Melbourne is the capital city of Victoria state and one of the largest cities in Australia. It’s known for its culture, coffee and dining, architecture, museums and art galleries, sunny beaches and green parks. Moreover, Melbourne has been constantly voted as one of the most livable cities in the world. We visited Melbourne a few times and in this post we’d like to share our detailed itinerary for 3 Days in Melbourne.
If you are visiting Australia for the first time, Melbourne is a great place to start. Spend a few days in the city, go to a beach, explore places nearby and visit wildlife park. If you have even more time – take a road trip to the Great Ocean Road and Grampians National Park.
Here is our detailed itinerary of what to see and do in Melbourne, Australia in 3 days.
Day 1 – Melbourne City
Spend the first day exploring the many sights of Melbourne city.
Walk in the CBD (Central Business District)
Explore Melbourne CBD on foot to see its many landmarks, busy streets, urban spaces, skyscrapers as well as historic Victorian buildings.
Start with the iconic Flinders Street Railway Station, then continue on to the adjacent Federation Square – a modern urban plaza with cafes and art venues. Next, visit the neo-gothic building of St Paul’s Cathedral. Walk a little further to see Melbourne Town Hall – an iconic city landmark situated on Swanston Street.
At the edge of the CBD stands the grand neo-Renaissance building of Melbourne’s Parliament House. Adjusted to it – Parliament Gardens – a perfect spot to relax and enjoy the greenery in the heart of a busy city.
Wander a bit further to Treasure Gardens and Fitzroy Gardens next. Check out original James Cook’s family cottage, tiny Tudor Village, cute Dolphin Fountain and even a playground if travelling with small children.
Pay a visit to Melbourne’s Chinatown – a vibrant neighborhood with rich cultural heritage. It offers a wide variety of Asian cuisine, from dim sum to hot pot to traditional Chinese dumplings. Chinatown is a great place to grab a bite or stop for lunch or dinner later in the day.
Next, go to State Library Victoria – a gorgeous historical building hosting Victoria state library. It’s free and open to the public, so make sure to go inside to admire its vast collection of books, spacious reading rooms and hosted exhibitions.
Walk to Flagstaff Gardens – urban park with nice views (and a playground – if you’re travelling with small kids).
Take a tram to Docklands
Take a free tram to Docklands – a modern suburb with tall buildings, trendy waterfront cafes and lively public spaces.
Cross the river via Webb Bridge – a pedestrian bridge over Yarra river with unique design and structure.
Docklands suburb is nicely lit and makes a great photo spot when visiting in the evening – with the illuminated structure of Webb Bridge and all the tall buildings reflecting in water.
Stroll along Yarra River
From the Webb Bridge stroll along the Yarra River in the direction of Princes Bridge. Take in the panoramic views of the city skyline and enjoy the sight of the river and many bridges that span across it.
The waterfront is lined with numerous cafes and restaurants. Make a stop for lunch in one of the cafes before continuing your exploration of Melbourne city.
For a panoramic view of Melbourne, visit the Skydeck observation deck located on the 88th floor of the Eureka Tower. We haven’t been ourselves, but I hear it’s a popular tourist attraction where you can experience the thrill of standing on the Edge – a glass cube that extends out from the building.
What we really liked about Melbourne is the abundance of walking spaces that line the banks of the Yarra River. Not just in the city center, but further away too – past Princes Bridge, along the Botanical Gardens and so on. There are lots of walkways, cycleways and nice green spaces and parks along the river.
Take a river cruise
In the afternoon, after all the walking, take a river cruise on Yarra for a relaxing way to see Melbourne’s city from the water.
There are few options to cruise along the Yarra River. During one of our visits we took a 2-hour City Highlights cruise. The kids were small back then and it was a nice way to see some city highlights from a comfort of the boat. The last time we visited we were planning to go on one of the evening cruises – City Lights Melbourne River Cruise. However, due to constant heavy rain in previous weeks and elevated water levels in the river all cruises were cancelled when we were visiting. Hopefully, you will have better luck!
Dine at Lygon Street
Finish the day at Carlton suburb known for its vibrant Lygon Street – a mecca for authentic Italian cuisine. On Lygon Street you will find lots of Italian cafes and restaurants. Dine in or take away – a nice way to finish your first day in Melbourne!
Day 2 – Museums/Galleries, Gardens and Beaches
Visit a museum or a gallery
Melbourne is known as Australia’s capital of sports, arts and culture. It has numerous museums and galleries – from the National Gallery of Victoria, home to an extensive collection of Australian and international artworks, to the grand Melbourne Museum, with exhibitions on natural history and Aboriginal culture, there is something for everyone.
Start the Day 2 of Melbourne Itinerary with a visit to a museum or gallery of your choice.
If you’re travelling with children we can recommend the Scienceworks Museum west of Yarra (you will need to take a bus or a train from CBD to get to the museum).
Another great place to visit for adults and children alike is SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium – a huge multi-level aquarium located right in the CBD.
If you’re visiting Melbourne Museum, make sure to also explore Carlton Gardens and Royal Exhibition Building nearby.
Take a tram to Shrine of Remembrance
After visiting museum or gallery of your choice, take a tram to Shrine of Remembrance – a memorial to all Australians who served in war and conflicts.
The Shrine of Remembrance monument is located atop a small hill and provides stunning panoramic views of the Melbourne skyline, making it a serene spot for reflection and appreciation.
Escape to the Royal Botanic Gardens
Next, escape to the vast greenery and tranquil space of Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria located on the 36 hectares of land by Yarra river.
Melbourne’s Botanic Gardens offer a peaceful retreat in the heart of a busy city. Explore its many themed gardens and areas, wander many alleys and walking pathways, check out the Government House building, walk around the lake and have a rest and a bite at Terrace cafe.
Spend the afternoon at St. Kilda
Spend the afternoon at St. Kilda suburb (25-30 minutes by tram from Royal Botanic Gardens) – home to one of Melbourne’s most popular beaches and the iconic Melbourne Luna Park.
St. Kilda is home to a variety of cafes, restaurants, and shops, making it a popular destination for locals and tourists alike. Stroll along the waterfront, have dinner at one of St. Kilda’s cafes and just enjoy the natural beauty of St. Kilda beach.
St. Kilda beach is a perfect spot to relax and unwind after a busy day exploring Melbourne’s city attractions.
Finish the day at Brighton Beach
If you still have time left on the day, visit another Melbourne’s popular beach – Brighton Beach. It’s further away from the city center and it will take about an hour to get there.
We haven’t been there ourselves, but if you want to see and take a pic of the famous colorful Brighton Bathing Boxes then Brighton Beach is your destination. Alternatively, if you don’t have enough time to visit Brighton Beach on the Day 2, but you really want to, then make a detour on your way to a wildlife reserve on the morning of Day 3 (see below).
Day 3 – Australian Wildlife and Phillip Island
After spending two days walking and exploring Melbourne city and its attractions, it’s time to venture further away from the city. For the Day 3 of our Melbourne itinerary we recommend renting a car for a day trip to one of Melbourne’s wildlife parks and to Phillip Island.
Start the day early as there is a lot to see on this one day trip from Melbourne.
Visit a wildlife park
When travelling to Australia, exploring one of the many wildlife parks with native Australian fauna is a must. It’s an unforgettable experience to learn about and interact with Australia’s diverse wildlife in a safe environment.
The Melbourne area has a few parks offering to get up close with native animals like kangaroos, koalas, and wombats. We chose to visit Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park as it is conveniently located on the way to Phillip Island. Plus, they have options for close-up animal encounters in a safe (for both humans and animals) environment, and they have free-roaming kangaroos in the park.
You can buy admission ticket(s) in advance on Moonlit Sanctuary website. It is approximately 1-hour drive from Melbourne city center, and then allow another 2-3 hours to spend in the park.
I’m sure many other wildlife parks around Melbourne offer similar experiences, so you can choose to visit a different park. So far, we’ve been to 2 or 3 wildlife parks in Australia and all of them have high standards of animal care and offer lots of positive experiences and animal encounters for visitors.
Explore Phillip Island
The picturesque Phillip Island is known for its beautiful landscapes, wildlife and the charm of small coastal towns.
There are so many opportunities for hiking, natural sightseeing and wildlife spotting on Phillip Island, that you can easily spend a whole day there. But if you have an afternoon or just a few hours to spare then we recommend driving around the island and make at least the following stops.
Phillip Island Chocolate Factory – just as you enter (or exit) the island make a short stop at the paradise for chocolate lovers. Taste their hot chocolate, buy some candies or take a factory tour to learn about the chocolate-making process.
Check out the Forrest Caves – caves and rock formations formed by waves eroding the limestone cliffs over thousands of years. Caves are only accessible at low tides (so, check the tides before visiting).
Drive to the charming town of Cowes with its beautiful coastal views. See the Red Rocks Beach, walk to the Cowes Jetty and have lunch at one of the lovely cafes in town.
Drive to the Nobbies View Point for panoramic views of the ocean and cliffs. Then walk to Southpoint Lookout – for more stunning views of the surrounding landscape and oceanscape.
Next, make a stop at Summerlands Lookout – another beautiful spot with the views of the ocean, coastal landscape and overlooking the Penguin Parade.
Visit Penguin Watchout to see the iconic Penguin Parade – the best time to visit is at sunset to observe cute penguins waddling up the beach.
Pyramid Rock Lookout – a short walk to the scenic lookout towards the ocean and the unique rock formation.
That concludes our 3 Days in Melbourne itinerary. Hope you enjoyed it! To help planning your trip to Melbourne I’m also including some tips and practical information, such as public transport and where to stay in Melbourne.
Transport options in Melbourne
Getting to/from Melbourne Airport
There are few transportation options to get to/from Melbourne Airport to Melbourne City:
Taxis or Uber. Melbourne CBD is about 30 minutes drive from the airport by car. You can find taxi stands near Terminals 1 and 4. If you pre-booked a taxi or prefer an Uber then use the designated pick up area outside of Terminal 2 or at the Terminal 4 carpark.
SkyBus. The most popular option to/from Melbourne airport is SkyBus City Express. A regular express bus service runs every 10-15 mins with stops at Terminals 1, 3 and 4. For up-to-date fares and other details visit SkyBus website.
Car Rental. If you’re planning to hit the road once you land in Melbourne it may be worth renting a car right at the airport. Rental car kiosks are located on the ground floor of the airport Terminal Car Park at Terminal 1, 2 & 3.
Public Transport in Melbourne
When visiting Melbourne, using public transport is a convenient option to get around and explore the city sights and attractions. You can buy myki card – a reusable card for payments in public transport – at many locations across the city (e.g. at the airport, vending machines at train stations, 7-Eleven and other stores); load it with credit and use it to pay for travel on trains, trams, and buses.
In the CBD there is an iconic Melbourne vintage tram that runs around the central city. The tram is a nice way to travel and sightsee in the CBD, and the ride is free!
If venturing further away from Melbourne (and don’t have a car or don’t want to rent one) then you can travel by trains. Train network connects Melbourne city center with suburbs and destinations like Frankston, Mornington and Yarra Valley.
Where to stay in Melbourne
There is no shortage of accommodations when staying in Melbourne. Whether you prefer a luxury or a budget-friendly stay, Melbourne has a wide range of options for any traveller.
Staying in the CBD area is a great choice for easy access to main city landmarks, many cafes and restaurants, shopping, nightlife and the picturesque Yarra River. Another great option next to the CBD is Carlton suburb – known for its cultural heritage, close proximity to Melbourne Museum and its vibrant Italian precinct with authentic cuisine. For a more relaxed and seaside atmosphere pick accommodation at St. Kilda with its picturesque St. Kilda Beach and the famous Luna Park amusement park.
When is the best time to go to Melbourne
The best time to go to Melbourne depends on your personal preferences and what type of experience you’re looking to have.
Australian summer is during the months of December to February, with lots of sunshine-filled days and daily temperatures ranging from 24 to 27 °C. First time we visited Melbourne it was in December and the weather was really pleasant around 22-24°C during the day – nice for visiting beaches and parks, but a bit too hot for our liking for walking and exploring the city.
Australian spring (September to November) and autumn (March to May) are probably the best times to explore the city on foot, go for a walk on a beach, visit a vineyard or a wildlife reserve, or go for a road trip. We visited in October for a road trip from Melbourne to the Great Ocean Road, and the temperature was warm enough to swim in outdoor pool, but also not too hot to take lots of walks and short hikes during the trip.
During the winter months (June to August) you will find Melbourne less crowded and accommodation less pricey. It’s still a good time to go to Melbourne if you plan visiting museums, galleries and explore its cafes and restaurants. But be prepared for colder temperatures (on average 6-7°C at night, and 13-15°C at daytime) and more rain if travelling to Melbourne in winter.
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