Melbourne · Australia
Melbourne Tours, Tickets & Things to Do
Discover the best Melbourne tours, the spectacular Great Ocean Road and Twelve Apostles, the penguin parade and wildlife of Phillip Island, wine and gourmet tours in the Yarra Valley, the heritage Puffing Billy steam train, city laneway and culture walks, and scenic Yarra River cruises. Compare top-rated activities and plan your perfect Melbourne itinerary.
855 experiences Free cancellation Top-rated tours Instant booking
Good for families in Melbourne
Children can join from a young age and pay less than adults — taken from each operator’s price list.
Browse
Explore Melbourne by interest
Whatever brings you to Melbourne — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
Great Ocean Road
The Twelve Apostles.
ExplorePhillip Island
The penguin parade.
ExploreYarra Valley
Cool-climate wines.
ExplorePuffing Billy
The steam train.
ExploreCity tours
Laneways and culture.
ExploreCruises & balloons
River and skyline.
ExploreWildlife
Koalas and kangaroos.
ExploreDay trips
Victoria’s best.
ExploreWhat to see
Top attractions in Melbourne
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Twelve Apostles
The limestone stacks.
250+ toursView tours
Phillip Island
The penguin parade.
200 toursView tours
Yarra Valley
Cool-climate wines.
200 toursView tours
Puffing Billy
The steam train.
120 toursView tours
Laneways
Street art and cafés.
180 toursView tours
Great Ocean Road
The scenic coastal drive.
250 toursView tours
Yarra River
City cruises.
100 toursView tours
City & MCG
Culture and sport.
150 toursView tours
3 days
Melbourne in 3 days
- 1Day 1: City
- 2Day 2: Great Ocean Road
- 3Day 3: Phillip Island or Yarra
- 4City, coast & wildlife
With kids
Melbourne with kids
- 1Puffing Billy
- 2Phillip Island penguins
- 3Great Ocean Road koalas
- 4River cruise
Full day
Great Ocean Road day trip
- 1Coast road to Bells Beach & Apollo Bay
- 2Wild koalas at Kennett River
- 3Twelve Apostles & Loch Ard Gorge
- 4Sunset over the limestone stacks
Theme day
Laneways & coffee culture
- 1Street art crawl through Hosier Lane
- 2Flat white in a hidden laneway café
- 3Food tastings at Queen Victoria Market
- 4Cocktails in a secret rooftop bar
Full day awayGreat Ocean Road
The Twelve Apostles.
from €70View trips
2 hrs awayPhillip Island
The penguin parade.
from €75View trips
1 hr awayYarra Valley
Cool-climate wines.
from €90View trips
1 hr awayPuffing Billy
The steam train.
from €60View trips
In the city awayCity Laneways
Street art and cafés.
from €30View trips
1.5 hrs awayMornington Peninsula
Beaches and hot springs.
from €90View trips
Practical guide
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Melbourne visitor asks before booking.
The sweet-spot months
Spring (September–November) and autumn (March–May) bring mild, pleasant weather ideal for the city and day trips — the prime times to visit Melbourne.
Summer (Dec–Feb)
Warm to hot, great for the coast, the Great Ocean Road and outdoor events; it can spike very hot, and it’s the busiest season.
Autumn (Mar–May)
Mild, golden and pleasant, with the wine harvest in the Yarra Valley — a lovely time to visit.
Winter (Jun–Aug)
Cool and grey with some rain, plus snow in the nearby ranges; cosy for the city’s cafés, culture and food.
Spring (Sep–Nov)
Fresh and blooming, with events and racing carnival; pleasant for sightseeing and the gardens.
Pack layers
Melbourne’s weather is famously changeable — “four seasons in one day” — so bring layers and a light rain jacket year-round.
One day
Enough for the city laneways and culture.
Two days
Add the Great Ocean Road.
Three days
The sweet spot: city, coast, and Phillip Island or the Yarra Valley.
Four to five days
Add the Mornington Peninsula, Puffing Billy and more.
A week or more
Use Melbourne as a base to explore Victoria.
Travelling with kids
Mix penguins, steam trains and the coast gently.
Trams
Melbourne’s iconic tram network covers the city, with the Free Tram Zone in the CBD; use a Myki card outside it.
Trains
Suburban trains from Flinders Street and Southern Cross link the city, suburbs and the airport area.
On foot
The compact CBD, laneways and riverside are very walkable and best explored on foot.
Tour transfers
Most Great Ocean Road, Phillip Island and Yarra Valley tours include central or hotel pickup.
Myki card
A Myki card covers trams, trains and buses across Melbourne with daily fare caps.
From the airport
Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine) is about 30 minutes from the CBD by SkyBus, taxi or ride app.
Use the Free Tram Zone
Trams are free within the CBD’s Free Tram Zone — handy for getting around the city centre.
Australian dollar
Australia uses the dollar; cards and contactless are accepted almost everywhere, so little cash is needed.
Embrace coffee culture
Melbourne is famous for its coffee and laneway cafés — a city food or coffee tour is a great introduction.
Pack for all seasons
The weather changes fast; bring layers and a light rain jacket even in summer.
Penguins at dusk
For the Phillip Island parade, dress warmly — even in summer the evening beach is cool and windy.
Reverse Great Ocean Road
A reverse-itinerary tour reaches the Twelve Apostles ahead of the crowds.
Great Ocean Road tours
Popular day trips sell out — book ahead.
Phillip Island
Penguin Parade tours fill up — reserve early.
Yarra Valley tours
Wine tours are busy — pre-book.
Puffing Billy
Steam-train and combo tours fill up — book ahead.
Balloon flights
Sunrise balloon flights have limited seats — reserve early.
Summer & events
December–February and big events are busy — plan ahead.
Great Ocean Road
Around €70–120 for a full-day Great Ocean Road tour.
Phillip Island
About €75–130 for a penguin and wildlife day tour.
Yarra Valley
Roughly €90–150 for a wine tour with tastings and lunch.
Puffing Billy
Around €60–110 for a steam-train and wildlife tour.
Balloon flights
About €250–350 for a sunrise balloon flight with breakfast.
How to save
Use the Free Tram Zone and a Myki card, walk the laneways, and share group day tours.
When to visit
Melbourne through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
Summer (Dec–Feb)
Dec–Feb
- Best for
- Coast and events.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Warm, busy; book ahead.
Autumn (Mar–May)
Mar–May
- Best for
- Wine harvest, mild days.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Golden and pleasant.
Winter (Jun–Aug)
Jun–Aug
- Best for
- Cafés, culture and snow.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Cool, grey; cosy in town.
Spring (Sep–Nov)
Sep–Nov
- Best for
- Gardens and racing carnival.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Fresh; changeable.
People also ask
Melbourne travel FAQ
What are the best tours in Melbourne?
The highest-rated Melbourne experiences are the Great Ocean Road and Twelve Apostles, the Phillip Island penguin parade, a Yarra Valley wine tour, the Puffing Billy steam train, and a city laneways and culture tour.
What should I book in advance in Melbourne?
Book Great Ocean Road, Phillip Island, Yarra Valley and balloon tours ahead, as they sell out, especially in the December–February summer and over holidays.
How many days do I need in Melbourne?
Two to three days covers the city, the Great Ocean Road, and Phillip Island or the Yarra Valley; add days for the Mornington Peninsula and more day trips.
Is Melbourne worth visiting?
Yes — Melbourne rewards with its laneways, coffee and culture, the spectacular Great Ocean Road, the Phillip Island penguins, the Yarra Valley wineries, and the heritage Puffing Billy steam train.
What are the best day trips from Melbourne?
Top day trips are the Great Ocean Road and Twelve Apostles, the Phillip Island penguins, the Yarra Valley wineries, Puffing Billy in the Dandenongs, and the Mornington Peninsula.
When is the best time to visit Melbourne?
Spring (September–November) and autumn (March–May) bring mild, pleasant weather ideal for the city and day trips; summer (December–February) is warm and busy, while winter (June–August) is cool but cosy — pack layers, as the weather changes fast.
How do you get around Melbourne?
Melbourne’s iconic trams (free in the CBD zone), suburban trains and buses cover the city — use a Myki card; the centre is very walkable, and most day tours include pickup, with the airport about 30 minutes from the CBD.
855 Melbourne experiencesfrom €20 · free cancellation
Explore tours