Itinerary · Two, three or four days · Checked against operators’ own pages
Melbourne in 2, 3 or 4 Days: Can You Do It for A$160? One Plan, Grouped by Area
Live check just now: Queen Victoria Market food tour, cheapest option from A$79.00
Find your Melbourne experience
Three days: the default plan
Group Melbourne by area, not by a ranked list. Day 1 walks the central grid, Day 2 follows St Kilda Road on the south bank, and Day 3 pairs the MCG with the bay at dusk.
- Day 1: Queen Victoria Market, then south through the arcades and laneways to State Library Victoria and Federation Square.
- Day 2: Southbank Promenade, NGV International, the Shrine of Remembrance and the Royal Botanic Gardens, all along St Kilda Road.
- Day 3: a guided tour of the MCG, then tram route 96 to St Kilda Pier for the penguins after dark.
- Book first: free penguin tickets open every Tuesday for the following week’s sessions and sell out quickly, so fix Day 3 around yours.
- Day order: the daytime market does not trade on Mondays or Wednesdays, so Day 1 goes on one of the other five days.
- Trams: rides inside the Free Tram Zone need no myki, but Day 2 and Day 3 leave it, so touch on.
Day 1: Queen Victoria Market to Federation Square, about A$80
Day 1 runs north to south through one rectangle of streets, so it never doubles back. Start at the market when it opens and finish at Federation Square, opposite Flinders Street Station.
See or book a Queen Victoria Market food tour
- Start at Queen Victoria Market on a trading morning, ideally with a food tour to set the pace.
- Walk south to State Library Victoria on Swanston Street and look up at the reading room dome.
- Continue through the laneways and arcades: Degraves Street, Centre Place, the Block Arcade and Royal Arcade.
- End at Federation Square, opposite Flinders Street Station, where the Ian Potter Centre is free to enter.
Good to know
- Queen Victoria Market trades Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday; Sunday trading starts at 9am, later than the other days.
- State Library Victoria is open daily from 10am to 6pm, except New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
- The upper Dome galleries of the reading room can be closed for works, so plan on the view from the floor.
- The Ian Potter Centre at Federation Square is open daily from 10am to 5pm.
| Item | A$ per adult | US$ |
|---|---|---|
| Ian Potter Centre and trams inside the free zone | A$0 | ≈ US$0 |
| Queen Victoria Market food tour, cheapest option | A$79 | ≈ US$54 |
| Total | A$79 | ≈ US$54 |
On your own
Walk the library, laneways and free Ian Potter Centre at your own pace; trams inside the zone cost nothing.
With a guide
A food tour of the market, on selected mornings, adds tastings and a local guide to the first hours.
Day 1 in tickets: about A$80, all of it the optional food tour.
Prices checked 19 Sep 2026 · per person, tickets and transport, excluding accommodation
Day 2: Southbank, the NGV and the Shrine, about A$45
Day 2 follows St Kilda Road on the south bank of the Yarra. The promenade, the state gallery, the Shrine and the Botanic Gardens follow one another, and one tram line links them.
See or book a Shrine of Remembrance guided tour
- Cross Princes Bridge from Flinders Street Station and walk Southbank Promenade beside the river.
- Spend the morning at NGV International, open daily from 10am to 5pm with free entry.
- Ride tram route 16 along St Kilda Road to the Shrine of Remembrance stop, touching on with myki.
- Join the Shrine’s 45-minute guided tour, or explore its free galleries and Sanctuary on your own.
- Finish in the Royal Botanic Gardens, a short walk away, which open at 7:30am every day.
Good to know
- NGV International and the Shrine are free to enter; NGV special exhibitions can be ticketed separately.
- The Shrine is open daily from 10am to 5pm, with last entry at 4:30pm, but closes on Christmas Day and Good Friday.
- The Free Tram Zone ends at Flinders Street, so trams down St Kilda Road need a touched-on myki.
| Item | A$ per adult | US$ |
|---|---|---|
| Shrine of Remembrance guided tour, cheapest option | A$25 | ≈ US$17 |
| Royal Botanic Gardens Explorer minibus tour, cheapest option | A$18 | ≈ US$12 |
| Total | A$43 | ≈ US$29 |
On your own
Walk the promenade, then visit the gallery, the Shrine and the Gardens free; only the tram needs myki.
With a guide
The Shrine’s own 45-minute tour and a 30-minute Botanic Gardens minibus commentary are both bookable.
Day 2 in tickets: about A$45, for the two optional guided tours.
Prices checked 19 Sep 2026 · per person, tickets and transport, excluding accommodation
Day 3: the MCG and St Kilda Pier, about A$40
Day 3 leaves the grid for sport and the bay. The MCG is a short walk east of the centre, and St Kilda is one tram from it, so the day ends on the water at dusk.
See or book an MCG guided tour
- Take the 75-minute MCG guided tour; departures run from 10am to 3pm, and you choose a booked time.
- Walk back to Flinders Street Station by the William Barak Pedestrian Footbridge, about 20 minutes.
- Ride tram route 96 from Bourke Street Mall to Catani Gardens or Luna Park, touching on with myki.
- Walk the beach and St Kilda Pier while it is light.
- Join your free penguin viewing session on the pier; the first starts about 30 minutes after sunset, the second about 90 minutes after.
Good to know
- Penguin viewing is free but ticketed, with 150 places a session. Tickets for the following week’s sessions are released every Tuesday and book out quickly.
- MCG tours need a booking and can be limited on event days.
- Route 96 stops at Catani Gardens (stop 135) and Luna Park (stop 138), on the St Kilda Beach side.
| Item | A$ per adult | US$ |
|---|---|---|
| MCG guided tour, cheapest option | A$38 | ≈ US$26 |
| St Kilda Pier penguin viewing, free session ticket | A$0 | ≈ US$0 |
| Total | A$38 | ≈ US$26 |
On your own
Walk the beach and pier free; the penguin viewing costs nothing, but you must hold a session ticket.
With a guide
The boundary line and the Long Room are seen on the 75-minute guided tour, which is bookable ahead.
Day 3 in tickets: about A$40, plus the free penguin ticket.
Prices checked 19 Sep 2026 · per person, tickets and transport, excluding accommodation
If you have two days
With two days, keep Day 1 as it is and fold the bay into Day 2. Drop the MCG tour and let tram route 16 carry you from the Shrine straight to St Kilda.
- Day 1: as written, from Queen Victoria Market to Federation Square.
- Day 2 morning: Southbank Promenade, NGV International, the Shrine and the Botanic Gardens.
- Day 2 afternoon: ride route 16 from the Shrine stop to Luna Park (stop 138), then walk the pier at sunset.
- Reserve the penguin session for that Day 2 evening, and leave the MCG for a later trip.
If you have a fourth day
A fourth day is a short list, not a fixed route. Pick the far end of the bay, the Carlton museums or a whole day out of the city.
Good to know
- Brighton: take the Sandringham line to Brighton Beach or Middle Brighton, the fastest route from the city, then walk to the bathing boxes.
- Carlton: tram route 96 stops at Melbourne Museum, Carlton Gardens and the Royal Exhibition Building at stop 11.
- The coast: the Twelve Apostles are about four hours by road each way, and Phillip Island is a 90-minute drive. The day-trips guide compares them.
Facts that shape the trip
Two rules fix the order of the days: the market’s trading days, and the weekly release of free penguin tickets. Almost everything else on this plan opens daily.
Good to know
- The Free Tram Zone reaches Queen Victoria Market, Docklands, Spring Street, Flinders Street Station and Federation Square. Do not touch on or off for rides that stay inside it.
- State Library Victoria closes on New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day; the Shrine closes on Christmas Day and Good Friday.
- Rides that leave the zone, such as St Kilda Road and St Kilda, need myki touched on when you board.
- The Royal Botanic Gardens open every day of the year, so they are the safe fallback when another stop is shut.
| Monday | Wednesday | Sunday | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Queen Victoria Market (daytime) | closed | closed | open from 9am |
| State Library Victoria | open | open | open |
| NGV International | open | open | open |
| Shrine of Remembrance | open | open | open |
| Royal Botanic Gardens | open | open | open |
| Option | Our verdict |
|---|---|
| Penguin viewing | Free, but a session ticket is essential and sells out quickly. |
| MCG tour | Bookings are essential; tours depart through the day and can be limited on event days. |
| Shrine tour | Bookings are required for the 45-minute tour; entry to the Shrine itself is free. |
Attractions & day trips from Melbourne
What it costs, and where to book
| Plan | Tickets and transport | Book |
|---|---|---|
| Three-day tickets | A$160 | – |
| Day 1 tickets | about A$80 | Book a Queen Victoria Market food tour |
| Day 2 tickets | about A$45 | Book a Shrine of Remembrance guided tour |
| Day 3 tickets | about A$40 | Book an MCG guided tour |
Prices checked 19 Sep 2026 · per person, tickets and transport, excluding accommodation. Amounts over 20 are rounded up. Ticket prices are per person for the first reviewed ticket and change by date.
Where a guided tour earns its money, and where it does not
A guide earns its price where a ticket alone hides the story: the market’s tastings, the Shrine’s history, the MCG’s Long Room. Skip one where the sight is free to walk, such as the promenade, the gallery and the pier.
Mubboo compares flights and tours and may earn a commission when a traveller uses a partner link. Booking and payment happen with the provider.
Questions people ask
How many days does Melbourne need?
Three cover the grid, the south bank and the MCG with the bay at dusk. Two fold the MCG out, and four add Brighton, Carlton or a coast day.
Which day should Queen Victoria Market go on?
Any day except Monday or Wednesday, when the daytime market is closed. Sunday trading starts at 9am, later than on the other trading days.
Do I need a myki for Melbourne’s trams?
Not for rides that stay inside the Free Tram Zone. The trams on this plan that leave it, along St Kilda Road and to St Kilda, need myki touched on when you board.
Are the St Kilda penguin sessions free?
Yes, but each session needs a ticket and holds 150 people. Tickets for the following week’s sessions are released every Tuesday and go quickly.
Is the NGV free?
General entry to NGV International and to the Ian Potter Centre at Federation Square is free; special exhibitions can charge separately.
Can I fit the Great Ocean Road into three days?
Not without dropping a day. The Twelve Apostles are about four hours by road each way, so a coast day replaces one of the three.
Plan deeper in Melbourne
Sources (26)
Every figure above was checked on the dates shown.
- Queen Victoria Market — Visitor information (trading days and hours) — qvm.com.au/visit-us/ (checked 2026-09-19)
- State Library Victoria — Opening hours (daily hours, closed days, temporary closures) — www.slv.vic.gov.au/visit/opening-hours (checked 2026-09-19)
- NGV — Plan your visit (NGV International and Ian Potter Centre hours, free entry, closed days) — www.ngv.vic.gov.au/plan-your-visit/ (checked 2026-09-19)
- Shrine of Remembrance — Visit (hours, free entry, closed days) — www.shrine.org.au/visit (checked 2026-09-19)
- Shrine of Remembrance — Shrine tours (duration, bookings) — www.shrine.org.au/shrine-tours (checked 2026-09-19)
- Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria — Melbourne Gardens (opening hours, free admission) — www.rbg.vic.gov.au/melbourne/ (checked 2026-09-19)
- City of Melbourne — Public transport (Free Tram Zone extent) — www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/public-transport (checked 2026-09-19)
- What’s On Melbourne — Public transport (Free Tram Zone boundary streets) — whatson.melbourne.vic.gov.au/visitor-info/getting-around/public-transport (checked 2026-09-19)
- Yarra Trams — Fares and ticketing (touch-on rules and the Free Tram Zone) — yarratrams.com.au/fares-and-ticketing (checked 2026-09-19)
- Yarra Trams — Route 96, East Brunswick to St Kilda Beach (stops) — yarratrams.com.au/route-guides/route-96 (checked 2026-09-19)
- Yarra Trams — Route 16, Melbourne University to Kew via St Kilda Beach (stops) — yarratrams.com.au/route-guides/route-16 (checked 2026-09-19)
- What’s On Melbourne — Laneways and arcades — whatson.melbourne.vic.gov.au/things-to-do/attractions-and-sights/laneways-arcades (checked 2026-09-19)
- Federation Square — About (location opposite Flinders Street Station, venues) — fedsquare.com/about (checked 2026-09-19)
- City of Melbourne — Southbank Promenade upgrade (Princes Bridge to Evan Walker Bridge) — www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/southbank-promenade-upgrade (checked 2026-09-19)
- MCG — MCG Tours (duration, departures, bookings) — www.mcg.org.au/australian-sports-museum-mcg-tours/tours-and-experiences/mcg-tours (checked 2026-09-19)
- MCG — Get to the MCG (Flinders Street Station walk, Jolimont station) — www.mcg.org.au/plan-a-visit/get-to-the-mcg (checked 2026-09-19)
- Phillip Island Nature Parks — St Kilda Penguin Viewing Experience (sessions, ticket release) — www.penguins.org.au/attractions/st-kilda/ (checked 2026-09-19)
- Parks Victoria — Little Penguins at St Kilda Pier and Breakwater (free ticketed sessions, 150 per session) — www.parks.vic.gov.au/places-to-see/parks/st-kilda-pier-and-breakwater/attractions/little-penguins (checked 2026-09-19)
- Bayside City Council — Brighton Beach Bathing Boxes (getting there) — www.bayside.vic.gov.au/services/facilities-and-venues/brighton-beach-bathing-boxes-visit-our-iconic-boxes (checked 2026-09-19)
- Visit Great Ocean Road — The 12 Apostles (distance and drive time from Melbourne) — visitgreatoceanroad.org.au/visit12apostles/the-12-apostles/ (checked 2026-09-19)
- Phillip Island Nature Parks — Penguin Parade (drive time from Melbourne, public transport) — www.penguins.org.au/attractions/penguin-parade/ (checked 2026-09-19)
- Mubboo reviewed ticket options for Melbourne (the booking platform destination 384); per-person prices read when the page is built — mubboo.flights/melbourne/tours (checked 2026-09-19)
- Mubboo Tours search, Melbourne (the booking platform destination 384) — Queen Victoria Market food tour — mubboo.flights/api/tours/search?destinationId=384&term=Queen+Victoria+Market+food+tour¤cy=USD&mode=keyword&sort=featured (checked 2026-09-19)
- Mubboo Tours search, Melbourne (the booking platform destination 384) — Shrine of Remembrance guided tour — mubboo.flights/api/tours/search?destinationId=384&term=Shrine+of+Remembrance+guided+tour¤cy=USD&mode=keyword&sort=featured (checked 2026-09-19)
- Mubboo Tours search, Melbourne (the booking platform destination 384) — MCG guided tour — mubboo.flights/api/tours/search?destinationId=384&term=MCG+guided+tour¤cy=USD&mode=keyword&sort=featured (checked 2026-09-19)
- Mubboo Tours search, Melbourne (the booking platform destination 384) — Royal Botanic Gardens Explorer bus tour — mubboo.flights/api/tours/search?destinationId=384&term=Royal+Botanic+Gardens+Explorer+bus+tour¤cy=USD&mode=keyword&sort=featured (checked 2026-09-19)