Melbourne is home to around 4.35 million people. It's an urban city with people from all over the world, making it the perfect place for a stroll. A leisurely stroll through the city center is the ideal way to discover Victorian buildings next to modern shopping malls or skyscrapers, and to explore alleyways and small streets with hidden stores and street art on the walls. Finding rental accommodation in Melbourne is as easy as finding an apart hotel paris.

What to do in Melbourne : the essentials

A visit to the city should start at its most emblematic point, Federation Square. It's not a pretty square, nor a charming place, but it's the city's main square and one of the most famous in the world. It's home to numerous events, a comprehensive tourist information center and the ACMI (Australian Centre for the Moving Image), which features a very interesting and interactive exhibition, Screen World. Fed Square is also home to Flinders Street Railway Station, Australia's oldest, and St Paul's Cathedral, an Anglican church consecrated in 1852.

To discover the city, walk !

That's how you'll discover the lanes, those little alleys where you'll find restaurants, cafés and street art. Among the lanes worth a visit are Hosier Lane, where spray-paintings are ubiquitous, Centre Place and Degraves St, symbols of the city's effervescence.

It's streets like these that make Melbourne such a lively city, but at the same time inviting for a stroll, as they are pedestrianized, full of restaurants with open-air tables and the smell of coffee, the city's main aroma. And don't forget your accommodation: as with finding an apart hotel paris, finding a hotel to rent in Melbourne is not complicated.

The center for more things to do

Still in the center, be sure to visit Chinatown, with its many dumpling restaurants, and stroll through the Queen Victoria Market, where you'll find good fast food, fruit, flowers and even handicrafts. On Wednesdays in summer, the Vic Market hosts the Night Market, a market with music and food stalls, which is well attended and offers a very warm atmosphere. For a cultural outing, visit the Immigration Museum, whose moving collection tells the story of immigrants who came to Australia to improve their quality of life.

Melbourne is crossed by the Yarra River, and the « other side » of the river is just as much a must-see as the center. From the center, cross the Yarra River on its bridges (there are several) and you'll arrive in Southbank, a district with restaurants, a promenade with street performers and plenty of movement on the hottest days of the year. It's a great place to sit by the river and enjoy the view of the city. Southbank is home to the Eureka Skydeck, an observatory offering panoramic views of Melbourne and wonderful landscapes - a great attraction on a clear day. Close to the Eureka Skydeck are the National Gallery of Victoria, the Botanic Gardens and the Shrine of Remembrance, a memorial and museum dedicated to the men and women who lost their lives in the First World War.

A busy nightlife

Melbourne is the opposite of a dull city at night. The city is ideal for nightlife enthusiasts and offers a wide variety of options, such as restaurants, pubs, rooftops, nightclubs and casino. Nightlife options are mainly concentrated in the city center, which allows for "rotation"; if you don't like one establishment, you can easily go to another. If you like nightlife, start looking for accommodation nearby. You'll have no trouble finding it, just as you would an apart hotel paris.

Author's Bio: 

Tom Clark is an intrepid traveler, passionate storyteller, and the creative mind behind the popular travel blog "Wanderlust Chronicles." With a thirst for adventure and a camera always at the ready, Tom has explored the hidden gems and bustling metropolises of over 50 countries across six continents.