Things to Do in Melbourne: From Laneways to Mountain Rails

Melbourne is the capital of Victoria and Australia’s second-largest city, located along the Yarra River and Port Phillip Bay. The city is known for its historic buildings, sports venues, art galleries, lively markets, and large gardens. You can easily get around the city centre on foot or by tram, and nearby areas like Southbank, Carlton, and Docklands each offer something different. With so much to choose from, you’ll find plenty of things to do in Melbourne, from shopping at Queen Victoria Market, relaxing at Federation Square Melbourne, or taking in the views from Skydeck Melbourne.

This guide highlights the top attractions, offers practical transport tips, and gives advice on booking and planning your visit.

How Is Melbourne Organised for Visitors?

Things to do in Melbourne are spread across four main zones. Knowing which zone each place is in helps you plan your visits by area and avoid extra travel.

The free City Circle Tram (Route 35) doesn’t require a Myki card and connects most CBD things to do in Melbourne, Australia. All other trams, trains, and buses require a Myki card.

What Are the Top Things to Do in Melbourne?

These eleven attractions are the most popular things to do in Melbourne, Australia, during your visit.

Here’s a quick list of things to do in Melbourne, Australia:

1. Queen Victoria Market
2. Flinders Street Railway Station
3. Federation Square Melbourne
4. Old Melbourne Gaol
5. Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne
6. Skydeck Melbourne
7. Melbourne Museum
8. Puffing Billy Melbourne
9. Melbourne Cricket Ground
10. Melbourne Star Observation Wheel
11. National Gallery of Victoria Melbourne

Queen Victoria Market: A Taste of Melbourne's Market Culture

Queen Victoria Market was officially opened on 20 March 1878 and covers over 7 hectares across two city blocks in the northern CBD.

• The largest open-air market in the Southern Hemisphere; home to over 600 small businesses selling fresh produce, gourmet food, clothing, and souvenirs
• Added to the Australian National Heritage List in 2018; also listed on the Victorian Heritage Register since 1989
• Market sections: Meat and Fish Hall, Deli Hall, and the outdoor General Market sheds (produce, clothing, gifts)
• Official 2026 hours per the official website: Tuesday/Thursday/Friday 6am to 3pm; Saturday 6am to 4pm; Sunday 9am to 4pm
• A heritage tour of Queen Victoria Market departs on selected mornings; confirm the current schedule at the official website before visiting, making it one of the most historically rich things to do in Melbourne for first-time visitors. 

Flinders Street Railway Station: Melbourne's Historic Railway Hub

Flinders Street Railway Station first opened on 12 September 1854 as Melbourne Terminus, making it Australia's first city railway station.

• The first steam train journey in Australia departed from this station; on the day it opened, it ran from Melbourne to Sandridge (now Port Melbourne)
• The current building with its iconic dome, ochre facade, arched entrance, and row of departure clocks was completed in 1910; heritage-listed since 1982
• Handles over 110,000 passengers daily across 1,500 train services; the 708-metre main platform is the longest in Australia
• The upper floors were purpose-built to include a ballroom, library, and gymnasium; the ballroom is one of the lesser-known facts about the building
• The corner of Flinders and Swanston Streets where the clocks display departure times is Melbourne's most recognised meeting point
• Federation Square Melbourne is directly opposite, making this corner the most photographed cluster of things to do in Melbourne in a single block; the Yarra River walking path is a 2-minute walk south

Federation Square Melbourne: Where Art and City Life Meet

Federation Square Melbourne opened in 2002 at the corner of Flinders and Swanston Streets, directly opposite Flinders Street Railway Station.

• Houses three major cultural institutions: the Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia (permanent Australian art collection, free entry); ACMI (Australian Centre for the Moving Image); and the Koorie Heritage Trust (Indigenous Australian cultural centre, free entry)
• Functions as Melbourne's central public gathering space; hosts New Year's Eve, AFL season launches, and Melbourne Food and Wine Festival each year
• Federation Square Melbourne is one of the most practical navigation anchors in the city; Queen Victoria Market is a 10-minute walk north; the Yarra River precinct is immediately south
• Using the square as a base helps cluster multiple things to do in Melbourne into a single CBD day

Old Melbourne Gaol: Step Into Melbourne's Prison History

Old Melbourne Gaol is a bluestone prison on Russell Street, opened in 1845, the oldest surviving prison in Victoria.

• Housed notable figures including the bushranger Ned Kelly, who was executed here in 1880; a replica of Ned Kelly's iron armour is on display inside the gaol; the original suit is held at the State Library of Victoria on Swanston Street
• Daytime tours: Cover three levels of cells, death masks of executed prisoners, and the execution yard
• Night-time tours: Crime and justice evening tours run on selected nights; the gaol is noticeably different after dark and the night tour covers different content from the day experience
• Located on Russell Street; 10-minute walk from both Flinders Street Railway Station and Federation Square Melbourne
• Check the official Old Melbourne Gaol website for 2026 admission prices and tour times before you go. Night tours often sell out quickly.

Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne: A Green Escape by the Yarra

The Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne covers 38 hectares on the south bank of the Yarra River, approximately 1 km from the CBD.

• Contains over 50,000 individual plants across 8,500 species; one of the finest examples of Victorian-era landscape design in Australia
• Entry to the main gardens is free; the Ian Potter Foundation Children's Garden is a separate ticketed section
• Key features: The Ornamental Lake, the Australian Forest Walk, a Tropical Glasshouse, and a Garden of Discovery
• The closest entry point from the CBD is the Observatory Gate on Birdwood Avenue, accessible via Princes Bridge
• The Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne connects to Kings Domain parklands and The Tan Track, Melbourne's most popular 3.8 km running and walking loop that circles the gardens 

Skydeck Melbourne: See the City From Above

Skydeck Melbourne is the observation deck on Level 88 of the Eureka Tower in Southbank.

• At 285 metres, it is the highest public vantage point in the Southern Hemisphere; offers 360-degree views across Melbourne, Port Phillip Bay, and the Dandenong Ranges
• The Edge: A separate ticketed experience; a glass cube that extends 3 metres beyond the building face with a glass floor beneath your feet; an additional cost on top of standard entry
• Skydeck is open every day. You can buy tickets at the Riverside Quay tower entrance in Southbank or online at the official Melbourne Skydeck website. Check the official site for 2026 prices and session times before booking.
• The best time to visit is on a clear day. If you go before 11am, you’ll usually get the clearest views across the bay.

Melbourne Museum: A Window Into Victoria's History

Melbourne Museum is one of the most family-friendly things to do in Melbourne, located in Carlton approximately 1 km north of the CBD, adjacent to the Royal Exhibition Building (a UNESCO World Heritage Site).

• The largest museum in the Southern Hemisphere, with over 17 million objects in its collection
• Permanent galleries:
• • Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre: Dedicated to the culture and history of Victoria's Aboriginal communities; included in standard entry
  • Forest Gallery: A living indoor rainforest with over 8,000 living plants, birds, and insects
  • Mind and Body Gallery: Covers human biology and health
  • Melbourne Story: City history from 1835; local artefacts and social history
• Entry to the main galleries is ticketed; Bunjilaka is included in standard entry; confirm 2026 admission pricing on the official Museums Victoria website.

Puffing Billy Melbourne: A Ride Through the Dandenong Ranges

Puffing Billy Melbourne is a heritage narrow-gauge steam railway built in 1900 to serve communities in the Dandenong Ranges, carrying passengers, timber, livestock, and produce through the hills east of Melbourne.

• The full line covers 25.1 km from Belgrave Station to Gembrook, running through Sherbrooke Forest and over the famous Trestle Bridge
• Belgrave to Lakeside: Runs every day except Christmas Day
• Belgrave to Gembrook (full route): Runs Friday to Sunday only
• Belgrave Station is accessible by Metro train from Flinders Street Railway Station on the Belgrave suburban line; the journey takes approximately 1 hour
• You must book Puffing Billy tickets in advance, as they aren’t sold on the day. Arrive at the booking office 60 minutes before your train leaves, and book through the official Puffing Billy Railway website.
• Fire danger days can cause additional unplanned closures; confirm the operational status before travelling; Puffing Billy Melbourne is one of the few things to do in Melbourne that requires a day out of the city

Melbourne Cricket Ground: A Landmark of Australian Sport

Established in 1853, the Melbourne Cricket Ground is Australia's largest stadium.

• Total capacity of 100,024 (95,000 seats plus approximately 5,000 standing room spaces); home of Australian Rules Football (AFL) and Test Cricket; main stadium for the 1956 Olympics and 2006 Commonwealth Games
• MCG Tours: Depart regularly from Gate 3 between 10am and 3pm; cover the Members Reserve, boundary line, Long Room, and behind-the-scenes areas; making MCG Tours one of the most popular things to do in Melbourne for sport and heritage visitors 
• The Australian Sports Museum is located inside Gate 3 and is ticketed separately from the tour; it covers Australian sporting history across multiple sports
• Book your Melbourne Cricket Ground tour on the official website. On event days, check the schedule because hours may change.
• Tram routes 48 and 75 run directly to the MCG from the CBD

Melbourne Star Observation Wheel: Views Over Docklands

Melbourne Star Observation Wheel is a 120-metre giant observation wheel in Docklands, approximately 2 km west of the CBD.

• The only giant observation wheel in the Southern Hemisphere; operates in fully enclosed, climate-controlled glass cabins with floor-to-ceiling glass panels
• Each full rotation takes approximately 30 minutes; views across Port Phillip Bay, the CBD skyline, the Yarra River, and the Dandenong Ranges on clear days
• Tickets available online; the Docklands precinct around the wheel includes the Harbour Esplanade waterfront walk and Docklands Park
• You can reach Docklands from the CBD by tram, so the Melbourne Star is a convenient option for things to do in Melbourne after a day of sightseeing.

National Gallery of Victoria Melbourne: A World of Art

The National Gallery of Victoria Melbourne (NGV International) on St Kilda Road is Australia's oldest and most visited art gallery. It is one of the most rewarding things to do in Melbourne for art enthusiasts.

• Holds over 75,000 works spanning ancient Egypt to contemporary art; the permanent collection is free to enter
• Key permanent features: The Great Hall with the world's largest stained glass ceiling (designed by Leonard French); the international painting collection; fashion and textiles galleries; and the decorative arts floors
• Ticketed temporary exhibitions run throughout the year and often sell out well in advance; check the 2026 exhibition calendar at the official NGV website before visiting
• It’s just a 10-minute walk from Flinders Street Railway Station via Princes Bridge and St Kilda Road. The gallery is easy to reach and pairs well with a visit to the Yarra River precinct.

How Can You Plan Your Melbourne Visit?

These tips will help you avoid common delays and missed bookings across the things to do in Melbourne in this guide.

• City Circle Tram (Route 35): Free; no Myki required; connects Flinders Street Railway Station, Federation Square Melbourne, Queen Victoria Market, and most CBD stops; runs daily throughout the day
• Puffing Billy Melbourne: Book at Puffing Billy Railway site well in advance; cannot be purchased on the day; the full Gembrook route is Friday to Sunday only; confirm fire danger closures on the day
• Old Melbourne Gaol night tours and Melbourne Cricket Ground tours: Both sell out on popular dates; book ahead through their official sites
• National Gallery of Victoria Melbourne: Permanent collection is free; ticketed exhibitions require advance booking and fill weeks ahead
• Queen Victoria Market: Closed Mondays and Wednesdays; arrive before 9am for the freshest produce and quietest experience across the market sheds
• Melbourne Star Observation Wheel: Best in late afternoon or evening; tickets at melbournestar.com; no advance booking required for standard cabins but check current session availability.

Final Takeaway

Melbourne combines history, art, sports, markets, and green spaces, so there’s plenty to see in and around the city. The things to do in Melbourne have a wide range. You can shop at Queen Victoria Market, visit Federation Square Melbourne, enjoy the views from Skydeck Melbourne, or tour the Melbourne Cricket Ground. If you have extra time, take a ride on Puffing Billy in the Dandenong Ranges. Planning your visits by area helps you see more and keeps your holiday relaxed.

If you’d like a personalised Melbourne, Australia holiday, Holiday Tribe’s advisors can help plan every detail for you.