Hotels in Melbourne
There are hundreds of fantastic hotels in Melbourne, and we'll help you compare them all to find the best one for you. You'll find all the big chains here – including Best Western, Grand Hyatt, InterContinental and Novotel – as well as boutique options. But where's best to stay in Melbourne?
It really depends what you're looking for. Melbourne is a mishmash of different neighbourhoods, ranging from lively, bar-filled Fitzroy to chic Brunswick to restaurant-lined Carlton. You'll notice that a lot of popular Melbourne hotels are in the CBD (Central Business District), as this is also where you'll find Flinders Street Station, Federation Square and Melbourne's famous laneways. Alternatively, if you want to stay by the beach, look at hotels in the St Kilda area. Whatever you're looking for, we'll help you find it.
Things to do in Melbourne
Melbourne runs on coffee, cocktails and street art. To get a feel for the city, why not spend a morning exploring Melbourne's colourful graffiti-covered lanes and cute arcades? Make sure you spend some time in Federation Square, too. This pretty place is quintessential Melbourne, boasting events, restaurants, galleries and more. You can shop for souvenirs at Queen Victoria Market – it's the largest open-air market in the Southern Hemisphere. Or, to feel less like a tourist and more like a local, get tickets to see a game of Aussie rules football at Melbourne Cricket Ground. In the evenings, you can unwind on one of Melbourne's famous rooftop bars, or have dinner down by the Yarra River.
There are also plenty of great day trips on offer from Melbourne. You could drive to Phillip Island to see its famous penguin parade, or enjoy a relaxing beach day in Brighton. But the best day trip – or even a few days, if you have time – you can do is the world-famous Great Ocean Road. Drive along this stunning stretch of coastline to see limestone arches, dramatic gorges and, of course, the iconic Twelve Apostles.