Where to Stay in Melbourne

By Santorini Dave

The Best Areas to Stay in Melbourne

Melbourne offers history, gardens, and bohemian culture, including funky art, independent music, and hip cafés. Poised to overtake Sydney as Australia’s largest city in the next decade, the capital of “The Garden State” also rates itself as the sporting capital of the world and is often regarded as one of the most livable cities on earth. And no wonder, considering the inner-city beaches, lovely riverside position, and attractions, all accessible with outstanding public transport.

Melbourne Neighborhoods

With an incredible range of accommodations, abundant attractions, and excellent public transport, it’s no surprise that most visitors stay in downtown Melbourne. The City Centre North is packed with old buildings and new shopping centers, while the City Centre South is more convenient to the Yarra River and Southbank. Magnificent gardens and mammoth sporting arenas are an easy stroll from the City Centre (north or south) and East Melbourne (including the suburbs of Richmond and Jolimont).

The upscale, relaxed, and safe waterside Docklands area is a few tram stops from downtown. Southbank is always popular for its river-side setting and endless restaurants. Also within walking distance of the City Centre, the Inner North area includes the inviting suburbs of Carlton, Fitzroy, and Collingwood. South Yarra and Prahran are more classy and packed with places to window shop and coffee stop. The inner-city beach of St Kilda is old-fashioned and weather-worn, while others prefer to stay near the airport for convenience, parking, and affordability. About an hour by train or ferry from downtown, Geelong is a loveable mini-version of Melbourne set along a beautiful beach.

The Best Places to Stay in Melbourne

• Best Luxury Hotels in Melbourne
  Langham • InterContinental • Ritz-Carlton • Westin • Marriott Docklands • Novotel Geelong • Peppers Docklands
• Best Luxury Apartments in Melbourne
  Mantra Jolimont • Citadines Bourke • Quest St Kilda • Vue • WRAP on Southbank • Nesuto Docklands • Quest NewQuay
• Best New Hotels in Melbourne
  Nesuto Docklands • voco Central • Lancemore Crossley St. • Laneways • Marriott Docklands
• Best Boutique Hotels in Melbourne
  Windsor • The Jazz Corner • Lancemore Crossley St. • Iyf • Cullen • Brady Central
• Best Hotels for Families in Melbourne
  R Geelong • Quest St Kilda • Holiday Inn Express • Quest Docklands • Clocktower
• Best Hotels for Couples in Melbourne
  QT • Treasury Collins • Como • Olsen • Rendezvous • Sixty Two
• Best Cheap/Midrange Hotels in Melbourne
  Tolarno • Prince • Best Western Plus • Lygon Lodge • Saint Kilda Beach • Great Southern
• Best Hostels in Melbourne
  Roamer • Summer House • Roamer • Bayside House

Best Areas in Melbourne for…

• Best Area in Melbourne for First-Time Visitors: Docklands
  
  

  Docklands is built up but still retains a certain serenity and beauty.

  The crowds, traffic, and noise can sometimes be overwhelming in the City Centre and Southbank, even for locals. For reasons explained above, Docklands, on the western edge of the City Centre, is ideal for those visiting Melbourne for the first time. The area is quiet, has minimal traffic, and is connected by tram to the City Centre (for no cost) and by ferry to Geelong. The overall pace is relaxed – except during weekends (March to September) when football games are played at Marvel Stadium (see earlier). There are plenty of places to eat, drink, shop, and stay, and as a virtual mini-city, there are facilities created for residents, like supermarkets, parks, playgrounds, and a library.
• Best Area in Melbourne for Sightseeing: City Centre (South)
  
  

  At Federation Square is an eclectic collection of galleries with a museum and outdoor concert area. We stopped for a coffee at the atrium public space.

  This part of downtown is home to a fascinating museum in the Old Treasury Building (free entry); several historic theatres, especially the Regent and Princess; and Federation Square with its eclectic assortment of galleries. From City Centre South, it’s also an easy walk to sights around the northern part of downtown, like the Queen Victoria Market; the shops and cafés along the riverside Southbank area; and the sports stadiums in East Melbourne. The excellent trams and trains connect with Docklands, the iconic beach of St Kilda, and the little-sister city of Geelong.
• Best Area in Melbourne for Boat Trips: Southbank
  It may not be as stunning as Sydney Harbor or as wide as the meandering rivers in Brisbane and Perth, but the Yarra River enhances Melbourne. Passengers on a cruise can admire the city, suburbs, and attractions like Southbank and Federation Square from a different perspective. Boats leave from two areas: (1) alongside the Southgate shopping area in Southbank and (2) just across the river and east of the St Kilda Road bridge. Yarra River Cruises and Melbourne River Cruises, which also has a spectacular dinner cruise on the elegant Spirit of Melbourne, are best for cruises on the Yarra River.
• Best Area in Melbourne for Art & Culture: Southbank
  At the far eastern end of Southbank and alongside St Kilda Road,
  the Melbourne Arts Precinct is one of the largest in the world (and will be undergoing even more improvements in coming years). This very compact area includes Hamer Hall renowned for its orchestral and contemporary music;
  the Arts Centre Melbourne, instantly recognizable by the spire; and the incredible National Gallery of Victoria (NGV). The gardens there are also home to an appealing Sunday market where artisans sell quality goods and musicians entertain the crowds.
• Best Area in Melbourne for Vibe: Inner North
  
  

  Carlton Gardens has great views.

  Three likable inner-northern suburbs are seemingly a world away from downtown traffic, noise, and crowds (but only a few tram stops away). Each has a distinctive personality and worthwhile attractions. With the massive University of Melbourne nearby, the streets of Carlton have a student vibe. Coffee addicts and pizza fanatics, especially after dark, pack the café strip along Lygon Street. The magnificent Carlton Gardens serve as a boundary between Carlton and Fitzroy. More working class but on its way to gentrification is Fitzroy as wine bars and late-night restaurants open up. A bit further east, trendier Collingwood is packed with terraced houses and hip eateries with street-side tables.
• Best Area in Melbourne for Nightlife: St Kilda
  For a city that still prides itself in regularly uncovering world-class bands and singers, the live music scene is now a sad reflection of its glorious past. In St Kilda (a short tram trip from the City Centre), two pubs still offer live music: Prince of Wales (which calls itself “The Prince”) and Hotel Esplanade (known to everyone as The Espy). Along the foreshore at St Kilda is the 3000-seat and almost 100-year-old Palais Theatre with its distinctive art-deco design. It hosts prominent Australian and international performers (and was undergoing renovations again in 2024).
• Best Areas in Melbourne for Restaurants: Southbank and South Wharf
  The finest places for a relaxing meal, especially in the evening, are alongside the river at Southbank – but book way ahead for somewhere ultra-swanky like Rockpool Bar & Grill or Melba Restaurant in the exquisite Langham hotel. Otherwise, try something entirely different like Eureka 89 (on the 89th floor of the 300m-high Skydeck); Ponyfish Island under a pedestrian bridge in the middle of the river; or a dinner cruise (see earlier). Quieter and cheaper, but with the same riverside views and setting, are all the eateries along South Wharf, an extension of South Bank. Try The Boatbuilders Yard or The General Assembly.
• Best Area in Melbourne for City Views: Southbank
  
  

  Million-dollar views of the City of Melbourne can be easily found along Southbank.

  Most of the City Centre (north and south) is now so overbuilt that views from many windows are often of other hotel windows and walls. To genuinely appreciate Melbourne’s impressive and ever-changing skyline, get out of the City Centre and cross the river to Southbank. Hotels there such as The Langham and Pan Pacific directly face the river and city and provide exquisite views, enhanced by twinkling lights after dark.
• Best Area in Melbourne for Sea Views: St Kilda
  St Kilda is Melbourne’s most popular beach, but it doesn’t compare to other Australian cities for sand, sea, and surf. St Kilda is still likably old-fashioned and weather-worn – the sort of place that has been ignored for so long that it’s become retro-hip all over again. No high-rise hotels are facing the ocean, but sea views can still be enjoyed, of course, by simply walking along the foreshore, sitting at a beachside restaurant, or, for the brave, getting on the 35-meter-high KIIS Eye Ferris Wheel (summer only).
• Best Area in Melbourne for Peace and Quiet: Docklands
  Although construction of high-rises continues, most of this city-edge district is surprisingly quiet and restful – except during weekends (March to September) when tens of thousands flock to Marvel Stadium to watch their favorite team play the unique game of Australian Rules Football. (Although passionate, fans are very rarely unruly.) The northern and southern esplanades at Docklands are gloriously traffic-free, perfect for strolling, cycling, and dining, while the backstreets are peaceful—only a couple of stops on the free tram from the City Centre.
• Best Area in Melbourne for Walking: St Kilda
  Notable places to explore on two feet include the gardens across East Melbourne (see later), the bay at Geelong, and the riverside precinct at Southbank. But we love strolling around St Kilda for the sea breezes, sunsets, lush gardens, and fish and chips shops, all accessible along a boardwalk parallel to the beach. Paths also extend up and down the coast for a total of 11km as part of the Foreshore Trail, while the 5km section between St Kilda and Port Melbourne is popular. Paths also link St Kilda with the City Centre via parklands – see below. Check out this helpful website
• Best Area in Melbourne for Cycling: St Kilda
  As explained above, the appealing beach area at St Kilda is ideal for walkers, joggers, and cyclists. Especially on weekends, Cyclists pack the Foreshore Trail 5km to Port Melbourne. There are also cycling routes between St Kilda and the City Centre via various parks in South Melbourne, including Albert Park, which has a loop around the substantial lake. Rent bicycles at St. Kilda Cycles or find an e-bike around the parks alongside the beach at St Kilda. Melbourne Bike Share has more information.
• Best Areas in Melbourne for Beaches: St Kilda and Geelong
  The premier suburban beach is St Kilda, barely 7km from the City Centre by regular tram. What it lacks in surf and sand, it makes up for in everything else: Luna Park amusement ground with rides for kids; beachside bars and restaurants selling fish and chips; a Sunday arts and crafts market; undercover and saltwater swimming pool; extra-long jetty; penguin tours – the list is endless. For a more Aussie-style beach with plenty of sand and calm waters, head to Geelong, about an hour from the City Centre by train or ferry.
• Best Area in Melbourne for Parks and Gardens: East Melbourne
  East Melbourne is just a couple of tram stops from the City Centre. Hospitals, sporting arenas, and gardens fill the area, including the suburb of Jolimont. Check out the magnificent Fitzroy Gardens home to a Conservatory of exotic plants; the 18-century Cooks’ Cottage transplanted from the UK; and the Model Tudor Village. Alongside it, the smaller Treasury Gardens would be a major attraction in most other cities, while Yarra Park nearby surrounds the 100,000-seat Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
• Best Area in Melbourne for Watching Sports: East Melbourne
  With justification, locals regard their city as the Sporting Capital of the World, and so much sporty stuff takes place in the East Melbourne district (which includes Jolimont). Cricket, Taylor Swift concerts, and Australian Rules football happen at the mammoth Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) and is also home to the excellent Australian Sports Museum. It’s not uncommon for 80,000 people to watch two local teams play on weekends (between March and September) as part of the Australian Football League (AFL). Just over the train lines is the hugely impressive Melbourne & Olympic Parks complex, which hosts the Australian Open tennis tournament and a multitude of other sports.
• Best Area in Melbourne for Outdoor Activities: St Kilda
  The weather in Melbourne sometimes disappoints (but rarely deters) outdoor enthusiasts. The most congregated collection of outdoor fun is at St Kilda, the premier inner-city beach. Here, you can go cycling along the beach and into the City Centre (see earlier) or try paddle-boarding, kite-boarding, kite-surfing, and something called hydro-foiling at Kite Republic at the pavilion. Younger ones might want to splash about at the undercover and saltwater St Kilda Sea Baths swimming pool or go penguin-spotting.
• Best Area in Melbourne to Organize Tours: City Centre (South)
  The days of travel agencies are numbered as most people now book tours around Melbourne, Victoria, and beyond online. However, the prime place for informative and independent advice is the government-run Melbourne Visitor Hub on Swanston Street and Fitzroy Gardens Visitor Centre. Recommended agencies with tours around Melbourne include Sightseeing Tours Australia and Go West. These – and other companies like AAT Kings – also offer tours further into Victoria to places like Phillip Island for penguin-spotting and Healesville Sanctuary for koala-cuddling.
• Best Area in Melbourne for Malls and Department Stores: City Centre (North)
  
  

  The historic Coop’s Shot Tower, built in 1889, produced shot ball ammunition. It now resides inside Melbourne Central shopping mall, which has over 300 shops and cafés and is linked to the Central train station.

  From cute boutiques along old-fashioned arcades to mega-stores in gleaming indoor malls, the number and variety of places to spend (and overspend) is extraordinary in the City Centre, especially the northern section. Bourke Street Mall is an outdoor walkway and shopping area with constant trams, so many prefer to shop at the incredible Melbourne Central. Occupying an entire city block, this indoor shopping center has over 300 stores, incorporates a major train station, and is linked by an overpass to the equally impressive Emporium Melbourne shopping center with the iconic Myer department store attached. If you still have funds available, stroll over the road to the less hectic QV Melbourne.
• Best Areas in Melbourne for Markets and Boutiques: South Yarra and Prahran
  
  

  We bought flowers at the Prahran Market.

  Locals may argue about whether Bridge Road (Richmond) or Collins Street (City Centre) is better for high heels or skinny lattes, but we especially like Chapel Street less than 30 minutes by tram from the City Centre or St Kilda. Starting in South Yarra and extending through Prahran and beyond, every doorway seems to lead to a coffee machine or clothes rack. And your shopping extravaganza can finish at the massive, indoor Prahran Market (open 7am to 5pm daily except Monday and Wednesday). This rivals Queen Victoria Market in the City Centre for quality fresh produce and other items, and it often hosts live music and other events.
• Best Area in Melbourne for Transport: City Centre (South)
  
  

  We rode the excellent tram.

  Melbourne can rightly boast about its city-wide tram network, so use it, especially because it’s free in the City Centre (north and south). Staying in the southern part of downtown also allows easier access on foot (or by tram) to the two major train terminals: Flinders Street and Southern Cross. The latter – still referred to by its former name, Spencer Street Station – is also where the very efficient Skybus (see below) leaves for the domestic and international airports.
• Best Area in Melbourne for the Airport: Tullamarine
  The combined domestic and international airport terminals are about 22km north of the City Centre and adjacent to farmland. With no tram or train reaching that far, the only option (other than costly taxis/ride-shares) is the highly-efficient Skybus to the City Centre and St Kilda. Some choose to stay near the airport in suburbs like Essendon, Attwood, and Airport West (the closest tram stop to the airport) for more affordable rates and much more accessible parking. And a few stay at the airport in the ultra-convenient Parkroyal or Holiday Inn hotels. The most convenient suburb to the airport is Tullamarine, less than a 10-minute drive away.
• Best Area in Melbourne for Families: Docklands
  This upmarket city-edge area is only a few stops on the free tram from the City Centre. Docklands is spacious and quiet, and some areas with riverside walking/cycling paths lack traffic. Families will enjoy exploring the area on foot or by rented e-scooters, slurping ice creams or dodging seagulls while munching on hot chips, and visiting the bright and airy The District Docklands shopping center (mall), home to the incredible Melbourne Star Observation Wheel (currently closed). Adding even further to the appeal of staying at Docklands is the ease of exploring the rest of Melbourne by tram, boat cruises from the marina, and ferries to Geelong (see earlier)—also, plenty of comfortable and well-priced apartment hotels with kitchen facilities.
• Best Area in Melbourne for Couples: Southbank
  With such a lovely riverside setting just across the river from the hectic City Centre, Southbank is ideal for an intimate getaway. Dine out at sophisticated eateries meters from the river as lights twinkle in the water after dark. Attend a concert or exhibition at the Arts Precinct (see earlier) and stroll further to South Wharf, which has more romantic places to wine and dine. Enjoy a river cruise, especially over dinner on the Spirit of Melbourne (see earlier). Then, maybe splash a little cash at the Crown Casino.
• Trendiest Areas in Melbourne: South Yarra and Prahran
  Less than 30 minutes by tram from the City Centre and St Kilda are the ultra-swish suburbs of South Yarra and Prahran, where property prices are eye-watering. They are linked by Chapel Street, our favorite place to shop (see earlier). Unsurprisingly, restaurants, bars, and boutiques cater to the evident wealth, but with competition so fierce, prices are not as lofty as probably imagined. Enjoy the day like a local: spend an hour or two chatting at a tiny coffee shop with rickety street-side tables; buy a croissant at a patisserie; window-shop for the latest fashions; and nibble on cheese at the marvelous Prahran Market (see earlier).
• Best Places to Stay in Melbourne on a Budget: Carlton and Fitzroy (Inner North) and St Kilda
  It will surprise no one that accommodations are expensive in the City Centre (North and South) and in adjacent areas like Southbank and Docklands. In contrast, the inner-northern suburbs of Carlton and Fitzroy provide affordable alternatives, primarily motels, pub rooms, and apartments that are plain but inexpensive and convenient. The best are Clocktower Apartment Hotel and Best Western Plus. The inner-city beach of St Kilda still seems stuck in the 1960s, so staying in a basic but comfortable room in a pub or motel is still possible. The pick of the bunch is St Kilda Beach Hotel and Tolarno Hotel.
• Safest Area in Melbourne: Docklands
  This district on the western edge of the City Centre is packed with upmarket apartments, so it doesn’t attract possible trouble like Southbank, St Kilda, and the City Centre (north and south). Traffic is surprisingly sparse, and the promenades and backstreets are well-lit.
• Unsafe Area of Melbourne: St Kilda
  In general, Melbourne is no less safe than other cities in Australia. However, take the usual precautions, especially along crowded inner-city streets and at festivals, markets, and transport terminals where opportunistic petty crimes like bag-snatching and pick-pocketing are possible – although very rare. Bars offering live music can get a little rowdy at St Kilda, so take the usual precautions: walk along the main streets and organize how to get home before staying out too late.

The 10 Best Areas in Melbourne for Tourists Ordered from the City Centre Out.

1. City Centre (North)

We enjoyed the State Library Victoria, Australia’s oldest public library, for its history, cafés, exhibits, and city-park setting. On the wall to the Redmond Barry collection is the Open Book artwork series of 15 giant photographs of assembled objects by artist Tai Snaith.

Bourke Street neatly divides the compact and oblong-shaped City Centre. This major east-west road eventually turns into an outdoor shopping area. In the northern part is an incredible array of accommodations – mostly high-rise and high-priced, but several boutique and moderately-priced hotels.

The Museum of Chinese Australian History, which offers fascinating displays about the settlement of Chinese migrants that started with the Victorian gold rushes in the 1850s.

Adding to the appeal is the proximity to excellent public transportation, Chinatown, the incredible Queen Victoria Market, and all the mega-malls and department stores mentioned earlier. Along some of the leafy and seemingly unhurried streets are attractions like the Old Melbourne Gaol (jail) and the massive State Library Victoria which occupies an entire block and provides student-friendly cafés and interesting (free) exhibits.

We had pastries from M&G Caiafa, which has been around for 50 years and offers gourmet bread, pastries, dried fruit, chocolate, nuts, nut butters, and honey.

People flock to the Queen Victoria Market for fresh produce at low prices.

• Best Luxury Hotels in City Centre (North)
  Ritz-Carlton • Le Méridien • Radisson • Marriott • Pullman
• Best Boutique Hotels
  The Jazz Corner • Lancemore • Brady Central • Laneways • Brady
• Best Luxury Apartments
  Mantra Russell • Adina • Oaks Lonsdale • Avani
• Best Cheap/Midrange Hotels
  City Limits • YEHS • Alto Bourke
• Best Hotels for Families
  Rydges • ibis • Wyndham • Mercure Welcome

2. City Centre (South)

The Royal Arcade is the most delightful of several arcades in the city center, branching off from Bourke Street Mall.

Staying in the area south of Bourke Street – the premier shopping precinct – is ideal for exploring the best of downtown Melbourne and beyond because public transportation is so great. Grab some brochures and maps from the information centers (listed earlier) and visit sights like the museum at the Old Treasury Building alongside Parliament House (open for guided tours) and the various galleries at Federation Square.

Branching off the vehicle-free (but not tram-free) walkway, Bourke Street Mall is this inviting and leafy section of Swanston Street.

We loved our bangers and mash at the terrific Elephant & Wheelbarrow English-style pub in the southern part of downtown.

Our walk along the path on the South side of the City Centre went past secured cruise boats along the Yarra River with a great view of the Southbank in the background.

The southern part of downtown is conveniently just across the river (via eight bridges) from Southbank and South Wharf. A casino dominates the lovely riverside region and is just a few stops by tram from Docklands and the sporting arenas in East Melbourne. City Centre South has the finest accommodations, including several world-class boutique hotels and renowned eateries, especially among the alleyways near the Flinders Street Station.

• Best Luxury Hotels in City Centre (South)
  InterContinental • Sofitel Collins • Savoy • Westin • Grand Hyatt • Sheraton
• Best Boutique Hotels
  Windsor • Treasury Collins • QT • Next • Rendezvous
• Best Luxury Apartments
  Citadines • Adina • Batman’s Hill • Oaks Collins Street
• Best Cheap/Midrange Hotels
  Great Southern • Quincy • Victoria • Best Western
• Best Hostel
  Roamer

• Best Hotels for Families
  Holiday Inn Express • Meriton • Winston • Novotel Collins

3. East Melbourne

The magnificent St Patrick’s Cathedral marks the boundary between the City Center and East Melbourne.

Just east of Spring Street on the edge of downtown, the stately St Patrick’s Cathedral and separate Parliament and Treasury gardens mark the start of East Melbourne. Hospital buildings and the magnificent Fitzroy Gardens mainly dominate this leafy suburb. A little further on, the suburbs expand at Richmond, a lively area renowned for its strip of restaurants and boutiques along Bridge Road, and to Jolimont, occupied mainly by Yarra Park, which surrounds the 100,000-seat Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Cooks’ Cottage at Fitzroy Gardens was built in the 1750s and relocated to Melbourne as homage to Captain Cook, the renowned British colonial explorer.

Our decent seats at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) that attracts up to 100,000 people for international cricket and Australian Rules Football games.

This area of Melbourne is only a few tram stops from the City Centre and convenient to all the sporting arenas mentioned earlier. There are only a few luxury hotels and surprisingly nothing boutique-y, but the surplus of affordable, self-contained apartments is ideal for families, sports fans, and anyone staying a while.

• Best Luxury Hotels in East Melbourne
  Pullman • Park Hyatt
• Best Luxury Apartments
  Lanbruk • Quest Jolimont • Quest East Melbourne • Adara • Mantra Jolimont
• Best Hotels for Families
  Caroline • Mary MacKillop • Adara • Birches

4. Docklands

We stopped along the Harbor Esplanade at Docklands for a meal and a view.

Just a couple of stops on the excellent free tram from the City Centre, the Docklands district is compact, likable, and surprisingly quiet – except on weekends (March to September) when hordes of football fans watch their team play at Marvel Stadium. Crowds are well-behaved and add to the atmosphere for a few hours. This upmarket residential area offers supermarkets, undersized playgrounds, classy riverside restaurants, and The District Docklands, arguably the finest shopping center in Melbourne. From the extensive marina, charter boats and ferries leave for Geelong.

Docklands is a bright and breezy area, perfect for strolling and cycling.

Docklands is quiet, safe, and ideal for families and anyone visiting Melbourne for the first time. There are no boutique hotels in the moderate range, but plenty of five-star high-rises and self-contained apartments are more competitively priced than the City Centre.

• Best Luxury Hotels in Docklands
  Marriott • Peppers • Sebel
• Best Luxury Apartments
  Quest NewQuay • Nesuto • Quest Docklands • Winston • Grand
• Best Hotels for Families
  Quest Docklands • Travelodge

5. Southbank

The Polly Woodside boat, built in 1885, is open to the public at South Wharf.

The National Gallery of Victoria is the oldest of its kind in Australia, and entry is free.

Parallel to the river and city edge is Southbank, a purpose-built riverside precinct with places to eat, drink, and shop. Some visitors enjoy cruising the river, strolling/cycling along paths, and admiring jaw-dropping views from the 300m-high Skydeck. Others like to gamble at the massive Crown Melbourne casino complex with its three equally oversized resort hotels. At the western end, the gigantic Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre back onto South Wharf, with even more riverside restaurants and the popular DFO South Wharf shopping center (mall). Along the eastern edge of Southbank is the Melbourne Arts Precinct (see earlier). As expected, most accommodations are luxurious and expensive, but several apartment hotels offer the sort of value and space impossible in the City Centre. With stunning views of the river and city skyline, Southbank is a top spot for a romantic getaway.

• Best Luxury Hotels in Southbank
  Langham • Crown Towers • Pan Pacific • Crown Promenade • Crown Metropol • Ink
• Best Luxury Apartments
  WRAP • Quay West • Adina • Quest Southbank • Oaks • Mantra Southbank
• Best Hotels for Families
  Holiday Inn • Oaks • Mercure

6. Inner North

Carlton Gardens is perfect for strolling along paths, relaxing in the sunshine, and enjoying the playgrounds.

These three likable suburbs are within a 20-minute walk (or a couple of tram stops) north/northeast of the City Centre. Carlton is renowned for its vast university grounds and strip of cafés along Lygon Street, which are always popular for late-night coffee and pizza.

Dominating the southern section of Carlton Gardens is the remarkable Royal Exhibition Building, the only building in Melbourne heritage-listed by UNESCO.

The Melbourne Museum has interesting exhibits.

Separating Carlton and Fitzroy is the magnificent Carlton Gardens, home to the UNESCO-listed Royal Exhibition Building and contrastingly flashy Melbourne Museum.

The adjoining suburb of Fitzroy is a bit more down-market but becoming gentrified, while Collingwood is more refined and extends the vibrant inner-city vibe. Surprisingly, there are no luxury accommodations but some decent options in the moderate range. It’s a fantastic area for families traveling on a budget and avoiding the overcrowded and overpriced City Centre (north and south) which is not far away.

• Best Boutique Hotels in Inner North
  Iyf • Veriu Collingwood
• Best Luxury Apartment
  Quest Collingwood
• Best Cheap/Midrange Hotels
  Lygon Lodge • Essence
• Best Hotels for Families
  Clocktower • Comfort Royal Gardens • Best Western Plus • Metropole

7. South Yarra and Prahran

As the main road through South Yarra and Prahran, Chapel Street is packed with places to eat, many offering tables along narrow footpaths.

As the name suggests, South Yarra is just south of the main river through Melbourne. From there, Chapel Street – arguably the most fashionable street for shopping anywhere in the city (see earlier) – extends further through the ultra-posh and uber-expensive suburb of Toorak to the slightly more working-class Prahran. Ask residents for recommendations about the finest corner pubs, most authentic Italian eateries, and trendiest coffee shops.

Easy to reach from the City Centre by tram, Prahran Market is open daily (except Monday and Wednesday) and offers a huge range of fresh foods.

Around South Yarra and Prahran are a few delightful boutique hotels and functional apartment hotels. With an agreeable inner-city vibe enhanced by a lack of tourists, both suburbs are well connected by train and/or tram with the City Centre and St Kilda. Especially lively on weekends and when the massive, indoor Prahran Market is held.

• Best Luxury Hotels in South Yarra and Prahran
  Ovolo • Como
• Best Boutique Hotels
  Cullen • Olsen • Como
• Best Luxury Apartments
  Oaks • Davis Avenue • SoYa • Quest Prahran
• Best Cheap/Midrange Hotel
  Toorak Manor
• Best Hotels for Families
  Oaks • District • Davis Avenue

8. St Kilda

The main area within St Kilda for shopping, drinking, and eating is Ackland Street, nicknamed Ackland Village by locals.

Within a short tram ride of the City Centre is the premier inner-city beach of St Kilda. It’s always popular for lively nightlife and old-fashioned (and, sometimes, tacky) buildings that have become retro and hip after years of neglect.

The beach at St Kilda would never compare with the best that Sydney, Perth, and Adelaide can offer. But plenty of locals and visitors appreciate the sand, sea, and sun on a hot summer’s day.

Luna Park has a wooden roller coaster that’s been there since 1912 when the park opened. There’s also a carousel, Ferris wheel, and other rides for all ages.

We stopped at the Beachcomber Cafe and Beach Bar to relax on a hot afternoon. They have a seafood, Greek, and Mediterranean menu.

The beach is a little disappointing compared to other Australian cities. Still, the seaside holiday vibe is ever-present, with legendary sunsets, beachside restaurants, and parks studded with palm trees. Visitors also flock there for the undercover swimming pool, extra-long jetty, walking/cycling paths, Sunday markets, outdoor activities, and Luna Park amusement ground. (The area can be a little unsafe near the rowdy pubs.) Perhaps surprisingly, there are no luxury accommodations but a decent array of budget-priced rooms. Fun fact: St Kilda is named after a place in Scotland; there is no biblical character called Saint Kilda.

• Best Luxury Hotel in St Kilda
  Quest St Kilda Bayside
• Best Boutique Hotels
  Tolarno • Sixty Two on Grey
• Best Cheap/Midrange Hotels
  Tolarno • Prince • Saint Kilda Beach • Cosmopolitan • Crest Park
• Best Hostels
  Summer House • Roamer • Bayside
• Best Hotels for Families
  Quest St Kilda • Crest Park

9. Near the Airport

We took the Skybus, the most efficient way to reach the city centre, and it left every few minutes from the airport terminals.

The good news is that all domestic and international flights leave from the same airport; the bad news is that the airport is about 22km north of the City Centre and not connected by tram or train. Other than scarily expensive taxis and ride-shares, the only option is the super-efficient Skybus to the City Centre (north or south) and St Kilda. Hotels near the airport in suburbs like Tullamarine, Essendon, and Airport West provide convenience, budget rates, and ease of parking (often free). Otherwise, stay at the Parkroyal or Holiday Inn hotels inside the airport grounds. As expected, there are many motel-style accommodations of varying quality, but also a few apartment hotels ideal for families and anyone with a car.

• Best Luxury Hotel Near the Airport
  Hyatt Place • Holiday Inn • Parkroyal
• Best Luxury Apartments
  Quest • Punthill Essendon • Mantra • Airport Motel
• Best Cheap/Midrange Hotels
  Airport Tourist Village • Quality • Ciloms Lodge • Keilor • Nightcap
• Best Hotels for Families
  Airport Tourist Village • Airport Motel • Quality • Mantra Airport

10. Geelong

The swimming pool along the eastern section of the beach is popular in summer.

From downtown Melbourne, Geelong, Victoria’s second-largest city, is about one hour by train or by ferry from Docklands (two hours via Portarlington on weekends). Visitors and proud residents love the attractive foreshore with its outdoor swimming pool, extended white sand beach, and calm waters.

The extensive arts and cultural precinct is near the train station.

Adding immensely to the appeal are the cycling/walking paths, lush-green parks with weekend markets, historic portside buildings, and an excellent range of accommodations considerably more affordable than Melbourne. As a city of about 250,000, there are more than enough places to eat, drink, and shop – all within a compact area easy to navigate on foot.

• Best Luxury Hotels in Geelong
  Novotel • Holiday Inn • R
• Best Boutique Hotel
  Anchor
• Best Luxury Apartments
  Vue • Waterfront • Quest Central • Quest
• Best Cheap/Midrange Hotels
  Best Western • Rippleside • Admiralty • Bay City Motel
• Best Hotels for Families
  R • Vue • Rydges • Novotel

Melbourne Travel Tips

• Myki transport card is confusing, most locals agree. However, fares are cheap, and the card is valid for all trams and trains to/from Geelong. Top off the myki card with a daily maximum rate (as little as $5 per day) for every day you plan to use it. But all trams within the City Centre and to Docklands and Queen Victoria Market are free.
• Trams own the middle of most streets in the City Centre and many main roads in the suburbs. Triple-check when crossing any road, even at a green pedestrian light, and especially when getting on/off trams, which often have to load/unload passengers from the middle of the road.
• The well-known Melbourne-based group Crowded House wrote a song called “Four Seasons in One Day.” And the local saying is true: “If you don’t like the weather, wait 15 minutes, and it will change.” So, be prepared for the varied weather.
• Most locals are obsessed with sports, and almost everyone follows a team that plays the unique code of Australian Rules Football as part of the Australian Football League (see earlier). Pick a team to follow, such as the Richmond Tigers or Collingwood Magpies, and go to a match – you’ll be hooked.

Our Favorite Melbourne Hotels

5-Star Hotel: Langham
4-Star Hotel: Cullen
3-Star Hotel: Best Western Plus
Apartment: Mantra Jolimont
Boutique: Windsor
New: Nesuto
Cheap: Tolarno
For Family: R Geelong
Couples: QT
Views: Crown Towers
City Centre: Westin
Beach: Quest St Kilda
Pool: Marriott Docklands
Airport: Hyatt Essendon Fields