Best things to do in Melbourne
The top 3 according to 2,198 votes from people: Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria · Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) · Hosier Lane and the laneways. (Updated Oct 1, 2026.)
Laneways, sport, gardens and galleries: the Melbourne favourites from Lonely Planet, Visit Melbourne and TripAdvisor.
Top 10
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1
Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria
Inner-city gardens with over 10,000 plant species and the ornamental lake.
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2
Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG)
Australia's largest stadium, home of the AFL Grand Final and the Boxing Day Test, with the National Sports Museum.
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3
Hosier Lane and the laneways
Graffiti-covered Hosier Lane and café-filled Degraves Street and Centre Place.
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4
Queen Victoria Market
Open-air market trading for over 140 years, with a night market in summer.
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5
Great Ocean Road (day trip)
Coastal drive to the Twelve Apostles limestone stacks, about 3 hours from the city.
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6
National Gallery of Victoria
Australia's oldest public gallery (1861), free, with NGV International on St Kilda Road.
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7
Shrine of Remembrance
1934 war memorial with a balcony view straight up St Kilda Road to the city.
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8
Federation Square and Flinders Street Station
The city's meeting point, across from the 1910 station with its famous row of clocks.
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9
State Library Victoria
Free library with the domed La Trobe Reading Room, a favourite photo spot.
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10
Melbourne Museum
Natural and cultural history museum in Carlton Gardens next to the World Heritage Royal Exhibition Building.
Candidates
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11
St Kilda
Seaside suburb with Luna Park and the pier where little penguins come ashore at dusk.
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12
Phillip Island Penguin Parade
Hundreds of little penguins waddle ashore every evening, two hours from Melbourne.
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13
Brighton Bathing Boxes
82 colourful Victorian-era beach huts on Dendy Street Beach, with views of the city skyline.
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14
Melbourne Skydeck
Observation deck on level 88 of Eureka Tower in Southbank, with a glass cube that slides out over the edge.
How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.
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Comments (10)
The laneways and the coffee, that's Melbourne.
Missing the Brighton bathing boxes and the Eureka Skydeck!
The NGV's new exhibition this spring is fantastic, go!
Did the Penguin Parade last week thanks to this list. Magic 🐧
Spring in Melbourne, finally! The Botanic Gardens are gorgeous right now.
A footy game at the MCG with 90,000 people is something every visitor should experience
Penguin Parade at Phillip Island was the highlight of our trip, the little penguins waddling home 🐧
A footy match at the MCG is a must, even if you don't follow AFL.
Queen Vic Market for a hot jam donut from the van, a Melbourne institution 🍩
Hosier Lane always has new street art, it changes every week