First time in Melbourne? Here’s what you need to know.

Language: English is Australia’s official language, but it’s also been said that Australian English could well be a language of its own! First, you’ll need to get used to the Aussie accent, and one of its most distinctive features is the “i” sound, where “night” might sound like “noight.” Before your visit, you could read a guide to Australian English or get acquainted with some Australian slang terms. Or, go with the flow once you arrive. Talk to locals for a crash course— Melburnians are friendly people!

Money Matters: The local currency is the Australian dollar (AUD), which is divided into 100 cents. Notes come in AUD5, AUD10, AUD20, AUD50, and AUD100 denominations, while coins are in 5, 10, 20, and 50 cents, as well as AUD1 and AUD2. (As of May 2020, AUD1 is equivalent to USD0.65.)

You won’t have a problem using major credit cards or finding ATMs across the Australian state of Victoria (Melbourne is the state capital). Traveller’s cheques are said to be less commonly used across Australia, but within Victoria, you can cash traveller’s cheques at banks, foreign exchange bureaus, major hotels, and some rental car outlets.

Tipping: It’s not a customary practice in Melbourne or the rest of Australia. But if you wish to tip, simply add 10% to the bill.

Weather: Travellers should note Melbourne’s spring and summer seasons—September to November and December to February respectively—as these are the best times to visit. June and July are the city’s coldest months, and October is its wettest.

That said, Melbourne is notorious for having “four seasons in a day,” with temperatures ranging from highs of 20+°C to lows of 5–6°C in a single day! The city is also known for its wind chills and sudden showers, so do adopt a layering strategy and bring along a brolly just in case. For temperature details, refer to the VisitMelbourne website.

Drinking Water: Melbourne’s tap water is generally safe to drink, but you may wish to confirm this with your hotel or accommodation host—water contamination can occur in older building structures.

Electrical Plugs: You will need a Type I electrical plug in Melbourne, which is the plug type used throughout Australia. (Check details here.)

When in Melbourne, you can take a train, tram, or bus; rent a car; or hire a taxi or rideshare. Read on to make sense of Melbourne’s local transportation options. (Bookmark this article from the city’s tourism authorities, if you need help to decide on your best option.)

From Melbourne Airport: To get to the Melbourne CBD area, you can take the SkyBus Melbourne City Express service. The fare is AUD19.75 for a one-way trip, and the service runs every day from morning to evening, at a frequency of about 15 minutes. (View SkyBus timetables here.) To get to Monash, you can take the Skybus to Skybus Coach Terminal, and take the train from Southern Cross to Clayton.

The Melbourne Airport website also has useful guides for rental car services, as well as taxis, chauffeurs, and rideshares. The PARKROYAL Melbourne Airport is also directly connected to the airport.

Modes of Transport in Melbourne: If you plan to mostly take public transport while in Melbourne, a “myki card” will be useful—this is a top-up card that is accepted on Melbourne’s trains, trams, and buses. You can buy this card from train stations and 7-Eleven outlets, or use the search function on the Public Transport Victoria (PTV) website to find a retailer near you (get instructions here).

For the most efficient way to reach your destination, use the PTV’s journey planner.

Short-stay visitors can consider the myki Explorer package, which includes a ready-to-use myki card with one day’s unlimited travel on trains, trams, and buses in metropolitan Melbourne; maps for trains, trams, and the city centre; and access to experience offers across Victoria.

If you prefer getting around by car, but haven’t rented one, you can hail a taxi on the street or at a taxi stand, commonly found at busier spots. Melbourne taxis are mostly in yellow, silver, or white. (Get details on estimating your fare here.)

You may find it easier to use a ridesharing app; popular ridesharing apps in Melbourne include Uber, DiDi, and Ola.

Below is a list of services that you may require during your visit in Melbourne. For guests at our Melbourne hotels, rest assured that your every need will be well taken care of, so you can enjoy your Melbourne holidays to the fullest.

Medical and Emergency Services: If you should require police/fireman assistance or an ambulance while in Melbourne, the number to call is 000.

Even though Melbourne is generally considered a safe city, we do advise you to insure your belongings. In the event that you are the victim of a theft, you will have a better chance of recovering your losses through insurance than by filing a police report. If you are staying at a reputable hotel such as Pan Pacific Melbourne, PARKROYAL Melbourne Airport, or PARKROYAL Monash, you can leave your passport and valuables in a safe deposit box before you head out for sightseeing.

If you fall ill during your trip, you can refer to the HealthEngine website to book an appointment with a clinic, or use the After Hours Melbourne guide if you need late-night medical care.

24-Hour Convenience Stores: The 24-hour convenience chain 7-Eleven has many outlets in Melbourne, and you can use the store locator to track down one near you.

Download these useful smartphone apps for getting around in Melbourne, and deciding what to do next.

Uber and other rideshare apps: Uber is Australia’s most popular ridesharing app, but in recent times, new players such as Ola and DiDi have appeared on the scene. You might like to download more than one rideshare app, just to have more options and compare fares.

Download Uber (App Store, Google Play)

Download Ola (App Store, Google Play)

Download DiDi (App Store, Google Play)

Public Transport Victoria: This app gives you real-time train, tram, and bus information. Use the journey planner to plan your route and set your favourite stops throughout Melbourne. It’s the easiest way to access Melbourne’s public transport information on the go.

Download Public Transport Victoria app (App Store, Google Play)

Melbourne Travel Guide Offline: This app suggests attractions that you may want to visit first, depending on the length of your stay. You can activate a free upgrade to access maps, tour information, and other useful resources. 

Download Melbourne Travel Guide Offline (App Store, Google Play)

Australian Good Food Guide (AGFG): Need quick wine-and-dine options in Melbourne? Use the AGFG app, which helps you easily search for highly rated restaurants, wineries, and bars near you. You can browse menus, as well as view helpful information such as price range, directions, opening hours, dietary considerations, and more.

Download Australian Good Food Guide (App Store, Google Play)

Eventbrite: Looking for interesting local events to attend? Eventbrite is a useful app for tracking down activities across the globe. If you’re interested in free tours, fun runs, or community yoga/meditation sessions in Melbourne, you’ll love the suggestions here.

Download Eventbrite (App Store, Google Play)

Too many Melbourne attractions competing for your attention? We’ll help you to focus on the very best—these top Melbourne places of interest are worth checking out first.

National Gallery of Victoria

The Ian Potter Centre

One of your first stops in Melbourne should be the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), Australia’s largest and most visited art institution. The NGV’s 70,000 artworks span thousands of years, from ancient cave scrawls to modern and contemporary masterpieces—it’s a place to enrich your mind and inspire your soul. 

For a complete experience, visit both NGV locations; time-starved visitors typically head to the NGV International in the Southbank arts precinct, which houses the gallery’s collection from Europe, America, Asia, and Oceania. However, don’t miss the Ian Potter Centre at Federation Square. Home to the NGV’s stunning Australian art, the gallery’s collection stretches from the colonial period to the present day. 

Both locations run daily guided tours for free.

Wondering where to take your Melbourne photos? Flinders Street Railway Station is a prime spot for souvenir shots. Opened in 1910, it was Australia’s first train station, but it didn’t win too many hearts for its aesthetics then. In fact, the yellow building was initially denounced for being ugly and tasteless.

The tide of opinion has changed over time, and today, the station is well appreciated for its distinctive features, such as its green copper dome and the row of nine clocks at its main entrance—the origin of the Melburnian catchphrase, “Meet me under the clocks.”

Victoria’s Parliament House, with its stately colonnade entrance, is a sight to behold. However, the real treats here are the free tours. Most visitors join the standard group tour, where booking isn’t required unless you are travelling in a group of six or more. But if you can plan ahead, do make time for one of their longer specialised tours, such as the architecture tour, the gardens tour, the art tour, or the behind-the-scenes tour.

Nature lovers can also escape to the Dandenong Ranges, otherwise known as the “green lungs” of Melbourne—it’s a cluster of low mountain ranges, the highest of which is Mount Dandenong at 633m. Located 35km east of Melbourne, the Dandenongs are about an hour’s drive from the city centre. 

Melbourne Private Tours runs a half-day tour where you’ll get to ride on the area’s heritage steam train, the “Puffing Billy.” It’s a chance to sit back and soak in the fresh mountain air—and lush views—on a slow ride through the temperate rainforest.

Have time to spare? Join these local Melbourne tours to meet new people and learn about Melbourne’s rich culture and heritage.

Michelin Guide followers, take note: there are no Michelin ratings for Australia. Instead, foodies heading to Melbourne can plan their culinary treks using The Australian Good Food & Travel Guide, Gault&Millau, and the 50Best guide.

Pressed for time? Here are some star F&B options for eating, drinking, and making merry!

Apart from Queen Victoria’s Market, where else is good for shopping in Melbourne? Here are three popular shopping locations in the city, each offering a different experience.

Welcome to Melbourne! Need more travel help? Browse the latest room offers at our Melbourne hotels, or contact our friendly associates for assistance.