If you’re planning a visit to Melbourne, you’ll want to make sure you experience all the city has to offer. As a local and travel blogger at itravelnations.com, I’ve had the privilege of exploring Australia since 2015, and I can confidently say that Melbourne is one of my favorite destinations.
Melbourne, the capital city of the state of Victoria, is known as the cultural capital of Australia, offering a vibrant nightlife with various options for entertainment, such as fancy restaurants, cozy bars, and beautiful views.
Some top recommended activities for a night out in Melbourne include visiting the Low Proof Cocktail Bar or The Loop Roof Bar for a drink with a view, climbing the Eureka Skydeck for a view of the Melbourne skyline, enjoying a Friday night at the National Gallery of Victoria, exploring the Summer Night Market at Queen Victoria Market, watching the sunset at St. Kilda beach, and visiting the East Berlin bar for a unique experience.
In this article, I’ll be sharing my top 15 must-do activities in Melbourne.
- From Bars to Comedy: A Guide to Melbourne’s Nightlife Scene
- Low Proof Cocktail Bar and The Loop Roof Bar:
- Eureka Skydeck:
- National Gallery of Victoria:
- Summer Night Market at Queen Victoria Market:
- St. Kilda Beach:
- East Berlin Bar:
- Sunset Dinner on the Melbourne Star
- Roller Skating on St. Kilda Beach
- Outdoor Movie Experience at Moonlight Cinema
- Picnic at Brighton Pier
- Sip on Melbourne’s Finest: The City’s Renowned Coffee Culture
- Escape to Nature: A Visit to Melbourne’s Botanic Gardens
- Explore the Great Ocean Road: One of Australia’s Most Iconic Scenic Drives
- Experience Melbourne’s Best: The Queen Victoria Market and the City’s Beaches
- Beach lovers
- Discover Phillip Island: Home of the Little Penguin Parade
- Embrace Melbourne’s Artistic Side: Exploring the City’s Street Art
- Melbourne docklands
- Day trip to the Dandenong ranges.
- Art galleries at Sac Bank
- Wilson’s Promontory or Wilson’s prom as it’s known.
- Funky suburbs in Melbourne for food and drink.
From Bars to Comedy: A Guide to Melbourne’s Nightlife Scene
Low Proof Cocktail Bar and The Loop Roof Bar:
Low Proof Cocktail Bar and The Loop Roof Bar are both great options for a night out in Melbourne. Low Proof Cocktail Bar is an edgy, open-air bar with a spectacular view over Melbourne City. It is designed for all weather conditions, so you can visit it all year round. The Loop Roof Bar is another great option, offering not only a great view, but also extraordinary cocktails, refreshing drinks and a cup of coffee with some dessert.
Eureka Skydeck:
Eureka Skydeck is located in Eureka Tower, which is just a couple of minutes from central Melbourne. The tower is almost 300 meters high and is one of the highest buildings in Australia. Eureka Sky Deck is on the 88th floor and can be reached in 40 seconds by lifts, offering a majestic view of Melbourne and the bravest ones can step into the edge dashed a glass cube with a 360 view of the Melbourne skyline
Also Read: The Ultimate Sydney Bucket List: Best things to do in Sydney
National Gallery of Victoria:
The National Gallery of Victoria is a great place to visit on a Friday night, as it hosts great Friday night parties with live music, DJs, and drinks. These nights usually last through the summer, and the entrance to the National Gallery is free. However, you would need to book tickets in advance if you want to go to the Friday night events. All the tickets can be booked online where you can find information about the theme of the event.
Summer Night Market at Queen Victoria Market:
Queen Victoria Market is the most famous market in Melbourne, and during summer on Wednesdays, the market hosts a summer night market that is very popular among tourists and locals. The night market offers about 60 food stalls, more than 100 shopping stalls, live music and other entertainment.
St. Kilda Beach:
St. Kilda beach is the closest beach to Melbourne city center, and it is just six kilometers away from the city. It can be easily reached by Melbourne tram and is a great place to watch the sunset. There is a beautiful Saint Kilda pier that offers a great walk, as well as ice cream shops, restaurants, and cafes.
East Berlin Bar:
East Berlin Bar is a very artistic and social bar that serves German and North European beer and is designed to look rustier. It’s a great option for those who want to experience something unique while enjoying a drink and socializing with friends.
Sunset Dinner on the Melbourne Star
The Melbourne Star is a giant Ferris wheel located in the Docklands area of Melbourne, Australia. It offers panoramic views of the city and is a popular spot for romantic activities, particularly at sunset. The Melbourne Star offers special Valentine’s Day packages that include a sunset dinner with food and drinks, making it a perfect spot for a romantic date.
Roller Skating on St. Kilda Beach
St. Kilda Beach is a popular beach located in the suburb of St. Kilda in Melbourne, Australia. Roller Bay, which is located on the beach, offers roller skating rentals and retro vibes. It’s a fun and romantic activity to do with your partner, as you can skate towards the Saint Kilda pier or cruise to Fitzroy street to grab an ice cream, and end the day watching the sunset from the beach.
Outdoor Movie Experience at Moonlight Cinema
Moonlight Cinema is an outdoor movie experience located in the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne, Australia. It offers a romantic way to watch a movie together, as you can pack a picnic, snacks, and relax under the stars. They also offer a platinum experience, where you get a prime viewing spot on a double bean bed to snuggle up together, delicious canapes and drinks, and a tia maria blanket to take home.
Picnic at Brighton Pier
Brighton Pier is a popular tourist spot located in the suburb of Brighton in Melbourne, Australia. It offers a beautiful view of the city, and it’s a great spot for a romantic picnic with your partner, where you can enjoy the sights and the scenery together. The pier is temporarily closed for construction repair, and the video shows what it looks like from up there.
Sip on Melbourne’s Finest: The City’s Renowned Coffee Culture
First on the list is to indulge in Melbourne’s renowned coffee culture. Known for its European influence from early Italian and Greek settlers, you’ll find plenty of unique and trendy cafes scattered throughout the city, particularly in the narrow laneways such as Degraves. It’s a must-do for any coffee lover.
Escape to Nature: A Visit to Melbourne’s Botanic Gardens
Another must-see attraction is the Melbourne Botanic Gardens. Located just two kilometers from the city center, these gardens boast over 8,500 different plant species and offer the perfect spot for a picnic by the lake or a visit to the cafe with stunning views. It’s a peaceful and tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Explore the Great Ocean Road: One of Australia’s Most Iconic Scenic Drives
Take a leisurely trip down the Great Ocean Road, one of Australia’s most well-known scenic drives. Spanning 243 kilometers between Allensford and Torquay, this journey offers breathtaking views and plenty of opportunities for adventure.
Allow at least three days to fully explore the area, including the famous Twelve Apostles rock formation and other stunning rock formations along the way. Don’t miss the fun holiday towns like Lorne and Torquay, popular with surfers and locals alike. If visiting in the summer, be sure to set aside some time to enjoy the beach vibes and local attractions.
Experience Melbourne’s Best: The Queen Victoria Market and the City’s Beaches
Discover the heart of Melbourne’s beaches at the Queen Victoria Market, a huge open-air market spanning seven hectares in the city center. Established over 140 years ago, it is the largest open-air market in the southern hemisphere and offers a wide variety of clothing, gifts, food, and other items.
Beach lovers
For beach lovers, head to Saint Kilda Beach, Melbourne’s version of Bondi Beach, known for its fun atmosphere, cafes, and shops. Another popular beach is Brighton Beach, famous for its colorful beach huts.
Discover Phillip Island: Home of the Little Penguin Parade
Take a trip to Phillip Island, located off the Mornington Peninsula, for a chance to witness the famous little penguin parade. Watch thousands of little penguins come in for the night and find their bed. The coastal scenery here is also breathtaking.
Embrace Melbourne’s Artistic Side: Exploring the City’s Street Art
Melbourne is a vibrant and artistic city, and its street art is a reflection of that. Well-known spots for street art include Hosier Lane and Union Lane, but also be sure to explore other areas of the city for hidden gems.
Melbourne docklands
This is great if you want restaurants and bars. It’s quite a modern area on the water side and you’ve also got shops at Waterfront City.
Day trip to the Dandenong ranges.
This is less than an hour away from the city and it’s got really cute Villages and some hiking trails and really amazing views.
Art galleries at Sac Bank
This is just on the south side of the river in the city. It’s very close to the botanic gardens so you could do both of those in one day. One of your options is the National Gallery of Victoria which has a really cool stained glass ceiling and the Australian Center for Contemporary Art is really cool too and in a really iconic building.
Wilson’s Promontory or Wilson’s prom as it’s known.
This is a national park just southeast of the city. You’ve got miles of hiking trails, you’ve got campsites, you’ve got lots of Wildlife and you’ve got some really really lovely beaches so if you’re a nature lover this is a really really good location. It’s also the most southern point of Mainland Australia.
Funky suburbs in Melbourne for food and drink.
Fitzroy and Collingwood are very popular. Lots of restaurants and bars are really good for a night out. Try heading to Brunswick Street and Smith Street and enjoy the nightlife.