Sophisticated, stylish, free-spirited: Melbourne lucked out and has all of Australia's best personality traits. There's more risk-taking and art-making in Oz's second-biggest city, so the ideal trip samples some of the world-class art (be it street or studio), its famed coffee and cuisine (Attica's Ben Shewry can do no wrong), and a beach town that has a hint of Coney Island...
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A Local's Guide to Australia
Model Nathan McGuire on his love of Western Australia and the rise of Indigenous fashion.
Luke Hemsworth Talks All Things Australia and Family Vacations With Chris and Liam
The original Hemsworth spills about his favorite spots his home country, and what family vacations with brothers Liam and Chris were like way back when.
Ronny Chieng on 'Crazy Rich Asians,' Singapore Eats, and Coming Up in Melbourne
The 'Daily Show' correspondent and actor is a foodie on the side—and he doesn't want us to waste a single calorie.
15 Best Hotels in Melbourne
Our picks for where to stay in Australia's second city.
Editor Hotel Recommendations
- The Langham, Melbourne$$$ | Australia, Melbourne, 1 Southgate Ave.Read full reviewFor a big-hotel experience with plenty of old-fashioned bells and whistles, the ever-popular Langham—located riverside in the Southbank precinct, just a few minutes' walk from the city center—delivers.
Readers Choice Awards - The Westin Melbourne$$Read full reviewThis unbeatably located (by the "Paris End" of Collins Street) and reliably no-fuss luxury property is ideal for visitors who want maximize their productivity while in town.Readers Choice Awards
- Sofitel Melbourne on Collins$$ | Australia, Melbourne,Read full reviewThe Paris end of Collins Street is Melbourne at its most elegant, and this true-to-brand Sofitel property fits in seamlessly.Readers Choice Awards
- Lyall Hotel and Spa$ | Australia, Melbourne, 16 Murphy St.Read full reviewThe Lyall's hushed ambience, ageless service, and slight remove from downtown Melbourne in South Yarra set it apart.
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The Best Things to Do in Melbourne
- 13 Best Things to Do in MelbourneOur picks for what to do in Australia's cultural capital.
- 10 Best Museums in MelbourneWhether you’re hankering for some history or curious about contemporary art, we’ve found the best places to enrich your experience.
- 3 Best Day Trips from MelbourneWhere to eat, drink, stay—and what to do—in the Mornington Peninsula, Yarra Valley, and Daylesford.
- 10 Best Coffee Shops in MelbourneCoffee is a thing in Australia; this city takes it to another level.
- 10 Best Venues & Places for Live Music in MelbourneDon't underestimate how passionate the city and its residents are about its music scene.
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Editor Recommendations
- Federation SquareAustralia, Melbourne, Swanders St. & Flinston St.Read full reviewArguably the hub of Melbourne's CBD, Federation Square is a center of cultural activity.
- St. Kilda BeachRead full reviewThis landmark is famous for its colorful bathing boxes that make it Insta-famous, but it's also a great spot for walking, rollerblading, wind surfing, and all matter of water sports.
- Melbourne Cricket GroundAustralia, Melbourne, 2 Brunton Ave.Read full reviewSports fans of all ages should definitely come for a game while in Melbourne.
- Moon Dog Craft BreweryRead full reviewImagine if you furnished an old warehouse with vintage seating, picnic tables, murals, and palms, and you’ve pictured this brewery in Abbotsford.
- Lyon HousemuseumRead full reviewThe Lyon Housemuseum is the super-stylish home of an architect who lives among a sensational collection of Australian contemporary art.
- Melbourne MuseumRead full reviewAt this museum, the city’s history, stretching back thousands of years, unfolds at great lengths within a contemporary structure.
- National Sports MuseumRead full reviewPart of the legendary Melbourne Cricket Ground, the National Sports Museum is an information-packed insight into many of Australia’s favorite pastimes.
- Immigration MuseumRead full reviewNearly a third of Australian residents are born overseas, so there are enough stories about immigrants to justify an entire museum.
- Ian Potter Centre: NGV AustraliaRead full reviewAustralia is a relatively young country, so it's fitting that the largest collection of its art has a hip, contemporary home.
- Islamic Museum of AustraliaRead full reviewTucked into the industrial backstreets of one of Melbourne’s northern suburbs, this museum aims to promote cultural diversity.
- National Gallery of Victoria - InternationalRead full reviewWelcome to the largest, oldest, and most popular art institution in Australia—and what a beauty it is.
- Australian Centre for the Moving ImageRead full reviewAt this film museum, one thing's for sure: nothing on the schedule will also be screening at the local multiplex.
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A Day in Melbourne
Sophisticated, stylish, free-spirited: Melbourne lucked out and has all of Australia's best personality traits. There's plenty of risk-taking and art-making in Oz's second-biggest city, so the ideal weekend spent samples some of the world-class art (be it street or studio), its famed coffee and cuisine, and a beach town that has a hint of Coney Island...
The Best Places to Eat & Drink in Melbourne
- 20 Best Restaurants in MelbourneOur picks for where to eat in Australia’s most food-forward city.
- 15 Best Bars in MelbourneThis town does a lot more than just mix a tasty cocktail.
- 11 Best Brunch Spots in MelbourneMelbourne is ground zero for the craft coffee movement, so it’s perhaps only natural that a near-neurotic approach to breakfast follow suit. Here's a breakdown of the city's best breakfasts to get your day started right.
- 10 Best Coffee Shops in MelbourneCoffee is a thing in Australia; this city takes it to another level.
- 10 Best Venues & Places for Live Music in MelbourneDon't underestimate how passionate the city and its residents are about its music scene.
Editor Restaurant and Bar Recommendations
- Matilda 159 Domain$$Matilda is one of the most exciting restaurants to land in Melbourne in ages: Creative, flawlessly executed, and genuinely exciting—paired with an oh-so-chic South Yarra location.
- Ezard$$$Although it feels like a traditional European fine diner, Ezard is actually doing something quite rare by incorporating Asian influences into its menu, and the CBD restaurant is a city mainstay for good reason.
- Smith & Daughters$$Located in Melbourne's boho inner north, Smith & Daughters draws a mostly local crowd who seem to have adopted the place as their de facto living room.
- Etta$$This unfussy bistro in East Brunswick has no real gimmicks and no overarching food philosophy; rather, it simply offers reliably delicious seasonal dishes.
- Osteria Ilaria$$With its easy-breezy Mediterranean food, adventurous drinks, and shoulder-rubbing intimacy, this newcomer in the CBD is fast becoming a favorite among locals.
- Longsong$$The primary cooking equipment at this Southeast Asian restaurant in Chinatown is a wood-fired grill whose aromas are redolent of a Bangkok night market.
- Ides$$What began as a buzzy pop-up has now become a permanent restaurant in grungy Collingwood, and one of the more glamorous restaurant experiences in Melbourne.
- Supernormal$$At this perennially packed spot in the CBD, the menu combines various Asian cuisines, the crowd is well dressed, and the service is lightning fast.
- Lûmé$$$Lûmé may not have cracked the World's 50 Best list just yet, but the fine-dining destination in South Melbourne is heading in the right direction.
- Sunda$$This Southeast Asian joint in Chinatown creatively blends Southeast Asian recipes and Australian native ingredient, making Sunda the kind of restaurant where you'll actually talk about the food.
- Iki-Jime$$This strident ode to the sea, an exercise in focus and freshness, promises superlative fish without any distractions right on Collins Street.
- Ishizuka$$Kaiseki, a Japanese dining format, has lately taken root in Melbourne, and Ishizuka is doing it better than anyone in its 16-seat space in the CBD.
- Grossi Florentino$$$Look no further than this fine-dining stalwart in Chinatown for flawlessly executed Italian dishes that toe the line between creative and comforting.
A Solo Trip to Australia Taught Me that Anyone Can Be an Adventurer
Travel doesn't have to be active or an epic feat of endurance to be an adventure.
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News & Advice
Flight Deal: U.S. to Melbourne from $877 Round-Trip
Round-trip flights to Australia under four figures are rare—book these before they're gone.
Inspiration
'Seinfeld' Character George Costanza Gets His Own Bar in Melbourne, Australia
Just like the '90s pop culture icon George Costanza, the sandwiches are cheap.
Shopping
Street Style in Melbourne, Australia: The One Thing Everyone Wears
Melbourne is home to Australia's Fashion Week, but its locals wear fashion-forward looks year round. Here, a few Melburnians talk to us about their personal style and what it takes to dress like a local.
More Destinations
- Our Ultimate France Travel GuideAll of our best hotel, restaurant, and activity recommendations in one place.
- Cape Town Travel GuideAt the edge of the earth—and the cultural cutting edge
- Venice Travel GuideTrust us, you'll want to get lost
- Our Ultimate Italy Travel GuideAll of our best hotel, restaurant, and activity recommendations in one place.
- Bangkok Travel GuideHow to do it right
- Tokyo Travel GuideSushi is just the beginning
- Hong Kong Travel GuideThat skyline though...
- Rome Travel GuideThe world's greatest outdoor museum
- Singapore Travel GuideThe Lion City is roaring these days
- Madrid Travel GuideBarcelona’s big rival has its mojo back
- Lisbon Travel GuideTiles, tiles, tiles
- Florence Travel GuideGet to know your Davids
- Edinburgh Travel GuideMore than just Fringe
