If you’re curious about traveling to Australia, you’ve probably wondered what it might be like to go to Melbourne. These days, it’s almost a shining city on the hill, with incredible amenities and wonderful parks that let you enjoy the great weather.
In this guide, we’re going to explore why everyone should visit Melbourne at least once in their lives. By the end, you should have a better understanding of what makes the city such a must-visit destination.
Probably The Best Coffee Culture In The World
Melbourne has perhaps the best coffee culture in the world. The city is renowned for having an obsession with the brown liquid, with residents indulging in copious quantities of flat whites, lattes and cappuccinos throughout the day.
What’s more, if you know where to look, you can find some fantastic coffee shops with attached bakeries. These are pretty special and are the sorts of places that you just want to stay all day to enjoy yourself. Pastries anyone?
The Vibrant Street Art
Depending on your tastes, the vibrant street art in Melbourne is another reason to visit the city. The best place to go is Hosier Lane, where you’ll find open-air galleries to explore and enjoy. You can also see murals and artistic graffiti on some of the walls and buildings in nearby districts, representative of the culture.
If you want, you can actually go on a guided tour of the city’s art to hear the inside story and how it became so special. Guides discuss the origins of the area, why street art became so popular, and the actual individuals involved in creating it, plus their backstories.
An Inclusive City
Melbourne is also one of the most inclusive cities in the world, a bit like San Francisco or London. It has a distinct multicultural vibe, making it more variegated than most places you might visit, including in Australia.
Part of the appeal of the city (and why so many people want to go and visit it every year) are the festivals. No matter when you go, there’s usually something happening and worth visiting, so be sure to check it out.
You can also find culturally-distinct neighbourhoods in the city. For example, you could go to the Vietnamese quarter for some Asian food or the Greek precinct to admire the architecture and the vine-wrapped rice snacks.
Furthermore, because Melbourne is so diverse, it is also one of the most welcoming cities you can go to, depending on your background. It’s safe and generally friendly.
Easy Access To Nature
If you want to use luggage storage at Southern Cross station and head out into the wilds, you can. Melbourne might be a large city, but it provides pretty decent access to nature for those who love to get out.
If you head along the Great Ocean Road in the direction of the Twelve Apostles, you can find all sorts of little gems. For example, a lot of visitors go to the wineries in the Yarra Valley. These often offer tasting sessions and guided tours, showing you how they created their wines. If that doesn’t sound like your sort of thing, you might also want to hike the Dandenong Ranges. These offer relatively light backpacking conditions for those feeling like camping or stretching their legs.
What’s more, you don’t have to spend long outside of the city. If you’re looking for some home comforts, all you have to do is head back in a taxi or on a coach.
Decent Night Life
Night life is something that is declining in the West, but Melbourne still hangs onto much of what made its bars and restaurants special in the past. Part of this has to do with the sheer number of bands and musicians that operate in the city. It often hosts live DJs or music groups, both nationally and internationally.
The venues for seeing live music are all over the city. One of the main ones is Corner Hotel, where you will often get the chance to see smaller, relatively unknown bands performing alongside better-known performers.
If you want something with fewer people, then be sure to check out the bars in Collingwood. These will usually advertise their musicians on their Facebook pages or on Instagram, so you always know what’s on.
Incredible Architecture
Then, of course, there’s Melbourne’s incredible architecture, another great reason to visit the city. Because Melbourne is actually quite old, it has some of that Old World charm about it, especially the areas developed by the British.
For example, if you want to see historical architecture at its finest, head to Flinders Street Station. Here, you’ll find exquisite beauty, like some of the London stations back in the home country.
You can also find some nice architecture at the Royal Botanic Gardens. Here, you can learn more about the plant and tree species that grow in the area, and what’s being done to preserve wildlife.
Other options include Federations Square and the State Library of Melbourne. Make sure you check them both out if you decide to visit.
Top Cultural Events
Another reason to visit Melbourne is the fact that it is home to some of the top cultural events globally. For example, Melbourne hosts the Australian Open and the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
If you’re looking for something more boho and wild, then check out the Melbourne Fringe. It draws crowds from across the globe and is a great chance to meet new people.
The Best Food
Finally, it is worth visiting Melbourne, Australia, just for the food. It offers numerous hole-in-the-wall eateries, providing different tastes every night.
Chinatown is probably the best place to start for dumplings and satay sauce. Early migrants set up restaurants here, and then perfected their recipes over time.
If you want Italian food, then head to Lygon Street. Here, chefs whip up traditional dishes that are as close as possible as what you’d find in Italy.
Lastly, there are several food markets. These offer fresh produce for cooking in your accommodation.
