Melbourne has a number of museums that are free — including its oldest, the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV). The Australian Centre for the Moving Image focuses on film, art, and video games, and in the city's Arts Precinct, the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art has four large galleries that exhibit works by local and international artists.

Brush Up on Some Culture

Operating for more than 140 years, the iconic Queen Victoria Market is free to enter and has 600 vendors. Over in a lively waterfront section that a colony of Little Penguins calls home, the St. Kilda Esplanade Market is a beloved Sunday distraction known for its artisanal, handmade offerings — jewelry, crafts, and items for self-pampering.

Look for Bargains

The oldest library in the country, State Library Victoria is a reader's nirvana of more than 20 buildings, with millions of books, and over 70,000 items of historical importance. Visitors will feel like they’ve stepped back in time in the domed, octagonal La Trobe Reading Room, as well as in Ian Potter Queen's Hall, where some of the tables and chairs date to the 1850s.

Become a Bookworm

With almost two centuries of history, the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria (RBGV) spreads over 94 acres, with over 8,500 species of plants and an art project that broadcasts sounds and music inspired by the natural environment called Sonica Botanica. In the city center, Carlton Gardens is an open green space with wide walking paths and the feeling of a grand European park.

Go Green

Mostly flat, Melbourne is not a difficult city to navigate by foot, and the guides of I'm Free Walking Tours are Melbourne residents, so they can answer any questions visitors might have about the city. Walks can last up to three hours at a leisurely pace, while guides share about the area's Aboriginal past, the Australian outlaw Ned Kelly, and the city's old jail.

Explore the Sights with a Guide