Where to stay · Melbourne · Australia
Where to stay in Melbourne
8 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Bob T, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in Melbourne CBD. Laneway cafés, Victorian arcades and the free tram zone on the Hoddle Grid. Best alternatives — families: Carlton; budget: St Kilda; nightlife: Fitzroy and Collingwood.
Key facts
- First visit
- Melbourne CBD
- Families
- Carlton
- Budget
- St Kilda
- Nightlife
- Fitzroy and Collingwood
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | Melbourne CBD | Laneway cafés, Victorian arcades and the free tram zone on the Hoddle Grid |
| Families | Carlton | Italian cafés on Lygon Street, the university and UNESCO-listed gardens |
| Couples | Southbank | Riverside promenade, the arts precinct and high-rise hotels across the Yarra |
| Budget | St Kilda | Bayside Esplanade, Acland Street cake shops and a century-old amusement park |
| Luxury | Southbank | Riverside promenade, the arts precinct and high-rise hotels across the Yarra |
| Nightlife | Fitzroy and Collingwood | Street art, vintage shops and bars along Brunswick, Gertrude and Smith Streets |
| Food lovers | Melbourne CBD | Laneway cafés, Victorian arcades and the free tram zone on the Hoddle Grid |
| Solo travellers | Melbourne CBD | Laneway cafés, Victorian arcades and the free tram zone on the Hoddle Grid |
| Shopping | Melbourne CBD | Laneway cafés, Victorian arcades and the free tram zone on the Hoddle Grid |
| Quiet stays | Carlton | Italian cafés on Lygon Street, the university and UNESCO-listed gardens |
| Beach | St Kilda | Bayside Esplanade, Acland Street cake shops and a century-old amusement park |
Melbourne neighbourhoods in detail
$$$ · Best for first-timers, shopping, food lovers and solo travellers
Melbourne CBD
The central grid between Flinders Street and La Trobe Street holds most of the sights: Federation Square, the laneways around Degraves Street and the Block Arcade, Chinatown on Little Bourke Street and the State Library. Trams within the CBD are free, hotels range from hostels to five-star towers, and most inner suburbs are a 10–20 minute tram ride away.
- Good
- Free trams within the CBD; Walk to most major sights; Dense café and restaurant choice
- Watch out
- Some blocks are noisy with traffic and construction; Rooms in older buildings can be small
- Nearby
- Federation Square, Hosier Lane, Queen Victoria Market, State Library Victoria
$$$$ · Best for couples, luxury, culture and first-timers
Southbank
Across Princes Bridge from Flinders Street, Southbank lines the Yarra with restaurants and bars and holds Arts Centre Melbourne, the Melbourne Recital Centre and NGV International on St Kilda Road. The Crown casino complex anchors the western end. It suits travellers who want river views and a short walk to both the CBD and the Royal Botanic Gardens.
- Good
- River views and walking access to the CBD; Close to the NGV and the gardens; Many modern hotels
- Watch out
- Feels corporate away from the river; Crowds and noise around the casino at night
- Nearby
- NGV International, Arts Centre Melbourne, Eureka Tower, Royal Botanic Gardens
$$ · Best for nightlife, food lovers, shopping and solo travellers
Fitzroy and Collingwood
Melbourne's first suburb is now known for independent shops, cafés and bars, with Brunswick Street, Gertrude Street and Smith Street at its core. Collingwood next door has converted warehouses, breweries and the Abbotsford Convent arts precinct nearby. Trams run down Brunswick and Smith Streets to the CBD in about 15 minutes.
- Good
- Some of Melbourne's best bars and cafés; Street art on every side street; Short tram ride to the CBD
- Watch out
- Few hotels; mostly apartments and small guesthouses; Noisy on Friday and Saturday nights
- Nearby
- Brunswick Street, Gertrude Street, Smith Street, Carlton Gardens
$$ · Best for families, culture, food lovers and quiet stays
Carlton
Carlton is Melbourne's Little Italy, with espresso bars and trattorias along Lygon Street, and it is home to the University of Melbourne. The Carlton Gardens hold the World Heritage-listed Royal Exhibition Building and the Melbourne Museum, and the CBD is a 10-minute walk or a short tram ride south.
- Good
- Leafy, calm streets close to the CBD; Museum and gardens on the doorstep; Good-value Italian food
- Watch out
- Limited hotel choice; Lygon Street's restaurant strip has some tourist traps
- Nearby
- Lygon Street, Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne Museum, University of Melbourne
$$ · Best for beach, nightlife, budget and couples
St Kilda
St Kilda is Melbourne's seaside suburb, with a palm-lined Esplanade, St Kilda Pier, Luna Park and the cake shops of Acland Street. Little penguins nest in the breakwater at the end of the pier, and the Sunday Esplanade Market sells local crafts. Trams reach the CBD in about 25 minutes.
- Good
- Beach and bay sunsets; Good-value hostels and apartments; Bars and live-music venues
- Watch out
- Some streets feel seedy late at night; A calm bay beach rather than surf
- Nearby
- St Kilda Pier, Luna Park Melbourne, Acland Street, Albert Park
$$$ · Best for shopping, couples, luxury and nightlife
South Yarra and Prahran
Chapel Street runs through South Yarra, Prahran and Windsor, with fashion stores at the northern end and bars and vintage shops towards Windsor. Prahran Market, one of the city's long-running food markets, is a block away on Commercial Road, and the Royal Botanic Gardens are a short tram ride north. South Yarra station gives quick trains to the CBD.
- Good
- Shopping and dining on one long street; Fast trains to the CBD; Close to the Botanic Gardens
- Watch out
- Weekend nightclub crowds on Chapel Street; Hotels are pricier than in the north
- Nearby
- Chapel Street, Prahran Market, Royal Botanic Gardens, Como House
$$ · Best for food lovers, budget and nightlife
Richmond
Richmond sits next to the sports precinct, so the MCG, Rod Laver Arena and AAMI Park are a short walk across Yarra Park. Victoria Street is lined with Vietnamese restaurants and grocers, Swan Street and Bridge Road have pubs and outlet shops, and trains from Richmond station reach Flinders Street in a few minutes.
- Good
- Walk to the MCG and Melbourne Park; Good-value Vietnamese restaurants; Fast train to the CBD
- Watch out
- Crowded and noisy on game days; Accommodation is mostly apartments
- Nearby
- Melbourne Cricket Ground, Victoria Street, Swan Street, Rod Laver Arena
$ · Best for budget, nightlife and food lovers
Brunswick
North of Carlton, Brunswick's Sydney Road is lined with Lebanese and Turkish bakeries, grocers and bridal shops, while side streets and Lygon Street East hold live-music pubs and small bars. It is mostly residential with few hotels, but good-value apartments, the Upfield train line and frequent trams make it a practical budget base.
- Good
- Good-value food and rooms; Lively bar and live-music scene; Local, non-touristy feel
- Watch out
- Few hotels; About 25 minutes by tram from the CBD
- Nearby
- Sydney Road, Barkly Square, Royal Park, Lygon Street
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Melbourne CBD | $$$ | Federation Square, Hosier Lane, Queen Victoria Market, State Library Victoria |
| Southbank | $$$$ | NGV International, Arts Centre Melbourne, Eureka Tower, Royal Botanic Gardens |
| Fitzroy and Collingwood | $$ | Brunswick Street, Gertrude Street, Smith Street, Carlton Gardens |
| Carlton | $$ | Lygon Street, Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne Museum, University of Melbourne |
| St Kilda | $$ | St Kilda Pier, Luna Park Melbourne, Acland Street, Albert Park |
| South Yarra and Prahran | $$$ | Chapel Street, Prahran Market, Royal Botanic Gardens, Como House |
| Richmond | $$ | Melbourne Cricket Ground, Victoria Street, Swan Street, Rod Laver Arena |
| Brunswick | $ | Sydney Road, Barkly Square, Royal Park, Lygon Street |
Getting to your hotel
Melbourne Airport at Tullamarine is about 23 km north-west of the CBD and has no train link. SkyBus express coaches run to Southern Cross Station in about 30 minutes, and taxis or rideshares take about 25–45 minutes depending on traffic. Avalon Airport, about 55 km south-west, is linked to the city by connecting coaches.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Melbourne for first-time visitors?
Melbourne CBD. The central grid between Flinders Street and La Trobe Street holds most of the sights: Federation Square, the laneways around Degraves Street and the Block Arcade, Chinatown on Little Bourke Street and the State Library.
+Where should families stay in Melbourne?
Carlton: Leafy, calm streets close to the CBD.
+Which area of Melbourne is best for a budget stay?
St Kilda ($$): Bayside Esplanade, Acland Street cake shops and a century-old amusement park.