In a single Melbourne day, you could explore a market, wander through laneways covered in street art, catch a game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and take in the city from above, then settle into a long dinner over good food and wine. Here are some of the most fun things to do in Melbourne during your stay, from famous landmarks to experiences.

Melbourne’s Iconic Federation Square

Across from Flinders Street Station, Federation Square is one of Melbourne’s best-known meeting places. It is home to the Australian Centre for the Moving Image and The Ian Potter Centre: National Gallery of Victoria Australia, alongside restaurants, cafés and a regular program of events.

Before you set off, look back across the road at Flinders Street Station. With its grand dome and row of clocks above the entrance, it is one of the city’s most photographed buildings, and “meet me under the clocks” has been a Melbourne saying for generations.

Discover Hidden Melbourne’s Laneways

Hosier Lane, opposite Federation Square, is one of the city’s best-known street art locations. Degraves Street and Centre Place are lined with cafés and small shops, and the nearby Block Arcade is worth a visit for its mosaic floors, glass canopy and heritage shopfronts.

Step Inside State Library Victoria

State Library Victoria is Australia’s oldest public library and home to the domed La Trobe Reading Room, one of the most striking interiors in the city. Entry to the library is free, and its free exhibitions include treasures such as Ned Kelly’s armour. The lawn out front on Swanston Street is also a popular meeting spot in the city centre.

Experience Melbourne City Baths

Melbourne City Baths opened in 1904 and remains one of the city’s most recognisable heritage buildings, with its red brick and cream Edwardian facade on Swanston Street. Along with its swimming pools, the baths offer a spa and sauna, making it an easy way to break up a day of sightseeing.

Browse Queen Victoria Market

Queen Victoria Market has been part of Melbourne life since 1878 and remains a lively place to browse fresh produce, specialty foods, souvenirs and local products. It is open on Tuesdays and from Thursday to Sunday, and it is one of several Melbourne markets worth a morning of browsing.

Immerse in Melbourne’s Art and Culture

The National Gallery of Victoria holds Australian and international collections. General entry to the permanent collection is free, and major exhibitions are ticketed. Next door, the spire of Arts Centre Melbourne marks the heart of the city’s theatre scene, with musicals and plays running throughout the year.

Visit Melbourne Museum and the Royal Exhibition Building

Melbourne Museum has galleries covering natural history, science, culture and Victoria’s past. It is a good choice for families, as entry is free for children.

Right beside the museum, the Royal Exhibition Building was built for the Melbourne International Exhibition of 1880 and hosted the opening of Australia’s first Federal Parliament in 1901. It was the first building in Australia to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, and it sits within Carlton Gardens.

Stroll or Flow Along the Yarra River

The riverside path passes Federation Square, Birrarung Marr, the Melbourne Cricket Ground precinct and the Royal Botanic Gardens, so you can take in several of the attractions on this list in one walk. If being on the water appeals more than walking beside it, our pick is GoBoat, which hires self-drive electric picnic boats from Banana Alley. No licence or boating experience is required, there is room for eight with a picnic table in the middle, and you are welcome to bring your own food and drink on board.

Catch a Game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground

Melbourne Skydeck, on level 88 of Eureka Tower, looks out across the city skyline and Port Phillip Bay. Arrive before sunset to see the city in daylight and after dark on the same visit.

Ascend to Melbourne Skydeck

The Melbourne Cricket Ground has hosted some of Australia’s biggest sporting moments. If there is no game on during your stay, guided tours take you behind the scenes on non-event days. The National Sports Museum is also located inside the stadium.

See Melbourne Sky High from a Hot Air Balloon

Balloon flights over Melbourne take off at dawn, drifting over city landmarks such as the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the Yarra River and Eureka Tower as the sun comes up. The route depends on the wind on the day, so each flight takes a slightly different path. Flights last about an hour, and the full experience runs for around four to five hours from check-in, with some packages including breakfast after landing. Meeting times are early, around one and a half hours before sunrise. Flights run year-round when the weather allows, with the most consistent conditions from November to May.

Explore the Royal Botanic Gardens and the Shrine of Remembrance

Entry to the Royal Botanic Gardens is free, with walking paths, lakes and lawns suited to a picnic, along with tours, cafés and themed garden areas to explore.

Next to the gardens, the Shrine of Remembrance is one of Melbourne’s most significant memorials. Entry is also free, and the view from its balcony looks straight up St Kilda Road to the city skyline.

Head Down to the Bay

At St Kilda, you can walk along St Kilda Pier or visit Luna Park, which has operated on the foreshore since 1912. Walk in through the giant mouth of Mr Moon and ride the Great Scenic Railway, the oldest continuously operating roller coaster in the world and one of the few still run by a brakeman standing on the train. In the evening, little penguins return to the breakwater. Watch from the boardwalk and follow the guidance of the rangers and volunteers on site.

Join the Action at the Races

Flemington Racecourse, home of the Melbourne Cup, is only a short trip from us. The Cup is run on the first Tuesday in November, and the spring racing season brings race days across October and November. Each Spring Racing Carnival race day has its own atmosphere and dress code.

Make Time for Family Fun

Melbourne Zoo sits within Royal Park in Parkville, one of the closest attractions on this list to us. The zoo is home to tigers, orang-utans, koalas and kangaroos, as well as an underwater area with Victorian little penguins and fur seals. The surrounding parkland includes a nature play space for children, making it easy to turn a zoo visit into a full day out.

SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium, beside the Yarra River, is a good indoor option for a rainy day, and there are plenty more school holiday activities across the city.

Try Surfing, Melbourne Style

URBNSURF is located near Melbourne Airport, a short drive from us. The surf park produces up to 1,000 surfable waves an hour and offers lessons and sessions for all abilities, so first-timers and experienced surfers can both get in the water. Yes, in Melbourne, we surf too!

Dinner at Melbourne’s Best Restaurant

Sophisticated dinner is just a few steps from your apartment hotel. Saros Bar & Dining sits on our ground floor, serving a contemporary European-inspired menu, with seating at the marble bar or in New York style booths. House-made pasta and grill is a cornerstone of the menu.

The bar pours an international wine list and scotches, along with innovative and classic cocktails. Hotel guests can also receive Accor loyalty benefits at Saros (conditions apply). If your stay includes a birthday, engagement or end-of-year celebration, Saros can host the party downstairs of your hotel room. Guests can stay for the night too, with Saros function bookings perks such as complimentary room upgrades and late checkout, subject to availability.

Saros Bar & Dining is the shortest walk from your apartment, and when you are ready to explore further, we have gathered party downstairs elsewhere in the city.

Discover Inner North Suburb, Moonee Ponds

Puckle Street is the main shopping strip in Moonee Ponds, with cafés, restaurants and shops within walking distance of the hotel. Queens Park, with its lake and open lawns, is close by for a morning walk, and there are more things to do in Moonee Ponds within easy reach.

Our apartments at The Sebel Melbourne Moonee Ponds include kitchens, laundry facilities and living areas, with multi-bedroom options for families and groups.

Plan Your Melbourne Days by Area

Group nearby attractions to make the most of each day. The laneways, Block Arcade, State Library Victoria, Melbourne City Baths and Queen Victoria Market all sit within the city centre. Federation Square, the Yarra River, the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the Royal Botanic Gardens and the Shrine of Remembrance sit close together along the river.

If you only have one day, this Melbourne in a day itinerary covers the essentials.

Where to Stay in Melbourne

The Sebel Melbourne Moonee Ponds sits 5 kilometres from the Melbourne CBD and 20 minutes from Melbourne Airport, with Flemington Racecourse and Melbourne Zoo close by. Every apartment is designed as a proper living space, with a separate bedroom and a dedicated lounge and dining area, so there is room to spread out after a full day of exploring.

Facilities included:

When the day is done, Saros Bar & Dining on the ground floor is ready with European-inspired tapas, a glass of wine or a cocktail at the marble bar.

Frequently Asked Questions