Explore Melbourne in One Week

This article lays out my initial impressions of Melbourne and any memorable parts I visited during my week-long stay in December 2022.

I began my journey in the city of Melbourne, Victoria. I spent about a week in North Melbourne near the CBD (Central Business District), staying in a hostel bunk room shared with seven other girls.

Melbourne is known for being one of the most livable cities in the world, with a diverse multicultural population, vibrant arts scene, upscale cafés, and lovely parks scattered through charming streets.

Initial Thoughts

I walked out of the bus terminal around noon and was pleased with the lack of crowds in the street. The sun was lighting up the colorful flowers along the sidewalks and the birds chirped all around. It was obvious summer was in full swing.

Melbourne is very walkable, but they also have a great public transit system. You simply purchase a reloadable Myki pass (used for all trams, trains, and buses) at a station or a 7-Eleven, add money to it, and off you go!

Google Maps made it exceptionally easy to use public transport by showing your route's different transit options and where you can hop on & off. So, I did a LOT of exploring during the week I spent there.

An International Hub

One of the things that struck me most was how multicultural this town is. You'd hear accents & languages of all kinds as you went about the day. I met people from all over the world which, in my opinion, made Melbourne that much more intoxicating.

The lady making your coffee is from Japan, the family on the tram is from India, and the cashier at the grocery is French. Not to mention all the multicultural food shops and restaurants! It's a crazy mixed bag of people, languages, activities, cuisines, etc...

The Asian influence was also noticeably more prevalent than what I'm used to in the US. It makes sense due to the proximity to Asia and it was fun to experience.

The Cafés

It really can't be overstated how next-level the cafés are in Melbourne. I was so impressed by the passion and skill that baristas possessed over their craft. Not only was the presentation always on point, but the coffee was damn good!

You can't order just "a coffee," like in the US, because there is no generic coffee drink. I learned I like "flat whites" or "long blacks," but I doesn't stop at just coffee. There were always an array of exciting tea drinks on the menu, for example, this super tasty Rose Tea Coconut Milk Latte topped with pistachio and rose petals from the Flovie Florist Café.

Most cafés also had food plates that were just as delightful as their drinks. I met my friend, Cody, who is doing his Ph.D. study at the University of Melbourne, for breakfast and we shared this French Toast topped with caramelized banana, candied nuts, berries, edible flowers, and homemade whipped cream. So yum.

The food experience in Melbourne is incredible & endless, but not cheap. So, if you're a foodie and know you'll be eating out a lot, factor a large portion of your budget into meals.

As for me, a solo backpacker traveling cheaply, I mostly relied on groceries & the communal kitchen at my hostel. I made my own coffee most days (I use an Aeropress - lightweight & Australian barista approved!), which saved a lot of money. But I'm also here for the experience, so I definitely indulged in some amazing meals - how could you not??

The Yarra River, Docklands, & the CBD

At the very top of Port Phillip, the bay beneath Melbourne, the large Yarra River snakes its way into the heart of the city. The river was originally called 'Birrarung' by the Wurendjeri people and has been key to the city's development.

If you visit the neighborhood called Docklands, you can walk along the river to people-watch, dine in a fancy restaurant, grab drinks on a patio, or even gamble at the Crown Casino. It's a really happening part of town close to the CBD with buskers, shopping, and sculpture art along the way.

On my third day in Melbourne, I met some friends at their apartment in Docklands. We walked across one of the pedestrian bridges and had coffee at an open-air cafe on the Wharf Promenade. It was a sunny Monday afternoon and the place was packed with people working on computers, meeting up with friends, walking their dogs, and enjoying the scenic green next to the wide Yarra river.

You can take the promenade all the way up to the impressive Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria and farther, or turn north to cross the bridge into the CBD where you'll find St. Paul's Cathedral and other historic buildings. It's an exciting part of town with history and modern-day fun that's sure to have some photo-ops.

The CBD is mostly loud, bustling streets filled with shops, restaurants, and people. So much was crammed into this area of the city, including Chinatown and the large outdoor Queen Victoria Market. If you need to buy anything, I mean ANYTHING, then the Melbourne CBD is where you'll find it.

An Endless City

I also got the chance to explore Fitzroy and Collingwood a little, which had a hip city vibe to me. A lot of flower shops, niche bars, and cool people. I heard the underground live music scene pulses through here, so keep an eye out for flyers and show dates.

At one point, we went into a bar called Naked for Satan in Fitzroy that had some incredible craft cocktails and a rooftop patio. Then we walked five minutes down the street to try the infamous Gelato Messina, which I highly recommend.

There are so many parts of Melbourne to explore, each neighborhood different from the last. There's truly an endless variety to experience and I think that's why it's such a popular, well-loved city. This is just a small glimpse from my perspective after spending a week. And as far as cities go, I found it quite agreeable.