What to do when visiting Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
If you�re planning a trip to Melbourne, Australia and you don�t have a lot of time, here�s a list of things you can do in a day.
Melbourne, Australia is my adopted city. I fell in love with it twenty years ago and have lived here ever since. It has such a vibrant cultural scene for those interested in art and architecture but it�s also filled with an interesting history, great food, and awesome sporting events like tennis, football, and cricket. And the coffee scene is world-famous � no-drip filter here or 10 pumps of syrup to disguise the taste.
I admit, I�m not a big sports fan � apart from the occasional basketball game for Melbourne United � but I�ve put together a list of 7 of my favorite things that I think someone interested in exploring Melbourne would enjoy.�
1. The Victorian Arcades
I love historical architecture and these arcades fit the bill. There used to be a lot more of them because that�s how people shopped in the 19th and early 20th century but now we have two � the Block Arcade and the Royal Arcade. Both feature amazing displays of Victorian-style opulence from the mosaic-tiled floors to the ornate ceilings.
The Block Arcade is home to the famous Hopetoun Tea Rooms � now known as the 1892 Tea Rooms. I like to stop here first thing in the morning for either coffee, breakfast, or scones. Even if you don�t want to go in, just looking at their cake window is a treat.
The Royal Arcade features a clock with two mythical figures known as Gog and Magog on either side. You�ll often find people here looking up in participation of them moving to chime the hour.
2. Federation Square
I admit, that I hated seeing this strange-looking structure being built on the corner of Flinders and Swanston Streets. It reminded me of big grey blocks against a backdrop of historic architecture. It felt out of place and ugly. Now that it�s there and operating with its various restaurants, shops, and the ACMI theatre and museum, I really enjoy this addition to the city.
Built in 2002, you’ll often find a variety of public events being held here, especially with its stage area that can hold a crowd.
One of the reasons I really love Melbourne is for its eclectic architecture. This station was built in 1854 and serves as a train station hub, a meeting point for Melbournians coming into the city, and used to be home to several buskers — especially a guy with bagpipes who used to both delight passers-by and annoy nearby businesses. I”m not sure whether the city asked the buskers to move on or if they found a better location but you won’t find them here anymore.
Even the name of this place sounds like something from the depths of goth culture but it is in fact directly opposite Flinders Street. It’s a cobbled street that’s lined with a variety of cafes and restaurants that will suit any taste and budget. The vibe and atmosphere here are what Melbourne is all about. This is a great place for a coffee or lunch.
5. Hosier Lane
You’ll see this in a variety of photos because it makes a great backdrop with its colorful collection of street art. You’ll most likely see artists at work here too. Like a lot of street art, the scenes are ever-changing as work is painted over and redone by other artists.
6. Queen Victoria Market
This open-air market has been a Melbourne feature since 1878. It’s on the National Heritage List and is a great place to spend an afternoon browsing all the stalls, grabbing a bite to eat, or just enjoying the vibrant atmosphere.
7.� City Circle Tram
This is a free circle tram that you can hop on and off as you like. It’s a vintage wooden tram and has a recorded voice telling you about the sites it passes. However, I’ve found that sometimes the tram is too loud — both with passengers and the rumbling sound it makes as it goes along the track. This makes it hard to hear what’s being said.
If you’re looking for particular stops on it, it’s probably a good idea to keep Google maps handy.
