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A quick 3-day trip to Melbourne is just enough time to see the best of the city if you use your time right. The truth is, this city is underrated! From its quirky laneways to the stunning Yarra River, we always have a great time visiting Melbourne.
To help maximize your time here, we have put together an ideal 3-day itinerary, covering the big-ticket city sights, like the Melbourne SkyDeck, to some of our personal favorite experiences, like a sunset dinner cruise. We even managed to squeeze in a day trip, and you get to choose your adventure!
So don’t stress about just three days in the city. Simply follow this itinerary and you’ll have the best time in Melbourne!
Day 1
Breakfast – Operator25
One of our favorite parts of Melbourne was its incredible food scene, so we are going to squeeze in as many restaurants as possible, starting with brunch! We hit Operator25 on our first day in the city and it was a great introduction to Melbourne’s history. It also ensured we weren’t hangry as we explored – no one wants that!
The building was once used as the old telephone exchange, where the operators would use giant switchboards to connect calls. We loved that the restaurant pays homage to its history with the name and decor, they even have old telephone wires hanging from the ceiling!
They serve Asian fusion dishes, so I was blown away by the char siu eggs benedict. I’d never had something quite like it! The yuzu smashed avocado toast and french toast also stood out. They also have vegan and vegetarian options – anyone can enjoy this breakfast spot!
Morning – Go on a Free Walking Tour
After we were all full from breakfast, it was time to spend a few hours exploring the city! The best way to get to know a new city is by walking it (in our opinion), and we love taking walking tours. We’ve found this to be particularly useful on your first day, that way you know what areas and attractions to visit again.
Melbourne offers a great free walking tour through the company, I’m Free Walking Tours. You’ll have three hours to explore the city with a local guide and see Fed Square, the Yarra River, and street art, all while learning its history too. The tour departs at 10:30 am every day, and I was shocked at how much it covered in just three hours.
They ask you to sign up for the tour before you go, so they know how many people to expect, but it was really easy online. And even though this is a free tour, they do accept tips if your guide is as awesome as ours was!
If you’re a true history and architecture buff, you’ll love this guided walking tour of Melbourne. It goes more in-depth than the walking tour and takes you to some off-the-beaten-path places, like Chinatown and Hosier Lane. But I also love that you get to see some of the “can’t-miss” sights like the Arcades and the Melbourne Gaol (both of which are on this itinerary anyway!).
This tour departs at 11 am and lasts for three hours, it even includes alcoholic drinks! Our full review of this walking tour has all the details if you decide to go with this one.
You can book this tour for $99 AUD. With over 1,000 positive reviews, I know it’s a great way to explore the city! Check the reviews and book this walking tour here.
Lunch – Afloat Floating Restaurant
Afloat is one of Melbourne’s coolest restaurants – literally, you can catch a wonderful breeze because it floats on the Yarra River! It made for a memorable lunch spot, as the scenery and vibe were both lovely. We feasted on tacos and margaritas, as their theme was “Viva Mexico” when we were in town. But, they rotate the theme every summer, so who knows what you’ll find!
We can vouch for the quality of their food and atmosphere though. The staff were so welcoming and friendly, and when we told them we were visiting the city, they gave us some local recommendations too. I loved the frozen margaritas, perfect for a hot day, and we split a few small plates of food. Afloat is open from 11 am to 1 am daily but is closed for the winter.
If you really want to get your float on, Afloat offers a Bottomless Brunch River Cruise that looks like a great time! You’ll have 2 hours to cruise down the Yarra River with free-flowing drinks and a tasty brunch. We didn’t get a chance to do this, but it’s definitely on my Melbourne bucket list!
This boozy brunch is available on Saturdays and Sundays for $118 AUD. Their brunch menu is impressive, and if their drinks are as strong as they were in the restaurant, you’ll really get your money’s worth here! Check the details and book this brunch cruise here.
Afternoon – Melbourne Skydeck
On to one of the most iconic places in Melbourne: the Melbourne SkyDeck! This massive observation deck just so happens to be the tallest in the Southern Hemisphere, we couldn’t pass up those impressive views! The SkyDeck is 300 meters (975 feet) tall and there are a couple of ways you can experience it.
We went with the Edge Experience, which is appropriately named as you stand on a glass platform that extends off the edge of the building! I’m not going to lie, it was a bit freaky to trust a piece of glass to hold all of our weight (especially after that big lunch at Afloat). But it did give incredible views of Melbourne, so the risk was worth the reward (don’t worry, there’s no actual risk here!). The Edge tickets are $43 AUD.
Other experiences that include admission are the VR Experience, where you can explore the best Melbourne city sights and even zipline, but virtually! This is $49 AUD and we appreciate that it’s too expensive for a unique addition. The Cocktails in the Clouds takes it further by including entrance, the virtual reality experience, and cocktails at Bar 88 for $50 AUD.
We still grabbed drinks at the bar after our Edge Experience, but the VR stuff looked like a lot of fun too. The delicious cocktails and impressive views made for a fun time at the SkyDeck. Plus, they have a great happy hour from 4-8 pm, 2-for-1 drinks!
To get more information on all of these fun experiences, check out our things to know before visiting the Skydeck blog here!
Dining at Eureka 89 is another awesome way to experience the views at the SkyDeck, as the restaurant sits even higher! This fine-dining restaurant is a good option if you’re looking to treat yourself. Their 6-course tasting menu is $190 AUD and brings a high-quality dining experience! While this is a bigger-budget item, it also includes admission to the SkyDeck, so that will save you about $50 AUD right off the bat.
Find all of the SkyDeck experiences and book yours in advance here, with FREE cancellation options.
Dinner/night – Left Bank Melbourne Restaurant & Cocktail Bar
After a busy day of sightseeing and city exploring, we love a nice and relaxing dinner out. Left Bank Melbourne Restaurant & Cocktail Bar was the perfect place for our first night in the city. It showed Melbourne’s lively and trendy restaurant scene and also offered some killer cocktails!
We love that the menu offerings change with the seasons, there are some unique creations. Starting with the salted baby calamari, we were instantly impressed, and it got even better with the entrees. Bailey tried the king prawn risotto and I had the slow-roasted lamb shoulder, and I’d recommend both! Mains run around $29 to $59 AUD, but for the quality and portions, I thought this was well-priced.
We skipped dessert and treated ourselves to another cocktail because there were too many tasty ones on the menu! This is a craft cocktail bar, after all, so anything you’ll try will be yummy. We loved Glen’s Cult, made with banana rum and the Cucumber Gin-ito!
While the food and drinks were mind-blowingly good, the ambiance of Left Bank stood out to us. We sat on the rooftop terrace and took in the views of Melbourne’s skyline. It also sits right on the Yarra River, so those river views weren’t bad either!
Left Bank is only a 3-minute walk from the SkyDeck. They are open until 12 am Sunday through Thursday, and until 3 am Fridays and Saturdays. Check out their website before you go because they often have fun events and promotions! We saw a free bottle of wine when you bought two entrees – not bad if you ask me.
Related Read: Looking for more Australian travels? Head to Western Australia and check out Perth with this 3-day itinerary!
Day 2
Today, we are going to take a road trip! While there are a handful of great day trips from Melbourne (see our full list here!) we are going to narrow it down to two and you get to decide. The Great Ocean Road and Phillip Island are both can’t-miss sights within driving distance from Melbourne. If you had time to do both, I’d highly recommend it, but with a limited 3 days in the city, you’ll have to pick and choose.
Below, I’ll explain both incredible day trips and the exact tours we went on. Then you’ll have the difficult task of choosing which one to go on!
Option 1: Drive the Great Ocean Road
The first option is to embark on the scenic drive along the Great Ocean Road – which we found to be pretty epic, to say the least. This 240-kilometer (150-mile) stretch of road follows Victoria’s southern coastline, where we saw staggering cliffs, giant limestone rocks jutting out of the ocean, wild koalas, and quaint beach towns. It is one of the most popular excursions in all of Australia – we couldn’t pass it up!
We opted to take this full-day tour because we wanted to enjoy all of this scenery, without worrying about driving, and there was a lot of unique history to learn about the road too. We found out this was actually a project following WWI to provide jobs to veterans and serves as a memorial – pretty neat!
The Great Ocean Road technically starts in Torquay, which is about a 1.5-hour drive from Melbourne. So after being picked up from our hotel, we headed to Tourquay to explore this quaint beach town. They gave us morning coffee (or tea) and we saw the Memorial Archway as we set off on this epic drive! The views were beautiful from the get-go, and we knew we were in for a great day.
We then stopped in Kennett River to see the resident koalas in the trees! Our guides gave us a little history of the koalas and we learned how they are endangered, and what the local organizations are doing to prevent extinction. As an Australian native myself, I love seeing wild koalas, they are so cute!
After about 40 more minutes of driving, we stopped for lunch in Apollo Bay. This turquoise water in the bay was stunning, I wish we had more time to explore. But, there’s a lot to see today, so we kept moving after a yummy lunch.
The next stop was the whole reason we came on this tour, to see the iconic Twelve Apostles rock formations. These 8 limestone rocks are 45 meters (150 feet) tall and sit in the rough waters of the Southern Ocean. They are strikingly beautiful, and learning about the formation, erosion, and changes these natural wonders have gone through was really fascinating! We had about 1 hour to explore the viewpoint and surrounding area, which was just enough time to soak in the views.
Just about 5 minutes down the road we came to our final stop, the Loch Ard Gorge. This is the site of the infamous 1878 shipwreck. Once we saw just how narrow the cove is, and how rough the waters are, no wonder this area is nicknamed “Shipwreck Coast”! After this, we made one quick stop at Gibson’s Steps to see the Twelve Apostles one last time, then took the three-hour drive back to Melbourne.
If you want further information on all the sights you’ll take on this route, read our blog about the best stops between Melbourne and the Twelve Apostles!
We really appreciated how this tour was a relatively small group and provided hotel pick up, as well as a comfy van with big windows. It did turn into a lot of driving (as road trips do!) so I recommend bringing headphones or a book to keep yourself occupied.
Overall, we had a fantastic time on this day trip of the Great Ocean Road – read our full review here! The tour was $155 AUD and included transportation, lunch, national park fees, and guides. Bring some extra money for dinner on the way home!
This tour has over 4,500 positive reviews – read them here and then book your tour!
Related Read: Check out our favorite Great Ocean Road tours from Melbourne for more options or our 1-day Great Ocean Road itinerary if you want to drive yourself!
Option 2: See Little Penguins at Phillip Island
Option 2 for your day trip from Melbourne is to Phillip Island to see the largest colony of Little Penguins in the world. Phillip Island is just a two-hour drive from the city, but there are a lot of great stops along the way. We chose to join this organized tour to Phillip Island because you end up getting back pretty late to catch the penguins at the right time.
This tour takes off at 11 am, so before you take off we recommend heading to St Kilda for breakfast! St Kilda is located 15 minutes out of Melbourne’s CBD, and it’s a cute beach town, famous for its coffee. Stop by Wedge Espresso for our favorite coffee and breakfast combo.
Let’s get into the details of this awesome day trip though! After being picked up from our hotel in the city, we drove a little way out to reach the Brighton Bathing Boxes. These quirky and colorful sheds sit on the beach and have been around for over 100 years, so they are a staple! We stopped for a quick photo and history lesson before hitting the road again.
About an hour later, we made it to the Moonlit Sanctuary. This wildlife conservation park was a really fun stop, especially if you want to see native Australian wildlife. We got to see wallabies, kangaroos, dingoes, birds of prey, and wombats, and even got to feed some of them! We also love the work that the conservation park is doing, it was insightful to learn all about it.
Then it was off to Phillip Island! We first stopped at the Nobbies Centre to see a giant seal colony, and explore the island for a while. Before we knew it, it was time for the highlight of the day: the Penguin Parade!
In the iconic Penguin Parade hundreds of Little Penguins walk down to their burrows, so it looks like an actual parade. There are platforms set up so we can safely view the animals without getting in their way. Seeing them all waddle down the beach was one of the cutest things I’ve ever seen. This happens around dusk/dark, so we were thankful for our tour guides to drive us back so we could take a nap!
This full-day tour was truly memorable! We learned a ton from our guides, and they made the experience lots of fun. I highly recommend this specific tour we went on – you can read our full review of our Phillip Island tour here.
We were gone for about 14 hours and got home around midnight, but the exact times might differ when you go. It includes transportation, entrance fees, and your guides, but food and drinks are at your own expense. All of this for $175 AUD was a pretty good price if you ask us!
See lots of wildlife and scenery when you book this Phillip Island tour here!
Day 3
Breakfast – Lune Croissanterie
I hope you got some rest after your day trip yesterday because our third and final day in Melbourne is jam-packed! Starting with breakfast at Lune Croissanterie, which is truly an icon in the city. We aren’t typically fans of overly sweet breakfasts, but Lune was incredible and they have a selection of savory croissants. Just a heads up, you will have lots of options to snack and try lots of unique spots in Melbourne today, so a small breakfast of a croissant and coffee is a great way to start the day.
Lune Croissanterie is loved by locals, oftentimes you’ll find quite a line out the door. They change their menu weekly, so there’s always something new to try and everything is good (according to the guy standing next to us in line). They open at 7:30 am every day except Wednesday, so if you can get up early enough to get there before or when they open you might skip a queue, otherwise expect a little wait. It’s worth it though!
Morning – Queen Victoria Market
The Queen Victoria Market is a historic piece of Melbourne and we enjoyed spending a few hours wandering through the stalls. There are actually over 600 vendors, so you’ll definitely need a few hours to see it all. We found fresh produce, flowers, handcrafted items, locally made art, eclectic souvenirs, and lots and lots of food vendors. I wasn’t kidding when I said you’d want to eat a lot today – luckily you’ll get hungry if you spend a few hours here.
If you want to dive deep into the food scene like we did, join the food tour we went on! It gave us a good overview of the market and its history, and we ate a lot of food – of course. Some of this food was what we could call “authentic Australian” cuisine, such as Coffin Bay oysters, pickled octopus, and peppered kangaroo. We also got to try donuts, local cheese, and olives, and the menu rotates seasonally.
This two-hour tour was a unique way to learn about the market and try lots of food. All of our food tastings were included in the tour, as well as our guide! The tour departs at 10 am and is only available on Saturdays and Sundays for $99 AUD.
Check the details and book the same Queen Victoria Market food tour we went on here!
Morning – Walk the Lanes and Arcades
The lanes are a unique part of Melbourne, as dozens of alleyways have been transformed into street art masterpieces! Artists don’t need a permit to paint here, so some laneways are repainted regularly, and others have become staples in the city, like the AC/DC Lane.
AC/DC Lane was once home to the Cherry Bar, the hub for the rock n’ roll and Melbourne music scene. That music venue has moved on, but its legacy remains, so this laneway was dedicated to Australia’s own AC/DC. I must say, the artist’s skill is remarkable, just see the photos above! But it’s much cooler in real life, so be sure to check it out.
You can find AC/DC Lane off of Flinders Lane, and I recommend wandering through the area because there are even more laneways to see.
After the laneways, the Arcades are another staple in Melbourne’s city life. Arcades are covered walkways, and The Block Arcade and The Royal Arcade are really beautiful and full of fun shops to check out.
Our personal favorite is The Block Arcade with its mosaic floor and the amount of things to look at! We were sure to stop by Haigh’s Chocolates to satisfy Bailey’s sweet tooth – the truffles are amazing. The Tea Room 1892 has actually been serving tea since 1892 and they have it down to a science. If you can fit high tea into your schedule, this is the place to do it.
You’ll find The Royal Arcade next door, which has been around since 1870! Its history runs deep and we enjoyed exploring this historic piece of Melbourne. It has similar shops to the Block Arcade, lots of cafes, and boutique clothing stores. We like Caffé E Torta for some espresso and sweet treats, Paint n’ Powder is a rare perfume shop, and Paper Republic has some cute souvenirs.
If you’re curious about the details and history of the arcades, you’ll enjoy this Arcades Dessert Walking Tour. Oh yeah, you also get to eat a lot of desserts here too! They offer 7 chocolate tastings, including a cheese and chocolate pairing, while you explore the historic arcades. This tour departs at 10:45 am so you will have to move this schedule around a bit, but it will be a great tour if this sounds like you type of thing!
Lunch – Enjoy a meal on one of the laneways
We stopped for lunch in the laneways and found the best little spot: Vespa Rossa! Honestly, you’ll have your pick of restaurants around here, but we can speak for this one! It’s somewhat of a hidden gem as it’s tucked within the Block Arcade and we loved the Mediterranean-inspired menu.
The whole menu looked good, but we went for the wood-fired Italian prosciutto pizza and seafood linguini. They made a great pairing and there wasn’t too much food for lunch, but we were definitely satisfied by the end. If afternoon drinks are your thing, they also offer beer, wine, and cocktails (when on vacation, right!?).
Afternoon – Free City Tram
As you wander through downtown Melbourne, you’ll probably notice the old-timey trams that zip around the city. Well, they are actually functional public transportation and have been since 1885! We spent a few hours riding the trams on a self-guided history tour, as they are free within the tram zone.
Within this tram zone, you can see some classic Melbourne sights like the Victoria Library, Flinders Station, and the Melbourne Gaol. You can see all of the stops and tram maps here, but we will outline our three favorite stops below!
Victoria Library
Bookworm or not, you have to visit the Victoria State Library. This is one of the most beautiful buildings in the city, which is saying something because there are a lot here! It is free to enter and located within the free tram zone, so it’s a good cheap activity to balance out the travel budget.
This library dates back to 1850 and the collection is massive. I mean you can acquire a lot of books in 170+ years! The most notable room was the La Trobe Room, which has an ornate domed roof that is six stories high, and most impressively holds 30,000 books. I was eager to grab a book and hang out here all afternoon, but our itinerary has a few more stops!
You can also see some Melbourne-based artifacts, such as Ned Kelly’s armor from his last shootout. Ned Kelly was an infamous gang leader and outlaw who played a large role in Australia’s history, so this was pretty cool to see!
Flinders Station
Another gorgeous building to check out is Flinders Street Station. You’ve probably seen it a few times while exploring Melbourne, it’s massive and near the Yarra River, so it’s pretty hard to miss.
The exterior has that classic design, topped with a clock tower and all! If I’m honest, the interior isn’t that exciting, so you can skip a peek. But, as the first steam engine railway station in Australia, it’s an essential photo stop as you explore the historic center of the city!
Melbourne Gaol
For some true classic Melbourn history, you must visit the Old Melbourne Gaol. The gaol (or jail, as we spell it nowadays) holds the city’s dark past. It was home to Ned Kelly (as we mentioned earlier) and Frederick Bailey Deeming, who they believe to be Jack the Ripper! This is along the tram route and we had a lot of fun exploring here.
We snagged general admission tickets for $35 AUD and that included a self-guided audio tour. The audio tour did a great job of telling creepy stories and the fascinating history of the jail, I got spooked a few times! There are other guided tours offered for $5 AUD more, like the Nighttime Ghost Tour or the Escape Artists Tour if you’re keen on learning a bit more!
Dinner/night – Enjoy a dinner cruise on the Yarra
We saved the best for last on this 3-day Melbourne itinerary! The Spirit of Melbourne Dinner Cruise was one of our favorite experiences, we can’t think of a better way to cap off your trip to Melbourne than this. We spent three hours sailing down the Yarra River, taking in the skyline and city views, and then enjoyed an amazing dinner with more views!
The cruise took off at 7:30 pm, which was the perfect time for us to have a few drinks on the deck and watch the sunset. It was truly as gorgeous as it sounds! But of course, this is a dinner cruise so I have to rave about the food too. We loved the lamb kofta starter, and the chargrilled beef filet entree was also a hit. Finish it off with port wine paired with dessert and we were two happy campers!
Oh, did I mention the open bar and free-flowing drinks? Because that was definitely a favorite part of ours too!
Here’s a little tip to make your experience even more magical. Reach out to the tour operator when you book on Viator and request a table by the window! We did this and had amazing views all night.
We have taken dinner cruises all over the world, and this Melbourne dinner cruise was one of our favorites – you can read our review of this experience here!
This dinner cruise includes dinner, bottomless drinks, and the three-hour cruise for $185 AUD, which we think is a smokin’ deal for how luxurious it was! They also provide free cancellation 3 days before your tour takes off, so if plans change or the weather looks grim, you have flexibility.
Read the thousands of 5-star reviews and book this incredible Spirit of Melbourne Dinner Cruise here!
Related Read: If you’re also traveling to Sydney, we absolutely loved our Sydney Harbour Dinner Cruise!
Where to Stay in Melbourne
With three days in Melbourne, you’ll need somewhere comfy to call home! There are a lot of accommodation options to fit every budget, so check out our top picks from luxury hotels to budget-friendly hostels. Here’s what you need to know!
The Langham Melbourne – $$$
For an elegant stay – think marble staircases, fountains, and chandeliers – The Langham Melbourne is the perfect place. The hotel is in the middle of Melbourne overlooking the Yarra River. You’ll get beautiful city views from the hotel’s restaurant and from the indoor pool. It’s also within walking distance of a number of top attractions.
Rooms here start at $300 – $400 AUD per night. Check availability and reserve a room here.
Grand Hotel Melbourne – $$
Stay in the Melbourne Central Business District at this historic hotel that has plenty of character. The studios and apartments at the Grand Hotel Melbourne give you more space than a typical hotel and even include a kitchen. You can also take advantage of the heated indoor pool and the fitness center with a sauna. Plus, it’s just a few minutes’ walk to Crown Casino, Southbank, Docklands, and more.
A studio starts at around $200 AUD per night and can be reserved through Booking.com here.
Space Hotel – $
You don’t have to sacrifice style for money at this hostel. The Space Hotel is a modern hostel with lots of extra guest amenities like a gym, a hot tub, and even a mini-theater. You can head to the rooftop terrace to relax and enjoy the views. The hostel is conveniently located in the Central Business District and is not far from the Queen Victoria Market and Chinatown.
Accommodation options include both private rooms and shared dorm rooms. A bed in a dorm starts at $55 AUD and private rooms begin at $100 AUD. You can reserve a spot in advance through Booking.com or Hostelworld.com.
Renting a Car in Australia
With many must-see destinations in Australia outside city limits, one of the best ways to get around is in a rental car.
Australia is a huge country and traveling between cities or getting to some of the most scenic spots requires driving. While public transit is sometimes an option, it often adds a lot of time and planning. Plus, we love the freedom of a rental car to stop wherever we want and not have to stick to a set schedule.
Car rental in Australia is super affordable, especially if you choose a smaller vehicle. We use the website DiscoverCars.com. It’s a search engine that compares multiple car rental companies for you – saving you from visiting each website individually.
If you plan to be based in a main city like Sydney, Melbourne, or Perth and do a few day trips while returning your car to the same location, we’ve booked rentals for as cheap as $25 AUD a day! Full coverage insurance can be added for around an extra $12 AUD a day too. The price will vary depending on the time of year, type of car, and if you’re able to pick up and drop off at the same location.
Discover Cars also offers handy filters so you can search for cars that offer features like child seats, GPS, or let you have an additional driver. There are also free cancellation options if your trip changes. Read our honest review of Discover Cars here for more details!
Check out the selection and book your car rental online here!
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance!
If you’re looking to save money on travel insurance, we currently use and recommend SafetyWing. We’ve been using their coverage since 2018 and they’ve had our backs when we needed emergency flights and got sick overseas.
SafetyWing is one of the cheapest providers out there and covers everything from medical costs to lost luggage, travel delays, and emergency flights. A huge difference we’ve found between them and other companies is that they let you take out a policy AFTER leaving your home country. We’ve also found it handy that it’s a monthly payment rather than a lump sum, and you can get a refund for unused time.
SafetyWing has helped us out in some scary situations before and their affordable coverage has given us peace of mind. You can read our honest review of SafetyWing for all the pros and cons.
Thanks for reading!
There is so much to see in Melbourne, and three days is just enough to scratch the surface! Whether we were wandering around the laneways, enjoying the Yarra River, or setting off on an epic day trip, we were never bored in this city. Even if you follow this itinerary exactly, or simply pick out your favorite activities, I’m certain you’ll have a great time too.
If you found this article helpful, be sure to check out our other Australia blogs to continue planning your travels. As a native Aussie, I have a pretty good idea of the best places to visit! Here are some resources to further your travel inspiration:
5 Tours in Melbourne That Made Us Fall in Love With the City!
10 Things to Know About the Phillip Island Penguins
25 Things to do in Melbourne for First-Time Visitors
Should You do a Melbourne River Cruise? + Which One I Loved the Most!