The city itself is home to little suburban communities while the more metropolitan areas include popular places such as Port Philip and the beautiful mountain ranges of Dandenong and the Macedon. There’s plenty to see and much to experience in Melbourne, so read on to find out what attractions you shouldn’t miss out on.
If you love to roam about a bustling marketplace then the Queen Victoria market in Melbourne is the place to go to have a bit of a chat with local vendors. The market is known for its local produce that is freshly grown and brought to market by vendors who have held stalls for years. But it’s not just the fresh fruit and produce that you will get to see but a lot of vendors who engage in producing handmade items as well. There are stall holders who sell clothing to other items and even souvenirs that you could browse through and perhaps pick a few to take back with you. If you are located in a suburb of Melbourne then after your stint at the market don’t forget to stop by a few Burwood restaurants in the area. Just a few kilometres away from the Central Business District, Burwood is a quaint little community with plenty of places to stop for some good food.
This is more of a tip to keep in mind before planning your trip, but if you are in Melbourne, try to time your visit with an ongoing arts festival in the area. Festivals are a great way to experience a city and to be able to mingle and meet local performing artists. In February it is the White Night Festival that takes over the city. White Night Festivals are popular across Europe and have gained a following in Melbourne as well. The festival is an all-night arts festival that commences at 7pm and goes on till 7am the next day. It’s a constant feed of music, food, dancing and various free art exhibits to experience through the waking hours and offers an experience like no other. In April, travels can look forward to the Comedy Festival, while the Melbourne Fringe festival takes over in September.
If you are a lover of dumplings, then Melbourne’s Little Bourke Street is where you should head out to enjoy some of the most amazing dumplings. Amidst the quaint arches of Chinese style institutions, Chinatown has thrived since the 1800s. It goes without saying that the best ramen noodles, to Bao and wontons can be found along the street of eateries. Most of the eateries are affordable, however there are those that offer more fine dining. Don’t forget to sample the street famous Xiao long Bao dish.
If you are a lover of all things vintage, and farmhouses and visiting vineyards are on your to-do list then don’t forget to pay a visit to Melbourne’s Yarra Valley. The doors of many of the wineries are free to walk through during the weekends and most of these wineries have their own restaurants with wine and food pairing sessions.
These are just a few of the attractions that are quite popular among tourists visiting Melbourne. These tips and suggestions should be enough to get you interested enough to search for a few more places to add to your list of things to do.