The top tourist attractions to see in Melbourne

Melbourne sightseeing: the top tourist attractions

Queen Victoria Markets 

Victoria and Queen streets, Melbourne 

These historic markets have been around since 1878, though markets had been operating on the site for some time before that. The market’s 12 historic sheds have been restored in recent years. Strolling through the deli hall, fruit sheds, or meat and seafood hall, you’ll be hit with a plethora of sounds, sights and smells as vendors hawk their goods. Many offer samples as well, not to mention great deals on their products. You’ll be hard pressed to find better bargains or produce across the city. 

There are also clothes, homewares and souvenirs in the E to L Sheds next to Peel Street. Make sure you try a börek, bratwurst or hot jam doughnut before leaving. 

Read more: Melbourne's best markets

Luna Park 

18 Lower Esplanade, St Kilda

Step through Mr Moon’s mighty smile and into Melbourne’s longstanding and beloved Luna Park. This amusement park is home to the world’s longest continuously running rollercoaster (aka, the Great Scenic Railway) as well as thrilling rides such as the Enterprise, Twin Dragon, Pharoah’s Curse and Supernova. Less adventurous guests are also well catered for with dodgems, a Ferris Wheel, carousel and plenty of carnival games. 

RACV Members can save on tickets to Luna Park.

National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) 

180 St Kilda Road, Melbourne

The National Gallery of Victoria – known by locals as the NGV – isn't just Australia’s oldest gallery, it’s also the most popular. The gallery comprises two main buildings (the brutalist NGV International and the NGV Australia: Ian Potter Centre) with a third gallery, the NGV Contemporary, currently in the works. The gallery is one of Melbourne’s best free attractions, with the expansive permanent collection (which includes works from Picasso, Dali, Monet, Tiepolo and more) available to view without spending a cent. The gallery also hosts blockbuster touring exhibitions a few times a year.

Read more: the top contemporary art galleries in Melbourne.

Melbourne Cricket Ground

Brunton Avenue, Richmond

Melbourne Cricket Ground, better known as the MCG or the ‘G, has been the home of sport in Victoria since 1853. The MCG is hallowed ground for fans of Australian Rules Football or cricket, hosting the AFL Grand Final and Boxing Day Test annually. The stadium was the main site for the 1956 Melbourne Olympics as well as the 2007 Commonwealth Games and has also hosted major events, concerts, and even US Marines during WWII. Book a tour to get a behind-the-scenes look into the ‘G or simply head along to a cricket or AFL match to experience the stadium like a local.

SEA LIFE Melbourne 

King Street, Melbourne

Meet some of Melbourne’s aquatic residents at SEA LIFE Melbourne. The aquarium is home to hundreds of fish, rays, seahorses, jellyfish, frogs, turtles and other marine life, not to forget its colony of King and Gentoo penguins - including the internationally famous Pesto the King penguin.

There are 12 different zones to explore including coral atolls, the deep sea and rainforests. Kids will enjoy the ‘touch and feel’ rockpools and more intimate encounters with sea creatures. Adults can also dive with sharks if they dare, plus everyone can drop by Pinjarra the crocodile's enclosure to say 'hi' to the 750kg saltie. 

RACV Members save on tickets to SEA LIFE Melbourne.

Melbourne Museum 

11 Nicholson Street, Carlton

Marvel at the natural world, and Victoria’s history and culture at Melbourne Museum. The centrally located museum is a favourite with families for how it brings learning to life; you can go walking with dinosaurs (including the world’s most complete triceratops skeleton), explore how life evolved in Australia, learn about the history and culture of Victoria’s Aboriginal people, gawk at a huge collection of insects and arachnids or wonder at the powerful body of Phar Lap, one of Australia’s most beloved horses. There’s also a dedicated children’s gallery for babies through to pre-schoolers, plus IMAX is right next door. 

Brighton Beach 

Brighton

Do only have time to visit one of Melbourne’s amazing beaches? Make sure it’s Brighton. This beach is famous for its multicoloured bathing boxes, which first popped up in the 19th century to protect bathers’ modesty. The boxes make for a stunning holiday snap – if the weather is warm don’t forget your bathers for a dip!

Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne

Birdwood Avenue, Melbourne

Melbourne is a city blessed with beautiful gardens and perhaps none so beautiful as the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. Conveniently located just outside the Melbourne CBD, the gardens can be easily accessed by tram. Within the grounds you'll find 38ha of parkland and gardens to explore, with more than 8,500 species of plants to discover.

Highlights of the botanic gardens include the fern gully, cacti and succulent garden, Ian Potter children's garden and Guilfoyle's volcano. Plus, the garden also hosts regular events including forest bathing, concerts, plays and punts across the ornamental lake. 

State Library

328 Swanston Street, Melbourne

The State Library of Victoria is one of the city’s most beautiful public buildings, made even better given that it’s free to access. The library, which first opened in 1856, is perhaps best known for the La Trobe Reading room, a six-storey high octagonal space sitting under an ornate glass dome. Other highlights include the Ian Potter Queen’s Hall and the Pauline Gandel Children’s Quarter and the Redmond Barry Readying Room where you can see the infamous armour of bushranger Ned Kelly.

Melbourne Skydeck 

7 Riverside Quay, Southbank

See Melbourne – all of it – by ascending nearly 300 metres into the clouds at Melbourne Skydeck. This is the highest observation deck in the southern hemisphere, offering unparalleled views of the city. Skydeck is more than just a high viewing platform though. It also features a restaurant, bar, VR experience, and a 6D theatre. There’s also the ‘Edge’ experience, where the brave can step out into a see-through glass box suspended out from the Skydeck itself and look down at the ground hundreds of metres below them.

Puffing Billy 

1 Old Monbulk Road, Belgrave

Melbourne is home to more than 200 commuter trains – but none quite compare to Puffing Billy. This preserved steam train and railway was first built more than 100 years ago to transport people and goods throughout the Dandenong Ranges. Hop aboard one of the period train carriages and enjoy a day trip to locations such as Lakeside, Menzies Creek or Gembrook.  The experience is popular with families, with kids able to sit on the train’s window sills and dangle their feet out as they journey through towering cool climate rainforest. Pack a picnic to enjoy at your destination or book a grazing box with your tickets. 

RACV Members save on tickets to Puffing Billy.

LEGOLAND

Level 2, Chadstone – The Fashion Capital, 1341 Dandenong Road, Chadstone

Kids big and small will have a grand day out at Legoland, an attraction dedicated to the world’s most famous interlocking brick. LEGOLAND features 13 experiences to try, including plenty of opportunities to build your own LEGO creations plus a 4D cinema, and two interactive rides. There's even an incredibly detailed miniature replica of Melbourne recreated out of LEGO to marvel at. RACV Members can save on general entry to LEGOLAND, as well as on tickets to the adults-only nights.

Shrine of Remembrance

Birdwood Avenue, Melbourne

Walking up to the imposing Shrine of Remembrance is a solemn experience, which is exactly what it’s intended to be. The monument was originally built as a memorial to the 114,000 Victorians who enlisted in WWI but has since become a place to remember the sacrifices made by Victorian servicemen and women in all wars. The Shrine is open daily (except Christmas and Good Friday) for visitors to learn more about Australia’s wartime history and pay their respects. The Shrine also hosts remembrance services regularly, including major services for ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day.

More: Ultimate guide to the 1000 Steps - Kokoda Track Memorial Walk

Federation Square

Swanston and Flinders streets, Melbourne

Federation Square (aka Fed Square) is a relatively recent addition to Melbourne’s cityscape, having only been completed in 2002. The large public space is home to ACMI, Australia’s national museum for television, film, videogames and other screen cultures, as well as the Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, the Koorie Heritage Trust and several bars and cafes. Fed Square itself regularly hosts free events too, including festivals, concerts and film screenings.

Flinders Street Station

Swanston and Flinders streets, Melbourne

“Meet me under the clocks” is a phrase that might not make sense to visitors to Melbourne, at least not until they’ve visited Flinders Street Station. The heritage-listed train station (the oldest in Australia) has been helping Melburnians get from A to B since 1854. The Edwardian building is one of the most iconic sites in Melbourne – if you want to get a photo for yourself, the best spot is diagonally opposite the station, outside St Paul’s Cathedral. And the clocks? They’ve been a favourite meeting spot for locals for decades – find them under the main archway at the Flinders/Swanston street entrance.

Read more: the rules for driving with trains, trams and buses in Victoria.

Melbourne Zoo 

Elliot Avenue Park, Parkville 

Creatures great and small can be found at Melbourne Zoo, a not-for-profit wildlife conservation organisation. The zoo is home to gorillas, giraffes, elephants, lions, orangutans, tigers and snow leopards among a whole lot more animals. You can even get up close and meet some with behind-the-scenes or encounter experiences available with reptiles, seals, meerkats, otters and lemurs. It’s well worth visiting Melbourne Zoo’s sister venues Healesville Sanctuary and Werribee Open Range Zoo for those visiting Melbourne’s east or west as well.

Hot air ballooning 

Flights departing Melbourne, Yarra Valley and Mansfield

For an experience unique to Melbourne, try hot air ballooning over the city. Melbourne is the only large city in the world to offer such an experience, with locals often spotting balloonists drifting over the inner suburbs and CBD during the early morning. RACV Members can save when booking the experience through Global Ballooning, who also run flights over the Yarra Valley if you prefer wine country views.

Read more: The best things to do in the Yarra Valley