Welcome to Melbourne, Legends 🎒
If you’re heading to Australia on a working holiday visa or just passing through, Melbourne might be your vibe. We’ve called this place home for years and have helped thousands experience it through our Welcome to Melbourne tour.
Once you’ve experienced Melbourne as a tourist, you want to experience Melbourne as a local. So we’ve used our insider knowledge to create our ultimate city guide to Melbourne. So whether you’re choosing to call Melbourne home on your working holiday visa or passing through for a few days, check out the spots below. From legendary coffee to rooftop bars, this guide shows you how to explore the city like a true Melbournian.
Already sold on Melbourne? Great, download our FREE Working Holiday Checklist to get your Australia Travels started ✅
🍳 Best Eateries in the City
Melbourne’s food scene is unmatched, with multicultural flavours tucked into every laneway. Whether you’re after a classic sandwich, a next-level dessert, or something wildly inventive, this city delivers. It’s quite hard to actually find a bad meal. Here are our top foodie spots – and trust us, they’re worth the wait 👇
🥪 Hector’s Deli |📍CBD | Richmond | Fitzroy | South Melbourne
Think you know sandwiches? Think again. Hector’s Deli flips the humble sanga on its head. It’s popular for a reason – expect a queue.
💛 Try: The Mushroom Melt.
🥯 Nico’s Sandwich Deli |📍Fitzroy | CBD
If a sandwich shop has its own t-shirt, then we’re going. This sandwich institution takes the humble sandwich and turns it into a masterpiece. Known for stacked Cubanos and cult-like following, this place makes sandwiches worth travelling for. The kind of spot you’ll brag about discovering.
🍰 Tokyo Lamingtons |📍Carlton
If you haven’t yet tried a lamington, you are missing out! This is an Aussie delicacy. Traditionally a lamington is a soft sponge cake covered in chocolate and rolled in desiccated coconut. But at Tokyo Lamingtons, expect more of a wild twist than traditional. Biscoff, fairy bread, meringue – the flavour combos change monthly. Great for sweet tooths and snack adventurers.
🍦 Fluffy Torpedo |📍Brunswick
Durian? Salted liquorice? Popcorn? Yep, this is ice cream on a whole new level. You’ll find traditional flavours like vanilla and chocolate. But then you’ll find the non-traditional flavours that quite honestly, didn’t even know could be a flavour combination 👀
If you want bold flavours, this is your dessert destination.
💛 Our recent favourite was a mouthful (excuse the pun). Look out for the flavour called: Marshmallow, grape, aeroplane jelly & pink salt 🤭
☕ Best Coffee in Melbourne
Coffee in Melbourne isn’t just a drink – it’s a lifestyle. With thousands of cafes around, picking a winner is tough, but these four are go-to spots for our team and travellers alike. Whether you’re craving a quick caffeine hit or a slow morning over pastries, here’s where to get the good stuff.
🍸 Good Measure |📍Carlton
By day it’s a café, by night it’s a cocktail bar. Either way, you’re sipping in style. Come for the infamous Mont Blanc, stay for the Espresso Martini.
☕️ Market Lane Coffee |📍CBD | Carlton | Prahran | South Melbourne
When a Melbourne coffee shop has its own beans (and tote bags), you know you’re in good hands. The danger is, one cup won’t be enough and you’ll be tempted to head off with a bag of beans too. Our choice? The Seasonal Blend at Queen Vic market.
🥐 Lune Croissanterie |📍CBD | Fitzroy | Armadale
How can we not mention Lune? This instagram-famous cafe truly lives up to the hype. This iconic spot is famous for flaky croissants and strong coffee. They regularly refresh the menu, always giving you a reason to come back for something new and even better than the last. FYI: expect queues, but trust us – it’s very worth it.
🌞 Morning Market |📍Fitzroy | Prahran
A café meets florist meets boujee grocer.
If we weren’t backpackers, we’d be buying so much more than coffee here. The coffee shop is also a florist AND a fancy greengrocer. This coffee shop has a mix of it all and is a great choice for those who love a window shop as much as they love coffee. Get a flat white, a treat, and pretend you’re not backpacking for 10 glorious minutes.
🍸 Rooftop Bars with Serious Vibes
Melbourne’s rooftop bars are a whole vibe. You’ll find hidden elevators and stunning skyline views mixed with creative cocktails and buzzing energy. Whether it’s a chill arvo sesh or a big night out, these rooftops are your golden hour hangouts.
🌃 Mid Air |📍CBD
Newely opened at the end of 2024, this place has some iconic skyline views and Mediterranean eats. The vibe is pure cosmopolitan – perfect for some snazzy pre-drinks or celebrations. Backpackers be aware: no crocs allowed – bring your best travel fit.
🍸 Curtin House |📍CBD
The entrance to Curtin House doesn’t give the best first impression, but trust that elevator, and you’ll be rewarded. The Rooftop is everything you want, great views, great drinks and a great vibe right in the centre of Melbourne’s CBD.
Grungy elevator ride? Tick. Killer views? Tick. Danceable beats? Also tick. This one screams alternative Melbourne and brings the energy, right in the heart of the city.
😈 Naked for Satan |📍Fitzroy
Panoramic views, banging cocktails, and $4 pizzas on Mondays (yes, really!). Budget-friendly and vibe-heavy. What more could you want?
🍯 Goldilocks Rooftop Bar |📍CBD
Whimsical and wonderful. This rooftop bar is small yet intimate. Plus, its signature cocktails are all based on the fairytale story – you guessed it, Goldilocks and The Three Bears.
🌱 Hidden Gardens (That Aren’t Really Hidden)
City life is epic – but sometimes you just want to chill under a tree and touch grass. These green spaces are perfect for a little downtime, picnic, or even a sneaky nap. They’re not exactly secrets, but they still feel like hidden gems amongst the city’s skyscrapers.
🌿 Botanical Gardens |📍South Yarra
🚋 Catch tram number 3/3 | 5 | 6 | 16 | 64 | 67 | 72
These sprawling gardens are a true escape from the city. Jump off the tram at Shrine of Remembrance (take advantage of the view from the gallery) then wander through the gardens. Come for a sunbathe or a picnic any time of year. In summer, the gardens are home to Moonlight Cinema, an outdoor cinema well worth checking out.
🏎️ Albert Park |📍South Melbourne
🚋 Catch tram number 12 | 96 | 16
F1 fans know this spot, but it’s also perfect for walking, jogging, and taking in Melbourne’s skyline reflections across the lake. One lap around the park is just about 5km, perfect for those who love a satisfying running loop.
🌸 Fitzroy Gardens |📍Fitzroy
🚋 Catch tram number 48 | 75
Designed in a leafy, European-style, Fitzroy Gardens is packed with surprises like the mini model Tudor village and a dragon slide (yes this is in just a playground. Did we find it cool? Yup) Go explore – you won’t regret it.
⛲️ Carlton Gardens |📍Carlton
🚋 Catch tram number 109 | 67 | 96
Carlton Gardens lies just north of the CBD and is where you’ll find the Royal Exchange Building and Melbourne Museum. It’s perfect for a little stroll or city-centre picnic. Take a photo outside the fountains and grab a bench and read a book – it’s a little peaceful oasis. It’s also just a 20 minute stroll from The Village North aka your hostel while on our Welcome to Melbourne tour!
🌅 Melbourne’s Must See Sunset Spots
There’s no better way to wrap up your day than with a killer sunset in Melbourne. Whether you’re by the water, on a rooftop or at a lookout, these sunset spots serve up the golden hour glow that’ll stick in your memory (and your camera roll).
🌉 Southbank |📍CBD
🚋 Catch tram number 16 | 6 | 64 | 67
City reflections, river views and romantic vibes. And if you’re short on time and happen to find yourself around the Yarra River, stroll over one of the many bridges to catch the sun’s rays shining off the buildings around you.
⛱️ St Kilda Beach |📍St Kilda
🚋 Catch tram number 16 | 96
The easiest beach to get to from the CBD and Melbourne’s most iconic beach. Sunset over the pier + fish and chips = backpacker bliss. For nature lovers, take a walk along the newly constructed pier and if you’re lucky you’ll spot tiny penguins making their way back to shore.
📸 Point Ormond Lookout |📍Elwood
🚂 Catch the train to Ripponlea or 20 min walk from St Kilda Beach
Come twilight this little hill is packed with picnics as the perfect spot to watch the sun come down. With the Melbourne skyline in front of you and the colours of the sunset bouncing off the sea – it’s a magical spot to be.
🌅 Sandringham Beach |📍Sandringham
🚂 Catch the train to Sandringham
A backpacker secret and a hidden gem among locals. Swim, stroll and stay for the sunset. It might only be 20 mins away on the train, but it feels miles away from the city hustle… it’s moments like this that made you come to Australia in the first place.
✨ What is a Welcome Tour?
If this is your first time in Australia, a Welcome Tour is your ultimate travel kickstart. It’s not just sightseeing – it’s support, connection, and confidence, all rolled into one.
You’ll be picked up from the airport, shown around epic places like Melbourne, helped with all the boring admin stuff (like bank accounts and SIM cards), and introduced to new mates also starting their Aussie adventure.
It’s the best way to hit the ground running. Our Welcome to Melbourne Tour is 8 days of action, laughs, new friends and incredible memories – ideal for your gap year, solo travel, or working holiday visa journey.
⭐ Here’s what our travellers have to say…
Still not sure if a Welcome Tour is for you? Don’t take our word for it – here’s what past legends had to say ⬇️
“I arrived in Australia alone and terrified. But after 8 days on the Welcome to Melbourne tour, I had a new family and the confidence to travel solo. Best decision I made.”
– Hannah, UK
“The people, the activities, the support – it was honestly above and beyond. I saw the real Melbourne, not just the tourist spots.”
– Chris, Ireland
“If you’re debating booking it… just do it. I felt so looked after, and it made the rest of my trip stress-free.”
– Leila, Germany
Want to read more? Check out the reviews on our Melbourne Tour page and see why thousands of travellers kick off their trip with us every year.
💕 Your Adventure Starts Here
Exploring Melbourne solo is awesome – but doing it with a ready-made crew, a local guide, and full support? That’s where the magic really begins. Our Welcome to Melbourne Tour helps you settle in, make mates, and see the city through local eyes – all while making memories that last a lifetime.
👉 Book your Welcome to Melbourne Tour
👉 Explore our full Travel Packages
👉 Download our FREE Working Holiday Checklist
