Location of the Queen Victoria Market: 513 Elizabeth St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia

6. National Gallery of Victoria

The National Gallery of Victoria is a wonderful place to visit for art lovers. It features works from international and local artists. The entrance to the gallery is free unless you want to see a specific exhibition. On Friday night, they have concerts in the gallery which you can attend if you paid entry to the paid exhibitions.

Opening hours

Daily from 10am until 5pm

(closed on some public holidays)

Address: 180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne VIC 3006, Australia

Website of the National Gallery of Victoria

7. Street Art

Melbourne has some of the world’s best street art in various locations throughout the city.  The most famous ones are the laneways and arcades. Some of the best are along Hosier Lane, Yarra Street, Yarra Place, Duckboard Place, ACDC Lane, Union Lane and Flinders Court. There was also a great lane in Chinatown if you walk down the lane Paynes Place.

Tiger Street Art Laneways in Melbourne in Australia

8. Chinatown

In the 1850s Chinese gold miners arrived in the area and they settled down along Little Bourke St.

Restaurant in Chinatown in Melbourne

It is a quirky little part of the city. You really feel as though you suddenly step into China. There are several eateries, shops and a mall where you can eat Chinese and other Asian food.

Address: Little Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia

Chinatown in Melbourne

9. Visit St Kilda with St Kilda Beach

St Kilda is a bustling beachside suburb of Melbourne. The sunsets at St Kilda Beach and Pier are outstanding. St Kilda Pier was built in the 1950s and it is home to numerous penguins. You can see them at sunset.

St Kilda Pier

10. Albert Park

Albert Park in South Melbourne is a big sports hub. Among others, you can go jogging or cycling within the park or you can go sailing on Albert Park Lake. There is also plenty of space for people to have a picnic and relax within the park.

Albert Park and Skyline of Melbourne

Once a year the park is transformed for the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix. We attended the Grand Prix last year and were very pleased with their set up.

Sebastian Vettel with Fans along the Melbourne Walk during Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix in Melbourne

In fact it is one of our favourite Grand Prix’s to see as a fan. One important part is the Melbourne Walk where you can see the F1 drivers coming into the circuit. They literally have to walk past you (whether some like it or not 😉 ). It is a great atmosphere and most drivers and team members are happy to stop and give autographs. Other than that there were some events held on stage with the drivers/teams and all around the circuit were activities. It really is a grand prix for everyone as there were many things for kids to do.

Good to know about Public Transport

The public transport like city’s trains, trams and buses are accessible via a so called “myki card”. Visitors can purchase this card via a special myki Visitor Value Pack from the Melbourne Visitor Centre at Federation Square, SkyBus terminals at Melbourne Airport and Southern Cross Station and from the PTV Hubs. Some hotels and accommodation providers also provide this card (just check with the concierge or front desk).

You can also get discounted rates at some attractions in Melbourne with this card. You can find more information about the myki cards here via the website of Public Transport of Victoria.

There are many positive things to point out about Melbourne. We especially loved the diverse vibe of the city. The only two negative things for us were the weather (you really can have 4 seasons in one day and you should be prepared for that) and, when driving, their unusual “hook turn” system (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hook_turn), until you get accustomed to it.

St Kilda Watefront and Skyline of Melbourne

It is Australia’s second largest city and the creative hub of the country. According to Economist Intelligence Unit it is also the World’s most livable city 2016. In fact, it gained this score for the sixth year in a row.

Here is the first part of our list of 10 free things to do in Melbourne:

The second part with points 6 to 10 follows tomorrow. You will be able to read it here.

1. Royal Botanic Gardens

The Royal Botanic Gardens are a wonderful sight to visit. It is very peaceful there and you can see a variety of plants and wildlife. It is a great place to go for a walk and to escape the busy streets of Melbourne.

Opening hours:

7.30am until sunset every day of the year

Address: Birdwood Ave, South Yarra VIC 3141, Australia

Website of the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria

Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne in Australia

2. Shrine of Remembrance

Right beside the Royal Botanic Gardens, you can find the Shrine of Remembrance. It was built in 1934 as a memorial for the Victorians killed in WWI. We had a tour of the memorial and our tour guide was very good. On 25th of April, which is Anzac Day, thousands of people attend the annual dawn service there.

Entrance is free (you can donate if you wish to).

Opening hours

Daily 10am until 5pm (last entry to galleries and balcony is 4.30pm)

Closed Good Friday and Christmas day.

Address: Birdwood Ave, Melbourne VIC 3001, Australia

Website of Shrine of Remembrance

Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne

3. Queen Victoria Market

The Queen Victoria Market offers everything from fresh food to a restaurant zone.

Queen Victoria Market

It is divided into a Fresh Produce section and Specialty Shopping. In the summer (from Nov until Feb) there is a lively night market with food stalls, bars and music on Wednesday evenings.

Opening hours (NB the hours for the specialty shopping section are generally less during the open days!)

Mon and Wed Closed

Tue and Thu 6am until 2pm / Fri 6am until 5pm / Sat 6am until 3pm / Sun 9am until 4pm

Address: 513 Elizabeth St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia

Website Queen Victoria Market

Website of Summer Night Market

Tourists trying Korean Tornado Potatoes at the market

4. State Library of Victoria

Not only is it a full working library, it is also an architectural gem. One highlight is the dome reading room. There are also historic exhibits and artworks. You can spend hours exploring this gem. They also provide free wi-fi in the public areas.

Information about the visit:

Food is not allowed inside the library and bottled water only in the main public areas.

Large bags or cumbersome items are not allowed inside the library, however, they do provide lockers for a small fee.

Opening hours main public areas:

Mon to Thu 10 am until 9pm / Fri to Sun 10am until 6pm

Address: 328 Swanston St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia

Website of State Library of Victoria

State Library of Victoria

5. Yarra River Walk in Melbourne

The Yarra River banks in Melbourne are a great place for a river walk.

Yarra River in Melbourne

You can find walking and cycling paths there plus Daniel Ricciardo 😉 .

The river promenade offers a variety of cafes and restaurants to take a break and enjoy local delights.

Important for cyclists! You need to wear a helmet in Australia. If you fail to do so and the police catch you then you can expect to pay a hefty fine.

© YesNomads.com Australian F1 Driver Daniel Ricciardo at the river in Melbourne