Melbourne is the capital of Victoria and Australia's second largest city. The gold rush of the 1850s enriched it quickly, and the grand Victorian buildings in the centre date from that period; the Royal Exhibition Building, raised for the 1880 world's fair, is on the UNESCO World Heritage list. The city's character shows less on its main streets than in the narrow laneways between them, where the coffee houses, small bars and murals have gathered. Flinders Street Station is the meeting point of the centre, and the world's largest tram network crosses the city.
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See flights to Melbourne →When to visit Melbourne
March to May in autumn and September to November in spring are the most balanced periods. Melbourne is known for weather that changes quickly through the day, so layers are needed in any season. December to February is summer and temperatures sometimes pass 35C, while June to August is winter with daytime figures around 14C.
Things to do in Melbourne
Flinders Street Station
Completed in 1910, the domed yellow station is the city's best known building and still the hub of the suburban rail network. Meeting under the row of clocks at its entrance is a local habit, and St Paul's Cathedral and Federation Square stand opposite.
Royal Exhibition Building
Built for the 1880 Melbourne International Exhibition, the domed hall was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list with the Carlton Gardens in 2004. Australia's first parliament met here in 1901, and today it hosts exhibitions, with tours that climb to the dome.
National Gallery of Victoria
Founded in 1861, the gallery is Australia's oldest and most visited art museum. In the main building on St Kilda Road the water wall at the entrance and the stained glass ceiling survive from the original design, and entry to the permanent collection is free.
Queen Victoria Market
Open since 1878, the market is one of the largest open air markets in the southern hemisphere and covers about seven hectares at the northern end of the centre. Under its sheds are produce, cheese, delicatessen and seafood halls, and it is closed on Mondays and Wednesdays.
Hosier Lane
The cobbled laneway opposite Federation Square is the centre of the city's street art tradition, and its walls are painted over continuously. It is the densest point at which to see Melbourne's laneway culture, and takes only a few minutes to walk.
St Kilda Beach
The beach six kilometres south of the centre is the heart of a seaside suburb reached by tram. A small colony of little penguins lives on the rock breakwater at the end of the pier and can be watched coming ashore in the evening, and the Luna Park funfair of 1912 stands beside it.
Flights from Turkey to Melbourne
Turkish Airlines flies from Istanbul to Melbourne on a single ticket with a connection in Singapore, and the whole journey takes about 20 hours 15 minutes including the stop. The route runs three days a week, so it helps to keep the date range wide.
Melbourne FAQ
How many days do you need in Melbourne?
Three or four days cover the centre, the laneways, the museums and St Kilda. Adding the Great Ocean Road and the Yarra Valley makes six days a comfortable programme.
How far is the airport from the city centre?
Tullamarine Airport is about 23 kilometres north west of the centre. The airport bus takes between 30 and 45 minutes depending on traffic.
What is public transport like in Melbourne?
The tram network is the largest in the world, and travel inside the central Free Tram Zone costs nothing. Beyond that zone a prepaid card called Myki is needed, sold at the airport and at stations.
Buy now, pay later flights to Melbourne
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