Victoria, Australia
Melbourne
Spend two days on laneway food, galleries and the gardens before driving the coast. We have mapped 3 sights, 2 outdoor spots and 3 places to eat here, each with a reason to go.
- Places
- 10
- Curated routes
- 1
- Best season
- Nov – Mar
- Warmest month
- January
- Coolest month
- July
- Wettest month
- November
3 See · 2 Outdoors · 3 Eat · 2 Drink
Great Ocean Road
from our route notes
26°C / 78°F avg high
13°C / 55°F avg high
about 74 mm rain
Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.
Things to do in Melbourne
10 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.
See
3 sights worth building a day around across CBD and Southbank. All 3 are free to visit.
Photo: Han · Google
Photo: Shkuru Afshar · CC BY-SA 4.0SeeNational Gallery of Victoria
Free permanent collection under the stained-glass Great Hall ceiling.
Photo: Chris Lo · Google
Outdoors
2 outdoor spots for fresh air across South Yarra and St Kilda. All 2 are free to visit.
Photo: Johntorcasio · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Donaldytong · CC BY-SA 3.0OutdoorsSt Kilda Pier
Pier and breakwater where little penguins return at dusk.
Tip Watch quietly from the boardwalk; no flash photos.
Eat
Where we would book a table in Melbourne across CBD and Fitzroy.
Photo: Bob T · CC BY-SA 4.0EatQueen Victoria Market
Historic open-air market with deli halls and hot jam donuts.
Tip Closed Mon and Wed; go early for the produce.
Photo: Chin Chin · GoogleEatChin Chin
Busy Flinders Lane restaurant for Southeast Asian share plates.
Tip No-bookings for small groups; get on the waitlist early.
Photo: Lune Croissanterie Fitzroy · Google
Drink
Our picks for a drink in Melbourne in CBD.
Photo: Nick-D · CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Jamie Obrien · GoogleDrinkCaretaker's Cottage
Tiny 1914 bluestone cottage bar behind Wesley Church; World's 50 Best Bars listee known for its freezer martini.
Tip Walk-in only; expect a short line on weekends.
How to fit Melbourne into a trip
Melbourne is stop 1 of 3 on our Great Ocean Road route. Follow it as-is or lift Melbourne into your own plan.
Stop 1 of 3
Great Ocean Road
Surf beaches, rainforest & the Twelve Apostles
- Trip length
- 5 days
- Best season
- Nov – Mar
- Pace
- easy
- Next: Torquay
Getting here and onward
- Melbourne to TorquayTorquay is about 80 km / 50 mi away in a straight line
Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.
Melbourne month by month
Average daily highs run from 13°C / 55°F in July to 26°C / 78°F in January. November is the wettest month, with about 74 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.
- Jan26° / 78°F average high, in our recommended season
- Feb25° / 77°F average high, in our recommended season
- Mar24° / 74°F average high, in our recommended season
- Apr20° / 68°F average high
- May16° / 61°F average high
- Jun14° / 56°F average high
- Jul13° / 55°F average high
- Aug14° / 56°F average high
- Sep16° / 60°F average high
- Oct19° / 66°F average high
- Nov22° / 71°F average high, in our recommended season
- Dec24° / 74°F average high, in our recommended season
Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. Melbourne weather and the best time to visit →
Near Melbourne
2 other destinations from our guides within about 200 km (124 mi), measured in a straight line.
Melbourne questions, answered
How many days do you need in Melbourne?
Our route notes suggest 2 days in Melbourne. On our Great Ocean Road route it is stop 1 of 3 in a 5-day trip. The listed visit times for our 10 places add up to roughly 11 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.
What is Melbourne best known for?
Spend two days on laneway food, galleries and the gardens before driving the coast. Standouts on our list: Hosier Lane (Laneway covered in street art opposite Federation Square); National Gallery of Victoria (Free permanent collection under the stained-glass Great Hall ceiling); ACMI (Free museum of film, TV and video games at Federation Square).
When is the best time to visit Melbourne?
Our Great Ocean Road route is best Nov – Mar. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in January (26°C / 78°F), the coolest in July (13°C / 55°F) and the most rain in November (about 74 mm).
What are the best things to do in Melbourne?
Start with Hosier Lane, National Gallery of Victoria, Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, ACMI and St Kilda Pier. Our guide lists 10 places in all, from 3 sights, 2 outdoor spots, 3 places to eat and 2 bars & cafés.
Where should a group eat in Melbourne?
Our picks: Queen Victoria Market (CBD); Chin Chin (CBD); Lune Croissanterie (Fitzroy). Closed Mon and Wed; go early for the produce (Queen Victoria Market).
What is near Melbourne?
The closest destinations in our guides are Torquay (about 80 km / 50 mi) and Port Campbell (about 194 km / 120 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.
Plan Melbourne with your crew
Open the Great Ocean Road route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 10 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.
Plan around Melbourne
- Victoria travel hub
- Australia travel hub
- Best Restaurants in Victoria 7 places
- Top Things to Do in Victoria 8 places
- Best Outdoor Spots in Victoria 11 places
- Best Restaurants in Australia 14 places
- Best Bars & Cafés in Australia 8 places
- Top Things to Do in Australia 22 places
- Best Outdoor Spots in Australia 22 places
- Melbourne weather by month
More in Australia
- Blue Mountains 10 places
- Sydney 10 places
- Cairns 9 places
- Port Douglas & Daintree 10 places