Melbourne's Culture, Victoria
Melbourne, Australia's second-largest city, is a famous destination on many Australian travel itineraries, particularly for culture vultures. The main draws of this elegant city on the Yarra River are galleries, theatre, restaurants, boutiques, and its uniquely European feel. It's also a green metropolis, with parks, gardens, and open spaces taking up nearly a third of the entire area.
Melbourne has a plethora of cultural attractions. Explore the National Gallery of Victoria's masterpieces, catch a play at Arts Centre Melbourne, or visit Federation Square. The Ian Potter Gallery features Australian artworks, and the Australian Centre for the Moving Image educates visitors about the country's screen culture (ACMI).
Do you want to get back to nature? The Aboriginal Heritage Walk at the Royal Botanic Gardens is a must-see. Catch a game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground if sports culture is important to you. Cricket is the sport of choice in the summer, while Australian Rules football is the sport of choice in the winter.
Melbourne is also historically significant. You can see it in the grand Victorian buildings built in the wake of the Gold Rush, and you can feel it while shopping in the exquisite arcades and Queen Victoria Market, which has been selling goods to Melburnians for almost a century.
Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Entrance fee: N/A
Highlight: Melbourne's Arcades and Laneways, Federation Square, the National Gallery of Victoria, the Royal Botanic Gardens, ...
Best time to visit: December to February
