Voted the World’s most liveable city for seven consecutive years, the city of Melbourne is one of our favourite cities to visit.

As the most liveable city in the world, Melbourne has no shortage of things to do and see. Melbourne is proud of its place as Australia’s sporting and cultural capital, but it’s the atmosphere that I love most!

Melbourne is the perfect holiday destination to experience world-class dining, secret laneways and rooftop bars, theatres, amazing Australian wildlife, art galleries, streetscapes and museums. Here are my seven reasons.

Art

Melbourne is home to a thriving arts scene, so be sure to visit the National Gallery of Victoria and other art spaces. Wander through the city streets and laneways to see an ever-changing outdoor gallery of urban art. A visit to Hosier Lane is a much-recommended art experience.

Wildlife

Explore the state-of-the-art aquarium and award-winning zoo featuring native Australian wildlife such as kangaroos, koalas, wombats and other extraordinary Aussie creatures. Check out more about Australia’s cutest critters here.

The many city parks and gardens are home to brush-tailed and ringtail possums, rosellas and lorikeets, kookaburras and cockatoos.

Shopping

Treat yourself to something special!

Shopping opportunities are everywhere in Melbourne. Keep your eyes peeled for talented local designers, trend-setting fashion boutiques, gorgeous jewellery featuring Australian opals and sapphires, handmade shoes and accessories, exquisite artworks and so much more.

History

Melbourne is full of history. Influenced by the Victorian gold rush in the 19th century, Melbourne was once the richest city in the world.

Discover reminders of Melbourne’s rich past in the many historic buildings and monuments across the city. Visit heritage listed arcades, churches and other ornate buildings, now preserved for future generations.

Visit the beautiful Fitzroy Gardens to see the reconstructed Cook’s Cottage. The childhood home of Captain James Cook, one of the first British explorers to chart the east coast of Australia, is located in one of the city parks.

If you’ve an interest in the seedy stuff, be sure to visit the Old Melbourne Gaol. Built in the 1800s, this multi-award-winning experience is one of Melbourne’s oldest surviving buildings and one of the city’s must-see attractions.

Here you can hear stories of Australia’s most infamous criminals, including bushranger Ned Kelly and notorious gangster Squizzy Taylor.

Culture

The Koorie Heritage Trust Cultural Centre in Federation Square is a permanent social history exhibition by new and established Aboriginal artists. Learn about the traditional custodians of the land, the Wurundjeri people, and their contemporary Koorie history and culture.

Sport

Sport is one of Melbourne’s passions. Australian Football League, cricket, horse racing, tennis and Formula One car racing are key calendar events. If you’re a lover of sporting events, you’ve come to the right city!

The Spring Racing carnivals are a significant Melbourne event each year with The Melbourne Cup known as the horse race that stops a nation!

Food & Café Culture

Melbourne does coffee well. As the coffee capital of Australia, most Melbourne laneways are filled with the aroma of freshly brewed espresso. Stop in and treat yourself to a cup of something distinctive.

Showcasing some of the world’s great cuisine is just one of the benefits of Australia’s multi-cultural mix of nationalities living in one city.

Discover the ethnic flavours of Melbourne by exploring the best restaurant precincts of Southbank, Little Bourke and Lygon Streets, or step wider afield to Fitzroy, Prahran or St. Kilda.

Come and Visit This Amazing City

Enjoy the heritage, natural beauty, cosmopolitan flavour and diversity of experiences of Melbourne. If you need further information about where to go and things to do, visit my post, Multi-cultural Melbourne.

Melbourne is a great city to explore – have you been yet? What was your favourite city experience? Let’s discuss in the comments below.