5 days in Melbourne

Day by day

1. Day 1: Federation Square and Flinders Street Station and Hosier Lane and the CBD laneways

   Federation Square and Flinders Street Station, Hosier Lane and the CBD laneways and Queen Victoria Market, then Melbourne Cricket Ground in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Federation Square and Flinders Street Station

      Meet 'under the clocks' at Flinders Street Station like locals do, then cross to the Ian Potter Centre for the free Australian art collection. (1–2 hours, free).

   2. Late morning

      Hosier Lane and the CBD laneways

      Go beyond Hosier Lane: Croft Alley off Little Bourke Street and the lanes around Flinders Lane have equally good art and far fewer people. (2–3 hours, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Specialty coffee and the 'magic'

      Laneway cafés around Degraves Street and Centre Place, and roasters in Fitzroy, Collingwood and Brunswick.

   4. Afternoon

      Queen Victoria Market

      Go in the morning for the best produce, and check the market calendar first: it does not trade every day, and night markets run on selected evenings. (1–2 hours, free).

   5. Evening

      Melbourne Cricket Ground

      If you are in town between March and September, go to an AFL game: the crowd teaches you more about Melbourne than any tour.

2. Day 2: National Gallery of Victoria and Melbourne Skydeck

   National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne Skydeck and Royal Botanic Gardens, then St Kilda foreshore and pier in the evening.

   1. Morning

      National Gallery of Victoria

      Lie on the carpet in the Great Hall, as locals do, to take in Leonard French's huge stained-glass ceiling. (2–3 hours, free).

   2. Late morning

      Melbourne Skydeck

      Arrive about an hour before sunset to see the city in daylight and again as the lights come on. (1 hour, mid-priced).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Melbourne brunch

      Cafés in Fitzroy, Collingwood, Richmond, South Yarra and Brunswick; arrive early at weekends.

   4. Afternoon

      Royal Botanic Gardens

      Walk part of the Tan, the 3.8 km running track around the edge of the gardens, or join locals picnicking by the Ornamental Lake. (1–3 hours, free).

   5. Evening

      St Kilda foreshore and pier

      Arrive around dusk to see the little penguins return to the breakwater; keep your voice down and never use a camera flash.

3. Day 3: Shrine of Remembrance and Melbourne Museum and Royal Exhibition Building

   Shrine of Remembrance, Melbourne Museum and Royal Exhibition Building and ACMI, then Brunswick Street and Fitzroy in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Shrine of Remembrance

      Climb to the upper balconies for the view straight up St Kilda Road and Swanston Street to the CBD skyline. (1 hour, free).

   2. Late morning

      Melbourne Museum and Royal Exhibition Building

      Check the museum's site for guided tours of the Royal Exhibition Building's interior, which is otherwise mainly used for events. (2–3 hours, low cost).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Dim sim

      South Melbourne Market, where the dim sims are a local institution, plus fish-and-chip shops and sports grounds.

   4. Afternoon

      ACMI

      Pick up a free Lens at the entrance to bookmark exhibits as you go, then look them up online later. (1.5–2 hours, free).

   5. Evening

      Brunswick Street and Fitzroy

      Walk from Gertrude Street up Brunswick Street, then cut across to Smith Street in Collingwood for dinner.

4. Day 4: Day trip to Great Ocean Road and the Twelve Apostles

   About 4 hours each way along the coast each way. Getting there: Car or organised coach tour.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Great Ocean Road and the Twelve Apostles

      About 4 hours each way along the coast (Car or organised coach tour); about 270 km.

   2. Day

      Great Ocean Road and the Twelve Apostles

      The Great Ocean Road winds along cliffs and surf beaches from Torquay through Lorne and Apollo Bay to the limestone stacks of the Twelve Apostles in Port Campbell National Park. Best for first-timers, couples and families.

   3. Evening

      Back in Melbourne

      Dinner: try Souvlaki.

5. Day 5: State Library Victoria and SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium

   State Library Victoria, SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium and Old Melbourne Gaol, then Chinatown in the evening.

   1. Morning

      State Library Victoria

      Take the lift to the top gallery level for the classic view down into the domed reading room. (1 hour, free).

   2. Late morning

      SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium

      Visit on a weekday morning outside school holidays to watch the penguins without a crowd at the glass. (1.5–2 hours, mid-priced).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Souvlaki

      The Greek precinct on Lonsdale Street in the CBD, Eaton Mall in Oakleigh, and late-night shops across the inner suburbs.

   4. Afternoon

      Old Melbourne Gaol

      Allow time for the City Watch House next door, where a guide plays out an arrest and lock-up in the original cells. (1.5 hours, mid-priced).

   5. Evening

      Chinatown

      Come hungry in the evening, when the lanes off Little Bourke Street fill with diners and neon.

Before you go

Reserve timed tickets for National Gallery of Victoria before you travel; the rest of this plan needs no advance booking.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 5 nights, Melbourne CBD keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Southbank ($$$$) suits couples, luxury, culture and first-timers. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 25–37 hours of visiting over 5 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 9.6 hours in June to 14.8 hours in December, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

More or fewer days

• One day in Melbourne
• 2 days in Melbourne
• 3 days in Melbourne
• 4 days in Melbourne
• 7 days in Melbourne

Questions travellers ask