Where to stay in Melbourne: The best places and Neighbourhoods
Melbourne is a city that stands out for its quality of life, in fact it has been recognized several times as the best city to live in in the world.Today it is the capital of the state of Victoria and is the second most important city in the country, after Sydney.
The first settlement took place north of the Yarra River, in what is now considered the old town, with a population of less than 100,000.However, the metropolitan area of Melbourne is over four million, as it has been clustering populations along the shores of Port Phillip Bay, almost a large inland lake 80 kilometres wide were it not for the opening to the sea of a couple of kilometres in Portsea.
In addition to being a city with an enviable standard of living, it is also considered the cultural capital of Australia and is internationally recognized for the diversity of its population, its commercial and industrial dynamism, and for having hosted some of the country’s most important sporting and political events such as the 1956 Olympics or G20 summits.
A city halfway between Victorian and the latest trends in architecture, with an extensive tram network and offering a wide variety of accommodation, good food and day and night-time entertainment to enjoy a holiday or to think, after the visit, about finding a job and staying in Melbourne.
The fact that the city has such a high level of well-being has the small downside that the prices in general are higher than other tourist cities in the world and, together with Sydney, the most expensive in Australia .
This affects consumption in restaurants, theatres and other leisure activities and, of course, when it comes to staying in Melbourne.
As regards the most expensive areas for sleeping in Melbourne, the area traditionally considered to be the historic centre, with Melbourne CBD as the central area, is noteworthy.
Melbourne, although it officially has a moderate climate, is especially changeable throughout the year except in spring, when there is a more stable climate with mild temperatures, and for many, this is the best time to visit the city.
It should also be remembered that if Melbourne were in the Northern Hemisphere, it would be on the parallel of Spain, so in the summer temperatures can exceed 40ºC ; however, ideal for the sun and beach tourism in areas such as St. Petersburg and the surrounding area. in areas such as St. Kilda, in the capital itself, or along the coast of the bay.
Finally, in this general review of the characteristics of accommodation in Melbourne, we can say that there is a total variety: from 5-star hotels to group hostels or pension-type rooms.
This means that, in spite of the above-average prices, the variety of sleeping arrangements in Melbourne is assured and you can always find deals in the most interesting neighbourhoods to visit.
– Accommodation in Melbourne
The best areas to stay in Melbourne
1.Melbourne CBD (Central Business District) or financial heart
This area is the financial heart of the city and by far the most dynamic area .accommodation is also usually the most expensive and it is difficult to find rooms in hostels and hotels for less than 100 , except for promotions and offers.
However, if you’re looking for a similar experience to staying in New York’s Manhattan, this is the ideal area to do so thanks to the number of skyscrapers in the district.
As for the best areas to stay in Melbourne CBD, there is unanimity on this: the surroundings of the Flinders train station, facing the Yarra River and where there are famous accommodations like the Rendezvous Hotel Melbourne.
Here you are close to places of interest in the district like the St. Paul’s Cathedral; the Melbourne SEA LIFE Aquarium; Chinatown , a little further north and where you can enjoy good restaurants like the Stalactites, decorated for that purpose, or do some shopping at the Queen Victoria Market .
South of the Yarra River, most of the district is made up of several parks with concert areas, a botanical garden and a nature reserve.
– Melbourne Accommodation CBD
2.South Bank
Just across the Yarra River on Melbourne’s southwest border is this semi-residential district for those looking for quieter accommodation .
Just because it’s quiet doesn’t mean that if you choose this area to sleep in Melbourne you’ll find lower prices, in fact the area is full of 5 star hotels, especially in the Crown Neighbourhood, a lively neighbourhood across the Yarra River, with the Crown Melbourne as a reference.
In this leisure area you can also find famous restaurants like the seafood restaurant The Atlantic Restaurant, the Rosetta restaurant or the Japanese Nobu; several casinos with bars to enjoy the nightlife , or luxury shops like Louis Vuitton and Prada.
And that’s not all: the northeast area of the district is home to the National Gallery of Victoria, a cultural symbol of the city, and the Eureka Tower, Melbourne’s tallest tower with a 360-degree view at almost 300 metres.
With Melbourne’s average elevation above sea level of 35 metres, the views from this terrace reach far beyond the metropolitan area.
– South Bank Accommodation
3.Docklands
This is one of the most modern areas in the city centre and also one of the preferred areas for staying in Melbourne.Much of the district is made up of the port area, especially the marina in front of the Etihad Stadium.
In the north of the district it is also interesting to visit the The District Docklands Shopping Centre with numerous shops around, local food restaurants like Nando’s or entertainment venues like O’Brien Group Arena where there is a large ice rink.
In terms of accommodation, there are several hotels such as the Sheraton or the Melbourne Observation Wheel, although the area stands out for the rental of apartments, again, as in the previous districts, with high prices. For going out at night, we recommend the marina area, and specifically the Alumbra club.
– Accommodation in Docklands
4.East Melbourne
East Melbourne CBD is one of the cheapest downtown areas of the city where you can find rooms in aparthotels like Mantra on Jolimont and hostels for a little more than 50 euros.
East Melbourne is a residential area with large green spaces such as Fitzroy Gardens where you can find the Cook’s Cottage, the oldest standing house in Australia.
Its history is very peculiar because it was built in the English city of Yorkshire in 1755 by the parents of Captain Cook, and in 1934, almost two centuries later, was brought brick by brick by the English nobleman Russell Grimwade.
Other attractions include St. Partrick Cathedral, Yarra Park with Melbourne Cricket Stadium (where there is a large sports shop), Parliament House or the Richmond Football Club Museum.
The most interesting shopping area is around the street Wellington Parade where there are also numerous restaurants such as the Two Fat Indians Restaurant or the bar The Trippler to go out at night.
– East Melbourne Accommodation
5.Carlton
North of the CBD, Carlton is a residential area but also has a great offer of leisure and nightlife , as it is just east of the University of Melbourne.
A very famous area is the Italian Quarter around Lygon Street. In addition, there are two large avenues (Elgin and Rathdowne), where there is a great variety of restaurants with international cuisine, especially around the Cinema Nova.
Also interesting is the visit to Carlton Gardens Park where the Melbourne Museum is located.As for accommodation, this area has some average prices with hotels such as the Melbourne Swanston Street ibis and room rates below 100 euros.
– Carlton Accommodation
In addition to this article on where to stay in Melbourne you can read about Where to stay in Sydney, where to stay in Brisbane, where to stay in Gold Coast
6.Fitzroy
Just east of Carlton is the neighbourhood of Fitzroy, again with two main streets: Johnston, continuation of Elgin, and Brunswick, where there are also a number of important restaurants and nightclubs .
In restaurants, the Basque restaurant Naked For Satan, at the confluence of the above-mentioned avenues, and for a drink at night, among the most outstanding places, the Blackcat Fitzroy and Black Pearl.
In terms of shopping, these streets are also ideal for acquiring fashion and cosmetic products , and as cultural attractions, it may be interesting to visit the Centre for Contemporary Photography or the James Alipius Gold Museum .
Like Carlton, being a residential neighbourhood and being further away from the CBD, staying in Melbourne in this area is also somewhat cheaper with hostels such as The Nunnery Accommodation, whose prices can go down to 50 euros or District Apartments Fitzroy.
– Stay in Fitzroy
7.Collingwood
Even further east from Fitzroy is the Collingwood district, famous for its gastronomic offerings with bars and restaurants such as Le Bon Ton, Café Proud Mary, the Gam Bar and Dinning on Wellington Street, or Jim’s Greek Tavern.
As for nightlife, the offer is also interesting with live music in places like The Tote or discos and pubs in hotels like The Gasometer. Of course there are also cultural attractions like the Blackwoods Gallery or the Stomping Ground Brewery & Beer Hall.
For shopping, there are some Outlet like the Japanese store Cibi and Tokyo Bike, this last one in Smith street; bigger stores like the sportswear store Lululemon Athletica; design bookstores in Happy Valley or a clothing store with cafeteria included in The Social Studio.
The accommodation offer in the area is smaller than in more central districts with lower prices like the 3 star Baden Powell Hotel or the Plus Collingwood Hostel, which can offer rooms for around 50 euros in low and medium season.
– Collingwood Accommodation
8.Sta.Kilda
Although the best beaches in Melbourne are far from the centre, the capital St. Kilda has the best option for a sun and beach holiday
South of South Yarra, this former bohemian area now has a good repertoire of accommodation with four star hotels like Novotel Melbourne, facing St. Kilda Beach, or cheap hostels a little further away from the coast like Nomads St. Kilda.
In terms of what to do and see in the area, the extensive beach area , its extensive promenade and a pier over a kilometre long where there is a small penguin reserve.
A little far from the coast there is a botanical garden and near the Veg Out Community Gardens, the Luna Park Melbourne theme park and the Palais and The National Theatre Melbourne.
Precisely, around this area there is an excellent offer of restaurants like the Mylkbar March, Vyneyard or the vegetarian restaurant Sister of Soul.For shopping, the streets of Barkly St. Road have many stores clothing, sports, footwear and accessories.
– Sta.Kilda Accommodation
9.Footscray
It is the most western tourist area of Melbourne, about five kilometers from CBD.It is home to the campus of the University of Victoria and much of the district borders the west bank of the Maribymong River.
Although it is a quiet residential area, it is famous for its multicultural society, numerous shopping facilities and variety of restaurants.As for the latter, there are all kinds of cuisine among which more than 30 Vietnamese .
For shopping, there are numerous shops in streets like Paisley and markets like the Footscray Market, with all kinds of fresh products, or the Littel Saigon, with oriental products.
The most interesting places are the town hall building with a mixture of medieval, modern, Spanish and Celtic architecture; the Ruffian Gallery, Dog Theatre and two nature reserves: Newells Paddock and Maribynong.
In relation to the accommodations, they are not very numerous although they are of all the types like the apartments Footscray’s Heart or the Boutique Stays.
– Accommodation in Footscray
10.South Yarra
The last tourist area to mention is South Yarra, south of CBD. This is a very lively area , especially on streets like Chapel, with a wide variety of restaurants like Chappeli’s, the Imperial or Lucky Penny.
Also this street and its surroundings are home to some of the most famous clothing stores in Melbourne and owned by local and international designers : Arthur Galan AG, Wichery, KOOKAI or Lee Jeans.
In this area there are also two cinemas, the Cinema Como and Jam Factory.To go out at night, heading south, there are places like Bridie O’Reilly’s and Leonards House Of Love, or already on the border with the Prahran neighborhood, The Emerson Rooftop Bar.
Stay in Melbourne in this neighborhood is another good option .
What is the best part of Melbourne to stay in?
Melbourne is a multicultural city located in Port Phillip Bay, which has become an international centre for the performing and visual arts and is considered the cultural capital of Australia.
Melbourne’s City Centre is an area that offers you all possible options for culture and gastronomy, where you will find the famous Federation Square, the main civic centre and cultural space of the city and the Queen Victoria Market, with more than 130 years of history.
At Best Location Hotels, we recommend staying in the Centre or Southbank, the best areas of Melbourne that will guarantee you an unforgettable stay in this exciting city.
If you are interested in knowing where to sleep in Melbourne , you may also be interested in knowing where to stay in Sydney, where to stay in Brisbane and where to stay in Perth.
City Centre and Southbank, the best areas to stay in Melbourne
Melbourne Centre
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and is considered Australia’s cultural capital for its intense artistic activity.The City Centre is a hub of Melbourne’s main tourist attractions, with a wide variety of options for tourists.
In the Centre, in the heart of Melbourne, is Federation Square, known as Fed Square, Melbourne’s main civic centre and public space, with its avant-garde architecture contrasting with the Victorian and neo-Gothic buildings in the surrounding area.It’s one of the Centre’s main attractions, where you can get a city map, join a guided tour or buy souvenirs and enjoy common music and cultural events on the premises.
You’ll also find another of Melbourne’s most visited sites, the Australian Centre for Mobile Imaging (ACMI), for film and video game lovers.It’s one of the world’s leading museums of the mobile image, including film, television and digital technology and the Immigration Museum, which showcases the history and art of those who settled in the southern states of Australia through permanent and temporary exhibitions and live performances.
One of the main tourist attractions visited by locals and foreigners is the famous Queen Victoria Market, a huge open-air market where you can enjoy Melbourne’s freshest produce at affordable prices from over 600 stalls.The market is located in an old cemetery and was opened over 130 years ago and is an icon of the city that you can’t miss.The Flagstaff Gardens, the city’s first public garden, is a place where you can barbecue, take a long break, play sports and even have a romantic picnic. Established in 1862, it’s Melbourne’s oldest park, covering 7.2 hectares with a wide variety of trees, flowers and animals, as well as monuments and sculptures.For book lovers, the Victoria State Library, with over 2 million books, is located in the city centre.
Downtown Melbourne Hotels
SouthBank
It is one of the city’s main business centres with numerous office buildings and the headquarters of major national and international companies.It is located just 1km south of Melbourne Centre, just across the bridge. Southbank was once an industrial area, but is now an urban neighbourhood with tall modern buildings, including the Eureka Tower or Eureka Skydeck 88, Melbourne’s highest public viewing point.
On the 88th floor you can enjoy the best 360-degree views of the city, because it has an innovative observation platform and a glass cubicle that juts out three metres from the building, suspended almost 300 metres above the ground, for an experience full of pure adrenaline.
Its main tourist destination is the Paseo Southbank, with numerous cafes, bars and restaurants and nightlife venues, as well as a market with local crafts, where artists and street musicians are usually present. It has been the meeting point for locals and tourists because it offers many activities for all tastes and styles.For shopping and entertainment, Southgate Centre, opened in 1992, is a reflection of the Australian way of life with its art, food and history, while tourists often visit the Crown Entertainment Complex, opened in 1997.Overlooking the Yarra River, it covers two blocks of leisure and entertainment, with world-renowned designer stores, live shows and a wide range of cuisine to please the palate with a cosmopolitan menu.the Crown Casino is one of Australia’s largest gaming establishments, with a sophisticated and lively atmosphere.
