Melbourne wears many hats—Australia’s capital of coffee, sport, street art, and live music—woven through Victorian-era arcades and a grid of “laneways” where creativity spills onto brick and bluestone. Founded in 1835 during the pastoral boom and turbocharged by the 1850s gold rush, the city’s heritage buildings now neighbor glassy towers, rooftop bars, and galleries that hum late into the evening.

Beyond the CBD, Melbourne unfurls into character-rich precincts: seaside St Kilda with its sunset boardwalk, northside Fitzroy and Collingwood for indie design and street art, and Southbank’s riverside arts spine. Day trips deliver big landscapes and wildlife: the Great Ocean Road’s limestone cliffs, penguins waltzing ashore on Phillip Island, the Dandenong Ranges’ fern gullies, and the Yarra Valley’s cellar doors.

Practical notes: tap water is safe; tipping is optional; the CBD has a Free Tram Zone; for the rest, grab a Myki card (daily cap usually around A$10–12 in Zone 1). From Melbourne Airport, the SkyBus to Southern Cross Station takes ~30–40 minutes and costs about A$22 one-way. Pack layers—weather can swing from blue-sky to breezy in an afternoon.

Melbourne

Melbourne’s heart beats in its laneways—Hosier Lane’s ever-changing murals, Degraves Street’s tiny cafes, and the heritage arcades where boutiques glint beneath stained glass. The Yarra River divides the city’s skyline from its cultural quarter; a short tram ride lands you at sprawling parks, world-class stadiums, and seaside sunsets.

Top city highlights include the National Gallery of Victoria (Australia’s oldest), the Shrine of Remembrance and Royal Botanic Gardens, Queen Victoria Market, Federation Square (ACMI’s interactive film and screen culture museum), and the MCG—home of cricket summers and AFL winters.

• Where to stay (curated picks): For five-star river views, consider Crown Towers Melbourne (pool and spa, sky-high city views). Old-world elegance meets riverfront calm at The Langham, Melbourne. Smart-budget travelers love Ibis Budget Melbourne CBD for location, and social vibe seekers should look at Space Hotel (modern hostel-hotel hybrid with rooftop). Browse full options on VRBO Melbourne or Hotels.com Melbourne.
• How to get here: Book international or domestic flights via Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. East-coast Australia hops take ~1–2 hours (often A$60–150); from SE Asia ~7–9 hours; from the US West Coast ~15–17 hours nonstop.
• Eat & drink essentials: Coffee at Patricia Coffee Brewers (stand-up, pure espresso joy), Market Lane Coffee (single-origin focus), Higher Ground (brunch cathedral), Seven Seeds (Carlton stalwart), and Lune Croissanterie (buttery layers worth the queue). Book dinner at Gimlet at Cavendish House (grand dining, wood-fired), Cumulus Inc (all-day modern Australian), Tipo 00 (handmade pasta), Supernormal (pan-Asian classics), Embla (natural-leaning wines), Flower Drum (refined Cantonese), or MoVida (tapas pioneer). Late-night cocktails at Black Pearl (Fitzroy), Caretaker’s Cottage (tiny, exquisite), Heartbreaker (rock ’n’ roll), or the Rooftop Bar at Curtin House.

Days 1–3: Laneways, Icons, and the River

Start with Melbourne’s art-and-espresso soul. Wander Flinders Lane, Degraves Street, Centre Place, and Hosier Lane; pause for a flat white and croissant at Lune (Collins St kiosk) or brunch at Higher Ground. Cross to Federation Square for ACMI’s interactive exhibits, then stroll the Yarra to the NGV International—don’t miss the water-wall entry and Indigenous art galleries.

Tour the MCG and the Australian Sports Museum if you’re a cricket/AFL fan, or glide through the Royal Botanic Gardens to the Shrine of Remembrance for a rooftop city view. Evenings along Southbank are lively—try dinner at The Meat & Wine Co for aged steaks or waterfront plates at The Atlantic. Nightcap at Arbory Afloat (seasonal) or Eau de Vie’s speakeasy theatrics.

Food tips: For quick CBD lunches, explore Queen Victoria Market (Tue, Thu–Sun)—grab hot jam doughnuts from the American Doughnut Kitchen van, fresh oysters, or a deli picnic. For Italian, DOC Pizza & Mozzarella Bar on Lygon Street nails San Marzano tang and creamy burrata.

• Guided orientation: Join the Ultimate Melbourne Walking Tour: History, Laneways & Culture (about 3 hours; typically A$70–95). You’ll unlock city stories with a local, plus a coffee and pub drink included.

  

Days 4–5: South Melbourne, St Kilda Sunsets, and Arts After Dark

Morning at South Melbourne Market (Wed, Fri–Sun): sample the legendary South Melbourne Dim Sims and browse specialty butchers and cheesemongers. Coffee at ST. ALi nearby—home-roasted, inventive, and a local rite of passage.

Tram to St Kilda for a seaside afternoon: stroll the pier for dusk silhouettes and, in summer, spot the little penguins tucked among the rocks. Acland Street is cake heaven—Monarch Cakes’ Polish cheesecake and chocolate Körtosh-style swirls are classics. For dinner, Stokehouse delivers beachside elegance and Australian seafood; The Esplanade Hotel (“The Espy”) is perfect for pre- or post-dinner drinks and live music.

Culture night: return via the light-trimmed Princes Bridge for a show at Arts Centre Melbourne or a riverside promenade. For late dining, Supernormal’s lobster rolls and peanut butter parfait beckon, or grab ramen at Hakata Gensuke (CBD) for rich tonkotsu before bed.

Days 6–7: Fitzroy, Collingwood, and Local Markets

Head north for street art, design boutiques, and music bars. Start with filter coffee at Industry Beans (Fitzroy) or Proud Mary (Collingwood). Browse Gertrude Street galleries, Smith Street vintage, and Brunswick Street record shops; pause for a plant-led lunch at Vegie Bar or wood-fired pita and hummus at Arabesque-leaning spots along Brunswick Street.

Afternoon tastings: Bar Liberty excels at small plates and cutting-edge wine; Marion (Andrew McConnell’s wine bar) pairs charcuterie with seasonal salads. For gelato, Pidapipo’s Fior di Latte is a Melbourne staple. Evening options include Embla (CBD) for wine and flame-licked mains or Tonka for modern Indian beneath the viaduct arches.

Sports lovers: catch an AFL game at the MCG (March–September) or a concert at Rod Laver Arena. Non-game days, the MCG tour is still a treat. If you’ve more market appetite, return to Queen Victoria Market for the Dairy Hall’s cannoli and smallgoods.

Days 8–9: Yarra Valley Wine, Gin, Whisky, and Chocolate

Devote a full day to the Yarra Valley—gentle hills, cool-climate chardonnay and pinot noir, farm cheese, and world-class distilling. Self-drive (~1–1.5 hours each way) or join a guided tasting day so no one plays designated driver.

• Guided day out: The Melbourne: Yarra Valley Wine, Gin, Whisky and Chocolate Tour usually runs 8–9 hours (often A$140–185) and blends cellar-door tastings with craft distilleries and a sweet finish.

  

Optional DIY stops: Four Pillars Gin (Healesville) for botanicals-driven tastings, TarraWarra Estate for art-and-vineyard views, Oakridge for polished chardonnay, and Giant Steps for single-vineyard pinot. Lunch at Meletos (barn-chic Tuscan vibes) or Oakridge’s kitchen for produce-driven plates.

Back in town, book dinner at Gimlet (martinis, seafood crudos, wood-fired mains) or Tipo 00 (cacio e pepe and squid ink tagliolini). Nightcap at Caretaker’s Cottage, a tiny, award-winning bar in a former chapel, or rooftop views at QT Melbourne.

Days 10–11: Great Ocean Road—Coastal Drama and Rainforest

This stretch of road is a pilgrimage: seaside towns, koala-rich eucalyptus, and the Twelve Apostles rising from the Southern Ocean. It’s a long but rewarding day—expect 12–13 hours round-trip if touring from the city, with photo stops and short walks.

• Small-group edge: The Lux Great Ocean Road Tour Reverse - Max 11 Hotel Pickup beats the crowds by starting at the Apostles and working back (typically A$140–200, ~12–13 hours). Expect Loch Ard Gorge, Gibson Steps, rainforest walks, and coastal towns.

  

Pack layers and a windbreaker—sea breezes can bite even in summer. If self-driving, consider an overnight in Apollo Bay or Port Campbell to slow the pace, then return via inland farmland the next day.

Recovery night: Keep it relaxed with soulful plates at Cumulus Inc and a glass of Australian riesling at Embla, or tuck into Japanese-leaning izakaya bites along Russell Street.

Days 12–13: Phillip Island Penguins, Dandenong Ranges, and Steam Trains

Spend one day meeting Victoria’s cutest residents and another gliding through fern gullies and mountain ash forests. Phillip Island’s “parade” at dusk is heart-melting as little penguins toddle to their burrows; day visitors can also spot koalas, wallabies, and coastal blowholes.

• Wildlife day trip: The Phillip Island Penguins & Wildlife Day Tour from Melbourne typically runs 10–11 hours (often A$120–170) with stops at conservation parks and scenic lookouts.

  

Another day, head to the Dandenong Ranges. Ride the century-old Puffing Billy steam train from Belgrave through tree ferns and wooden trestle bridges, then linger in villages like Sassafras and Olinda for tea rooms, scones, and artisan shops. Finish with panoramic views from SkyHigh Mt Dandenong.

Dining nearby: In Belgrave, cozy cafes serve hearty pies and flat whites; back in the city, book Flower Drum for Cantonese banquets or slip into Bar Liberty for share plates and a deep wine list.

Day 14: Museums, Markets, and a River Farewell

Gather any last tastes and treasures. Return to Queen Victoria Market for gifts—local honey, macadamias, native spice blends—and pop into the State Library of Victoria to gaze up at the grand La Trobe Reading Room. For art lovers, NGV Australia (at Fed Square) focuses on homegrown talent.

Cap your trip on the water with a dinner cruise: city lights mirrored on the Yarra, a final toast to two weeks well spent.

• Final flourish: Consider the Spirit of Melbourne Dinner Cruise on the Yarra River (about 3 hours; usually A$145–170) for a multi-course send-off with skyline views.

  

Practical Eats by Area (Quick Picks)

• CBD breakfast & coffee: Higher Ground (architectural brunch), Patricia Coffee Brewers (standing-room espresso), Lune Croissanterie (buttery precision).
• CBD lunch: Queen Victoria Market (deli grazing), Sunda (SE Asian–inspired set lunch on select days), Hakata Gensuke (tonkotsu ramen).
• CBD dinner: Gimlet (grand dining), Tipo 00 (pasta temple), MoVida (Spanish flavors), Embla (wine bar + kitchen).
• Fitzroy/Collingwood: Proud Mary (coffee & brunch), Vegie Bar (plant-forward), Marion (wine & seasonal plates), Black Pearl (cocktails).
• St Kilda: Monarch Cakes (Euro-style classics), Donovans (beach house dining), Stokehouse (seafood & sunsets), The Espy (music & multiple bars).
• South Melbourne: South Melbourne Market (dim sims), ST. ALi (benchmark roastery), Claypots Evening Star (seafood).

Booking & Getting Around

• Flights: Compare and book on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.
• Stays: Explore entire homes on VRBO Melbourne and hotels on Hotels.com Melbourne. Handpicked options include Crown Towers, The Langham, Ibis Budget CBD, and Space Hotel.
• Transport: Use the Free Tram Zone in the CBD; beyond, tap on with a Myki card. Rideshare and taxis are widely available; regional day trips are best via organized tours or car hire.

Optional Add-Ons if You Have Extra Energy

• Grampians National Park (Gariwerd): A long day (~3 hours each way) for sandstone ranges, MacKenzie Falls, and sweeping lookouts. Great for hikers.
• Mornington Peninsula: Coastal walks, cellar doors, and Peninsula Hot Springs; lunch in Sorrento or Portsea and back via Arthur’s Seat for bay views.
• Sports & events: Check calendars for the Australian Open (January), AFL (Mar–Sep), and spring racing (Oct–Nov).

To round out your 14-day Melbourne itinerary, consider weaving in one more guided city experience at the start or end to catch anything you’ve missed—and secure dinner reservations for hotspots a week ahead, especially Thu–Sat evenings.

Another top day tour choice (if swapping one above): For a classic coastal route, the Great Ocean Road Small-Group Eco Tour from Melbourne is a perennial favorite with rainforest walks and lighthouse stops.

Two weeks in Melbourne lets you savor the city at an easy pace, from laneway espresso to ocean sunsets and vineyard lunches. You’ll leave with a camera full of color, a palate tuned to pinot and pavlova, and a soft spot for that golden hour on the Yarra.