From Artistry to Alleyways – Traveller’s Tips for Melbourne City Life
Hello curious traveller, so you’ve come to discover what Melbourne has to offer. First of all, may I say, welcome!
As you travel around our historic city, you’ll no doubt see the classic landmarks that everyone talks about in regards to Melbourne. These include the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Flinders Street Station and its famous clocks and maybe a stroll through a laneway or two.
While these are surely among some of the things that define our city, I hope I can give you some tips on how to really experience Melbourne’s city life.
Now, come with me and let me share some classic icons, as well as some of the ways to enjoy our lovely city.
Accommodation:
While you’re here, one of the things I can say that you won’t be short of is a place to stay. Some may like the luxury of the inner city, and that can be great.
However, if you want somewhere close to iconic attractions, along with a homely feel, may I suggest some of the serviced apartments in Melbourne.
Among those include apartments situated on Queensberry St, North Melbourne, close to the famous Queen Victoria Market and the suburb of Carlton, where you will find Lygon St, and our slice of “Little Italy.”
Serviced apartments can give you a sense of a home away from home and those such as 3 bedroom apartments can be great if you’re a family with kids.
Art for all tastes:
While you’re here, check out the various street art in the multitude of Melbourne’s many laneways.
If your tastes are more of a classical style, take a stroll around and look at the multiple exhibitions at the National Gallery of Victoria. Entry to the main gallery is free, however, fees may apply to specialist exhibitions.
If you are a fan of performance, check out a show within our theatre district. These span from the Princess Theatre on Spring St to Her Majesty’s and the Comedy theatres on Exhibition St and the Regent Theatre on Collins St.
A walk through the gardens:
While we are a bustling metropolis, you may be interested to discover our many public parks and gardens around the city. For many years, Victoria was marketed as “The Garden State” and Melbourne has an array of green spaces under the protection of Parks Victoria.
Enjoy some time in the Royal Botanical Gardens, at its Melbourne location, along Birdwood Avenue It is open 7:30 am to sunset 365 days a year.
Also enjoy Flagstaff Gardens, located at 309 – 311 William St, West Melbourne. Reserved parkland since 1862, making it the oldest park in the city.
Or take a lamp lit stroll through the Fitzroy Gardens in East Melbourne, just across from the Melbourne Cricket Ground along Richmond, where you will find the location of Captain Cook’s historic cottage.
A city of trams:
Well, dear traveller, whether you are an interstate or international visitor, the one thing you will discover about Melbourne is our expansive network of trolley cars or ‘trams’ as we prefer to call them.
We actually have the biggest tram network in the world, and they can be an easy and efficient way to get around our city.
You can take our free “City Circle” tram, which passes along many of the city’s main attractions, including Docklands Harbour and the Immigration Museum. It only takes an hour.
A caffeine boost:
One thing we Melbourne locals love is our coffee. Whether you’re a long black or a latte person, you are sure to be able to perk yourself up with a good one while you’re here.
There are many great cafes and roasters around the city. According to Concrete Playground, these include Dukes Coffee Roasters at 247 Flinders Lane and Market Lane Coffee in Collins Street.
If you are looking for classic hospitality, along with longevity, look no further than Pellegrino’s Espresso Bar in Bourke St. In business for over 50 years, it is famous among Melbourne locals.
Now, dear traveller, I hope you enjoy your exploration of our wonderful city. Good luck!
