors a vibrant nightlife, numerous quality museums and an enormous food selection from cultures spanning the world. In the CBD, there is always somewhere to go and somewhere to eat, while the easy-access tram service helps you get around cheaply to anywhere in the city. Although the “Free-Tram-Zone” will take you to the main spots of the city for, you guessed it, free, accessing the surrounding suburbs (which are worth a visit) requires buying sufficient balance on your MYKI (a transportation card obtained at any 7/11 or convenient store). Here, we will go very in-depth, as we have spent most of our time in Australia in Melbourne.
In the CBD, there are dozens of sites at your disposal. For the best food, we recommend heading to Chinatown. It is hard to find a bad place to eat and you can dip into any little shop and be seated immediately. After a quick bite to eat, stroll down to Federation Square, the welcome point of the city, which is situated right across from famous Flinders Street Station and offers visitors tips on how to best explore Melbourne. Walk across the Princess Bridge for a beautiful view of the Yarra River on both sides. Go shopping at Queen Victoria Market. Have a picnic in the Royal Botanical Gardens before heading to the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) to view some of the premier art collections in Australia. If you're visiting in summer, check out Moonlight Cinema Melbourne, an evening movie showing in the Botanical Gardens, and relax on a grassy hill with a bottle of wine. The Shrine of Remembrance offers an incredible view of the city while also reminding you that Australia has played a part in both World Wars. If you’re traveling during the winter months, make sure to attend a footy game at the Melbourne Cricket Grounds (don’t worry, Australians love explaining the rules). While it may seem easy to get overwhelmed with all there is to do in the CBD, Melbourne’s suburbs deserve just as much attention, as that’s where the real character of the city is.
Just a short tram ride from the city, Fitzroy is the hipster suburb, littered with op-shops (a.k.a. thrift stores), trendy restaurants and townhouses. Probably the most desired suburb for young people, housing here is really expensive. While you may be paying a little more to live here, the social scene in Fitzroy is unparalleled, with tons of great bars and clubs. Fitzroy has tons of beer gardens and rooftop bars (Naked for Satan being the most popular) that can turn any happy hour session into a night out.
Carlton neighbors Fitzroy to the west and is famous for its large student population. The University of Melbourne is located here, so the majority of the people who live here are students. If you are looking for housing with young people, Carlton is the place to look. Besides being home to many students, Carlton is home to Melbourne’s “Little Italy,” located along Lygon street. Here you will encounter the best Italian food in all of Australia. While the nightlife in Carlton is not anything to write home about, it is home to the Museum of Melbourne, the largest museum in the entire Southern Hemisphere. One of the more impressive museums you have ever seen, it's free for students so make sure to hang onto your Student card.
The most popular neighborhood to live in, especially for people in their mid-twenties, is Richmond. Richmond is famous for its old townhouses, popular brunch destinations, and AFL team, the Tigers. The best part about Richmond is that is the perfect blend of international travelers and native Australians. You can meet tons of people from all over the world just by participating in any "Sunday sesh" or watching the footy game at the bar. A short tram/Uber ride from the CBD/any place you go out, Richmond is the perfect place to settle down. While Richmond has a nightlife scene, it does not rival the heavy party antics of Fitzroy or Chapel Street. More relaxed and upbeat during the day, Richmond is the perfect place to convene for a hungover brunch. Top Paddock, Thousand Blessings and Pillar of Salt (to name a few) are the perfect place to meet friends on a day off or for the morning after a heavy night.
Prahan and St. Kilda are the epicenter of Melbourne’s late night party scene. Chapel Street, which stretches all the way from South Yarra to Windsor, hosts many of the popular clubs in Melbourne that don’t close at 2am. Revolver Upstairs (or Revs for you locals) is a world famous debauchery center that is open from Thursday-Monday, without closing in between. If you don’t have any solid leads on where to go out for a night out, head down to Chapel Street and you will be sure to find something crazy along the way. During the day, Prahan has a great shopping scene, with many high-level and local boutiques in the surrounding area. St. Kilda is the home of Melbourne’s only notable “beach.” We use the term beach lightly because it's really just a field of grass by the water with a patch of sand. Nonetheless, it is a popular hangout spot for backpackers and always good for a relaxing day off.
Where to stay
In the CBD, United Backpackers is conveniently located across from Flinders Street Station. While it can be pricey, the location is phenomenal and it has one of the best social scenes out of all the hostels. The Lost and Found bar always has something going on and is perfect for meeting people if you’re okay with paying for an overpriced beer. For long-termers, United is the best place to stay because you’re sure to get a solid group of friends when you first start in the city. However, United is expensive and you will most likely be staying in a 10 bed dorm. Ask to be placed with long-termers and it can be bearable.
For a cheaper option we recommend Flinders Street Backpackers, a mere block away from United. Flinders is less social than United, has a smaller kitchen and more residents, so it can feel crowded at times. However, you can get a four person bedroom for a much cheaper price here than at United. If you want more personal space and elevator access to the famous backpacker hub “Joint Bar,” Flinders is the place for you.
There are many hostel opportunities around the city, but we don’t recommend staying anywhere out the CBD. However, if you want to find cheaper options outside the city, we recommend looking towards St. Kilda. Base St. Kilda is notorious for its Bingo nights (best in the city), but also doubles as a good hostel to stay in if you want to be out of the CBD.
what to do (outside of the city)
Victoria is a fabulous state and definitely deserves attention. Headlined by the Great Ocean Road, Victoria offers picturesque landscapes that you will not find anywhere else in Australia. The Great Ocean road is home to Australia’s best surf, as well as geographic anomalies like the 12 Apostles. Rent a car and spend two to three days traveling the popular tourist attraction. Victoria is also home to popular wine regions, such as the Mornington Peninsula and Yarra Valley. Take a day long Wine tour in either location to experience wine from one of Australia’s temperate climates.
