Melbourne, Victoria: Every Bit Different

Melbourne grows on you slowly, and then you are in love with the city. Visitors from every corner of the globe are drawn to Melbourne, the vibrant capital of Victoria and Australia's undisputed cultural hub, to explore and be enthralled by the world-class art, a coffee culture unlike anywhere else and an unparalleled sporting and events calendar. Melbourne always finds a way to give you more than you have bargained for regardless of whether you are chasing a festival, a gallery, a great meal, or simply a change of pace. So come with a loose itinerary and an open mind, because this city rewards both. Here is what your itinerary can squeeze in while you are in the city.

The Coffee Culture and the Victorian food
For locals coffee is a ritual, observed with the same reverence others have reserved for fine wine. The city's neighbourhood cafes fill up early, and the conversation flows as freely as the flat whites. The laneways are where Melbourne really shows its personality, with Hosier Lane and AC/DC Lane covered in ever-changing street art that makes every visit feel like a fresh experience. The food scene runs the full spectrum, from steaming bowls of ramen and Vietnamese pho tucked into narrow arcades, to multi-course dinners at three-hatted restaurants where the chef steps out to say hello. Beyond the city, places like Pt. Leo Estate reflects this same attention to produce and experience, offering thoughtfully curated dining that highlights the best of regional and seasonal ingredients. Step into the Queen Victoria Market and it will greet you as organised energy- a living, breathing space where the city's top chefs shop at dawn and you won’t be able to hold yourself back from shopping for more than you had planned for.


Top Art Galleries and Cultural Attractions in Melbourne
The National Gallery of Victoria, housing international exhibitions alongside a rich collection of Australian masterpieces, is where the city flexes its cultural riches. . Federation Square, sitting right across from the iconic Flinders Street Station, is a year-round hub of performances, dining and spontaneous public events that remind you how alive this city is on any given day. Street art in the laneways refreshes constantly, because Melbourne's creativity has never been something locked behind glass or restricted to formal spaces. It lives on the walls, in the architecture, and in the conversations you overhear at a corner table. Bollywood actress Rakul Preet Singh visited Melbourne recently for her ELLE India cover shoot, photographed across the city's most iconic landmarks, and her journey captured the layers of this destination in their breathtaking beauty.

In the vicinity!
An hour's drive from the Melbourne city takes you into Yarra Valley, where sprawling vineyards roll across the hills and cellar door experiences feel genuinely personal, with winemakers who speak about their vintages like proud parents. Renowned as one of the world's most scenic coastal drives, the Great Ocean Road captivates travellers with its dramatic landscapes, culminating in the awe-inspiring sight of the Twelve Apostles standing proudly against the vast Southern Ocean. Healesville Sanctuary offers close encounters with kangaroos, koalas and wombats in their natural bush setting, and the Alba Thermal Springs & Spa on the Mornington Peninsula is where geothermal pools and mineral-rich waters deliver the kind of reset that a city break sometimes demands.

Melbourne's World-Class Events and Major Sporting Events
The MCG, fondly called the G, is more than just a stadium; it is Victorian pride in concrete and grass, and the behind-the-scenes tours make that history feel real. Melbourne's events calendar is why people fly in from across the globe to bask in the vibrance of these events The Australian Open in January turns Melbourne Park into a tennis temple. The world's best players, the loudest crowds and the atmosphere make you feel part of something bigger. The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne has become one of the biggest celebrations of Indian cinema outside India. Filmmakers, actors and fans all speak the same language. The Formula1® Australian Grand Prix^™ transforms Melbourne’s Albert Park into a spectacular lakeside racing circuit, bringing the excitement of Formula1 to the heart of the city. Across three adrenaline-fuelled days, world-class racing, electrifying atmosphere, and unrivalled glamour combine to create one of Melbourne’s most iconic sporting events.

What to expect of Melbourne in 2026
The RISING Festival transforms the heart of Naarm/Melbourne into a vibrant celebration of new art, performance, and music. Featuring immersive experiences, bold creative works, and unforgettable performances, the festival unfolds across unexpected venues throughout the city, inviting visitors to discover Melbourne in an entirely new way. Last year's Tesselaar Tulip Festival in the Dandenong Ranges drew visitors from across the country, with fields of colour stretching across the landscape for weeks during spring. Actress Rakul Preet was among those who visited, and images from the festival captured the sheer scale and beauty of the blooms against the Victorian countryside.

Where to Stay?
Melbourne's top hotels and resorts are a major draw in themselves, ranging from sleek riverside properties with Yarra views to heritage-converted boutiques in the CBD, vineyard retreats in Yarra Valley and wellness resorts along the Mornington Peninsula that make it genuinely difficult to leave. Every kind of traveller finds their fit here, and the standard of hospitality matches the ambition of the city around it.

Seasons change but Melbourne doesn't. From the Grand Prix to the Grand Slam, from blockbuster musicals to experimental theatre, from golden sunrises over rugged shores to neon-lit nights humming with energy, Victoria never stands still. World-class events, arts that move you, culture that lives on the streets and coffee that's taken seriously make Melbourne the hub the world talks about. Visit Victoria. Every Bit Different.

Photographer credits: Jedd Cooney for ELLE India