The Best Free Activities for Your Melbourne Visit
Melbourne, the capital city of Victoria, the self proclaimed “garden state”, boasts a smorgasbord of free activates. From art-filled laneways and riverside walks to historic gardens and galleries, the city offers countless experiences that don’t cost a cent. This guide to the 34 best free activities in Melbourne covers everything from cultural icons and architecture to nature escapes and local neighborhoods — perfect for travelers who want to see more while spending less.
Botanical Gardens
Expansive gardens with walking paths and native plants. Established in 1846, they’re among the world’s finest botanic gardens.
Arts Centre
The Arts Centre Melbourne is an iconic theatre and performance venue. Opened in 1984, it has remained the heart of the city’s performing arts scene.
ACMI: Australia’s national museum of screen culture
ACMI is a museum that showcases film, television, and digital culture. Founded in 2002, it celebrates Australia’s evolving screen history.
Ian Potter Centre
The Ian Potter Centre is a gallery dedicated entirely to Australian art. Opened in 2002 as part of Federation Square, it highlights both historic and contemporary works.
NGV Australia & NGV International
The National Gallery of Victoria is Australia’s oldest and largest public art museum. The NGV Australia and NGV International galleries offer free entry to their main collections. Both trace their origins back to 1861, when the National Gallery of Victoria was first founded.
Shrine of Rememberance
The Shrine of Remembrance is a solemn war memorial offering panoramic city views. Built in 1934, it honors Victorians who served in World War I.
Birrarung Marr Yarra River Walk
The Birrarung Marr Yarra River Walk follows scenic paths lined with public art and open space. Created in 2002, it celebrates Melbourne’s connection to the Yarra River and Indigenous heritage.
Southbank
The Birrarung Marr Yarra River Walk follows scenic paths lined with public art and open space. Created in 2002, it celebrates Melbourne’s connection to the Yarra River and Indigenous heritage.
Ride the City Circle Tram
The City Circle Tram offers a free hop-on, hop-off tour of Melbourne’s major landmarks. Operating since 1994, it runs heritage trams through the city’s historic core.
Hosier Lane and Beyond: Self Guided Street Art Walk
Hosier Lane is Melbourne’s most famous street art alley, surrounded by laneways bursting with murals. Once a service lane, it became a global symbol of graffiti culture in the early 2000s.
Flinders Lane Coffee
Flinders Lane is home to some of Melbourne’s trendiest cafés and coffee roasters. The area has been a hub for the city’s café culture since the 1990s.
Federation Square
Federation Square is a central gathering place for events, art, and culture. Opened in 2002 on the site of former railway yards, it represents modern Melbourne’s creative energy.
State Library Victoria
The State Library Victoria is a grand historic library and cultural landmark. Established in 1854, it’s one of the oldest free public libraries in the world.
Australian Music Vault
The Australian Music Vault is a free exhibition celebrating the country’s music scene. Opened in 2017, it showcases decades of Australian musical heritage inside the Arts Centre.
Victoria Police Museum
The Victoria Police Museum explores the state’s crime and law enforcement history. Founded in 1910, it houses fascinating artifacts and stories from Victoria’s policing past.
Melbourne General Cemetery
The Melbourne General Cemetery is a peaceful, historic resting place with notable graves. Established in 1853, it’s the final home of many famous Australians.
Visit Lygon Street
Lygon Street is a bustling hub of Italian dining and culture. Known as “Little Italy,” it flourished in the 1950s with Melbourne’s post-war Italian migration.
Visit Fitzroy Gardens
Fitzroy Gardens is a lush inner-city park filled with fountains and historic landmarks. Established in 1848, it’s home to Captain Cook’s Cottage and classic Victorian charm.
Queen Victoria Market
Queen Victoria Market is a vibrant space to browse produce, crafts, and local foods. Operating since 1878, it’s Melbourne’s most famous open-air market.
Royal Arcade & Block Arcade
The Royal Arcade and Block Arcade invite visitors to stroll through elegant shopping halls with intricate architecture. Built in the 1890s, they’re the city’s oldest surviving arcades.
St Kilda Beach
St Kilda Beach is a seaside escape just minutes from the city centre. A popular destination since the 1850s, it’s known for its pier, sunsets, and resident penguins.
Royal Exhibition Building & Carlton Gardens
The Royal Exhibition Building and its surrounding Carlton Gardens form a UNESCO-listed site. Completed in 1880 for the Melbourne International Exhibition, it’s a masterpiece of Victorian architecture.
Docklands Public Art Trail
The Docklands Public Art Trail features large-scale sculptures and waterfront installations. Developed in the early 2000s, it reflects Melbourne’s modern design spirit.
Parliament House Tour
Parliament House offers free guided tours when Parliament isn’t sitting. Built in 1856, it remains one of Australia’s oldest public buildings still in active use.
Laneway Music or Comedy Nights
Melbourne’s laneways often host free music and comedy performances. These creative pop-ups have been part of the city’s arts culture since the 1980s.
Collins Street Architecture Walk
A walk along Collins Street reveals heritage façades beside sleek skyscrapers. Known since the 19th century as the “Paris End,” it captures Melbourne’s architectural evolution.
Chinatown
Melbourne’s Chinatown is a maze of historic laneways and delicious eateries. Established during the 1850s Gold Rush, it’s the oldest continuous Chinatown in the Western world.
Abbotsford Convent
Abbotsford Convent is a tranquil arts and community precinct surrounded by gardens. Built in the 1860s as a convent, it now houses creative studios and exhibitions.
Federation Bells at Birrarung Marr
The Federation Bells are a unique outdoor sound installation that chime daily over the park. Installed in 2001, they commemorate the centenary of Australia’s Federation.
Royal Botanic Gardens Walks
The Royal Botanic Gardens offer free guided and self-guided walks through peaceful landscapes. Guided tours have been part of the gardens since the 1930s.
Melbourne Museum Forecourt & IMAX Plaza
The Melbourne Museum Forecourt and IMAX Plaza are open spaces showcasing public art and architecture. Built in 2000, they form part of the museum’s contemporary design.
Princes Bridge & Southbank Promenade
Princes Bridge connects the city to the lively Southbank Promenade. The current bridge dates to 1888 and remains one of Melbourne’s most recognizable landmarks.
University of Melbourne Campus Walk
The University of Melbourne campus invites visitors to explore historic buildings and free exhibitions. Founded in 1853, it’s the oldest university in Australia.
Melbourne Central Coop’s Shot Tower and Glass Cone Skylight
The tall, cylindrical, red brick tower located inside the Melbourne Central shopping centre is called Coop’s Shot Tower. It’s a heritage-listed building that was completed in 1889 and was originally used to manufacture lead shot (bullets) by dropping molten lead from the top into a water vat at the bottom. When the modern shopping centre was built in the 1990s, the historic tower was preserved and encased within the iconic glass cone skylight.
