Planning to visit Victoria’s capital? Here’s how we spent our weekend in Melbourne, featuring the ideal two day Melbourne itinerary for first-time visitors!
We arrived in Australia for a year of work and travel in early December, and when a band we loved announced a one-off show, we decided to get straight into it and treat ourselves to a weekend getaway. And I’ll be honest, I fell a little bit in love with Melbourne straight away.
Known for hipster vibes and a thriving brunch scene, Melbourne offers a bustling CBD, some wonderful outdoor spaces and plenty of independent shops, cafes and bars. For foodies, Melbourne is a delight, and it also caters to a diverse range of interests; from sports and shopping to a thriving alternative art and music culture.
If you’ve booked a trip to Melbourne, here’s how to make the most of it with a two day Melbourne itinerary that’s perfect for first timers! (and yes, I’ve included brunch recommendations.)
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2-Day Melbourne Itinerary: Day 1
We started our first day in Melbourne with a big brunch to keep us going, then spent some time exploring the CBD and King’s Domain. A great starting point to your weekend in Melbourne, here’s what I’d recommend:
Breakfast and brunch in Melbourne
We definitely made the most of the delicious brunch options on offer in Melbourne. One of our absolute favourite spots we tried was Hot Poppy, where I devoured their Heirloom Tomatoes plate. Served on sourdough with goats cheese, avocado and a poached egg, the tomatoes were some of the richest and most glorious I’ve tasted in a long while. Ashley also raved about his Beef Brisket Benedict, and we loved the inventive takes on the usual brunch dishes.
Another brunch we really enjoyed was Palette., an airy spot with a Korean-inspired menu and aesthetic. They do a great avo smash, but if you’re in the mood for a sandwich brunch, the K-sandwiches are a fun twist on the traditional toastie. Classic breakfast foods like bacon, halloumi and hash browns are served between two slices of toasted brioche, topped with a drizzle of mayo for an aesthetic yet tasty sarnie.
Budget Travel Tip: We managed to save over $35 on our brunches after we discovered EatClub – a platform co-founded by Marco Pierre-White, where you can save up to 50% on your restaurant or bar bill! The best thing is, you don’t even have to tell the restaurant you’ve got a discount, as EatClub calculates this for you and only charges you the discounted amount.
I don’t get any payouts from signups via the link above, but it’s been so useful during our time in Australia and I absolutely have to share it with everyone I talk to! We likely wouldn’t have discovered Hot Poppy or Palette. without it either.
Explore Melbourne’s Central Business District (CBD)
After filling up on brunch, we took a 20 minute walk from our hotel into the CBD to wander the streets and get a feel for the city. Melbourne’s CBD is a hub of activity – from office workers to shoppers and tourists, the busy streets are filled with stores, shopping centres, restaurants and cafes. We spent some time just wandering around to get a feel for it, but there are a couple of spots I’d recommend visiting:
Queen Victoria Market
On our way, we stopped in at Queen Victoria Market, a large outdoor market space with all kinds of vendors selling food, gifts and clothing. I actually picked up an AMAZING dress for just $20, and we actually went back later in our trip to sample some of the food on offer with a classic Aussie pie.
The market is usually open on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, from 6am-4pm.
Melbourne Laneways
Tucked amongst the shiny buildings of the CBD, the city’s lanes and alleyways are home to a vibrant world of colourful, ever-changing artworks. Melbourne has a thriving street art scene, with urban artworks that define the city’s creative roots.
Some of the best spots in the CBD for street art spotting include Hosier Lane, AC/DC Lane and Caledonian Lane. To learn more about the artworks and the artists and stories behind them, you can book a street art walking tour.
Victoria State Library
Established in 1854, the Victoria State Library (formerly the Melbourne Public Library) was one of the first free libraries in the world. Australia’s oldest public library holds almost 4 million items in its extensive collection, and the domed La Trobe Reading Room is a stunning central focal point.
Opening Hours: 10am-6pm
Admission Fee: Free
After meandering along the Southbank, we crossed the river Yarra to check out some more sights just outside the CBD. We stumbled across the Melbourne Arts Precinct, home to Melbourne Arts Centre and numerous galleries and exhibition spaces. Culture lovers could easily while away hours here, but these are two of my top picks if you’re short on time (both are also free entry!):
National Gallery of Victoria
The National Gallery of Victoria is Australia’s oldest and most-visited art museum. Home to an extensive global collection, entry is free – so it’s absolutely worth a visit for art-lovers.
Opening Hours: 10am-5pm
Admission Fee: Free – entry fees may apply to specific exhibitions
Australian Music Vault
The Australian Music Vault is a small, free collection filled with memorabilia from Australia’s most iconic artists. We actually went on our first day to find it closed for renovations, but luckily it reopened before we left! Located in Arts Centre Melbourne,
Opening Hours: 10am-5pm
Admission Fee: Free
Kings Domain
Taking a break from the city streets of the CBD, we headed over to Kings Domain – a large scenic park area home to Melbourne Cricket Ground, AAMI Park stadium and the Rod Laver Arena. The north side of the river is great for sports fans, who can check out the well-known sports grounds and visit the Australian Sports Museum, MCC Museum and Richmond Football Club Museum.
Cricket fans can book a tour of Melbourne Cricket Ground or take a walking tour of the city’s most famous sports grounds.
If you’re not too bothered about the sports element, there’s still plenty to see here! We walked around the southern side of the park, enjoying the green spaces and statue-spotting. We were particularly interested in the statue commemorating Weary Dunlop, an Australian who worked on the Burma–Thailand railway, which is something we explored when we spent two days in Kanchanaburi.
We made our way down to the Shrine of Remembrance, a site dedicated to commemorating Australians who served in wartimes. Inside the shrine, there’s a small museum of medals and a 360 degree balcony, offering views across the Kings Domain to the CBD.
Ready for some evening activities? Melbourne has a lively and thriving nightlife scene, with plenty of restaurants, bars and activities for evening fun. We loved exploring the city by night, hunting down dinner spots and dive bars. From riverside views to lively music spots, there’s a bit of everything in Melbourne once the sun goes down!
Dinner in Melbourne
On our first night, we had some fantastic burgers at Wonky Trolley.
If food tours are your favourite way to explore, there’s a Melbourne night time food tour that takes you to four different spots to try a range of different eats. Perfect for anyone who can’t choose just one restaurant for dinner!
Nightlife in Melbourne
We actually met up with some friends on our first night, and went for some drinks at Yarra Botanica, a floating bar on the Yarra River. It’s not the cheapest, but the night-time views of the river and city lights created a really wonderful ambience.
Afterwards, we went to The Last Chance Rock and Roll Bar on our way back to the hotel, which couldn’t be more different! Melbourne has a solid alternative scene, and The Last Chance is proper dive bar vibes. If that kinda night spot is more your speed, we were also recommended Heartbreaker and Cherry in the CBD.
Need more Melbourne nightlife inspiration? Check these out:
Take a Melbourne night tour
For a darker way to spend your evening, this Hidden Alleyways, Ghosts and Best Instagram Spots tour explores the city of Melbourne by night. Hear spooky tales as you explore hidden passages, and learn about some of the city’s most notable crimes and ghost stories. The 1.5 hour tour runs on Fridays and Saturdays (plus occasional Sundays) and starts at 8.30pm.
2-Day Melbourne Itinerary: Day 2
St Kilda
What’s more Aussie-coded than a morning visit to the beach? You can catch a tram from central Melbourne to St Kilda Beach in around half an hour.
If you’re in the market for some morning water activities, you can rent a stand up paddleboard (one of my favourites!) or even give kite surfing a go. St Kilda Pier offers views of the Melbourne skyline, and on Sundays you can dig through the art and craft stalls at Esplanade Market every Sunday.
If it’s not beach weather or you’re looking at a lazy morning, that’s fine – skip St Kilda and spend some more time in the city centre exploring with the rest of this itinerary instead!
Fitzroy Gardens & Carlton Gardens
For the next step after enjoying a couple of hours of beach time, head back into the city centre to explore some of the city’s best parks! We spent a couple of hours just soaking up the atmosphere and people watching – one of our favourite holiday things to do.
Fitzroy Gardens has some interesting free sights to see, including Cooks’ Cottage – the traditional Yorkshire home of James Cook was shipped from England and rebuilt in this park! I’m obsessed with anything miniature, and loved the model Tudor village. There’s also the charming Fairies Tree, a tree carved with sculpted animals and mythical creatures. The Conservatory is a glasshouse filled with exotic plants, and the Scarred Tree stands as tribute to the Wurundjeri people.
Just a few blocks from Fitzroy Gardens, you’ll find another popular Melbourne park, Carlton Gardens. On your way, you can also check out Parliament House, the seat of Victoria’s government, which was built in 1856.
Carlton Gardens is home to both the Royal Exhibition Building and the Melbourne Museum. The former is a convention and exhibitions centre, set in an iconic 19th-century building topped with an impressive dome.
Melbourne Museum
If you’re looking to add a musuem visit to your trip, the Melbourne Museum is a vast collection with a range of exhibitions covering natural, social and cultural history. The natural history wing explores dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals from Victoria and beyond; and the Melbourne Story exhibits chronicles the city’s history from the 19th century to present day.
Opening Hours: 9am-5pm
Admission Fee: $15 (adult) – concessions and under 16s go free.
East Melbourne: Shopping, Dining & Drinking
For a different vibe to the towering buildings of the CBD, head to East Melbourne to enjoy some laid back city wandering – with plenty of options for shopping, dining and having a drink. Both Brunswick Street and Smith Street in particular offer a horde of boutique stores, places to eat and bars.
We spent a couple of hours simply wandering and stopping for snacks and drinks, and it’s really the best way to explore the area – you’ll stumble across all kinds of things. Which is why I’m keeping the recommendations here relatively short, as it’s always fun to find your own spots on a whim!
One spot I’d personally recommend, though, Fluffy Torpedo on Smith Street. It’s ice cream – but with a twist! Fluffy Torpedo offer a range of innovative ice cream flavours, from the more traditional to the weird and wonderful. I enjoyed the Marshmallow, Grape Aeroplane Jelly and Pink Salt flavour – but there are even more unusual ones to try, including Vegemite White Chocolate and Blue Cheese, Roasted Fig and Brown Sugar Jam.
For eating and drinking, Evie’s Disco Diner offers colourful retro vibes and American-style dishes with a 50% vegan menu; Naked For Satan offers tapas and infused vodka flavours; and Easey’s serves burgers in a converted train with retro decor. A couple of blocks over, head to Stomping Ground Brewery & Beer Hall to try some local beers.
Planning your weekend in Melbourne
Getting to Melbourne
We flew from Sydney to Melbourne with JetStar, which took 1hr 30mins. The return flights cost us AU$480 for two people (around £230) – but this was in late December booked at short notice, so you can likely find cheaper flights at other times of the year.
We flew into Melbourne Airport, where you can pick up a Skybus transfer, which takes around 30 minutes to get you to the city centre, costing around $40 for a return trip.
Getting around Melbourne
The CBD area of Melbourne is pretty compact, which means most points on this itinerary are within walking distance. Like many other cities we’ve visited, walking around Melbourne was one of my favourite ways to get to know the city!
If you need to give your legs a rest, Melbourne has a well-connected tram service. Even better, it’s free within the CBD! You’ll be able to see which areas are covered on a map at the tram stops or on this online map.
Outside of the free tram district, you’ll need to pick up a Myki card, which are available at visitor info centres, train stations and newsagents – look out for the Myki sign in retail outlets. A two-hour fare within Zones 1-2 (covering most of central Melbourne) costs $5.50. You can also sign up for an account to link your card and top up online.
Where to stay in Melbourne
We were looking for an affordable yet comfortable place to stay in Melbourne, and we found it at Miami Hotel Melbourne. The rooms are pretty simple, but ours clean with a comfortable king size bed. We were around 20 minutes walking distance from the CBD, and close to some great brunch and dinner spots! For the combination of budget, quality and location, I can’t fault it!
If you’re after a more central hotel, Vibe Hotel Melbourne Docklands has an outdoor pool and rooms with both city and harbour views.
For a five-star stay, check out W Melbourne, one of the city’s best-known luxury hotels. Get some lengths in at their indoor pool, enjoy a drink on the sun terrace and choose from three on-site restaurants for dinner.
If you’re a super-budget or solo traveller, Melbourne also offers plenty of hostel accomodation. Roamer and Space Hotel are two of the best-rated properties in Melbourne on Hostelworld; the former being right in Melbourne’s CBD, and the latter being well located between the city centre and lively Smith Street area.
Weekend in Melbourne: FAQs
Is two days in Melbourne enough?
Two days is a good amount of time to see the highlights of central Melbourne. It’s a great city with a compact centre and plenty of excellent food and drink spots, making it an ideal Australian location for a quick city break.
However, if you have extra time, it’s also a great starting point for exploring a bit more of southern Victoria. If you have more time to get out into the surrounding areas, here’s some day trips I’d recommend:
- Get out into nature in Grampians National Park (around 3hrs drive from Melbourne), a rugged area of mountain ranges teeming with Australian wildlife and dramatic landscapes.
- Head to Phillip Island for the chance to see penguins and seals. You can also ride the Puffing Billy steam train on your way, for a historic 1900s steam train experience.
- Visit Wilsons Promontory, home to pristine beaches and epic panoramic viewpoints.
When’s the best time to spend a weekend in Melbourne?
In terms of weather, Melbourne enjoys warm summers (December-February) with sunshine and average temperatures between 14°C and 27°C, with occasional heatwave days that can reach as high as 40°C+. As the most popular time of year to visit, the city is busiest during these months and you may find activities busier and accommodation more expensive than in the quieter seasons.
Winter in Melbourne is from June-August, and sees cooler temperatures from 8°C to 15°C. Still, if you’re used to UK or European winters like us, that’s not too bad! It’s also one of the least rainy times to visit Melbourne, and attractions and accommodation will be less busy during this time.
Spring and Autumn are a good compromise, with mild temperatures but a higher chance of rain.
We visited in late December, just before Christmas, and the weather was wonderful. As Brits, it was a little strange seeing the festive decorations in 30 degree heat, but I’ll take sunny skies at any time of the year gladly!
