Melbourne is a great city for backpackers! A paradise for anyone who is doing their work and travel in Australia and is looking for that backpacker vice in a city! Very artsy and if you are traveling on a budget, even if you are not on a work and travel experience, has a lot to offer!
We stayed for more than a month in this wonderful and amazing city and we were literally on the hunt for things to do that were free because we didn´t have a lot of money and doing things in a city is very expensive! So here are our 15 best free things to do in Melbourne:
1. ACMI
This modern and inspiring museum is directly next to Flinders Station so it is in the centre of Melbourne. It is one of the most amazing museums I have ever seen. I went there twice because I liked it so much and even if you go multiple times, you have a different experience every time. The free exhibition is about film, TV and games. Everything is interactive so you can actually do sound effects for films or play games. I think this museum is especially fun to visit with friends or family. An experience you don´t want to miss for sure. A must-visit if you are a Marvel fan because they have the outfits of the film Thor in there for you to check out!
2. Victoria State Library
My favorite place in the whole of Melbourne! This library is just unbelievably beautiful! Make sure to check out the different rooms and a perfect place to study too! The ambience is unmatched and the feeling you get makes it even easier to be productive. Even if you just want to take a look and take pictures, which a lot of people do, it is worth a visit! But if you want to study there as well then you can also go into different rooms where not a lot of people and tourists are walking through all the time, so you can concentrate more on your work.
3. Royal Botanical Garden
Central Park is nothing compared to the Botanical Garden in Melbourne. You don´t feel the city at all when walking through the garden and enjoying the sun in Melbourne. This botanical garden has so many options where to walk through the garden. Enjoy a beautiful day in this garden with a picnic and friends and watch the skyline of Melbourne or go for a run.
4. Fitzroy Conservatory
Another beautiful garden is in Fitzroy. The conservatory is a completely different world in the city with so many plants and it feels totally magical also with the cute little houses all around the place. The building itself is a work of art, with its curved roofline, glass windows and light-filled interiors which make it a popular sport for photography. And when you are visiting the Conservatory, you should definitely also walk around Fitzroy, because the whole area is so beautiful, artsy and known for its bohemian vibe. There are so many special shops, cafes and cute restaurants all over the area!
5. Brighton Bathing Boxes
Melbourne’s most famous sight! The Brighton Bathing Boxes are totally worth the hype. There is just something special about the colorful bathing boxes at the beach with Melbourne’s skyline In the background. The perfect place to take amazing Instagram pictures!
6. St. Kilda Beach
The Backpacker Hotspot in Melbourne. If you can´t find any friends in the hostels then definitely just take a chill beach day and you will meet so many backpackers there. Everyone is hanging out there and the pizza restaurant directly at the beach is pricy but very good if you want to grab one after a long beach day!
7. National Gallery of Victoria
The National Gallery of Victoria has also a big exhibition that is free. When I say big I mean big. You can easily spend a few hours there if you want to. A must is to check out the biggest glass ceiling in the world lay there for a bit and enjoy life. You can spot the National Gallery from far away because of the Eiffel Tower of Melbourne…
8. Albert Park
A must-visit for all Formula 1 fans, because this is the park where the Formula 1 race is every year. But even if there is no race the park is really beautiful with the palm trees along the water and the lake has the perfect size for a nice morning run around the lake. One of the most beautiful free things to do in Melbourne for sure!
9. Shrine of Remembrance
Not far away from Albert Park, there is the Shrine of Remembrance which gives you a good view over Melbourne and is interesting to visit also from the inside. This Shrine should remember all the people who lost their lives in World War 1 but now It Honors all Australians who have served in armed conflicts and peacekeeping missions. The inside gives you a lot of historical background with a stunning view from the balcony!
10. Street Art Lanes
Melbourne is very famous for its street art all around the city. There is beautiful street art everywhere in the city if you just look close enough! But there are some special lanes that are in the centre of Melbourne like the AC/DC lane where the streets are just filled with graffiti. They even change from time to time and a lot of celebrities have visited them. If you look closely, you may also be able to find a Banksy there as well!
11. Point Ormond
The perfect place to watch the sunset with friends and good food. You won´t be the only one there but the vibes there are just perfect and there is nothing I want to do more than just sit there chat with my friends and have a good glass of wine and good food!
12. Queen Victoria Market
Yes, this is a market. So yes, you can spend money but you don´t have to! This building is special on its own and just wandering through the place and the stands is an activity in itself.
13. St. Pauls Cathedral
The Cathedral is located directly in the city and has a beautiful interior that you can look at when passing by. It is a Cathedral nothing more, but still very beautiful and worth a short stop for sure!
14. Arcades
Melbourne has many arcades around the city. You can take a tour around those and explore the Royal Arcade (oldest arcade), Block Arcade and Cathedral Arcade. If you have time, there is also a famous café called Koko Black that I would recommend you to try. It has great hot chocolate, and the interior matches the charm of the arcade itself. Just a charming place in general!
15. Yarra River
Walking along the Yarra River is a good walk. You can start going through Flinders Station over a bridge and explore the other side of the river. Walking along Skyscrapers and hopefully meeting a few Street Artists that you can find there here and then performing different things. But also, the other side of the river is beautiful with a little walk a bit hidden behind the streets and buildings, where you can take a run or walk when it is not too hot.
These were our 15 best free things to do in Melbourne. We hope that you love this city as much as we do and hope to see some pictures of you exploring the free things to do in Melbourne very soon! Live a life to remember and if you have any other recommendations for free things to do in Melbourne feel free to let us know on Instagram or in the comment section below or if you want to give us feedback in general!
Emma
About the Author:
If Emma were a word, she would be „daydreaming“ - the kind of daydreaming that feels more active than dreamy. No matter where she is, you’ll catch her thinking about the artsy city of Melbourne, wishing to take a walk through Central Park, dreaming of seeing the Northern Lights, and so on. The list is long. What’s adorable and also very impressive is that Emma doesn’t stay lost in the haze of her dreams; it won’t be long before the first opportunity appears, and she’ll be on her way to fulfill them.
Emma
About the Author:
If Emma were a word, she would be „daydreaming“ – the kind of daydreaming that feels more active than dreamy. No matter where she is, you’ll catch her thinking about the artsy city of Melbourne, wishing to take a walk through Central Park, dreaming of seeing the Northern Lights, and so on. The list is long. What’s adorable and also very impressive is that Emma doesn’t stay lost in the haze of her dreams; it won’t be long before the first opportunity appears, and she’ll be on her way to fulfill them.
