Travel Tips for Melbourne, Australia

Cost: €€ (expensive)

Safety: 5/5 for solo female travellers

I visited Australia’s second largest city Melbourne in 2020, and I thought it was fantastic. The city is trendy and vibrant, with great infrastructure, culture and incredible street art (it’s one of the street art capitals of the world).

I would recommend visiting this relaxing and fun city for 3 to 5 days, as there is lots to do, see and eat! While I didn’t travel alone or partake in any solo activities, I believe it is a safe city.

How to get there

As I was already in Sydney, I flew from there to Melbourne via Jetstar and the flight took 1 hour 30 minutes.

From Dublin, you can fly to Melbourne via Emirates, Etihad or Qatar, and the flight length will vary depending on the route and stop-overs (usually between 22-25 hours). The cost of flights will also depend on how long you are going for, when you book and the time of year. 

Language, Currency & Weather

English is the most dominant language in Melbourne, but the majority of people speak another language, including Mandarin, Arabic, Cantonese and Vietnamese. The currency in Melbourne is the Australian Dollar.

The peak season for people visiting Melbourne is summer (December to February) due to the warmer weather (average of 20 degrees Celsius). This is a great time of year to complete all the activities the city has to offer.

June to August is winter and is the low season for visitors. Temperatures can drop to 9 degrees Celsius or lower, but it’s not unbearable!

Public Transport

Melbourne’s public transport network is a great way to get around the city, and is very easy to use. You can buy a Myki smartcard for flexible travel on buses, trains and trams. The City Circle Tram is free and runs around central Melbourne, and I would recommend this as it takes you past some of the city’s major attractions.

You have lots of options getting to and from the airport, including the SkyBus which runs express services. Public Transport Victoria (PTV) also operates services. Check out what option is best for you in terms of the location of your accommodation.

Where To Stay

When in Melbourne, I stayed in the central business district (CBD), which is know as the city’s cultural, entertainment and financial heart. 

If you are wishing to stay in the city, I would recommend The Howey (also in the CBD district) or Four Points by Sheraton in the popular Docklands area.

If you are looking for something a bit cheaper, I would advise you to book the YEHS Hotel Melbourne in the CBD area, or View Melbourne on St Kilda Rd.

If you are on a budget, there are lots of hostels to choose from, including YHA Melbourne Central and The Mansion Melbourne.

Where To Go & What To Do

Melbourne has lots to offer, so it’s just about choosing what’s right for you and planning your days properly.

I would highly recommend visiting Hosier Lane as well as Federation Square (the big Flinders train station is there). A visit to the Botanical Gardens, Luna Park and taking the tram to St Kilda are all essentials, along with a trip to Brighton Beach which has famous bathing boxes.

Why not take a river cruise along the Yarra River, or walk along the river and stop at some bars in Southbank.

I would suggest you travel one hour east of Melbourne to Australia’s favourite steam train, the Puffing Billy. It’s located in the Dandenong Ranges, and offers views of the scenic Emerald Lake Park.

Meanwhile if you go to Melbourne in January, try catch a tennis match during the Australian Open.

What & Where To Eat

There are many food walking tours in Melbourne, and I think this is a great way to get to know the city and its different cuisines.

Meanwhile, a visit to Chapel St in Prahran will allow you to shop ’til you drop, taste some great coffee, or have a schooner of beer. While you’re in the area, stop by Angus and Bon for great steak and a Guinness.

I visited Chin Chin, which is an amazing restaurant with Asian food, as well as Foglia di Fico which serves delicious Italian food.

Patricia Coffee Brewers is a great spot for some coffee and a quick bite, and I stopped by Brick Lane Melbourne for some brunch.

For a day trip, why not travel to Yarra Valley for some wine tasting and lunch, and maybe even spot some kangaroos!

All in all, enjoy exploring Melbourne. I hope you will like it as much as I did.