A Backpacker's Guide To Melbourne

Melbourne is one of Australia’s hotspots for backpackers thanks to its colourful streets, eccentric nightlife, vibrant coffee culture, and diverse attractions. It’s the capital city of Victoria and is one of Australia’s most famous and most populated cities. Melbourne is packed with amazing things to do, from museums and galleries to beaches and parks. 

And just outside of Melbourne lies world-famous coastal drives and national parks! You can drive the Great Ocean Road and see the Twelve Apostles, watch the Penguin Parade on Phillip Island, or immerse yourself in nature in the Grampians. It’s a truly stunning part of Australia, and we’re here to make your trip planning easier with our ultimate backpacker's guide to Melbourne!

The Ultimate Backpackers Guide to Melbourne

You can never be too prepared for a trip to Melbourne, as there is so much to see and do and it’s wise to try and optimise your time in this amazing city. Our team at East Coast Tours is full of enthusiastic travellers, many of whom have visited or lived in Melbourne. This travel guide combines local knowledge, budget-savvy hacks, and top-rated tour operators to provide a handy list of resources for backpackers. Let’s dive in!

• Planning Your Trip
• Transport
• Accommodation
• Things To Do

Planning your trip to Melbourne

Before stepping foot in Victoria’s cosmopolitan capital city, you may want to do some pre-trip research. We’re going to answer some common questions for backpackers in Melbourne so you can plan the perfect stay. 

How many days is enough for Melbourne?

3 days is a good amount of time for a backpacker’s first trip to Melbourne. It is a fascinating city packed with things to do, so you could easily spend a week or more here. But many backpackers in Australia don’t have that much time, as there are so many wonders awaiting them all over the country! 

3 days gives you time for 2 full days of city exploration, plus time for a popular day trip such as the Great Ocean Road or Phillip Island. Some travellers may only have time for 1 or 2 days in Melbourne, which is still enough time to see the highlights of the CBD. But if you can spare 3 days to enjoy Melbourne, you won’t regret it. 

What month is best to visit Melbourne, Australia?

The best months for a trip to Melbourne are the shoulder seasons of spring (September, October, November) or autumn (March, April, May). This is when Melbourne generally boasts pleasant weather and reasonable prices. 

Melbourne is all the way in the south of Australia, so winter can get pretty cold! If you prefer warmer temperatures, avoid visiting Melbourne in June, July, or August. However, the winter months have cheaper flights and low crowds, so it can be ideal for budget travellers. Summer is gorgeous in Melbourne, but December, January, and February will have steeper prices and more crowds. 

There is no bad time to visit Melbourne, so just plan your trip according to your preferences!

Transport in and around Melbourne 

Getting to Melbourne By Plane

Melbourne is a major travel hub in Australia, so there are lots of cheap flights into Melbourne International Airport. If you’re flying domestic, find affordable flights to Melbourne on budget airlines like Jetstar or Virgin Australia. If you’re coming from overseas and Melbourne is your first stop in Australia, you can likely find decent flights from all over the world. 

Once you arrive, check out our guide for getting to Melbourne City from the airport!

Getting to Melbourne By Bus

If you’re heading to Melbourne from elsewhere in Australia, there are a few ways to get here by land. The cheapest, most convenient, and most popular for backpackers is the overnight bus from Sydney. Whether you have a Greyhound Bus Pass or you just buy one individual ticket, an overnight bus is relatively smooth and comfortable. Fall asleep in Sydney and wake up in Melbourne! Plus, it saves you money on a night's accommodation!

Check out our bus articles if you want to learn more about travelling Australia by coach bus. 

Getting to Melbourne By Car

Combine Melbourne with an epic road trip around in Australia in your own car or campervan. If you’re driving from Sydney to Melbourne, take the coastal route to enjoy some gorgeous beaches and towns. Or if you’re driving from Adelaide, don’t miss a drive along the Great Ocean Road!

You don't necessarily need a car to get around Melbourne once you arrive, as the public transport is great and Uber or Rideshare are available. But it can be handy to have a car for day trips outside the city.

Check out our campervan articles for road trip ideas, driving tips, and van life inspiration. 

How to travel around Melbourne

Once you’ve settled into the city, you can get around Melbourne on foot, by bicycle, or by public transport. Let’s take a closer look at each option so you can decide which suits your budget and travel style.

Walking

Walking is by far the best way to sightsee in Melbourne. And it’s free! Backpackers in Melbourne can save lots of money by skipping the taxi and exploring the city on foot. However, if you’re travelling a far distance or the weather is unfavourable, you can use public transport. 

Public Transport

Melbourne has a great public transport system for travellers. To save money, choose the free Melbourne city trams that work their way around the city centre. There are also trains and buses that cover more ground around Melbourne and its suburbs. Get a myki Pass so you can tap on and off public transport. 

Rideshare Apps and Taxis

Melbourne also has several rideshare apps and taxis where you can catch a ride if needed. Uber, Didi, and Ola are all common transport apps that can take you throughout the city, in addition to normal taxis. Just note that getting around by Uber or taxi will definitely be more expensive than the other forms of transport like walking, biking, or public transport. 

Bicycle

On a warm, sunny day in Melbourne, there is no better way to get around than a bicycle! You can hire bikes all over the city and cruise around on two-wheel for a fun and efficient method of sightseeing. The coastal routes in places like St. Kilda or Brighton are popular places to ride with ocean views. Hire an eBike to make your rides effortless! 

Backpacker Accommodation in Melbourne

Once you’ve decided how you’re getting to Melbourne, you can choose a place to stay. If you join some sort of guided tour or itinerary, accommodation will normally be sorted for you. This can save you a lot of planning!

If you’re travelling without a tour, choose a Melbourne hostel for your trip. Hostels are by far the best places to stay for backpackers in Melbourne! They are affordable, fun, centrally located, and full of like-minded travellers eager to make friends. 

What are the best suburbs in Melbourne for backpackers?

Some of the best suburbs for backpackers in Melbourne include St. Kilda and Fitzroy. Backpackers who want a social, fun vibe near the beach will love St. Kilda. It’s great for nightlife, beach days, and meeting other travellers. Fitzroy is a popular spot for backpackers on a working holiday who are spending longer in the city. This suburb has an artsy, creative vibe and is a bit less chaotic than the busy St. Kilda. 

If you’re just visiting Melbourne for a short time, there is really no bad place to stay near the CBD. Brunswick, Footscray, Richmond, Collingwood and Northcote are all favourites among backpackers and travellers in Melbourne as well. All of the suburbs have something special to offer, and you’ll likely be spending all your time out exploring rather than at the hostel anyway. 

What are the best hostels in Melbourne?

Melbourne has lots of top-rated hostels all over the city. It’s one of Australia’s more expensive cities, so a dorm room may cost between $25 - $65 AUD. Prices may increase over holidays, peak travel seasons, or around popular festivals and events. But still, a hostel is much cheaper than a hotel room in Melbourne!

Here are some of the most popular backpacker hostels around Melbourne! We’ll list them from cheapest to priciest. Note that the more expensive a hostel is, generally the nicer and more centrally located it is. 

• Queen Victoria Hostel - dorms from $26 per night
• Melbourne City Backpackers - dorms from $27 per night
• Flinders Backpackers - dorms from $31 per night
• Summer House - dorms from $38 per night
• Mad Monkey - Dorms from $43 per night
• Space Hotel - dorms from $49 per night
• Nomads St Kilda - dorms from $54 per night
• The Village Melbourne - dorms from $54 per night
• Roamer Melbourne - dorms from $66 per night

Note that these prices are subject to change. 

Best Things To Do In Melbourne For Backpackers

Now it’s time to get into Melbourne’s activities and attractions! There are so many amazing things to do in Melbourne, so we’ll just give a brief overview of what to include in your itinerary. There are, of course, so many other attractions that we won’t have time to mention, but this should get you started. 

To save money, also check out our list of the best free and cheap things to do in Melbourne!

Day Trips from Melbourne

Many travellers come to Melbourne just for the wonders that lie right outside the city! Rent a car or join a tour to travel along the Great Ocean Road and see the Twelve Apostles. Or ride the ferry over to Phillip Island to see tiny penguins run across the beach at sunset. 

Head to the Mornington Peninsula for wine tasting, beaches, and hot springs. Venture inland to the Grampians National Park or Otway National Park for hiking and camping. In the winter, you can even head into the Snowy Mountains and go skiing or snowboarding! 

Check out our full list of day trips from Melbourne for more ideas. 

Cafes

Melbourne has a world-class coffee scene, so be sure to visit plenty of cafes during your time here. Even if you’re not a coffee drinker, you can indulge in caffeine-free lattes, matcha lattes, teas, and treats. There is nothing quite as satisfying as relaxing in a quirky Melbourne cafe, sipping on a flat white, and watching the world go by. 

Here are some of the best cafes in Melbourne. There are so many more, including lots of hidden gems that most people probably don’t know about. Just wander around and follow that delicious matcha or coffee scent, you’re sure to find somewhere amazing. 

Top Melbourne cafes

• Cibi
• Brick Lane Melbourne
• Higher Ground
• Patricia Coffee Brewers
• Seven Seeds
• Florian
• Caffe Amatrice
• Cathedral Coffee

Find more of the best places to eat in Melbourne for backpackers!

Rooftop Bars

Aside from cafes, Melbourne also has an impressive array of rooftop bars. With such a gorgeous skyline, Melbourne provides the perfect backdrop for a cocktail as the sun goes down. These spots are popular among backpackers, and they provide excellent photo opportunities above the city!

Top Melbourne rooftop bars

• The Imperial Hotel
• Naked in the Sky
• Loop Bar
• Madame Brussels
• Rooftop at QT
• Santana
• Top Yard

Museums and Galleries

Melbourne is a mecca of art, history, and creativity. As Victoria’s capital city, there are lots of prestigious museums and galleries where you can connect with Melbourne’s past and present. Learn about Aboriginal culture and history, admire local and international art, or dabble in science, sports, politics, and more. Many museums have free entry as well!

Top Melbourne museums and galleries (and what you can see in each place)

• National Gallery of Victoria (art)
• ScienceWorks (science and technology)
• ACMI (screen culture like film, tv, gaming)
• Australian Sports Museum (sports)
• Melbourne Museum (natural and cultural history)
• Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre (Indigenous art and culture)
• Hellenic Museum (Greek art, history and culture)
• Chinese Museum (Chinese history in Australia)
• Moorabbin Air Museum (aviation)
• Immigration Museum (immigration history)

Parks and Gardens

Those looking for green spaces are spoilt for choice in Melbourne! The city has plenty of parks and gardens where you can walk along the Yarra River, have a picnic with friends, or relax in the grass at sunset. Exploring Melbourne’s parks is a fantastic way to exercise and sightsee for free!

Top Melbourne parks and gardens

• Royal Botanic Gardens
• Queens Park
• Fitzroy Gardens
• Queen Victoria Gardens
• Edinburgh Gardens
• Flagstaff Gardens
• Werribee Park

Street Art

Melbourne is full of street art, which is cool to admire and take photos of. Seeing street art is also free, making it an affordable activity for backpackers in Melbourne. Hosier Lane, Degraves Laneway, and ACDC Lane are some popular streets with colorful murals. 

Find more spots with our guide to the best street art in Melbourne!

Markets

Markets are an amazing place to observe and engage with the local culture when you travel. Luckily, Melbourne has some incredible markets where you can shop, eat, drink, and people-watch to your heart’s content. Every market is a bit of a mixed bag, selling things like clothes, souvenirs, products, ready-made food, coffee, art, and everything in between. 

Top Melbourne Markets

• Queen Victoria Market - Sells pretty much everything (Melbourne’s biggest and most famous market)
• South Melbourne Market - Sells fresh food and produce
• St Kilda Esplanade Market - Sells crafts, jewellery, food, souvenirs
• Prahran Market - Sells fresh food and produce
• Rose Street Artists Market - Sells handmade arts and crafts
• Camberwell Sunday Market - Sells secondhand and vintage goods

Landmarks and Photo Spots

Sometimes the best thing to do for backpackers in Melbourne is just walk around and take photos. Melbourne has lots of cool photo spots and landmarks that showcase the city’s dynamic architectural and artistic prowess. Whether you want that perfect panorama of the Melbourne skyline or a fun Instagram shot, have a blast wandering to these iconic landmarks. 

Top Melbourne Landmarks and Photo Spots

• Brighton Bathing Boxes - Colorful, artsy beach huts
• Flinders Street Station - One of Melbourne’s most famous landmarks
• Shrine of Remembrance - Offers panoramic views of the Melbourne skyline
• Eureka Skydeck - Admire Melbourne from the 88th floor
• Royal Exhibition Building - UNESCO World Heritage-listed building
• Melbourne Town Hall - Historic architecture in the city centre
• Luna Park - Touristy and colorful amusement park
• Chinatown - Authentic Chinese gates and decorations
• Federation Square - Wide open space for concerts, exhibitions, museums, and city views

Nightlife

Melbourne has some of the best nightlife on Australia’s East Coast, making it a hotspot for backpackers who love to socialise, dance, drink, eat, and party. You can find classic pubs, thumping nightclubs, classy cocktail bars, themed restaurants, all-night dance floors, cosy speakeasies, and basically everything in between. 

Check out our full list of places to go out in Melbourne for backpackers!

Combine Melbourne with your ultimate East Coast Australia adventure! You can plan your trip using our Itinerary Planner, or choose a semi-guided itinerary that includes the top destinations. 

If you have any questions about Melbourne or your trip around Australia, chat with our local travel experts!