Posted by Melbourne in Victoria Australia is a great place to visit and after you’ve booked your accommodation in Melbourne and paid to eat out and maybe see some themed events, it’s good to know that there are also plenty of attractions and events in Melbourne that won’t break the bank.
Here are our favorite Melbourne attractions that won’t cost you a dime to experience.
1. Melbourne City Circle type of trains: A great way to introduce yourself to the city of Melbourne. The signature burgundy tram runs daily on Circuit Melbourne, passing a number of attractions with commentary on board. The tram is a hop on hop free experience. The Melbourne City Circle tram operates daily from 10am-6pm and until 9pm on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays during daylight savings time
2. Flinders Street station: Probably Melbourne’s best-known landmark, Flinders Street Station is the central focal point of Melbourne’s transport network. It is a popular meeting place, on the steps below the hours and is open daily from 5am to 3am.
3. Union Square: Located opposite Flinders Street station, Federation Square is a mix of unique and architecturally stunning buildings nestled between Melbourne’s CBD (Central Business District) and parks and gardens just across the Yarra River. There are plenty of cafes and restaurants on “Fed” Square as the locals call it and it is also home to the Ian Potter Centre.
4. Ian Potter Center – NGV Australia: This is home to the world’s finest gallery dedicated to Australian art. Its rotating gallery represents all of Australia’s greats and often features some of Australia’s most important and recognized works. Located in Union Square, admission is free.
5. Australian Center for the Moving Image: Dedicated to Australian and international films and screen-based art, ACMI is located in Federation Square. Some exhibits charge a fee but admission to the Screen Gallery is free and open from 10am daily.
6. National Gallery of Victoria: A short walk from Flinders Street station which is home to a wide range of international art. The gallery is closed on Tuesdays but opens on other days from 10am. Admission is free but special exhibitions attract a fee.
7. Royal Botanic Gardens (Melbourne): Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens is a 10-15 minute walk from Flinders Street Station and is home to over 12,000 different species of different Australian flora and fauna including wallabies, ossums and birdlife. There is a free self-guided walk, and an audio presentation is also available.
8. Queen Victoria Market: The “Queen Vic” or “Vic Market” is in full operation every Sunday with a huge variety of products, clothing, gifts, decor and other consumables. There are also a number of cafes and restaurants around the market and bus workers perform regularly. The market is also open on a smaller scale on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
9. Crown casino: While the gaming tables are the central part of the Crown Casino entertainment complex, there is also a wide range of shops and restaurants that can provide hours of idle entertainment for those not interested in gambling ‘opportunities’.
10. Melbourne beaches: Located on Port Phillip Bay in Melbourne, it has a number of popular beaches that are easily accessible from the city. Kerferd Road Beach in South Melbourne and St Kilda Beach have long been the ‘must see’s and offer cool, calm waters to cool off during warm Melbourne nights.
When booking your accommodation in Melbourne we recommend using Residence in Melbourne Online booking service.