Melbourne travel guide

Melbourne is a city where you link galleries and markets on foot.

NGV International opens daily 10:00 to 17:00, with free permanent collections, and closes only on Christmas Day. Queen Victoria Market opens 6:00 to 15:00 on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, 6:00 to 16:00 on Saturdays and 9:00 to 16:00 on Sundays, and is closed on Mondays and Wednesdays.

SkyBus from the airport to Southern Cross Station in the city costs 25.90 Australian dollars one way for adults. Rides within the city's Free Tram Zone cost nothing. Eligible passport holders apply for an ETA through the official Australian ETA app (AUD 20 service charge); others need a visa.

Visa and entry requirements for Australia

Whether you need a visa, how long you can stay and which pre-arrival forms apply all depend on your nationality and the purpose of your trip. Check the official source below, and your own government's travel advice, before you book.

• Electronic Travel Authority (subclass 601) (Australian Government Department of Home Affairs)
• Visa Finder (Australian Government Department of Home Affairs)

NGV International, on St Kilda Road, is a gallery of international art and design. It opens daily at 10:00 and closes at 17:00, and entry is free; special exhibitions may charge. It's closed on Christmas Day (25 December) and opens from 13:00 on Anzac Day (25 April).

From 7 September to 13 December 2026, some exhibition spaces may close for the NGV Triennial installation. Large bags, backpacks and umbrellas must be left at the free cloakroom before entry. Photography without flash or tripods is allowed in most areas.

Based on NGV official information. Times and prices may change.

Queen Victoria Market opens 6:00 to 15:00 on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, 6:00 to 16:00 on Saturdays and 9:00 to 16:00 on Sundays. It's closed on Mondays and Wednesdays. The speciality shops open at 9:00 on every trading day.

Don't plan your market day for a Monday or Wednesday. For an early start, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays suit; on Sundays it opens at 9:00, which fits a late morning.

With 2 nights: see the NGV and walk the city on day one; on day two, visit Queen Victoria Market on a trading day and use the Free Tram Zone. Flinders Street Station and Hosier Lane are within walking distance of each other.

With 4 nights: take a day trip from the city along the Great Ocean Road on day three, and walk the city on day four. The Great Ocean Road is a long coastal drive, so don't add anything else that day. The market is closed on Mondays and Wednesdays, so fill those days with the Great Ocean Road or the NGV.

SkyBus runs from Melbourne Airport (MEL) to Southern Cross Station in the city. It costs 25.90 Australian dollars one way for adults and 43.40 return; return tickets are per person and valid for 12 months from purchase.

City trams have a Free Tram Zone. If you board and alight within the zone, you don't need a myki card; touching on inside the zone may charge a fare, so don't. Use myki for trips outside the zone.

Spread your meals in Melbourne across flat whites, pavlova, meat pies and avocado toast. A flat white makes the morning coffee; avocado toast is a breakfast staple; a meat pie is a light bite while walking the market; pavlova is meringue topped with cream and fruit. We don't pick shops or prices here.

If your passport is ETA-eligible, apply only through the official Australian ETA app (AUD 20 service charge, stays of up to 3 months at a time); other nationalities need a visa. Queen Victoria Market is closed on Mondays and Wednesdays and the NGV on 25 December. The emergency number in Australia is 000. SkyBus fares may change, so check the official fare table before buying.