The Ultimate Melbourne Expert Guide
If you are an urbanite in love with dynamic cities that never sleep, full of surprises and charms, head straight to Australia’s capital of bars and parties. Often called the country’s European enclave, Melbourne attracts young and trendy crowd from all over the world, offering an urban jungle holiday.
You would enjoy a good cup of coffee, modern music, pubs and galleries and bookshops in the heart of Melbourne. City’s numerous narrow lanes hide bars, clubs and restaurants with great food and music. This scenic and cosmopolitan city in Australia thrives with diversities and dynamic inhabitants. Views across the Yarra River and sunsets on the beach will please travelers with a restful respite.
You may end up as many visitors who came to visit Melbourne and never actually leave. Others have a hard time leaving it, saying it’s so good they’ll be back as soon as possible. Here is a short guide to make the most out of your Melbourne holiday.
What to visit in Melbourne
Its charms may be more subtle than those of its flashy northern sister, Sydney, but Melbourne is a city that rewards inquisitive travelers. Before you start exploring for not-so-famous corners of the city, here is a list of the must see places in Melbourne:
1. Port Melbourne is mesmerizingduring night time. Take a stroll along the beach and enjoy the breeze.
2. The Crown is a huge entertainment complex next to the Yarra River in the heart of the city. It features cinemas, shops, restaurants, cafes, nightclubs, hotels, shops and the Crown Casino.
3. The Shrine of Remembrance was established as a memorial site for the 114,000 men and women of Victoria who served and died in the Great War, from 1914-1918. Today, it is a memorial to Australians who have served in all wars.
4. Federation Square is famous for the unusual architecture surrounding the plaza and attracts visitors who can spend time in cafes, bars, restaurants, and shops. Look to this square for major cultural institutions, including the National Gallery of Victoria, SBS TV and Radio Headquarters.
5. The Melbourne Museum features exhibits of art and textiles from around the world, including work from Egypt, China, and the Vikings.
6. St. Paul’s Cathedral is a major landmark. It has a yellow-brown colour because it was built from sandstone and limestone.
7. St. Patrick’s Cathedral Another major cathedral in Melbourne city is the tallest church in Australia.
8. Royal botanic gardens There are two botanic gardens in Melbourne. The oldest is the Melbourne Gardens, which were established in 1846 on the south side of the Yarra River. The second garden is Cranbourne Gardens, opened in 1989 on the city’s south-eastern edge to display Australian native plants.
9. Eureka Skydeck was the world’s tallest residential skyscraper until it was surpassed by a tower in Dubai. The Skydeck is the entire 88th with a small outdoor viewing area and a glass cube projecting three metres out from the building.
10. Melbourne ZOO and sea life aquarium will beexciting experiences and an educational entertaining tour for animal lovers.
Where to eat in Melbourne
While Australia lovers often talk about first-rate Sydney dining, we can tell you for sure that Melbourne’s fine wine and dine is equally as good and maybe even better. With so many amazing places to eat and enjoy it’s rather very hard to make a list with recommendation. However, the good thing is that there is something for everyone’s budget, taste and needs.
1. Classy lunch or dinner in the Felt restaurant. The best one in the central business district, Felt is a restaurant that serves delightful food in charming environment and sophisticated service. This is the perfect setting for your Melbourne dining occasion. Moreover their menu contains every food you can desire and not to mention the wine cart.
2. Yarra Valley is a foodie’s dream of tasting local produce. Tourists just love this place and the food and wine it has to offer, no exceptions. Therefore, don’t hesitate to try Australian wine, cheese and great chocolate.
3. Tramcar restaurant is a unique experience when it comes to great food and views. A dinner date served in a vintage surrounding while seeing all of the Melbourne’s amazing sites. Tramcar restaurant will offer you an ultimate experience on wheels with excellent food and a prime selection of Australian wines in a cozy atmosphere.
4. Rooftop dining offers incredible skyline and city views while enjoying good cocktail, burger and pastries. Numerous rooftop bars offer cool views, tasty food and drinks. Moreover, they are modern and known for the urban events.
5. Places marked as BYO. If you are on a tight budget you can still enjoy delicious food and save a little money. “Bring Your Own” dining places allow you to bring bottle of wine, beer or any beverage you’ve bought in the market or liquor store. This way you’ll avoid paying an overpriced bottle of wine.
How to enjoy your Stay in Melbourne
To really feel and enjoy Melbourne’s true spirit you will need to stay longer than a week or ten days. Put aside all the recommendations and tourist to do lists. Explore its tiny alleys and laneways, charming-narrow passageways open only to pedestrians. They hide numerous treasures, from small bars and award-winning restaurants to striking street art and unique shops. A huge number of theaters, art galleries with impressive international and local collections, and plenty of innovative architecture offer cultural digressions.
The city’s many neighborhoods are remarkable. Moreover, they offer distinct attractions and scenes. Wander over to Bourke and Collins streets to explore the shops, or to St Kilda Road to visit the area’s many art galleries. Hardware Lane is famous for its great range of food; Bennett’s Lane for the city’s best jazz club and Hosier Lane for some of the city’s best street art.
The Yarra district offers lovely views of the river, along which visitors can walk, bike, and just enjoy the sun. Furthermore, travelers in need of a restful respite can head to a beachside suburb like St. Kilda to spend the day relaxing on the beach and experience the most beautiful sunset.
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