I know you’ve been Googling the best cities to live in. Because that’s what I do too. Staring out the window, imagining living somewhere else. But this time I don’t have to because I’ve already lived it.
This year, Melbourne has been given the top spot. And honestly, we already know why.
Melbourne has it all. It’s a cool cosmopolitan city. It has all the spots (from F1 to tennis and some Aussie-only ones too). Hidden laneways. Art. History. Rooftop bars. And not to mention excellent coffee shops on every corner. Oh and beaches too… this is Australia remember.
But where do you even start when exploring the number one city?
We’ve been perfecting our Melbourne tours since 2017 when we started with our OG Welcome to Melbourne week-long tour. We’ll show you around like a local and explain just why Melbourne is the best city in the world. You’ll tick off the laneways, street art, coffee shops, bars and so much more. But it’s more than that, we give you the feel of calling this great city home, with all its secrets and hidden gems.
We don’t just show you the city, we explore the beautiful Mornington Peninsula on an overnight road trip, where you’ll see kangaroos, penguins (yes penguins!), you’ll even learn to surf 🏄.
And then we bring you right back to get ready to live in the best city in the world. We’ll give you all the tools you need to call Melbourne home; we’ll chat jobs with you and share our exclusive job board too. And make sure you have all the tips to find a sublease or house share too.
The next part? Deciding where to live.
Here are our favourite suburbs to call home
The CBD
With a super organised grid system, the Central Business District (CBD) is the heart of Melbourne. You’ll find it stretching from the Yara River to the Queen Vic markets, with skyscrapers, open parks, laneways and coffee shops. If you’re after the city-centre experience, the CBD is where you need to call home.
Top Tip: Being in the CBD means you can make use of the free tram network for your rides across the city.
Southbank & South Yarra
If you want to be as close to the CBD as possible without actually being in it, these two suburbs are your second best bet. Southbank is an easy walking distance of the CBD while South Yarra is home to Chapel Street with excellent nightlife and a more upmarket neighbourhood. Both are bursting with cafes, restaurants and shops so you get that city feel in an instant.
St Kilda
Right by the beach, St Kilda has been the backpacker scene for generations. It’s just as cool now as it was then with heaps of recent investments into the pier, independent shops, cafes and beach-front bars. Isn’t living by the beach part of the Aussie dream?
Top Tip: There are plenty of hostels to choose from here while you’re searching for your new lease or sublet.
Fitzroy
To the north, Fitzroy is artsy, bohemian and the unofficial gay village of Melbourne. You need to head to Brunswick Street to take in the multitude of bars and excellent nightlife here. It’s not as shiny as the CBD, but it has heaps of personality. Make the most of the weekly Fitzroy Market, a treasure trove for vintage lovers with ample food trucks covering every cuisine.
Brunswick
Keep following Brunswick Street North and you’ll arrive at its name place. You’ll find great live music, bustling pubs and beer gardens but with a more suburban feel. The food is great as well thanks to Mediterranean influence of the area’s early immigration population.
Top Tip: Brunswick is also home to the city’s student population as it’s close by to the main unis, and with that comes easy to find rooms to rent.
And don’t forget all the events happening across the city too:
Summer
This is primarily sport season. But before that kicks off, December not only brings the start of summer but heaps of Christmas and New Year’s celebrations too.
- Christmas Festival – Discover water shows, festive installation and more popping up across the city in December.
- New Year’s Eve – There’s plenty of firework displays across the city. Pick one and get their early.
- Australian Open – Tennis-feaver hits the city for two weeks every January. Grab a few ground passes for the atmosphere alone.
- F1 – Albert Park is the place to be in March, come to hear the roar and soak in the atmosphere.
- AFL – This is your new religion. Pick a team and stick with them throughout the winter.
Winter
As the weather cools, the atmosphere in the city heats up. Add these events to your Melbourne bucket-list:
- Rising – An annual arts and cultural festival that takes over the city for two weeks every June.
- Winter Night Markets – Every Wednesday from June to August, the iconic Queen Vic markets are the place to be.
- Christmas in July – meed we say more?
- AFL & Rugby League Finals – The city intensifies as the season comes to an end.
- Melbourne Fringe Festival – Laughs can be found across the city at the annual comedy festival every October.
Ready to call Melbourne home? Join our week-long tour to experience the best city in the world like a local. With tips, tricks and support for making Melbourne home, you’ll be a Melburnian in no time.
