Meeting outside St Paul’s Cathedral, cnr Swanston St and Flinders St, Melbourne - on the front walkway of the church between main Flinders St entrance and the side door on Swanston St. (See the area immediately below the west spire of the church behind the corner power pole in the picture attached: StPaulsside.jpg).
Description
Immerse yourself in Melbourne culture on a walking tour of the city's charming laneways with a local guide providing fascinating insights. Learn about the city's history, stroll past iconic edifices, view street art and discover quirky hidden shops and cool cafes, stopping en route for a coffee. Tour is limited to 10 people to provide a small-group experience.
Schedule & prices
Runs
Every day
Start times
10:00 AM
Next available
Mon, Oct 5
Adult (ages 13+)
$91
Prices change with the date; the lowest is shown.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 4.
Tour Options
Laneways of Melbourne + Lunch
Lunch: Lunch is optionally available upon the conclusion of the Laneway Tour on Fridays
Laneways of Melbourne
Itinerary
MELTours
180 min
Meet your guide at the steps in front of St Paul's Cathedral (cnr. Swanston Street and Flinders Street) to begin your Melbourne laneways walking tour.
Explore the city’s collection of secret galleries, hidden shops, and laneway cafes on a journey that introduces you to a beloved piece of Melbourne culture. During your tour, stop for a macaron and coffee tasting while hearing about local history, architecture, street art, quirky shops, and interesting stories from your guide.
What's included
Included
Coffee / hot drink
Professional guide
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.9
285 reviews
5
265
4
13
3
3
2
1
1
3
How it compares in Melbourne
Starting price $91 is 43% above the typical $64 for tours of similar length in Melbourne
Excurgo comparison of 840 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
Public transportation options are available nearby
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Adult pricing applies to all travelers.
Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
Wheelchair accessible on a private tour only; please advise at time of booking if wheelchair assistance is required
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Laneways of Melbourne take?
Laneways of Melbourne lasts about 3 hours. The itinerary has 1 stop.
How much does Laneways of Melbourne cost?
Prices start at $91 per person for this Melbourne experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There are 2 booking options, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does Laneways of Melbourne run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 10:00 AM.
Can I cancel Laneways of Melbourne for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is Meeting outside St Paul’s Cathedral, cnr Swanston St and Flinders St, Melbourne - on the front walkway of the church between main Flinders St entrance and the side door on Swanston St. (See the area immediately below the west spire of the church behind the corner power pole in the picture attached: StPaulsside.jpg). Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is Laneways of Melbourne offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 10 participants.
Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
Wheelchair accessible on a private tour only; please advise at time of booking if wheelchair assistance is required
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Is Laneways of Melbourne worth it?
Travellers rate it 4.9 out of 5 across 285 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by MELTours.
Reviews(285)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
M
markrE5536VA
September 13, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
A must do for Melbourne first timers
We were fortunate to have San all to ourselves on this occasion. San's knowledge of Melbourne's history, laneways, art deco buildings, churches and restaurants and delivery of all the information was first class. We would never have found these places without the tour and recommend it for any Melbourne first timers. We're now confident enough and planning to bring overseas visitors to Melbourne in March next year to try out some of the restaurants and perhaps take the Mel tours "hidden bars" option.
Operator response
Hi Mark,
Thank you so much for this great review!
We are thrilled that you really enjoyed your tour with San - he is a passionate guide who loves sharing his vast knowledge of all things Melbourne.
Best wishes,
The Team at MELTours
K
katiebL9994VT
July 17, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Amazing laneways tour
An amazing 3 hour tour of Melbourne learning about the history, viewing the street art and viewing the impressive architecture of Melbourne. Our tour guide was a wealth of knowledge. You'll appreciate the city so much more with a knowledgeable guide.
Operator response
Hi Katie,
Thank you so much for this great review. We are so pleased you enjoyed discovering the many aspects of our wonderful city.
Best wishes,
The Team at MELTours
A
AndrewRoss1977
June 14, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Great tour. Well worth it!!
A wonderful and informative tour. Have been to Melbourne a few times before but discovered places and history I wasn’t aware of. San was amazing and can’t recommend high enough. Thanks
Operator response
Hi Andrew,
We are so pleased that you enjoyed your tour with San - he is a passionate guide who loves sharing his vast knowledge of Melbourne.
Thank you for taking the time to submit this great review - we really appreciate it.
Best wishes,
The Team at METours
C
cynct_city
April 28, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Experienced guide, good tour
My guide Cathy was very knowledgeable and great in explaining the history of laneways, the culture, the street art. She told stories very well and clear, and I truly enjoyed my time with her on the tour. Now I have a good appreciation of melbourne laneways. Thank you!
Operator response
Dear Cynct,
Thank your for your great review. We are very glad you enjoyed your tour exploring the laneways of Melbourne with our knowledgeable guide, Kathy. We will certainly pass your feedback on to her.
All the best from the MELTours team
M
Maps58759
April 11, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Great introduction to Melbourne!
Kathy is an amazing guide — knowledgeable, warm, and interesting! She shared places with us that we would never find on our own! Combining history, culture, storytelling, and dining recommendations, Kathy provided a wonderful introduction to our first visit to Melbourne. Highly recommend!
Operator response
Dear Maps58759,
We are so glad you enjoyed your tour with Kathy, discovering the wonders of Melbourne. She is certainly very knowledgeable and passionate about her hometown. Thank you for sending in this great review.
All the best from the MELTours team
N
nickgU1202EJ
April 3, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Essential way to learn and see the city
Awesome way to see the city, learn the history and understand the culture - hugely recommended - San (guide) was outstanding
Operator response
Hi Nick,
Many thanks for taking the time to write this great review and for your recommendation - it is much appreciated.
San will be thrilled to hear that you really enjoyed the tour.
Best wishes,
The Team at MELTours
E
E9625WWmarias
March 30, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Lots to learn - don't forget to look up!
This tour was amazing! Despite having lived in the suburbs of Melbourne & visited the city on many occasions, this tour took me places I had never been before. The guide provided me with the background to Melbourne which I had never given any thought to before. The walk was easy, the information fascinating, the artwork expressive & the coffee & croissants at Brunetti's was worth waiting for. On top of all that, the styles of architecture of the city buildings varies - don't forget to look up!
Operator response
Hi E9625W,
We are so pleased that you enjoyed your Laneways of Melbourne tour. Exploring your own city is a wonderful way of discovering it's many gems particularly if you are with a knowledgeable guide.
Thank you for taking the time to write this great review.
Best wishes,
The Team at MELTours
6
671gayef
March 28, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
See Melbourne anew!
Sam was great. So informative of history, architecture and Melbourne insights. I'm seeing Melbourne through a new lens. Loved it!
Operator response
Hi Gaye,
Thank you so much for your great review!
San will be thrilled that you enjoyed the tour rediscovering the fabulous city of Melbourne.
Best wishes,
The Team at MELTours
L
Lori_H
March 15, 2026 · via Viator
Kathy did a fantastic...
Kathy did a fantastic job. I learned so much about Melbourne’s history and the wonderful laneway street art scene. She also had some great hidden gems to show me that I never would have seen otherwise. So glad I did this tour!
Operator response
Hi Lori,
Thank you for your great review! We are glad you enjoyed your tour with Kathy. She certainly knows where those hidden gems are! We will pass on your feedback to her.
Cheers from the MELTours team
N
NICHOLAS T
March 8, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Cool graffiti streets
There is lots of cool graffiti on the walls which was up to date with commentary on current world events and international women’s day.
Free to visit and well worth a look.
Operator response
Hi Nicholas,
Thank you for your review and recommendation.
Best wishes from the MELTours team
