Melbourne City Guide for Travelers

Melbourne, the capitol of Victoria Australia, is quite diverse in it’s culture and architecture. You can find sites from native tribes, visitors from all over the world, and urban culture like no other. The architecture is splendid, from it’s high rises and contemporary forms to the meek and historic Victorian styles. The city was well planned and laid out, but that is no indication of the type of culture that you will find in Melbourne. The city has a deep cosmopolitan flair with a restless population seeking the most exotic and creative amusement. Traveler’s to Melbourne can expect to experience lavish luxury through boutique hotels, exquisite shopping and natural relaxation from over 100 natural hot springs throughout the Victoria area. While relaxation and luxury is plentiful, the city is robust with nightlife, events and attractions making this destination a Mecca for all types of world explorer’s.

Melbourne is made up of precincts, each having it’s own flavor and style. Dining in Melbourne is no exception. You can find a wide variety of dishes, ranging from exquisite meals prepared by some of the world’s most renowned chef’s to the ethnic selections that you may only find in the heart of a melting pot city. Fashionable Restaurants, Eclectic Bars, Classy Café’s and delectable Bistro’s line the streets permeating smells of delicious cuisine.

Melbourne offers a plethora of fine public and private art galleries, showcasing a variety of art including contemporary, colonial, historical and local pieces. Two of the museums that would rank at the top of any art lover’s list includes the Heide Museum of Modern Art and The National Gallery of Victoria which houses both the Ian Potter Centre and the NGV International. The Heide Museum was the birthplace of Australian Modernism and houses some of the best native art forms in all of Australia. The National Gallery of Victoria at Federation Square boasts over 20,000 pieces from Australian artisans’ at the Ian Potter Centre which has more Australian artwork displays than anywhere else in the world. NGV International has four levels of awe-inspiring collections from Europe, Asia and America. Both of the houses belonging to the National Gallery of Victoria displays art from the colonial period to modern day. Admission to the National Gallery of Art is free for the permanent collection while exhibitions may have a small fee.

While the memories you are making at the Luxury or Boutique hotel may have the content needed to produce a well written theatrical production, Melbourne has dozens of musicals spread throughout the city. You can find mainstream shows that are staged world wide as well as local talent. The Regent and Princess Theatres are good choices for more popular and professional theatrics while the Malthouse is the place to go for high-quality local productions.

Melbourne is not only considered one of the most livable cities, but it has also been consistently ranked as Australia’s cultural capitol. The Luxury and Boutique Hotels, Spa’s and Mineral Springs offers a personal escape of indulgence. The Victorian parks and gardens, Victorian and Contemporary Architecture and the diverse multi-cultural society offers the avid traveler all the ingredients of a vacation hot spot. No matter what type of getaway you desire, Melbourne Australia is sure to exceed your expectations.