Top Tips For Visiting Melbourne, Australia

Australia is like a hotpot of nature and culture – options for sightseeing seem to be endless, so we composed a helpful guide to one of its best-known cities, Melbourne. This city is known for its coffee culture, art and music scene, and its narrow lanes splashed with eye-popping graffiti contain various bars and nightclubs that attract younger people. Whatever your choice may be, you’ll find yourself at the end of the trip wishing to stay just a bit longer and with a yearning wish to return there once again!

Flinders Street Station

Every city has that legendary meeting place, and Flinders Street Station is Melbourne’s. This landmark of the central area of the city boasts large clock faces and an impressive Victorian facade. If you happen to visit Melbourne during its popular art and cultural event White Night, you will be greeted by the station bathed in a variety of colours and in a spectacular play of light. A truly Instagram-worthy sight!

Be ready for every occasion

Melbourne weather is known to be changeable, but that doesn’t mean you can’t pack for various seasons in one trip! Summer can be tricky, where you will be enjoying proper sunny days with over 30 degrees or an over 40-degree heatwave. Moreover, the temperature during this season can plunge down to 15, while the days can also be sprinkled with showers. That’s why you shouldn’t forget to pack a raincoat and layers next to your bikini. Winter can also go both ways – while some days are chilly and rainy, others see a jump to up to 24 degrees!

Coffee is a must

It would be a sin to go to Melbourne and not indulge in its coffee culture! There is a reason why the city is known as the capital of Australia when it comes to this caffeine drink. Did you know there is an ongoing debate whether the flat white originated from the Down Under or New Zealand? Either way, the drink is a staple in every Melbourne cafe, but you can find loads of other options, too. Professional baristas are to be found in thousands of cafes that boast quality roasts, types of milk and beans!

Check out the bustling underground scene

Melbourne is also known as one of the hipsters havens, thanks to several suburbs buzzing with different vibes. Naturally, the oldest one happens to be the best – Fitzroy, known equally by art and coffee lovers. If you want to follow up with quirky food options, Collingwood is the way to go, while St Kilda should be your destination if you’re a vegetarian, and/or a theatre aficionado. On the other hand, poetic daydreamers and artsy souls will feast their eyes in Windsor, thanks to colourful shops and facades that would make London’s Camden shy.

Challenge your taste buds and boundaries

When in Melbourne, why not jump to its vicinity to check out other equally-worthy sights and adventures? Just a car ride away are the world-famous limestone stacks, Twelve Apostles! You can take two days, get a car hire from the Melbourne airport and hit the most iconic Australian highway – the Great Ocean Road, which is littered with picturesque sight, one of them being the Twelve Apostles. And don’t forget the Yarra Valley, the perfect destination for wine lovers.

Be smart about your date

If you can pick your date of travel, try to avoid Christmas and New Year’s since accommodation can be scarce and the landmarks will be packed. Aussies are also huge sports fans, hosting internationally-renown sporting events, so if you are not going there to attend the Australian Open Grand Slam in January or the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix in March, try to pick out another date, for a better chance for scoring a hotel or hostel at a more affordable price.

Currency

In Australia, the native currency used is the Australian dollar (AU$). Luckily, Melbourne being the country’s hotspot, there are many exchange booths around the city, while hotels and banks can also help tourists out, so you shouldn’t have any issue exchanging your money into native currency. Bear in mind that banks are usually open Monday to Thursday from 9.30 am to 4 pm, and Friday, 9.30 am to 5 pm, but some of them are open longer hours in the central city. You can pass with major credit cards at a large number of hotels, restaurants, outlets and tourist attractions, while foreign ATM cards are mostly recognized by native machines.

You’re all set for your first steps in Melbourne! Don’t forget that the whole city is overall beautiful and you will be awarded if you check out the view in one of the many rooftop bars. But more importantly, don’t forget to kick it down a notch, go around the city and just take it in – because Melbourne is waiting with a surprise on each corner.