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Melbourne, Victoria, is Australia’s largest city and one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations alongside Sydney, Brisbane, and Perth. Melbourne City is known for its striking architecture, cool street art, beautiful parks, thriving art scene, and major sporting venues (the city hosts the Australian Open).
If you’re preparing to visit Melbourne and planning your sightseeing itinerary, be sure to check out these 28 top tourist attractions to see the very best of this bustling metropolitan area.
1. Flinders Street Station and Federation Square
- Address: Swanston Street & Flinders Street Corner, Melbourne, VIC 3000
- Website: fedsquare.com
The beautiful Victorian Flinders Street Station is one of Melbourne’s most famous buildings and the busiest railway station in the Southern Hemisphere. Be sure to check out Federation Square when you visit, which sits just across the road and boasts impressive modern architecture.
2. Royal Botanic Gardens
- Address: Birdwood Ave, South Yarra, Melbourne, VIC 3141
- Website: rbg.vic.gov.au
- Opening Hours: Daily, 7.30 am – 5.30 pm
Melbourne Royal Botanic Gardens are home to more than 10,000 international plant species. You can discover some rare specimens here while strolling through the peaceful grounds. During summer, the gardens host live theater and moonlight cinema.
3. Lyon Housemuseum
- Address: 217-219 Cotham Rd, Kew, VIC 3101
- Website: lyonhousemuseum.com.au
- Opening Hours: Wednesday through Sunday, 12 pm – 4 pm
Lyon Housemuseum is the chic, stylish home of renowned architect Corbett Lyon and his family. The property opens to the public a few times each month, but be sure to book well in advance as guided tours fill up fast. You can look forward to an expertly designed building and an impressive collection of contemporary Australian artworks.
4. Melbourne Museum and Royal Exhibition Building
- Address: 11 Nicholson Street, Carlton, VIC 3053
- Website: museumvictoria.com.au/melbournemuseum
- Opening Hours: Daily, 9 am – 5 pm
The Melbourne Museum sits within beautiful gardens and parkland just outside the city center. It houses a huge variety of exhibits depicting Australian society, culture, environment, and science. Highlights include hands-on activities in the Children’s Gallery, the Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre, and life-size dinosaur sculptures in the park’s forest.
5. ScienceWorks
- Address: 2 Booker St, Spotswood, VIC 3015
- Website: museumsvictoria.com.au/scienceworks
- Opening Hours: Daily, 10 am – 4.30 pm
Children and adults alike will be fascinated by the exhibits at ScienceWorks which cover space, robotics, electricity, climate science, and technology. Many of the exhibits are interactive, allowing you to learn by conducting your own experiments. Don’t miss the Planetarium to enjoy an impressive 30-minute astronomy film played on the 52-foot domed ceiling.
6. Islamic Museum of Australia
- Address: 15A Anderson Rd, Thornbury, VIC 3071
- Website: islamicmuseum.org.au
- Opening Hours: Monday through Saturday, 10 am – 4 pm
Housed in a former bottling factory, the Islamic Museum of Australia is a beautiful building that offers fascinating insights into Islamic art and culture. The museum aims to promote cultural diversity and celebrate the contributions of Muslims to Australian society.
7. National Gallery of Victoria and The Ian Potter Centre
- Address: 180 St. Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC 3006
- Website: ngv.vic.gov.au
- Opening Hours: Daily, 10 am – 5 pm
The National Gallery of Victoria is Australia’s oldest public art gallery. It boasts more than 70,000 artworks from all over the world across its two sites. The building on St. Kilda Road holds the international collection and features The Great Hall where you can lie on the floor to take in the incredible stained-glass ceiling. The Ian Potter Center in Federation Square is dedicated to Aussie art of all kinds, including Aboriginal works.
8. Melbourne Cricket Ground and Australian Sports Museum
- Address: Yarra Park, Gate 3 Brunton Ave, East Melbourne, VIC 3002
- Website: mcg.org.au / australiansportsmuseum.org.au
- Opening Hours: Monday through Saturday, 10 am – 5 pm / Sunday, 10 am – 12.30 pm
Cricket is one of Australia’s most popular sports, and the renowned Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) is a must-visit for cricket fans. Having hosted the 1956 Olympic Games and the 2006 Commonwealth Games and been the birthplace of Test Cricket, it’s one of the world’s best stadiums. You can learn more about MCG and sports culture in Australia by visiting the on-site Australian Sports Museum.
9. Australian Centre for the Moving Image
- Address: Federation Square, Flinders St, Melbourne, VIC 3000
- Website: acmi.net.au
- Opening Hours: Daily, 10 am – 5 pm
The ACMI celebrates all forms of screen-based art, including film, television, video games, and digital art. It has two cinemas that play a diverse variety of films, many of which are on limited release as part of film festivals and exhibitions.
10. Heide Museum of Modern Art
- Address: 7 Templestowe Rd, Bulleen, VIC 3105
- Website: heide.com.au
- Opening Hours: Tuesday through Sunday, 10 am – 5 pm
The Heide Museum started life in 1934 as an artistic hub for local writers, artists, and intellectuals founded by John and Sunday Reed. The original farmhouse was later replaced by a modernist home and gallery, which the Reeds sold to the government in 1981. This allowed it to become the beloved public art museum it is today.
11. Immigration Museum
- Address: 400 Flinders St, Melbourne, VIC 3000
- Website: museumsvictoria.com.au/immigrationmuseum
- Opening Hours: Daily, 10 am – 5 pm
Since Captain Cook first landed on Australia’s shores in 1770, immigrants from more than 250 countries have settled in Australia. The Immigration Museum documents the history of immigration in Australia and the ways in which immigrants have shaped the country.
12. Melbourne’s Arcades and Laneways
There’s a labyrinth of alleyways and lanes to explore throughout central Melbourne. Block Arcade on Collins Street features gorgeous 19th-century decor and is home to high-end boutique stores and cafes. Royal Arcade is the oldest in the city, but don’t miss out on Flinders and Degraves Lanes. Take a walking tour with a local expert to see the best spots.
13. Southbank
Yarra River’s Southbank is packed with shops, restaurants, cafes, and attractions. It has a bustling atmosphere throughout the day but it really comes alive at night when live entertainment kicks off and the lights of the city illuminate the river.
14. Eureka Tower and Skydeck
- Address: 7 Riverside Quay, Southbank, VIC 3006
- Website: melbourneskydeck.com.au
- Opening Hours: Sunday through Thursday 12 pm – 9 pm / Friday & Saturday 12 pm – 10 pm
The 91-story Eureka Tower was named after the Eureka Stockade, a rebellion of gold miners that took place in 1854. The building is topped with a gold crown that sparkles beneath the sun. On floor 88 is the Eureka Skydeck, the building’s highest public viewpoint, which offers exceptional views. For a true thrill, venture out onto the glass cube known as The Edge.
15. The City Circle Tram
Tram is one of the best ways to get around Melbourne CBD (Central Business District). The City Circle Tram is a free hop-on-hop-off service that passes many of the key sights in CBD, including the Old Treasury Building, Princess Theatre, Parliament House, and the Windsor Hotel.
16. Melbourne Zoo
- Address: Elliott Ave, Parkville, VIC 3052
- Website: zoo.org.au/melbourne
- Opening Hours: Daily, 9 am – 5 pm
Since its beginning in 1862, Melbourne Zoo has been loved by locals and visitors alike. It’s home to more than 250 species, including Asian elephants, orangutans, kangaroos, emus, and koalas. You can also check out Healesville Sanctuary and Werribee Open Range Zoo, both of which run conservation programs for endangered species.
17. Fitzroy Gardens
- Address: Wellington Parade, East Melbourne, VIC 3002
- Website: fitzroygardens.com
- Opening Hours: 24/7
The beautiful Fitzroy Gardens are modeled after Victorian-era English gardens. Find peace and quiet as you stroll through sprawling lawns, flower beds, and greenhouses.
18. Shrine of Remembrance
- Address: Birdwood Ave, Melbourne, VIC 3001
- Website: shrine.org.au
- Opening Hours: Daily, 10 am – 5 pm
The Shrine of Remembrance in Kings Domain parklands commemorates those involved in the Great War. Visit the Galleries of Remembrance to see photographs and artifacts related to Australians during World War I and other wartime periods.
19. Docklands
- Address: Harbour Esplanade, Docklands, VIC 3008
- Website: docklandsmelbourne.com.au
This waterfront entertainment precinct is home to a variety of restaurants, cafes, and tourist attractions, including the ArtVo Gallery, Etihad Stadium, and Junior Wonderland amusement park. It also has parklands that offer impressive views of the Dandenong Ranges.
20. Queen Victoria Market
- Address: Queen St, Melbourne, VIC 3000
- Website: qvm.com.au
- Opening Hours: Tuesday, Thursday & Friday 6 am – 3 pm / Saturday 6 am – 4 pm / Sunday 9 am – 4 pm
Since 1878 the Queen Victoria Market has been Melbourne’s hub for fresh produce and it’s a popular attraction for foodies. More than 600 small businesses offer groceries, artisanal food and drink, and unique clothing and souvenirs. If you’re looking for nightlife, check out the various night markets, concerts, and festivals that take place here in addition to the regular daytime market.
21. The Great Ocean Road
The Great Ocean Road is one of the most scenic coastal drives in the world. It snakes along the craggy seaside cliffs and there are lots of opportunities for hiking, biking, and spotting wildlife along the way.
22. Luna Park Melbourne
- Address: 18 Lower Esplanade, St Kilda, VIC 3182
- Website: lunapark.com.au
- Opening Hours: Weekends, school holidays & public holidays except Christmas 11 am – 6 pm
This beloved amusement park first opened in 1912 when it was the first of its kind in Australia. It has a variety of roller coasters including The Ghost Train and The Great Scenic Railway. Nothing beats its fun, carnivalesque atmosphere.
23. Phillip Island
It takes around two hours to reach Phillip Island from Melbourne, but you can easily spend a day here taking in unique wildlife and coastal views. You can see Little Penguins, koalas, seals, and a variety of migrating birds in this popular national park.
24. Puffing Billy Railway
- Address: 1 Old Monbulk Road, Belgrave, VIC 3160
- Website: puffingbilly.com.au
Puffing Billy Railway was first built in 1900 to transport passengers, livestock, timber, and produce around the communities in the Dandenong Ranges. Today, it offers a nostalgic steam train experience in the serene mountainous countryside.
25. State Library of Victoria
- Address: 328 Swanston Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000
- Website: slv.vic.gov.au
- Opening Hours: Daily, 10 am – 6 pm
Book lovers can’t miss a visit to Australia’s oldest public library. It offers beautiful, tranquil reading rooms, rare books, and a variety of artifacts showcasing Victoria’s diverse cultural history.
26. Old Melbourne Gaol
- Address: 377 Russell Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000
- Website: oldmelbournegaol.com.au
- Opening Hours: Daily, 10 am – 5 pm
Old Melbourne Gaol has housed a variety of notorious Australian criminals since the mid-1800s, including bushranger Ned Kelly and gangster Squizzy Taylor. A visit gives a fascinating insight into the history of Australia’s penal system.
27. Mornington Peninsula
An hour’s drive from Melbourne, Mornington Peninsula is a cozy seaside village with peaceful beaches, boutique wineries, charming markets, and delicious eateries. A day trip here offers a refreshing break from the fast pace of the city.
28. Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges
Melbourne is surrounded by breathtaking mountainous scenery, and you can lose yourself in it when you take an hour’s drive out to Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges. Visit wildlife parks, explore bushwalking trails, drop into wineries and fruit farms, and chat with locals in the region’s many charming villages and towns.
Don’t Miss Melbourne’s Best Attractions
Now you know of the best Melbourne attractions, you can get started planning your visit to this fast-paced Australian metropolis.
