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Melbourne travel guide

Laneway cafés, sport and Australia's best food

Melbourne's laneways and skyline. Photo: Melbpal, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

21h 15mflight from London
MELnearest main airport
20° in Janwarmest month
10° in Julcoolest month

Melbourne is Australia's cultural capital, with laneways full of street art and coffee bars, great restaurants and a packed calendar of sport, from the Australian Open to the AFL Grand Final.

It's the start of the Great Ocean Road and close to the Yarra Valley wineries and Phillip Island's penguins.

Good forCity breaksFoodSportArt

What Melbourne is known for

  • Coffee culture

    Some of the best in the world.

  • Street art

    Hosier Lane and more.

  • Sport

    The MCG and tennis.

  • Penguins

    The penguin parade on Phillip Island.

Top things to do in Melbourne

  1. 1

    The laneways

    Coffee, street art and bars.

    Find tours and tickets
  2. 2

    The MCG

    A tour or a match.

    Find tours and tickets
  3. 3

    Queen Victoria Market

    Food stalls and night markets.

    Find tours and tickets
  4. 4

    Phillip Island penguins

    Little penguins at sunset.

    Find tours and tickets

See all tours and tickets in Melbourne

Where to stay in Melbourne

Find a hotel in Melbourne

Best time to visit Melbourne

Best value: Apr–May, Sep–Nov. October to April: warm, with festivals and sport.

  • Best valueGood weather, smaller crowds
  • PeakBusiest, highest prices
  • QuietCheapest, cooler or wetter
20 C20°J19.9 C20°F18.5 C18°M15.6 C16°A12.6 C13°M10.3 C10°J9.5 C10°J9.9 C10°A11.7 C12°S13.8 C14°O16.4 C16°N18.1 C18°D
Bar height is the average temperature in Melbourne, °C, 2001–2025 (NASA POWER).

Getting there and around

About 21h 15m from London to MEL, and flights from most UK airports. How long is the flight from your airport?

Trams are free in the city centre. Use a Myki card beyond it.

Airport transfer to Melbourne

Find flights to Melbourne (MEL)

Shows the cheapest fares for next month on Aviasales, our flight partner. We may earn a commission, at no cost to you. Flight times are straight-line estimates for a direct flight from Heathrow.

Good to know

  • Melbourne can have "four seasons in a day": bring layers.
  • Book Phillip Island tickets early.
  • Visit the Yarra Valley for a day of wine.
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Melbourne FAQ

Sydney or Melbourne?

Sydney for the harbour and beaches, Melbourne for food and culture.

How many days in Melbourne?

Three or four days.

More places in Australia

Back to the Australia travel guide + Add Melbourne to your bucket list