Guide To Exploring Melbourne For The First Time
October 15, 2019Melbourne is undoubtedly a dynamic metropolis. It offers an exciting city centre, green parks, beautiful landscapes and a vibrant nightlife. On this basis, it shouldn’t be hard for you to find your perfect accommodation in Melbourne and enjoy your time in this city. Most importantly, Melbourne is the coffee capital of the world. Every year, thousands of tourists travel to this area to try some of the most unique recipes.
In addition, Australia is one of the few countries in the world where you can really experience cultural diversity. Amazing street arts, hundreds of dining options and even the possibility to indulge in a luxury boutique hotel are other factors that make this city one of the most visited by tourists from all around the world.
If this is your first time in Melbourne, this guide will really help you get the most out of it!
A walk through the laneways
Melbourne’s laneways are maybe the most famous in the world. Getting lost in them is the best way to explore this area. You can grab a city map from the Visitor Information Centre at Federation Square.
Federation Square and Flinders Street Station
This is surely Melbourne’s most iconic square, with its unique architectural design. While you are here, don’t forget to visit the Ian Potter Centre art gallery.
Have you ever wondered what is that beautiful building printed in almost every travel guide? It’s the Flinders Street Station and it is just across the street from Federation Square. This is Melbourne’s cultural symbol, opened in 1910 and even listed in the Victorian heritage register. That’s why you shouldn’t miss it while exploring this wonderful city!
Don’t forget your latte
In Melbourne, you will find the world’s best coffee. No matter how hard you try, you will never find a bad cup of coffee in the whole city. Local coffee shops are particularly proud of their recipes and, not surprisingly, several of the world barista champions are from this city.
In other words, you don’t really need a guide to find Melbourne’s best coffee. You can enjoy a great cup just by wandering through the laneways of the city. Don’t forget to try the latte while in the coffee shop or buy one to go and enjoy it while wandering around Allegedly, it was invented right here in Melbourne.
The Queen Victoria Markets
This place has been one of the most important food hubs in Australia since its opening in 1878. Here you can find any kind of delicatessens and street food, from cheeses to smoked meats to seafood.
The building is another example of Victorian architecture, that is predominant in Melbourne. It often hosts season live events, so you should definitely check the website to see what’s on the schedule while you are in the city!
An afternoon at the botanic garden
Melbourne Botanic Gardens provide a beautiful green area where you can spend a cosy afternoon. This green spot is not so far from the city centre and is the home of more than 8,500 plant species.
Do you play cricket?
Cricket is indeed a popular sport, and Melbourne is the home of the “Australia’s favourite stadium”. This is the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), the centre of the action of the city’s sports enthusiastic.
It was built in 1853 and then renewed many times. It is currently the largest stadium in Australia and the 10th largest in the world. It has space for around 130,000 people!
Let’s go shopping!
Chapel Street is a very popular shopping area among locals and even international celebrities. The shopping mall used to be the Melbourne Government Post office.
Another great spot for shopping is the outlet in Richmond, at Bridge Road. In addition, if you are into vintage clothes, you cannot miss the Fitzroy.
A picnic at the Carlton Gardens
Another great way to spend one sunny afternoon in Melbourne is to chill at the Carlton Gardens. This is a massive complex that also contains the Royal Exhibition Building. The gardens are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, and are not so far from the city centre.
In the same area, you will find the Melbourne Museum and a huge Imax cinema. It is thus definitely worth a visit to have some fun and also get to know Australian flora and fauna.
Penguin-spotting?
Although Melbourne is an international metropolitan city, nature lovers will not be disappointed. In fact, you can plan a day trip to St Kilda, a beautiful place rich in gorgeous beaches, gardens and, most importantly, delicious cakes.
The main residents of this area are penguins. If you are lucky enough, you can see these little animals arriving on the beach just after sunset every night.
Get ready to have fun!
It is impossible to list all the experiences offered by Melbourne. However, you can be sure that you will never get bored in this city!
