How many days · Melbourne · Australia
How many days do you need in Melbourne?
A straight answer, then what each trip length really gets you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Shkuru Afshar, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
5 days is the sweet spot for Melbourne, and 3 days is the minimum to see the main sights. Three days covers the CBD laneways, the NGV, the Royal Botanic Gardens and an evening in Fitzroy or St Kilda. Five days adds the Great Ocean Road and Phillip Island or the Yarra Valley; a week lets you slow down in the inner suburbs.
Key facts
- Ideal
- 5 days
- Minimum
- 3 days
- Day trips available
- 7
- Daylight
- 9.6 h (Jun) to 14.8 h (Dec)
What each trip length gets you
| Trip | Pace | What you can see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | Rushed | Federation Square and Flinders Street Station, Hosier Lane and the CBD laneways, National Gallery of Victoria and Melbourne Cricket Ground |
| 2 days | Rushed | Melbourne Cricket Ground, Queen Victoria Market and Royal Botanic Gardens |
| 3 days | Good | Shrine of Remembrance, Melbourne Museum and Royal Exhibition Building and St Kilda foreshore and pier |
| 5 days | Ideal | The highlights plus a day trip to Great Ocean Road and the Twelve Apostles |
| 7 days | Relaxed | A slow trip with day trips such as Great Ocean Road and the Twelve Apostles and Phillip Island |
How long the top sights take
The 12 best-known sights in Melbourne add up to roughly 18–27 hours of visiting time — about 3–4 days at seven sightseeing hours a day, before travel between them and meals. The biggest time commitments are Hosier Lane and the CBD laneways (2–3 hours), National Gallery of Victoria (2–3 hours) and Melbourne Cricket Ground (2–3 hours).
| Sight | Time needed | Area |
|---|---|---|
| Federation Square and Flinders Street Station | 1–2 hours | Melbourne CBD |
| Hosier Lane and the CBD laneways | 2–3 hours | Melbourne CBD |
| National Gallery of Victoria | 2–3 hours | Southbank |
| Melbourne Cricket Ground | 2–3 hours | Richmond |
| Queen Victoria Market | 1–2 hours | Melbourne CBD |
| Royal Botanic Gardens | 1–3 hours | South Yarra |
| Shrine of Remembrance | 1 hour | Kings Domain |
| Melbourne Museum and Royal Exhibition Building | 2–3 hours | Carlton |
| St Kilda foreshore and pier | 2–3 hours | St Kilda |
| ACMI | 1.5–2 hours | Federation Square |
| State Library Victoria | 1 hour | Melbourne CBD |
| Melbourne Skydeck | 1 hour | Southbank |
By type of trip
| Trip | Days | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First visit | 5 days | The main sights at a comfortable pace |
| Short break / repeat visit | 3 days | Focus on Federation Square and Flinders Street Station and Hosier Lane and the CBD laneways |
| With children | 6 days | Slower days and time for Melbourne Zoo |
| With day trips | 7 days | Add Great Ocean Road and the Twelve Apostles and Phillip Island |
Daylight changes the maths
Sightseeing days are much shorter in June (about 9.6 hours of daylight) than in December (about 14.8 hours). In winter, allow an extra day or plan museum-heavy afternoons.
Ready-made itineraries
Combining Melbourne with other destinations
| Destination | Distance | Suggested stay |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney | About 713 km | 5 days |
| Gold Coast | About 1,343 km | 5 days |
| Brisbane | About 1,374 km | 4 days |
Questions travellers ask
+Is 3 days enough in Melbourne?
It covers the main sights at a brisk pace; 5 days is more comfortable. Three days covers the CBD laneways, the NGV, the Royal Botanic Gardens and an evening in Fitzroy or St Kilda. Five days adds the Great Ocean Road and Phillip Island or the Yarra Valley; a week lets you slow down in the inner suburbs.
+Is a week too long in Melbourne?
No — a week leaves time for day trips such as Great Ocean Road and the Twelve Apostles and Phillip Island.