Where to Stay in Melbourne During Your Visit (Updated 2023)

Posted: 3/7/2023 | March seventh, 2023

Melbourne might be my favourite metropolis in Australia. Whereas Sydney boasts the extra iconic vacationer sights, Melbourne is extra laid-back and a hub for arts and tradition.

House to over 5 million individuals, it has a various inhabitants and one thing of a European really feel, dwelling to loads of festivals, artwork exhibitions, stay music, beautiful avenue artwork, chill bars and cafés, and scrumptious meals. You may simply spend over every week right here and solely scratch the floor with regards to things to see and do.

Whereas public transportation goes in every single place, Melbourne is a bit sprawled out, so it’s essential to decide on the realm the place you keep fastidiously, in any other case you’ll spend most of your journey in transit.

That can assist you resolve the place to remain in Melbourne, on this publish, I’ll spotlight the most effective neighborhoods beneath so you’ll be able to select the realm that fits your journey type and price range because the neighborhoods on this metropolis all have their very own really feel.

However, earlier than I get to the specifics, listed here are some frequent questions I get requested about neighborhoods in Melbourne:

What’s the most effective neighborhood for first-time guests?
City Center, or “the CBD,” as locals are liable to name it, has one thing that can please most vacationers. It’s full of nice museums, monuments, cafés, eating places, and bars. It’s probably the most central spot for doing numerous sightseeing.

What’s the most effective neighborhood for households?
St. Kilda is an previous bohemian swath that occurs to have the best variety of eating places on the town. However the neighborhood can also be dwelling to Luna Park, the world’s oldest theme park, plus it’s located proper on the ocean. (Observe that is additionally an amazing space for backpackers too!)

What’s the most effective neighborhood for buying?
Shopaholics might be in heaven alongside boutique-lined Chapel Avenue in South Yarra.

What’s the most effective neighborhood for foodies?
Fitzroy is laden with unimaginable eateries — from traditional and conventional bites to cutting-edge spots. I additionally suppose that is only a cool space to hang around in too.

What’s the most effective neighborhood for feeling like a neighborhood?
Richmond, situated east of the middle, has a various variety of issues to try this locals partake in, like consuming, consuming, and buying. Plus it’s dwelling to “Little Saigon.”

What’s the most effective neighborhood total?
It’s arduous to pinpoint only one Melbourne neighborhood as “the most effective,” however City Center matches this class due to its location and since it has a bit of little bit of all the things for everybody, it doesn’t matter what your pursuits are. That stated, I additionally love St. Kilda too.

With these questions now answered, here’s a extra particular breakdown of every neighborhood — with prompt lodging for every so that you’ll know the place to remain in Melbourne.

The place to Keep in Melbourne for First-Time Guests: Metropolis Heart

“The CBD” (an acronym for “Central Enterprise District”) might not have a very attractive identify, however it does have one thing most different neighborhoods in Melbourne don’t: a bit of bit (or in some circumstances a complete lot) of all the things. Buying, eating, museums, cafés, galleries, and even nightlife are all represented right here. Begin on the iconic Flinders Avenue Station, which was the busiest railway terminal within the Southern Hemisphere within the Twenties, after which fan out and discover the middle of Melbourne, together with the favored Federation Sq. and close by Nationwide Gallery of Victoria.

Finest Locations to Keep in Metropolis Heart:

• BUDGET: Mercure Welcome — Smack within the middle of all of it, this can be a good budget-friendly spot. Mercure could also be a worldwide chain, however it’s additionally a reliably good one too, and this location is not any exception. The 330 rooms are tastefully bedecked with plus-sized beds, minibars, and desks. Some rooms have nice views over town too.
• MIDRANGE: Brady Hotels Central Melbourne — This boutique lodge has a gymnasium, self-service laundry, and rooms with gentle, queen-sized beds, minibars, balconies, and City Skincare Co. bathtub merchandise.
• LUXURY: Treasury on Collins — Arguably probably the most elegant lodge within the CBD, the heritage-listed Treasury on Collins gives rooms which might be house type: massive, multiroom lodging with kitchens, sofas, desks, king-sized beds, washing machines, and extra. If you wish to really feel such as you’re briefly dwelling in Melbourne, this can be a fairly good place to do it.

The place to Keep in Melbourne for Households: St. Kilda

An previous bohemian hang-out that was additionally at one time the red-light district, St. Kilda is a beachside swath that’s dwelling to Luna Park, the world’s oldest theme park that’s enjoyable for all ages. There’s a beachside boardwalk to discover and a enjoyable arts-and-crafts honest on Sundays. It additionally occurs to boast the best variety of eating places on the town. Begin out on Acland Avenue, the place the blocks are lined with eateries.

Finest Locations to Keep in St. Kilda:

• BUDGET: Sixty Two on Grey — Only a few minutes stroll to the closest tram cease and a 12-minute stroll to Luna Park, Sixty Two on Gray has apartment-style visitor lodging with kitchens and really comfy beds, all for a budget-friendly worth.
• MIDRANGE: Tolarno Hotel — Based by artist Mirka Mora and her husband, who arrived in Melbourne after fleeing Poland throughout World Warfare II, the Tolarno has been a St. Kilda fixture for many years. Every of the retro-furnished rooms is exclusive, the partitions of that are bathed in a distinct shade and bedecked with items by native artists.
• LUXURY: Quest St. Kilda Bayside — The 56 suites at Quest St. Kilda Bayside supply all the things a household would need for a keep on this enjoyable neighborhood, together with kitchens, washing machines, and a number of bedrooms. The lodge is inside strolling distance of all of St. Kilda’s sights, together with Luna Park.

The place to Keep in Melbourne for Buying: South Yarra

South Yarra boasts sculpture parks, artwork galleries, and verdant gardens, however the primary motive to plant your self right here for some time is for the superlative buying. Don’t miss Chapel Avenue, a street flanked by boutique outlets, the place you’ll be able to max out your bank card (or not less than window-browse native and European designers). The world additionally has numerous indie espresso outlets too!

Finest Locations to Keep in South Yarra:

• BUDGET: South Yarra Hostel — Set in a Victorian home, this hostel has an enormous kitchen, a barbecue space, and an spacious frequent room. It’s small and comfy, with an excellent pleasant employees.
• MIDRANGE: The Claremont Guesthouse — Housed in a Victorian constructing from 1886, the Claremont gives varied room sorts, from absolutely outfitted flats to double rooms, with ceiling followers and flat-screen TVs. Breakfast is included.
• LUXURY: The Olsen — Set proper on Chapel Avenue, the Olsen is completely positioned to reap the benefits of the South Yarra buying scene. The lodge is art-themed, together with works by panorama artist Dr. John Olsen (for whom the lodge is called) sprinkled across the property. Rooms boast massive, comfortable beds and distinctive artworks, plus there are two eating places and a day spa.

The place to Keep in Melbourne for Foodies: Fitzroy

As soon as a solidly working-class neighborhood, Fitzroy has blossomed right into a magnet for food-loving locals and guests alike. The streets are actually flanked by eating places of each stripe — from these dishing up various non-Australian fare or regionally sourced, regionally impressed dishes to pubs serving elevated grub and cutting-edge, trend-setting eateries. Begin on Gertrude Avenue, which is one thing of a microcosm of this culinary enclave itself.

Finest Locations to Keep in Fitzroy:

• BUDGET: The Nunnery — Life on this constructing was as soon as very totally different than it’s now. Housed in an erstwhile convent, The Nunnery at this time is a enjoyable, energetic hostel the place vacationers of all stripes hand around in the big guestroom between meals. The sleeping choices embrace dorm-style rooms — with anyplace from 4 to 12 beds (together with some female-only rooms) — in addition to personal rooms for one or two individuals.
• MIDRANGE: Royal Derby Hotel —Over a century and a half previous, all of the rooms listed here are spacious and embrace a kitchenette with a toaster, microwave, and fridge. The in-house pub is without doubt one of the finest within the neighborhood.
• LUXURY: Lyf — Positioned on the border of Fitzroy and Collingwood, Lyf is a hip, 128-room property that features a absolutely outfitted frequent kitchen and a laundry facility for visitors to make use of. The apartment-style rooms will make you are feeling such as you’re dwelling within the coolest a part of Melbourne.

The place to Keep in Melbourne for Dwelling Like a Native: Richmond

Richmond is an up-and-coming space that, like Fitzroy, is brimming with scrumptious eats. Not like Fitzroy, although, it’s extra of a neighborhood affair, full with its personal Vietnamese enclave referred to as “Little Saigon.” If you wish to really feel like a neighborhood and get away from most vacationers, this can be a nice neighborhood to do it in.

Finest Locations to Keep in Richmond:

• BUDGET: Knightsbridge Apartments — Positioned simply west of Richmond, Knightsbridge is without doubt one of the solely inexpensive choices within the space. The no-frills rooms are cozy, and embrace free Wi-Fi, AC, and a small kitchenette.
• MIDRANGE: Lanbruk Richmond Hill — The 26 rooms and suites on the Lanbruk are trendy and enormous, with espresso machines, toasters, teakettles, and desks. Some supply unimaginable views of the neighborhood. There’s additionally a rooftop terrace with scenic views over the realm.
• LUXURY: The Motley — This five-star lodge celebrates Richmond’s previous as the middle of Melbourne’s trend and textile trade. The inside of the lodge — its foyer, halls, and rooms — are bathed in shade and accented with wealthy textiles. The lodge can also be dwelling to works by many native artists. The trendy and spacious rooms have huge gentle mattresses, high-end furnishings, and wonderful showers.

Melbourne is a full of life, enjoyable metropolis good for backpackers and price range vacationers. Because it’s so unfold out, it’s essential to choose a neighborhood that most accurately fits your pursuits so that you decrease time getting round. However, regardless of the place you keep, you’ll be able to’t actually go incorrect since in every single place in Melbourne is superior!