Melbourne is known for its street art, sporting life and great cafe culture and now, you plan to spend 7 days in Melbourne discovering it for yourself and everything else Melbourne has to offer. Well, you are in luck, one week in Melbourne is a great amount of time to get the vibe of the city. And it will help you discover why Melbourne has the reputation for being one of the world’s most liveable cities. Get ready for the best 7 day Melbourne itinerary of your life.
I currently live in Melbourne and have first-hand knowledge of how to enjoy this beautiful city. If you need help planning how to spend your time in Melbourne, here is how I suggest you make the most of your 7 days in Melbourne. You will see all the best bits during this week long itinerary for your first visit to Melbourne.
My Melbourne itinerary also includes accommodation options for your Melbourne holiday and how to get around Melbourne. I have devised the itinerary for all sorts of visitors to Melbourne. So if you are travelling solo to Melbourne, coming on a romantic getaway to Melbourne, having a friends week away in Melbourne or travelling to Melbourne with kids, there is something for everyone in this Melbourne 7 day itinerary. Are you ready to visit Melbourne?
Table of Contents
Melbourne Itinerary 1 Week at a Glance
Here is a quick overview of the best way to spend one week in Melbourne, Australia.
Days
- Explore the CBD
- Discover South of the Yarra
- See what else there is to see in Melbourne
- Spend the day at St Kilda Beach and Brighton
- Shop till you drop at Queen Vic Markets + other shopping precincts
- Visit Melbourne Zoo
- Day trip to the Yarra Valley
Is a Week in Melbourne long enough?
One week holiday in Melbourne is long enough to see all of Melbourne’s popular spots plus more. But the longer the better I say!
Melbourne Itinerary 7 Days
Get ready to discover Melbourne, see the best things to do in Melbourne during your 7 days in Melbourne, with many of them being free things to do in Melbourne.
Day 1 – Get to Know Melbourne CBD
There is saying ‘I’ll meet you under the clocks’. The clocks are the clocks at Flinders Street Station. So if you are meeting someone in Melbourne, this is where you meet. Though many now meet across the road at Federation Square, or Fed Square as it is often called.
Flinders Street Railway Station
Start your week long visit to Melbourne at Flinders Street Railway Station. You will find it on the corner of Flinders and Swanston Streets and it is so large it takes up two city blocks. Originally opened in 1854 it was a collection of weatherboard sheds known as the Melbourne Terminus. In the early 1900s the station was redeveloped and renamed and now serves the entire metropolitan rail network. It is the busiest train station in Melbourne. Platform 1, at 708 metres, is the longest train platform in Victoria. The main building’s facade is what everyone comes to see. And most take their iconic photo shot of Flinders Street Railway Station from diagonally across the road in front of St Paul’s Cathedral.
Federation Square & the NGV
Next stop on your first day in Melbourne on your week long visit to Melbourne is at Federation Square (Fed Square). Fed Square is a large piazza that hosts world-class events and has cultural attractions along with a variety of speciality stores, restaurants and bars. At Fed Square you will find the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), the oldest art gallery in Australia. It houses many exhibits from Indigenous Australian art to contemporary works. There are often free exhibits happening at the NGV to check out. The time spent here will depend on how much interest you have in art collections and exhibits. Once you’ve had your fill of art cross the road and head to the laneways to see more art, the street art.
Melbourne Street Art
Street art is popping up all over Melbourne but there are some concentrated ‘hotspots’. And the best thing is, the street art is one of the best free things to see and do in Melbourne. The two most popular streets are Hosier Lane and AC/DC Lane. Both these cobble-stoned laneways are close to Federation Square. And yes, AC/DC Lane is named after the iconic Aussie rock band. Whether or not you like street art, or believe it is just ‘hyped up graffiti’, it is very interesting to see the spray-painted murals on the walls of the laneways. It is quite easy just to walk through the lanes if you don’t appreciate this sort of art, but I suggest stopping and taking a closer look as you just don’t know what you might see!
Lunch in a Laneway or Arcade
After the street art of Melbourne, you may be feeling hungry. Lucky, there is a number of Melbourne’s unique laneways and arcades nearby. Flinders Lane has many cafes and you can just wonder until one catches your eye. Melbourne is known for its cafe culture and any cafe you choose to visit will serve a great coffee. Or head to one of the beautiful arcades – The Royal Arcade and The Block Arcade are two of note. A walk through the arcades will yield many novelty stores and cafes. And don’t forget to look up as you can see beautiful ornate architecture. Also look down to see the beautiful tile patterns matching the architecture you are walking on. They are rather opulent!
State Library of Victoria
After lunch, head up Swanston Street to visit the State Library of Victoria. Established in 1854 as the Melbourne Public Library, it is Australia’s oldest public library and free to visit. You could stop to look at the books if you want, but it is the massive reading room and domed roof we have come to see. Parts of the library have been renovated so there are modern areas amongst the original. There’s even a coffee shop inside offering great coffee and free wifi.
Bourke St Mall and Chinatown
Moving through the CBD, make your way to the Bourke St Mall. This is Melbourne’s main pedestrian shopping area. No vehicles are allowed along the mall except the trams. There are plenty of long-standing department stores like Myer and David Jones here to spend a few hours shopping in plus, many modern brands with stores along this mall. And off here is Chinatown. First established in 1855 due to the gold rush in Victoria, this is still a vibrant area today. Walk through Chinatown and if feeling hungry, stop in one of the many restaurants for dinner. Or head to Hardware Lane, one of Melbourne’s best places to eat where you have the choice of many cuisines for dinner.
Day 2 – South of the Yarra
After breakfast catch a tram down St Kilda Road and hop off at The Shrine.
The Shrine of Remembrance
The Shrine of Remembrance, or The Shrine as it is often referred to, is Melbourne’s war memorial. It is one of the biggest war memorials in Australia, apart from the National War Memorial in Canberra. Outside The Shrine is an eternal flame and a beautiful area to walk around. Inside the sanctuary you will find the Stone of Remembrance. Down in the Crypt, you will find many interesting things such as panels listing every unit of the Australian Forces. It is well worth going inside the Shrine of Remembrance. Outside the Shrine look down Ceremonial Avenue for great views of Melbourne. It’s just one of the great views of Melbourne CBD you will get during your week in Melbourne. You can head back to the CBD by walking through Kings Domain or catching the tram back to Flinders Street Station. Adjoining Kings Domain is the Royal Botanic Gardens, full of diverse plant life it is worth walking through on your way back to the Southbank, where you will spend the rest of the day.
Arts Centre Melbourne
The Arts Centre Melbourne is recognised by its massive spire. It is the performing arts centre in Melbourne consisting of a number of theatres and concert halls. You can go inside but not into the halls unless you have a ticket for a concert or show. I discovered if you walk around the Arts Centre outside and up the stairs you will find a viewing platform with great views looking back over the city. Yep, more views over the Yarra River to the buildings of Melbourne.
Southbank Area and Crown Casino
Leaving the Arts Centre, walk along Southbank. This is a vibrant area south of the Yarra River in Melbourne with many restaurants, clubs, food courts and designer shops. It has a promenade to walk along to enjoy the atmosphere along the Yarra River. And there are a couple of pedestrian bridges linking Southbank back to Melbourne’s CBD. There is a lot of atmosphere along this area with people around enjoying the outdoors and if travelling with kids in Melbourne, they will like running around in the open spaces.
The Crown Casino complex in Southbank offers accommodation, casinos, a cinema, Kingpin bowling, live theatre and concerts, nightclubs, bars, 29 restaurants and many clothing boutiques. You could spend hours or even days here because of all the entertainment it offers. No matter your age, if visiting Melbourne solo or visiting Melbourne with kids, there are plenty of things to see and do along Southbank.
Eureka Tower
The Eureka Tower is the second tallest building in Australia standing 297.3 metres high. A visit to the observation deck on the 88th floor is a must on a week Melbourne holiday. It has a great vantage point offering 360 degree views over Melbourne. For those not afraid of heights there is a glass cube called ‘The Edge’ where you can step out over Melbourne. I couldn’t do it – but my kids loved it! Get your ticket to walk on the Edge here.
Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium
If you keep walking you will get to the Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium. You would probably need to spend a couple of hours here if you are interested to visit. Those travelling with kids Melbourne may. Get your ticket to Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium here.
Polly Woodside
The Polly Woodside was built in Belfast and launched in 1885. After a number of voyages it was found she had a crack in her hull and was decommissioned. But she was lovingly restored and is now a central feature of the South Wharf precinct. Only open to the public on certain days of the month. End your day with dinner, here at South Wharf, there are a number of restaurants to enjoy a meal with great views over Melbourne and the Yarra River. What a special way to end a day while on your 7 days Melbourne itinerary.
Day 3 – Get to Know more of Melbourne
Free Circle Line Tram
After brekkie jump on the free Circle Line Tram. You will travel in one of Melbourne’s iconic W-Class trams, with an audio commentary providing details about the city and the landmarks it passes. Trams operate every 30 minutes moving in both directions around the city. I suggest do the full loop to help you decide if there are things you want to get off at to see in more depth.
Gardens and Captain Cook Cottage
Hop off the free Circle Line Tram in Spring Street, down from Government House and walk through Fitzroy Gardens heading towards the MCG. Why not visit Captain Cook Cottage on your way. This cute little house was originally built and located in Yorkshire, England by Captain James Cook’s parents. The house was a present and brought to Melbourne by Sir Russell Grimwade in 1934. It was taken apart brick by brick and put back together brick by brick in Melbourne. You can go inside the house and see what it was like to live in at the time of construction. Cook’s Cottage is a fascinating step back in time. Entrance fee is included in the iVenture Pass if you purchased one.
Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG)
Next up on the list of best things to do and see on this 7 day Melbourne itinerary is a visit to the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Sport enthusiast, or not, a tour of the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) is interesting. This impressive structure holds many sporting events and accommodates around 100,000 people. A tour of the facilities will take you to the change rooms, the Australian Gallery of Sport, and private member areas such as the Long Room. You could peruse the cricket and AFL memorabilia and sit in the awesome Great Southern Stand which holds the capacity of the entire Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), or so I was told. Or experience a game of AFL or cricket at the ground. You can book a visit to the MCG here.
After your tour of the MCG, walk around the MCG along the Avenue of Legends and see statues of famous Australian sports people, such as Shane Warne. Keep on walking to see the National Tennis Centre. From the cricket ground, visit the National Tennis Centre where the Australian Open Tennis Championship is held every January. It is part of Melbourne’s sporting precinct. I think it’s time for lunch!
Melbourne Gaol
Head back to the CBD and on to the Melbourne Gaol. Discover the history of the gaol and some of the characters that were imprisoned there including Ned Kelly, Australia’s most notorious bushranger. He was hung in the gaol and you can see the rafter where he and other prisoners were hung from. You can visit the gaol during the day or go on a night tour – a bit too scary for me! Entrance is included in the iVenture Melbourne Card if you purchased one.
Carlton Gardens
Catch the tram along Spring Street that will take you to Nicholson Street and alight at the Carlton Gardens. Visit the Royal Exhibition Building and Melbourne Museum, then jump on a tram to take you to Lygon Street. Lygon Street is a leafy street known as Little Italy. After the Second World War many people moved from Europe to Australia including many Italians. And many of them called this part of Melbourne home. Along Lygon Street is crammed with Italian restaurants, ice-cream shops, boutiques and bars. Enjoy dinner here – a great way to end a busy day on your Melbourne holiday.
Day 4 – St Kilda Beach and Brighton
Day 4 of this 7 day Melbourne itinerary see you visiting St Kilda Beach and Brighton.
St Kilda
St Kilda Beach is one of the most popular beaches in Melbourne. The St Kilda Foreshore is lined with walking paths, recreation and sport areas and plenty of places to grab a bite or a drink or an ice cream. Or if the weather is nice, dip your toes in Port Phillip Bay and sit on the sand. Perhaps head to Acland Street, known for its cake shops. Or spend a few hours at St Kilda’s famous amusement park – Luna Park recognisable by the ‘Mr Moon’ face. Luna Park is great fun for the whole family, and those visiting Melbourne with kids will surely love it. Late afternoon head to St Kilda Pier to watch the little fairy penguins come ashore. Then grab dinner at one of the eateries that grabs your eye. If looking for some evening entertainment head to ’The Esplanade Hotel’, known as The Espy to watch a band or two play.
Brighton
You cannot spend 7 days in Melbourne and not squeeze a visit to Brighton Beach in between a visit to Luna Park and seeing the fairy penguins. If feeling energetic, walk the 6km St Kilda to Bright Beach Walk taking in some fantastic views over Port Phillip Bay. If not feeling energetic catch the number 600 bus from Acland Street to Brighton Beach taking 17 minutes. At Brighton Beach visit the Brighton Beach Bathing Boxes. There are some 80 or so colourful beach boxes to see to take your own iconic photo before heading back to St Kilda to see the penguins at the St Kilda Pier.
Day 5 – Queen Vic Markets and Inner Suburbs
After breakfast head to the Queen Victoria Market. The Queen Victoria Market is a major Melbourne landmark in the CBD. Covering over seven hectares, it is the largest open air market in the Southern Hemisphere and houses loads of sellers selling a variety of things from food produce, clothes to knick knacks. There are also a number of great places to eat. People of all ages who love to shop, will love the Queen Victoria Market.
If visiting Melbourne with kids, after visiting the Queen Vic Market, they may love spending time at the Docklands with all its kid-friendly activities. Spend time ice skating, playing ten pin bowling or play in the playland.
If not interested in the Docklands, spend the afternoon catching up on shopping along Bourke Street Mall or head to Prahran and shop along the famous Chapel Street strip of boutiques. With all the shopping, you could duck into the Prahran Market for a coffee or a bite to eat. Prahran is also good for a night out with many restaurants, trendy bars and clubs to party the night away.
Or perhaps discover some of Melbourne’s inner suburbs such as Fitzroy, Collingwood, Brunswick and Richmond. Each having their own character with lots of places to ‘hang out’.
Day 6 – Day at Melbourne Zoo
Melbourne Zoo is located north of Melbourne’s CBD in Royal Park in Parkville. As like other zoos around the world, the zoo is home to many animals, over 3,500 comprising some 250 species from Australia and around the world. Kids visiting Melbourne will love seeing all the animals, as will kids of all ages! You can purchase a 1 day entrance ticket to Melbourne Zoo here.
An alternative to a day at Melbourne Zoo is a drive through the Dandenong Ranges. You will need a car to do this, as the public transport in the ranges is limited. If you visit you will be treated to fabulous views from the top of Mt Dandenong over Melbourne and Port Phillip Bay and out to the Macedon Ranges. You could even go on Puffing Billy – a heritage steam train that travels through the Dandenong region. Book a ride on the Puffing Billy here.
Day 7 – Day trip to the Yarra Valley
The Yarra Valley is only 50 km east from Melbourne’s CBD and is a world-renowned wine growing area. Wine enthusiasts may want to have a day trip visiting some of the 120 wineries the region is known for. As well as wine, the Yarra Valley has the very family friendly Healesville Sanctuary. This wildlife sanctuary allows you to get up close and personal to many native Australian animals – kangaroos, emus, dingoes, wombats, platypus and an array of birds and reptiles. Definitely worth a visit, particularly if visiting Melbourne with kids.
Purchase your ticket for a wine tour through the Yarra Valley here.
Get your entrance ticket to Healesville Sanctuary here.
Organise Your Melbourne Holiday
Now you know how to spend your one week in Melbourne, you will need organise it.
Best Time to Visit Melbourne
Anytime is a good time to visit Melbourne as it aint going anywhere but you may be influenced by the seasons and special events you want to attend.
Summer in Melbourne is December to February. This is when the weather is hottest and many people spend their days at the beach. Melbourne is very busy at this time as it is school summer holiday and people are out and about enjoying the great weather. On your first trip to Melbourne, and are here for New Year’s Eve you must find in the city to enjoy the fireworks display. Over the summer months you could see a cricket match – image having a ticket to the Boxing Day Test. Or see a game or two of tennis at the Australian Open. And there are plenty of music festivals happening.
Spring in Melbourne is September to November. The weather is warming up in Melbourne and you also see the finals of the winter football season. It can be pleasant walking around the city during this time. And the city comes alive with the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
Autumn in Melbourne is March to May. The weather is starting to cool down during this time, with cool mornings, but mostly pleasant days. This is also when the AFL season starts and is the favourite time of year for AFL footie tragics.
Winter in Melbourne is June to August. The weather can be very cold in Melbourne during this time and you will need a coat to get around in. In fact, the weather can be pretty cool and grey with drizzly rain.
Where to Stay in Melbourne – Best Places
As you are stay for a whole week in Melbourne, you will definitely want accommodation with cooking facilities available as cooking some meals will help you keep costs down during your week in Melbourne. There is plenty of accommodation in Melbourne ranging from hostels for solo travellers to small units for families visiting Melbourne with kids. There are also caravan parks if you need to park up your van for the week in Melbourne.
For where to stay in Melbourne on your one week holiday I would suggest you stay as close to the city as possible, as this is where all the best things to see and do in Melbourne are. If you find good accommodation in the suburbs that is cheaper than the city, no worries, Melbourne’s public transport is very good and you will have a number of options from trams, trains and buses to get you into and out of Melbourne.
For a review of Melbourne accommodation read my post here. Or start your search for Melbourne accommodation here.
How to Get to Melbourne
You can get to Melbourne a number of ways. You can drive as Melbourne is linked to other major Victorian towns and interstate cities by highways. Such as the Hume Highway between Sydney and Melbourne. You can catch an interstate bus or train also which take you to Southern Cross Train station. You can also fly into Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport then catch the Skybus express into the city taking about 30 minutes, depending on the traffic. Book and pay for your ticket on the bus here.
How to Get Around Melbourne
Having used Melbourne transport for many years I think that the Melbourne transport system works rather well. The system of buses, trains and trams take you all over the city, and particularly to all the destinations mentioned in this Melbourne 1 week itinerary.
To use Melbourne’s public transport system, get yourself a MYKI. It will save you money and time. You load the card with credit and when you tap on and off the fare amount is taken from the card to cover the cost of your journey. You can purchase a MYKI at select stations and all 7-Eleven stores.
Melbourne’s trams are mostly focused around the city’s Central Business District (CBD) and the inner suburbs. The CBD has a Free Tram Zone letting you travel for free within the CBD. The trains and buses then mainly take you from the CBD to the suburbs.
Save on Sites Entrance Fees with iVenture Card
During this 7 day Melbourne Itinerary you visit a number of places that require an entrance fee be paid. Depending on how many you visit, you may be interested to purchase an iVenture Melbourne Card. With one of these cards you will get free or reduced entrance fee thus saving you money during your week visit to Melbourne. There are two iVenture Melbourne cards to choose from. There is the Flexi Attractions Pass for 3, 5 or 7 top Melbourne attractions and the Unlimited iVenture Attractions Pass. Attractions included in the passes include Melbourne Skydeck, Phillip Island Nature Park – 4 Park Pass, Melbourne Zoo, IceBar Melbourne, Melbourne River Cruise, Old Melbourne Gaol, Werribee Open Range Zoo, Healesville Sanctuary, Cook’s Cottage, Polly Woodside, Rippon Lea House and Garden, Virtual Room Melbourne, Ghosts of the Old City Ghost Tour, Old Melbourne Ghost Tour and Entermission Melbourne.
For more details and to purchase a Flexi iVenture Pass for 3, 5 or 7 attractions click here.
For more details and to purchase an Unlimited iVenture Attractions Pass click here.
Don’t have 7 days to spend in Melbourne?
If you don’t have a week to spend in Melbourne, then mix and match your days from my itinerary to the time you have available.
1 day Melbourne itinerary – if you only have one day in Melbourne, check out the city.
2 day Melbourne itinerary – follow days 1 and 2 of my 7 day Melbourne itinerary.
3 day Melbourne itinerary – follow days 1, 2 and 3 of my 7 day Melbourne itinerary.
4-6 day Melbourne itinerary – start mixing and matching the days in my 7 day Melbourne itinerary.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Whether you are spending 7 days in Melbourne or embarking on a lengthy trip around Australia, don’t forget travel insurance. Get a quote for afford travel insurance from WorldNomads or SafetyWing.
Are You Ready for Your Ultimate 7 Day Melbourne Itinerary?
With one week in Melbourne you will get to discover the city and immerse yourself in the local way of life. If you have more time, you could easily visit many other places in Melbourne plus also go on a few day trips to places like the Mornington Peninsula, Phillip Island to see the penguins or take a road trip along the Great Ocean Road. But first, you need to discover Melbourne, and this 7 day Melbourne itinerary will help you do that.
Wow I didn’t know there was so many things to do in Melbourne! Definitely saving this for my next trip to Australia! I’ve only been to Sydney so I still have a lot to explore there!
Melbourne has a lot of things to see and do. They just aren’t as obvious as say visiting Sydney with its harbour and opera house!
I visited Melbourne in my 30s when I had a business conference in Australia. I remember roaming down the streets with my husband and loving the European-style city. We did the typical tourist activities. I’d love to go back!
I hope you get to come back to Melbourne for a longer visit.
What a superb list. I appreciated how well you’ve clustered sights geographically, and covered how to get around. When I visited Melbourne, it was just for the weekend but fortunately I found a wonderful bike tour that stopped briefly at several stops you mentioned (e.g, Shrine of Remembrance, sports precinct, Cooks’ Cottagem Hosier Lane). Thank you for the post.
Thanks. I tried to write the post to explain to first time visitors the best places to see.
I love Melbourne, and this itinerary will come in handy on my next trip.
Great to hear. Melbourne is a lovable city.
I would love to visit Australia someday! This post has so many great details and tips in it for visiting Melbourne. It’s always important before visiting to know about transportation and the best time to visit. Thanks for all the details!
I hope you get the chance to visit Australia too.
Your post brings me back nice memories of visiting Melbourne quite a long time ago. As I was not able to see all the places included in your itinerary. So it’s a great reason to go back someday. Thanks for sharing!
I hope you can get back to Melbourne – it has probably changed since your last visit.