9 Must-See Melbourne Neighborhoods and How to Visit

Melbourne's Central Business District (CBD) is the city center and a natural starting point for first-time visitors. Within its grid of streets from the Yarra River up to Victoria Market you’ll find a mosaic of old and new, from modernist Federation Square to art nouveau Flinders Street Station.

The CBD is also home to Chinatown, with its wealth of East Asian restaurants, and the city’s famous lanes, such as Hosier Lane and AC/DC Lane, which are regularly explored on Melbourne food tours and walking tours.

Cross any of the many bridges over the Yarra River from the CBD and you arrive in Southbank. Off the neighborhood’s promenade lies towering landmarks such as the Eureka Skydeck skyscraper, Crown Melbourne entertainment complex, and Arts Centre Melbourne. Entertainment really is the name of the game here, be it soaking up culture at the National Gallery of Victoria and digital art gallery THE LUME, shopping up a storm at DFO South Wharf, or indulging at the various bars and restaurants off the waterfront.

If you were to only look at the rows of heritage terrace houses along Fitzroy’s streets, you might think this inner northeast suburb was a quiet, historic residential area. But to do that, you’d have to ignore the barrage of street art, boutiques, cafés, restaurants, indie galleries, and cool bars that give Fitzroy its well-deserved reputation as an eclectic hub for food, drink, and culture (which you can explore on a private tour). Brunswick Street runs through the heart of the neighborhood, providing access to local highlights such as the rooftop views from Naked for Satan and baked goods from Lune, contender for the world’s best croissant.

Just 4 miles (6 kilometers) south of the CBD, the beachfront suburb of St. Kilda is where Melbourne goes to chill. The gentle surf of St. Kilda Beach is perfect for stand-up paddleboarding or simply cooling off when summer hits.

Behind a palm tree–lined beachfront that caters to cyclists and joggers lies a selection of laid-back pubs, cafés, and hostels. Standing out among all that is the giant grinning face at the front of historic amusement center Luna Park, which still finds ways to entertain its visitors.

The Italian influence on Melbourne is at its strongest in the inner northern suburb of Carlton. Here, down-to-earth trattorias and pizzerias line Lygon Street, and cafés can be found around any corner should you wish to see where the city’s love affair with coffee first bloomed.

Things switch gears, though, at Carlton Gardens, where the grand Royal Exhibition Building stands proud in front of a large fountain, as the city’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site. Behind the heritage building stands the more modern Melbourne Museum with its wide-ranging exhibits.

Whether you’re a sports fan headed to a game at the nearby arenas, or just enjoy a beer, live music, or a steaming bowl of pho, Richmond is an inner suburb that needs to be on visitors’ radars. This sprawling inner east suburb combines Victoria Street’s Little Saigon and its Vietnamese eateries, a range of live music venues including the iconic Corner Hotel, and easy access to a pint, be it at one of the many local pubs or the growing range of local craft breweries.

South Yarra is another southern suburb known for food, fun, and retail. Chapel Street is at the bustling core of this suburb in the city’s southeast, but visiting it means different things to different people.

For avid shoppers, Chapel Street is where you can lose a day hopping between designer stores. To foodies, it's home to every cuisine under the sun, especially with Prahran Market and its diverse delis and eateries. And if nightlife is calling, you’re spoiled for choice, from pubs to late-night clubs, including local institution Revolver Upstairs, better known as “Revs.”

Set on the bay, past St. Kilda, lies the upscale beachside suburb of Brighton. A string of beaches surrounding its yacht club make Brighton Beach a nice place for a stroll. But the sand and surf here aren’t the only reason tourists come this far – that honor goes to the iconic bathing boxes of Brighton Beach, 82 colorful and distinctive timber-framed huts, a popular sight on tours to the Mornington Peninsula and Phillip Island.

Once a working-class suburb focused on livestock and butchery, North Melbourne has grown to become an exciting alternative to the established inner northern hubs of Fitzroy and Carlton.

Cozy venues such as Auction Rooms and Mörk Chocolate Brew House make for relaxed weekend brunch spots, offering a taste of the neighborhood’s emerging café culture. Should you not be in town during the annual Melbourne International Comedy Festival, North Melbourne’s Comic's Lounge is where to check out the local comedy scene.