Flights to Melbourne

Cosmopolitan Melbourne is Australia's cultural capital and its best city break destination. Book flights to Melbourne with AirforMe today to discover this dynamic modern city. 

With world-class museums and galleries, premier international sporting fixtures and some of the biggest arts festivals on the planet, Melbourne is brimming with energy and enthusiasm. Spend your days walking around the city centre and stumble upon great attractions and restaurants, or hit the shops of glamorous Collins Street. And don't miss a trip to Crown Melbourne, home to the city's most exciting entertainment. Book flights to Melbourne from the UK with AirforMe today. 

Things to do in Melbourne 

1. Melbourne might be a big city, but the city centre is easy to get around on foot. Start your trip by exploring the city's iconic buildings on a walking tour. Don't miss Flinders Street Station, one of the city's most impressive colonial era buildings, or hang out at modern Federation Square.
2. For great views over Melbourne, head to the Eureka Skydeck 88, an observation deck is situated on the 88th floor of Eureka Tower. At 285m tall, this is reportedly the highest vantage point in the southern hemisphere.
3. The Yarra River is a central part of Melbourne's landscape. Take a walk alongside the river, have a BBQ on its banks or take a boat trip to appreciate the city from the water.
4. Learn more about Australian heritage at the excellent Melbourne Museum. In fact, the city's teeming with fantastic museums and exhibits: don't miss the Planetarium at Scienceworks or the National Gallery of Victoria either.
5. Engage young minds at Melbourne Zoo, home to over 250 species including Australian kangaroos, wombats and koalas. And at Melbourne Aquarium, you'll get to enjoy the incredible 360-degree Oceanarium and the world's largest collection of seahorses.
6. Feeling lucky? Melbourne's Crown Casino and Entertainment Complex is one of the biggest in the world. And with several restaurants, bars, cinemas and live shows on too, there's plenty more to do than gamble.
7. People in Melbourne are sports-mad: if you're visiting in summer, grab a ticket for an international match at the world-famous Melbourne Cricket Ground. Or visit in January to see tennis greats battle at the Australian Open Grand Slam tournament.
8. Australia now rivals France and Italy as one of the world's greatest wine producers. If you like a tipple, take a Yarra Valley wine tour from Melbourne to explore its vineyards and wineries.
9. Want to learn more about Aboriginal art and culture? Visit the Koorie Heritage Trust on King Street, near the Docklands area.
10. Whenever you visit Melbourne, there's sure to be a festival on in this vibrant cultural capital. The Melbourne International Comedy Festival is one of the biggest of its kind in the world, and October's annual Melbourne Festival is a highly acclaimed spectacle of theatre, dance, opera and music. 

Shopping in Melbourne

Stalk the shops of this international city and you'll find world famous names in fashion – along with a few under-the-radar Aussie brands. 

Where to shop

Collins Street is Melbourne's 5th Avenue. It's a great place to shop for designer labels and the streets that turn off it – like Little Collins Street and Collins Place – have a few hidden gems too. Don't forget to scour the eclectic stores of Brunswick Street, Bourke Street Mall and Melbourne Central shopping centre as well.

Queen Victoria Market

No trip to Melbourne is complete without a visit to Queen Victoria Market. This historic market is a great place to try fantastic local and seasonal food, but there are clothes, homeware, and much more here too. What's more, the atmospheric Night Market pops up from November to February. 

Eating in Melbourne

You'll find almost every kind of global cuisine in Melbourne, from traditional fish and chips right through to sushi. To see the city at its culinary best, visit during the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival or book a tour with Melbourne Food Experiences. 

What to eat in Melbourne

For the city's best souvlaki (grilled meat on a skewer), head to the Greek Precinct on Lonsdale Street. You'll find some of Australia's best dim sum restaurants in Melbourne's Chinatown, while Japanese cuisine is another mainstay of the city's food culture. For something a little hotter, try laksa at a Malay restaurant or a spicy fish curry at a Sri Lankan eatery. 

Eating out in Melbourne

Head to the Southbank district to choose from an array of great restaurants: try French-Asian cuisine at Blondie Bar or dine at Eureka 89, where you'll have 360-degree panoramas over Melbourne. Elsewhere, La Luna Bistro is great for contemporary Australian food and Hellenic Republic is one of the city's best Greek restaurants. 

Insider's Tips 

Call 000 in Melbourne for emergency assistance from the police, ambulance or fire services. You can also call 131 444 for non-emergency police help. 

British citizens must have a visa before going on holiday to Australia. You can apply for an eVisitor visa online at no cost. 

Melbourne's weather is notoriously changeable. In general, it's best to visit in summer, which falls between December and February. Winter (May to August) can be chilly and wet. 

To travel on Melbourne's public transport system, you'll need to get a reusable myki smart card and add credit before you travel. 

Getting there from Melbourne Airport 

Skybus

Skybus departs from Melbourne Airport to the city centre every 10 minutes, 24/7. You can buy tickets online in advance or at the bus stop. 

Airport taxis

Jump in a taxi at the designated ranks outside Terminals 1 and 3. You can also book a taxi in advance. Between 10pm and 5am, taxis require a prepaid fare. 

Car hire

Hire a car for easy, independent travel around Melbourne during your stay. Car hire desks at the airport include Avis, Europcar and Hertz.