One Day in Melbourne, Australia- The Adventuring Millennial

I visited Australia for the first time earlier this year. Let me tell you, I struggled a bit with my itinerary. There is just so much to see and do and I wasn’t sure how to fit everything into a short trip. I only had a few days to spend in each city and I started to think I wasn’t giving each city justice. I soon learned that Australian cities are more relaxed than most American cities I’ve explored. And I had no trouble easing into the slower pace.

All that to be said, I decided to create a one day in Melbourne itinerary to showcase my favorites things in this city. This is the perfect guide for a first-time visit. I visited during Australia’s summer, so that is also the best time to use this guide.

Let’s get started on our one day in Melbourne!

Getting There

Melbourne has an international airport, which is how I reached the city. I flew from Sydney with the budget airline Tigerair. Most of Australia’s major cities are a few hours away from Melbourne, so flying is the best way to get here if you are trying to make the most of a quick Australian trip.

Transportation in the City

Melbourne offers some great public transportation. It is very easy to get around the city without a car. You can take a tram, train, or bus to most of the places you will want to go around the city.

Make the most of Melbourne’s Free Tram Zone. In most of the CBD, you don’t have to pay for your tram ride. Otherwise, you need to tap on and off with a Myki Card. The Myki Card works for the trams, buses, and trains. You can purchase these cards at most 7-Elevens or at select stations. Or, download the Mobile Myki app if you have an Android phone.

Good to Know

Don’t forget, Australia is in the Southern Hemisphere so the seasons are opposite those in America. Australian summer lasts from December-February.

One Day in Melbourne

Time for Brekkie

Ready to kick off our day with brekkie! You have a few options. If you want a trendy pastry, head to Lune Croissanterie. This is Melbourne’s answer to Dominique Ansel’s or Mr. Holme’s Bakeshop. Lune follows a 3-day process to create their flakey pastries. Arrive early and prepared to wait in line. I tried the Plain Croissant, a Twice Baked Almond Croissant, a Lemon Cruffin, and a Pain au Chocolat during my trip. The Twice Baked Almond Croissant was by far my favorite!

If you want a cafe experience, check out Operator 25. This is a cozy brunch spot in a historic telephone exchange building. You can sit inside the airy cafe or sit outside in the quiet laneway. The menu offers colorful options, like the bright Ube Waffles. This is also a perfect place to try some Australian iced coffee, which is made with vanilla ice cream!

Don’t Skip the Coffee

Speaking of coffee, Australia has a strong coffee culture. Melbourne is especially known for its laneway coffee shops. Most are only open in the morning and early afternoon (I guess they don’t know the joys of late afternoon coffee) but no judgment if you want to sample a few different coffee shops around the city.

Most Australian coffee shops heavily feature espresso beverages. It is much harder to find drip coffee. The flat white is Australia’s signature coffee drink, so make sure you try at least one during your one day in Melbourne!

Operator 25– As I mentioned earlier, stop by this cute brunch spot to try some great iced drinks. Even if you don’t stop here for a full meal, order some Australian iced coffee to go! You can even add coffee jelly to your drink if you are feeling adventurous.
Patricia Coffee Brewers– I stopped by this cafe on a busy Monday morning and I quickly realized I was the only tourist in line. This seemed like a routine stop for many people who worked in the CBD. I loved finding a local spot and really enjoyed the flat white I ordered.
White Mojo– White Mojo is a specialty coffee roaster and cafe. You can enjoy your coffee inside or take it to go as you continue to wander the city. In addition to classic espresso drinks, they serve black and green lattes.
Good 2 Go– This coffee shop in Hosier Lane helps provide work to the city’s homeless youth. Plus they serve some iconic Australian snacks like jaffles and toasties.

Wander the Lanes

Melbourne is known for its lanes (alleyways). Unlike in other major cities, it is very safe to explore the winding lanes of Melbourne. Many of these lanes are decorated with colorful street art and are filled with shops and cafes. Grab your coffee and spend some time wandering through the lanes during your one day in Melbourne.

Don’t miss:

AC/DC Lane– Named for the Australian rock band, this lane is home to colorful street art and bars.
Hosier Lane– If you are looking for the iconic Melbourne street art, you’ve come to the right place. This lane gets packed with photographers, so arrive early to get that Insta-worthy shot.
Hardware Lane– This laneway is lined with restaurants and cafes, giving it a European feel.
Centre Place– This laneway is a little more tucked away than Hardware. There are plenty of shops and restaurants to explore in this lane.
Degraves Street– More of a traditional street than a lane, Degraves offers some of the city’s trendier eateries.

Get Cultured

You could easily spend your morning eating and exploring the lanes. But, if you want to visit a museum during the late morning, consider checking out:

The National Gallery of Victoria– This FREE museum is open from 10am-5pm. This is Australia’s most visited museum and it features a collection of historic artifacts, Australian art, and modern international art. Rotating exhibits require a separate ticket.

Melbourne Museum– This is Melbourne’s natural history and culture museum. Here you can view a collection of dinosaur fossils and other scientific exhibits. Tickets cost $15 for adults and the museum is open from 10am-5pm.

Let’s Grab Lunch

Now that you’ve worked up an appetite, let’s grab lunch.

I recommend Metro Burgers the James Squire Brewhouse.

You will find Metro Burgers on Degraves Street, which you probably want to explore anyways. This is a no-frills burger joint. If it’s a nice day, try to grab a spot at the window-facing bar where you can people watch. If you want to try something exotic, their menu includes an Outback Burger made with a kangaroo patty.

Or, check out James Squire Brewhouse. This pub in the CBD offers craft beers and pub classics, like pies, Ploughman’s Plates, and Crocodile and Chicken Spring Rolls (Ok, that one isn’t as classic).

Explore with a FREE Walking Tour

At this point, you’ve experiences Melbourne’s lanes and cafe culture. If you want to learn a bit more about the city, I strongly recommend taking an afternoon walking tour. I’m Free Melbourne offers a pay-what-you-wish tour every afternoon at 2:30 pm. Meet at Sir Redmond Barry in front of the State Library of Victoria. During your 2-2.5 hour tour you will learn more about Melbourne’s history and culture. You will also see most of the city’s iconic sites. I took this tour in Melbourne (and the sister tour in Sydney) and loved it. The guides were so helpful and informative! This was by far one of the best walking tours I’ve ever taken.

Enjoy the Sunset at St. Kilda Beach

As you research things to do in Melbourne, you will probably come across the Phillip Island Penguin Parade. Ok, full disclosure I didn’t visit Phillip Island during my trip. But after talking to locals, I realized I made the right decision. Phillip Island has become overcrowded and often, people are disappointed by the number of penguins they get to see.

If you are visiting during the summer and really want to see a penguin, spend the evening at St. Kilda Beach instead. This neighborhood is only a 30-minute tram ride from Melbourne’s CBD. In addition to the beautiful beach, there are plenty of quirky restaurants and shops to explore in St. Kilda.

Once you get to St. Kilda, you will probably see hundreds of people lined up along the boardwalk hoping to spot the penguins returning to the beach. Be patient, most locals told me you could actually see more penguins just after sunset. I was pleasantly surprised to find a spot and I even saw a dozen or so penguins scurry to the rocks from the water. It was such a cute experience and I’m glad I choose this option instead of wasting my money on a day trip to Philip Island.

There are plenty of spots to grab dinner or a drink in St. Kilda. Wander along the beach and check out the many beachfront restaurants, like Republica.

Or, if you want to skip St. Kilda altogether, stroll along Flinders Lane and find a trendy restaurant. My favorite spot is Chin Chin. This is a trendy Asian fusion restaurant with a menu of curries, noodle bowls, and BBQ. If you can’t decide, opt for the $70 “Feed Me” meal where you can sample a selection of the chef’s specialties.

I hope you enjoyed my One Day in Melbourne Guide. Have you been to Melbourne? What else would you include on this list?

If you are looking for more, check out these posts:

8 Can’t Miss Places to Eat in Melbourne

48 Hours in Sydney

8 Cool Places to Eat in Sydney