With its potpourri of art galleries, film festivals, orchestras, choral and opera productions, vibrant live music scene, and a strong food, wine and coffee culture, Melbourne is the cultural capital of Australia. The hidden laneways of Melbourne also provide some of the best discount hotel deals for bargain holiday makers. Some of the most notable events include the Melbourne International Film Festival in August, the International Art Festival in October, and the Melbourne Comedy Festival in April, as well as individual concerts and exhibitions throughout the year. In addition to the Melbourne Museum, there are special museums dedicated to subjects such as science, immigration, Chinese history, Jewish history, sport, racing, film and moving image, railways, police, fire brigades and banking.
Melbourne is a well organized, fully modern city, with plenty to see and do, and lot’s of room for parks and gardens, with the Royal Botanic Gardens and the banks of the Yarra River very popular spots for a relaxing stroll. Attractions include a multitude of both quaint and classy bars, and great restaurants with international cuisines. Melbourne Central has hundreds of shops and cafes, with restaurants, bars and cosy streetside cafes. This is the premier shopping center in Melbourne and one of the city’s best attractions, as is the St James Old Cathedral, a good example of some of the historical Victorian architecture in this city.
Melbournians are passionate about sports in every shape and form, with Australian Rules Football having been invented there more than a century ago being at the top of the list, closely by cricket, horseracing and the famous Melbourne Cup, tennis and Formula 1 racing, to name a few. The National Sports Museum, Australia’s only truly dedicated multi-sports museum is also located at the MCG or Melbourne Cricket Ground. This is the unquestioned sporting capital of Australia with the largest arenas and two of the major sporting administrations basing their operation in Melbourne.
Melbourne has an excellent network of bike paths, plus a generally flat terrain, making pedal-power a great way to take in the city. Most paths are "shared footways" under the law, although the majority of users in most places are cyclists. This means cyclists should expect to share the path with pedestrians, dog-walkers, rollerbladers, joggers, prams and tricycles.
No matter how much time you have to spend in Melbourne, the city is one of Australia's finest, and offers a great chance to tour, relax, or take in some great entertainment.