7 Must-see Melbourne sights

Want to get a handle on what makes Melbourne tick? From the new to the very old, these sights offer a number of excellent places to kick off your city exploration.

City Highlights

It’s Melbourne’s meeting place with entertainment on the stage, people gathering in cafes and bars, and some of the city’s most important cultural institutions. Once you’ve taken in the contemporary architecture of Fed Square, head to ACMI, where there are free exhibitions about the past, present and future of the moving image. Also part of Fed Square is The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, where you can see the finest art from all eras of the country’s history.

Discover History

It was built in the mid-1800s and, before it was closed in 1929, held some of Australia’s most notorious criminals. Now, you can visit Old Melbourne Gaol and discover its grim history. At night, take a tour – there’s one guided by the hangman and another that attempts to explain the unexplained sounds and visions that have appeared here. Ghosts? Maybe.

Victoria’s Parliament House stands proud at the top of Spring Street. Join one of the tours and learn about its role, history and the work of the Parliament.

A Different View

The Shrine of Remembrance is a memorial to the service and sacrifice of Australians in war and peacekeeping. There are galleries, commemorative spaces, tours and a Last Post service every Sunday afternoon. From the balcony, there’s also a glorious view across the gardens to the city skyline.

The Royal Exhibition Building is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, being one of the world’s last remaining examples of the nineteenth-century international exhibitions movement. After being closed for 160 years, its Dome Promenade has reopened, offering visitors an impressive vista of the city.


Inspired and ready to visit these amazing sites? Buy your SkyBus Melbourne City Express tickets online now.

A version of this article first appeared in the Official Visitors Guide – Official Visitor Guide, Victoria, Australia (visitmelbourne.com).
Image: Courtesy Visit Victoria.

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