Lonely PlanetSep 10
19 of the Best Free Things to Do in Melbourne
There are countless ways to spend your time in Melbourne – from time in nature to live music and the arts – and, often, these activities are totally free.
Known for pavement cafes and old-school European cake shops.
25 things in this story
- Queen Victoria MarketMarketStar attraction for fresh produce, crafts, and food.
- Royal Botanic GardensGarden38-hectare green space with themed areas and a lake.
- Koorie Heritage TrustMuseumExhibitions on traditional custodians and contemporary Koorie culture.
- Hosier LaneSightStart of a maze of laneways with street art.
- Luna ParkTheme parkIconic amusement park with creaky rides.
- National Gallery of VictoriaGalleryImpressive international artworks, stained-glass atrium, water wall.
- Ian Potter CentreMuseumHouses the Australian collection, including Aboriginal art.
- Federation SquareSightHosts holiday festivals, tai chi, urban garden, cultural experiences.
- ACMI (Australian Centre for the Moving Image)MuseumInteractive history of film and TV, Neighbours nostalgia.
- Australian Centre for Contemporary ArtGalleryArchitectural gem with a revolving exhibition calendar.
- Rose Street Artists' MarketMarketLocated in Fitzroy for Melbourne creativity.
- Night Market at Victoria MarketMarketOffers hawker-style food and live music.
- Collingwood Children's FarmZooOffers a rural idyll in the city.
- Shrine of RemembranceMuseumIt was built to honour the men and women of Victoria who served in World War I, but now functions as a memorial to all…
- Acland StreetNeighborhoodKnown for pavement cafes and old-school European cake shops.
- St Kilda Adventure PlaygroundPlaceA treat for kids of all ages.
- City Circle TramPlaceHeritage trams loop around the city and Docklands.
- Block ArcadeTrailConstructed between 1891 and 1893, it is considered one of the late Victorian era's finest shopping arcades and ranks…
- Nicholas BuildingSightDesigned by architect Harry Norris and completed in 1926, it is the grandest…
- Flinders Lane precinctNeighborhood
- Camberwell MarketMarket
- Farmers' Market at Abbotsford ConventMarket
- St Kilda BeachSight
- Flinders Street Railway StationTrain station
- ANZ's gothic headquartersSight