How to get the best out of Melbourne for a weekend.

Exclusive guide to the Perfect Melbourne Weekend

Plus a 10% discount on our Foodie Discovery tours

Melbourne is a destination jam packed with great things to do, no matter where your interest lies. However, it can be hard to know what to focus on if you are here for a couple of days. At Walk Melbourne Tours, we get many people who are new to town and during their time on tour with us ask, ‘what else should I do while I’m in Melbourne?’. The city excels in so many different areas our first question would be ‘what are your interests?’ because surely there is something we can recommend for everyone! We always want to create your perfect Melbourne weekend.

If you are an open-minded traveller, typically, you’ll be interested in things that are unique to the city or that the city is famous for. This doesn’t just include ‘seeing the sights’ and visiting attractions, but participating in activities that really provide you an insight into the culture of the city. In other words, “What are the locals good at, and what do they like to do”? What would a local Melburnian consider a perfect Melbourne weekend?

What makes a weekend in Melbourne unique?

Melbourne has some favorite topics of conversation: Sports, the weather and food and drink - especially coffee! You should include all these things in your perfect Melbourne weekend. Hopefully, the weather treats you kindly, but if it’s raining, don’t forget it might change. Melbourne famously experiences four seasons in one day!

It’s also one of the best places in Australia that has preserved its architecture, and if you know where to look, you can really learn some fascinating stories about the buildings you walk past. Don’t forget to look up!

It’s also a fantastic city for art lovers and shoppers! After becoming inspired at one of the many galleries, you can defiantly indulge in some retail therapy with a broad mix of big name stores and unique local boutiques all located and easy walking distance from each other.

Do I need a car to get around?

One of the best things about Melbourne city that it’s so very walkable. It’s pretty much flat with wide footpaths. If you do get tired, there is abundant public transport. Melbourne sits on a grid of streets and you can take frequent trams along almost all of them. It's an iconic local experience, and the best part is that it’s free (within the Free Tram Zone)!

Melbourne Trams

Self guided vs joining a tour

Melbourne is a perfect city to take a guided tour, because many of the great places are out of plain sight and local knowledge is a must. A walking tour is a perfect way to explore the famous alleyways, laneways and arcades of the city. These laneways are pedestrian only zones and are often filled with cafes, delicious local food vendors and small stores that exude charm.

We often hear guests comment that although they had walked around by themselves, after the tour everything in the city just made a lot more sense.

So what is the Perfect Melbourne Weekend?

Download our guide for the Perfect Melbourne Weekend to find out exactly how we would spend two days in Melbourne. Inside, you’ll find a discount code for our Foodie Discovery Walk so you can learn about Melbourne’s history and where the good snacks are at the same time. As Vicki said in June 2023, “This tour that was so much more than I was expecting! It was a history lesson, as well as an introduction to Melbourne architecture, iconic events, and the influential people who helped grow this beautiful city. As for the food and drinks…there is plenty, it’s all delicious, and you are taken on a journey with each stop providing its own fascinating story. I can’t recommend this tour highly enough, a wonderful introduction to what Melbourne has to offer”.

Discovering the Past: The Best Melbourne Historical Tours

Did you know that Melbourne was once the richest city in the world? The buildings that were built during that period added to the city’s allure and we were named ‘Marvellous Melbourne’ in 1885. Luckily, we’ve kept a bunch of these grand buildings to see today on our historical tours. 

The Significance of Melbourne's History

Born of a village of pioneering settlers, the rectangular grid of streets that was laid out in 1837 forms a convenient and simple way to navigate the city, even today. Everything changed when gold was struck in 1851. Melbourne was the closest port to the central Victorian gold diggings and people flooded in from all around the world to strike it rich.  The city evolved into a wealthy and cosmopolitan mix of people - a little bit like today! There are wonderful photos on walls throughout the city showing what the place looked like in the late 1800’s.      

Elizabeth Street Melbourne 1900 | Image Credit: Wikicommons

Unearthing Melbourne's Historical Gems

One of the things we hear so often on our historical tours of Mebourne is that so many styles of architecture are mixed together in this city. There are excellent examples of buildings and design from art deco (such as the Manchester Unity Building) to postmodern (such as Federation Square). You’ll learn about all of these on tour with us as we see how they fit into the living fabric of the city. 

Federation Square

Why Historical Tours Offer a Deeper Understanding of Melbourne

Our guides know the stories behind the buildings, whether it’s the life story of the original builder, why people loved it when it opened or who owns it and keeps it nice today. You can ask them questions and share their infectious passion for the stories. One of the most common things we hear on tour is, ‘we’ve walked around Melbourne for a couple of days, but your tour has really brought the city and its history to life!’. 

FAQs

 What Can I Expect From Historical Tours Melbourne?

A. You can expect to meet your friendly local guide and a small group of others - perhaps with similar interests. You’ll wander through the laneways of Melbourne where the guide will highlight their favorite spots. They may be explaining where particularly noteworthy buildings came from or perhaps they will stop at less obvious locations to take your imagination back to another time when something amazing happened on that corner.  

 How Do I Choose the Best Historical Tour in Melbourne?

Book with a company with experience and good reviews when choosing your historical tour of Melbourne. 

Are There Any Themed Historical Tours Melbourne Offers?

All our tours include loads of historical stories about the buildings that you visit and the food you eat along the way. Whether it be our Coffee Lovers Walk that talks about how Melbourne has become obsessed with coffee. Did you know that Melburnians drank coffee for 120 years before espresso machines even arrived?  Or that it was an extremely political drink in the 1880’s? Maybe you prefer our Dumpling Discovery Walk which examines the experience of the original Chinese migrants to Melbourne. Of course, our Foodie Discovery Walk covers it all and lots more. 

 What Should I Bring to Historical Tours Melbourne for the Best Experience?

You don’t need to bring anything except protection from the weather (umbrella, sunscreen and anything else useful for what Melbourne throws at you), a bottle of water and your enthusiasm! 

 As a guest of ours recently mentioned in their 5-star review: “If you love history and coffee this is a must do!” 

 You can book any of our tasty historical tours of Melbourne at by clicking on the button below.

Walking Tours Melbourne

Can Melbourne's true essence only be discovered on foot?

Melbourne is a vibrant and exciting city with a rich culture and history. One of the best ways to explore the essence of Melbourne city is by taking a walking tour. Here's what you can expect from a walking tour of Melbourne with Walk Melbourne Tours.

Laneways, where the cool stuff happens.

The laneways and arcades (or alleyways) of Melbourne are filled with cafes, street art murals and cute little stores. They really are where all the cool stuff happens! These streets are pedestrian-only - too small for cars and coaches to visit. To find and really appreciate them, you need to explore on foot - and it’s definitely easier with a local guide. Find a walking tour that takes you through famous places such as Degraves St and The Block Arcade and also lesser-known local hangouts such as Scott Alley and Equitable Place.

Melbourne's Culinary Delights

Melbourne is well known for its multicultural and diverse food scene. This doesn’t just apply to fine dining but also to street food style snacks and the best venues are often found in the laneways. We like to highlight key parts of modern Australian eating to share with you such as Chinese dumplings, specialty coffee, sweet treats in unexpected places … and lots more.

Melbourne's History & Culture

Our walking tours in Melbourne are designed to reflect the city's rich past and its transformation into the present-day cosmopolitan hub. You will leave with an appreciation of the history of the city from the 1850’s and an explanation of how we got the modern and very liveable city we are today. Best of all, we’ll open your eyes to the way the city developed by talking about the laneways and buildings as we walk through them.

Expert Guides Provide an Insider's Perspective

All our guides are local and are passionate about sharing their favourite parts of the city with you. Having a local in-person guide with you allows you to have your personal questions answered and share a laugh along the way! We’ve dug into Melbourne’s history to share unique stories and lesser-known facts with our guests. All our walking tours are small groups so that you can interact with the guide and also with the other participants. Your experience of exploring the city will be so much richer for joining our hosted groups.

More Than Just Sightseeing – A Sensory Adventure

All our walking tours of Melbourne include tastings along the way, so your experience is not just sightseeing, but a multicultural sensory adventure. Depending on which tour you join you might be relishing in Asian style street food, savouring sweet treats like chocolate and gelati, getting the real taste of Melbourne's coffee culture or enjoying Melbourne's famous rooftop bars at twilight. 

But don’t believe us! Tara visited in May 2023 and gave us 5 stars. She said “What a wonderful way to spend a day in Melbourne! Our guide was great at sharing stories and the inside scoop on where to find fabulous food. We finished with new knowledge, good memories and satisfied bellies.”  

 Visit our tours page to pick the tour that is best up your alley! 

Melbourne Tours Uncovered - An Insider's Guide

Discovering Melbourne: Food, History, and Hidden Gems

When choosing a Melbourne Tour, a walking tour is a perfect way to explore the famous alleyways, laneways and arcades of the city. These laneways are pedestrian-only zones and are often filled with cafes, delicious local food vendors and small stores that exude charm. Melbourne is an incredibly multicultural city and this is reflected in what’s on offer for you in the laneways of Melbourne.

What Makes Walk Melbourne Tours Unique?

At Walk Melbourne Tours we love to share Melbourne’s stories through food. Since 2012, our small group walking tours have been delighting guests from all around the world. Food is central to our tours, so tastings are included in the price of every tour.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a first-time visitor to Melbourne looking for a comprehensive overview or a local with a specific interest. We have a tour for you:

• Coffee Tours: Dive deep into Melbourne's renowned coffee scene.

• Dumpling Tours: Taste the city's most delicious dumplings.

• Foodie Tours: Indulge in Melbourne's most delicious morsels.

• Laneway & Rooftop Bars Tours:Explore unique spots and spectacular views

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Foodie Discovery Walk

The Foodie Discovery Walk is the best Melbourne tour if you want a great overview of Melbourne and a range of different tastings. It’s perfect if you only have a short stay and want to taste a bunch of delicious things!

Coffee Lovers Walk

Our Coffee Lovers Walk is for those wanting to deep dive into Melbourne’s coffee obsession. It doesn’t matter if you simply enjoy a cappuccino or if you are a home roasting expert. We can cater to everyone’s tastes - as long as it’s coffee! You’ll visit multiple cafes, try different styles of coffee and leave with lots of food for thought about your next cup.

Dumpling Discovery Walk

Our Dumpling Discovery Walk is for those who love a fun evening experience with a little bit of history thrown in. We visit several dumpling houses - typically always Chinese - and try something different at each one. You’ll make your own dipping sauce and have a great night out with other dumpling lovers!

Rooftop Bars Tour

Our Rooftop Bars tour is a Melbourne Tour for those of you wanting to find some great spots for a drink with friends. This is only for private groups, so grab a few friends and we’ll show you some nice views, share a bit of history and buy you some drinks!

““This tour that was so much more than I was expecting! It was a history lesson, as well as an introduction to Melbourne architecture, iconic events, and the influential people who helped grow this beautiful city. As for the food and drinks…there is plenty, it’s all delicious, and you are taken on a journey with each stop providing its own fascinating story. I can’t recommend this tour highly enough, a wonderful introduction to what Melbourne has to offer””

— Vicki, June 2023

FAQs

What Can You Expect in a Walk Melbourne Tour?

Your local guide will meet you with a smile and confirm your dietary requirements and preferences.

The groups are always small and may include local Melbournians discovering their own backyard or international guests from any corner of the world. We encourage everyone to get to know each other!

Our tour guides are locals and want you to get the best out of your time in Melbourne. All our tours include the laneways of Melbourne, history and commentary about the food that we’re eating. Our guides are all passionate about the city and are happy to provide some recommendations for the rest of your stay.

Are Tastings Included in the Price?

Your tastings are included in the price. We visit small businesses that the locals love and on every tour we hear people say ‘we would never have found this place without you!’.

How Do I Book a Melbourne Tour with Walk Melbourne?

All our availability is viewable in real time on our website. Just click the Book Now button to book your Melbourne tour.

Are Walk Melbourne Tours Suitable for Children?

Our tours aren’t really suitable for kids under 10 years old, unless they’re adventurous eaters. If you think they will have all the tastings, they are charged at full price. If you’d like to bring them along, but you don’t think they’ll eat, they are welcome to attend free of charge. But please let us know in advance so we can accommodate seating for them (our venues are small). You are welcome to buy them extra tastings along the way. All kids over 10 years old are charged at full price. If you have any questions, please get in contact.

What Should I Bring on a Walk Melbourne Tour?

Please bring your own water bottle, rain jacket, umbrella, hat and sunscreen. Some people also like to bring some hand sanitiser, as we are eating at outdoor venues. Apart from that please bring your sense of curiosity and enthusiasm!

Why Choose Walk Melbourne for Your Melbourne Tour Experience?

We have been operating foodie walking tours of Melbourne since 2012 with great reviews from our customers! Our groups are small, our tour guides are locals and tastings are included in the price. We visit small businesses that the locals love and on every tour we hear people say ‘we would never have found this place without you!’. All our tours include the laneways of Melbourne, history and commentary about the food that we’re eating. We want you to get the best out of your time in Melbourne and we’re always happy to provide some recommendations for the rest of your stay.

Things to do in Melbourne this August

August is sometimes seen as a time to head out of town and soak up some warmth before the arrival of Spring, but if you do that you’d be missing a bunch of great events happening in Melbourne this month.

Melb International Coffee Expo (MICE) (Aug 17-19, MCEC)

Where have Melbourne’s coffee nerds been going to geek out on the latest trends for the last 10 years? The Melbourne International Coffee Expo. Just as relevant for the casual cappuccino lover as the most hardened coffee professional, this 3 day show at the convention centre allows you to get involved in a the latest coffee trends and try some of the best coffee in town. Of course, you pair this over 2 days with our Coffee Lovers Walk as well.

Melb International Film Festival (MIFF) (Aug 03 – 20, 7 cinemas across the CBD)

One of the longest running film festivals in the world, the Melbourne International Film festival celebrates it’s 71st year of screening quality cinema in Melbourne. The program covers a multitude of genres including Australian cinema, music docos, animation and more. One of the best reasons to attend MIFF is to see cinema in some amazing spaces including art-deco The Capitol Theatre designed by Walter Burley-Griffin and Marion Mahoney-Griffin in 1924.

A great afternoon would be to attend out Foodie Discovery Walk, followed by an early session at MIFF.

Now or Never Festival (17 – 20 AUG, various locations around CBD)

This is first year for the Now or Never winter festival. The 2.1 km Art Trail in Docklands is the centrepiece (and it’s free!) but there are events across the city. This festival highlights art those uses technology to bring the best out in creativity. There is music, performance, light installations and public lectures.

A great afternoon would be to attend out Foodie Discovery Walk, followed by the Art Trail Docklands which is a quick, easy and free tram ride from the end of the tour.  

 

QVM Night Market (Wednesdays nights from 5pm until Aug 30)

The long running and incredibly popular Queen Victoria Night Market continues through until the end of August with food trucks, entertainment and craft stalls. With more than 40 food and drink vendors you’ll definitely have to prepare yourself for a bit of FOMO in choosing what to have for dinner!

Winter treats in Melbourne for foodies (July 2023)

Melbourne’s winter is relatively mild, rarely dipping below 10 deg C (50 deg F) during the day. However, across the rest of sunny Australia, Melbourne has a reputation for being cold, wet and dark during July. While it can be tempting to snuggle up at home on the couch, winter is a great time to layer up in your favourite winter clothes and take advantage of all those warming and comforting delights you’re in the mood for. With multicultural culinary influences from Europe and Asia, here are some of the best winter things to eat and places to eat them in July 2023!  

Coffee & pastry

Melbourne is obsessed with two things in winter: Aussie Rules football (it’s not rugby or soccer) and coffee! The downtown grid - which is half a square mile (1.3 sq km) – has hundreds of coffee shops, with some of them very serious about their coffees. Most locals drink a caffe latte or a flat white (both are espresso topped with steamed milk) but if you really want a Melbourne coffee order a ‘magic’. It’s technically a ‘double ristretto ¾ latte’ but tastes just like a caffe latte with a more intense coffee flavour and less milk. One of the best is at Industry Beans in Little Collins Street. If you prefer your coffee black, they also offer filter coffee (high quality drip) or single origin black espresso. You might also like to try Maker on Hardware Lane, especially if you’re travelling with a non-coffee drinker. They make one of the best chai lattes.

What goes better with coffee than a pastry? Whether you like a classic croissant or something more elaborate like a cherry and pistachio danish or a lemon curd cronut, pastry is definitely having a moment in Melbourne. You can join the daily queue at world renowned Lune Croissanterie in Russell St or play hide and seek and find the petit shop for Agathe patisserie in the historic Royal Arcade.

Hot pot (Thai or Chinese)

There’s nothing quite as warming as sharing hot pot with friends. There’s something very comforting about communal cooking at the table over some nice conversation. This is not a dish to dine solo! Whether you like the spicy and numbing flavours of Sichuan province in China or the aromatic flavours of Thailand, Melbourne has many opportunities for hot pot.

The original in Melbourne and still very popular is Dainty Sichuan (no website) at 149 Lonsdale St. For Thai flavours and a menu that goes beyond hot pot as well, head to Nana Thai on Bourke near Russell. If the queue is too long, the eastern end of Bourke St (between Russell St and Spring St) has recently seen a burst of Thai restaurants, so try your luck at one of those!

Warming spaces for after dark drinks

After dinner it’s nice to slip into a moody bar for a sneaky cocktail. Winter is the best time to explore Melbourne’s indoor spaces designed to be warm and intimate.

When Gimlet became too popular, local hospitality hero Andrew McConnell decided to open a dedicated cocktail bar next door. The Apollo Inn is Melbourne’s newest hot spot, named for the original watering hole that was on this spot in the very early days of British settlement. It’s small, quiet and very sophisticated, specialising in martinis.

Boilermaker House has lots of timber, whisky and beer, but no windows. It could be anytime of day or night in here at anytime of day or night. Their menu of beer and whisky matchings are what their known for and what the bar is named for.   

Black Kite Commune is also a new kid in town serving more than 90% Australian made drinks with indigenous flavours highlighted on the snacks menu. Head upstairs into the mezzanine booths and simply press the button at your table for cocktail service. A perfect way to avoid the chill outside! 

Conclusion

Of course if you want to pack a whole lots of treats into 3 hours, you could join one of our Melbourne walking tours, where food and drinks are included on every tour. Melbourne is definitely a place that thrives during winter, so grab your puffer jacket and scarf and head out into see the city and warm up with some comforting winter treats.