green and yellow tram on road during daytime

Melbourne

Melbourne is a city for eating well, walking laneways and catching live sport or music. The nearest surf beaches, at Rye, Sorrento and Portsea, are about 85 km south of the central business district.

Find a room in Melbourne Start with the essentials Plan a trip to Melbourne

We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.

Melbourne is the capital of Victoria and Australia's second-largest city. It lies on the northern and eastern shores of Port Phillip Bay in southeastern mainland Australia. Many parks sit close to the central business district, which is why the city is often called Australia's garden city. The core is the Hoddle Grid, a street grid where laneways and arcades such as Block Arcade and Royal Arcade draw visitors. Many Victorian-era buildings date from the gold rush and the 1880s land boom.

Come for food, live events and walking. Lygon Street in the inner north is a dining strip known for Italian and Greek restaurants, and March is the peak food festival month. The city has eight theatres in the East End Theatre District and is known as a live music capital. Sport is a big draw too, with the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the Australian Open and the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park. Melbourne has the largest urban tram network in the world. The weather changes quickly, so pack layers, a rain jacket and sun protection.

Melbourne in five

Ride free inside the city tram zoneTrams are free within the central Free Tram Zone. Outside it you need a myki card or a phone with mobile myki, touched on for every trip.
Take the SkyBus from the airportThere is no airport train yet. The SkyBus runs between Melbourne Airport and Southern Cross Station, taking about 20 to 40 minutes depending on traffic; check its timetable for night departures.
Pack for four seasons in a dayA hot day can turn cool within an hour when a southerly change comes through. Carry a light jacket even on a warm summer morning.
Plan Phillip Island as its own eveningThe little penguin parade is a dusk visit about 90 minutes' drive from Melbourne, so it needs a car or a tour and a late return. Tickets and booking rules are in the Victoria guide.Victoria guide
Check the sport and event calendar before you bookMajor events such as the Australian Open and the AFL Grand Final push room prices up across the city. Book early or pick different dates.

Things to do in Melbourne

See all attractions in Melbourne

Theater · MelbourneMelbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC)Check the event schedule and ticket details before travelling, as exhibitions and events change.

Sight · MelbourneConservatory MelbourneReserve ahead to secure a table.

Stadium · MelbourneMelbourne Cricket GroundBook a stadium tour ahead if you want to visit behind-the-scenes areas.

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to MelbournePut the places you like in Melbourne on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Melbourne (MEL), about 20–40 min by SkyBus to Southern Cross
Getting there: Flights; the Spirit of Tasmania ferry sails from Geelong
Getting around: Trams, trains and buses on myki; free trams in the center
Best base: The CBD for trams, Fitzroy or South Yarra for evenings
Time needed: 3–4 days, plus a day for the coast

Weather by month

Rainy days

Best
Good
Mixed

JanuaryClear8 rainy daysHigh27°Low16°Warm, big tennis
FebruaryClear6 rainy daysHigh26°Low15°Warm, dry
MarchClear7 rainy daysHigh24°Low14°Mild, festivals
AprilPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh20°Low12°Autumn leaves
MayPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh16°Low9°Cool
JunePartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh13°Low7°Cold, gray
JulyRain13 rainy daysHigh13°Low7°Coldest
AugustRain13 rainy daysHigh14°Low7°Cold, windy
SeptemberRain13 rainy daysHigh16°Low8°Footy finals
OctoberPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh19°Low9°Spring, changeable
NovemberRain12 rainy daysHigh21°Low11°Warm spells
DecemberClear9 rainy daysHigh24°Low13°Summer starts

Average daily high and low in Melbourne, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Melbourne

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 12°
Humidity: 92%
Wind: 13 km/h
Chance of rain: 61%

Melbourne

11:04 AM

Tuesday, November 3

GMT+11

Today16°12°61%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 16°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 61%.
Wed22°10°100%Wednesday: Thunderstorms. High 22°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 100%.
Thu16°10°22%Thursday: Drizzle. High 16°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 22%.
Fri20°10°73%Friday: Drizzle. High 20°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 73%.
Sat13°8°80%Saturday: Rain. High 13°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 80%.
Sun15°7°14%Sunday: Cloudy. High 15°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 14%.
Mon23°7°4%Monday: Cloudy. High 23°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 4%.

Updated 09:11 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 1.423 AUD

Amount

Converted to

AUD · Australian Dollar

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Melbourne

Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city

Events calendar

Coming up

Day trips by train

Great Ocean Roadabout 1.5 hours to Torquay by carSurf beaches, rainforest and the Twelve Apostles; the Great Ocean Road guide covers days and stops.Read the guide
Phillip Islandabout 90 minutes by carThe penguin parade at dusk and the Nobbies boardwalk; tickets are in the Victoria guide.Read the guide
Yarra Valleyabout 1 hour by carWineries and the Healesville wildlife sanctuary.

Before you go to Melbourne

Great Ocean Road toursCoach and small-group day tripsCompare day trips

Phillip Island penguin paradeReserve viewing at duskBook timed entry

eSIM for MelbourneData for myki top-ups and tram mapsRead the guide

Insurance for Melbourne tripsCover for sport-weekend cancellationsRead the guide

We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.

Rules for Melbourne, checked

Most visitors need an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) or an eVisitor before flying to Australia; check your passport's eligibility on the Home Affairs site before you book.Source
Declare food, plant and animal products on your incoming passenger card, since biosecurity officers at Melbourne Airport inspect bags and can dispose of goods.
Dial 000 for police, fire or an ambulance anywhere in Victoria; 112 also connects from mobile phones.
Touch on and off with a myki card or a contactless bank card on every tram, bus and train, including when you transfer.
Toll roads such as CityLink and EastLink use blue and yellow signs; ask your rental company how tolls are billed before you drive.

Plan around Melbourne

All of Australia

ETA, regions, flights and money basics

Read the guide Victoria

Coast, Grampians and Phillip Island by road

Read the guide Sydney

About 1.5 hours away by air

Read the guide Canberra

A stop between Sydney and Melbourne

Read the guide Tasmania

Ferry from Geelong or a short flight

Read the guide Flights and car hire

Great Ocean Road and one-way rentals

Read the guide Travel insurance

Cover for medical bills and changes

Read the guide

Melbourne FAQ

Is there a train from Melbourne Airport to the city?

Not yet. The SkyBus to Southern Cross Station is the direct public option; taxis and rideshares take about 25–45 minutes.

Are trams free in Melbourne?

Only inside the Free Tram Zone in the city center. Everywhere else you need to touch on with myki, and inspectors fine riders without a valid fare.

How many days do I need in Melbourne?

Three or four days covers the laneways, a gallery, a game or market and one inner suburb. Add a day or an overnight for the Great Ocean Road.

Melbourne or Sydney for a first trip?

Sydney has the harbor and beaches; Melbourne has the food, bars and sport. With a week, fly between them and give each three days.

When is the best time to visit Melbourne?

March to May and the warm spells of November are the most settled, with mild days. January and February are warm and busy with events, and winter is cold and gray but quieter and cheaper.