3 perfect days in Melbourne

Those of us who live in Melbourne like to brag about what the city has to offer, starting with a great coffee culture, a cool music scene, and cutting-edge design and boutiques wherever you look. And while it's the biggest city in Australia— sorry Sydney— three days is plenty of time to give you a taste of it all.

This itinerary packs in the best of the best from a local (that's me), with plenty of recs and tips from Tripadvisor users who've visited Melbourne and loved it.

There’s no time to sleep in if you’re only in the city for three days. Start your morning by wandering through the streets of the Central Business District. Along Degraves Street, you’ll see some of the city’s most eye-popping street art. The murals change all the time, but the standouts for me are those along Hosier Lane, Meyers Place, and Duckboard Place.

For an on-the-go breakfast, head to Brunetti Oro on nearby Flinders Lane. Grab a pane tostato (a fancy name for toast, but it's really good toast) with homemade jam. Then cross over to Federation Square—Fed Square, as the locals call it—the heart of the city. Hundreds of events are held here each year, so something is sure to be going on. It’s also surrounded by iconic landmarks like St. Paul's Cathedral that you can pop in and out of for free. Afterwards, spend some time at the Ian Potter Centre, the city’s only gallery dedicated exclusively to Australian art. A highlight are the landscape paintings by Frederick McCubbin.

Go for an early lunch at Big Esso by Mabu Mabu, where Chef Nornie Bero has created a menu inspired by the foods of the indigenous people of the Torres Strait in Northern Australia. Ingredients like quandong, saltbush, and wattleseed might not be familiar to most people, but they're definitely worth trying. This is a special experience not found in many restaurants around the country.

Make sure you’re finished in time for a walking tour offered by the Koorie Heritage Trust. A guide will lead you along the river to take in some Aboriginal art installations. You’ll learn a lot about this important gathering place for the people of the Kulin Nation.

If you want an unforgettable dining experience (that will also cost you), make a reservation at Vue de Monde at the top of the Rialto Towers on Collins Street. The views are amazing and the food just as good. The five-course tasting menu changes with the seasons, but the macadamia nut purée with caviar and kelp is a winner. For a meal that doesn’t induce sticker shock, head to Hazel. In a building on Flinders Lane, the chefs in the open kitchen turn out one great dish after another (you can't go wrong with the crab hash or roasted pork belly).  

Top off the evening at one of the city’s rooftop bars. Bomba has a fabulous wine list and a menu featuring a wide array of tapas, while the Rooftop at QT, on top of the QT Melbourne Hotel, has sparkly city views and late-night DJ sets.

Café culture is strong in Melbourne, and few places do it better than Square One, in the Central Business District. A regularly changing menu by some of the world’s top chefs means there’s always something interesting to order, on top of the usual favorites. And the coffee here is ethically sourced.

Take a tram across the Yarra River to Southbank, a waterfront walk where you can take in the city skyline. The Melbourne Skydeck is the highest observation platform in the southern hemisphere and from there you can see Port Phillip Bay in one direction and the Dandenong Ranges in the other.

Then head to the Royal Botanical Gardens, rated a “best of the best” attraction by Tripadvisor readers. The nearly 100 acres of gardens contain more than 8,500 different species of plants in exhibits like the Australian Forest Walk. I love to bring along a picnic and sit by the lake, but you can also stop at Jardin Tan, a French-Vietnamese joint that does an incredible high tea (make sure to book in advance).

Back on the tram, continue on for about 20 minutes to the seaside community of St Kilda. If you have kids—or even if you don’t—you’ll get an adrenaline rush on the roller coasters and other carnival rides at Luna Park. For a calmer afternoon, stroll along nearby St Kilda Beach.

There are dozens of great cafés in St Kilda, but if you’re in the mood for a real meal head back to the Central Business District to Farmer’s Daughters. There’s a ground-floor eatery serving foods made with produce from Southeastern Australia, a second-floor restaurant that offers a range of more upscale dishes, and a rooftop where you can enjoy craft beers and wines.

The Hotel Esplanade—known to locals as the Espy—is always a great spot for an afternoon drink. There are 12 different bars, two restaurants, and three stages. I recommend you stay until sunset to enjoy some live music in the Gershwin Room.

It's back to the Central Business District for dinner. The city’s grid pattern makes it easy to navigate the streets (and remember how to get back to your hotel), so it's nice to just stroll around the area. For a dinner to remember, I'm all about Yum Sing House. This Hong Kong-style eatery serves traditional dishes with a twist, like roasted duck breast with rhubarb and plum. Downing a couple of the Asian-inspired cocktails will give you enough courage to belt out your favorite song in one of the private karaoke rooms upstairs. But if you’re not a performer, the nearby Golden Monkey Lounge has great music to kick back to with a drink in hand.

If you like a little hustle and bustle, the Queen Victoria Market is known for its piles of colorful produce, roaming entertainers, and souvenir stalls. Fuel up on a wide range of tasty treats, from Middle Eastern bureks (often called bourekas elsewhere) to Dutch poffertjes.

Head to the nearby State Library Victoria, where you can join a twice-daily tour that fills you in on the history of this stunning building. Don’t miss the domed La Trobe Reading Room, one of the city’s most photographed spaces. From here, make your way to the Melbourne Museum, which showcases the country’s Indigenous communities with rotating exhibitions. It also has a great children’s gallery.

Grab a quick bite to eat at The Imperial, one of the city’s oldest pubs. Snag a table on the street if the weather cooperates and do some people-watching. The “eggplant parma” (made here with copious amounts of mozzarella) is legendary. It’s close to Parliament House, where you can walk the corridors of power and see where the first Federal Parliament of Australia met from 1901 until 1927. Tours run four times a day (when Parliament is not in session).

Make your way by tram to Melbourne Cricket Ground, the country’s largest sports venue. Inside you’ll find the Australian Sports Museum, the perfect place for sports fans to learn more about the teams that locals cheer for and to see some interesting sports memorabilia. Besides cricket, you’ll learn about football, horse racing and other sports. Make sure to check out who’s who in the Australian Sports Hall of Fame.

Back in the Central Business District, enjoy some French fare at Gimlet. Sip one of their famous craft cocktails at the bar, then head to the dining room for the strip steak with salsa verde or the rock lobster with saffron rice.

It’s your last night in Melbourne, so catch a show at one of the city’s many theaters. The Regent Theatre, built in 1929, has crystal chandeliers that will wow you as much as the sensational performances. Her Majesty’s Theatre, built in the late 1800s after the gold rush, is equally as grand.

A nightcap at the Apollo Inn, around the corner, is the classic late-night bar stop. It’s intimate, exclusive, and so, so special.