Greater Melbourne is set around the shores of Port Phillip Bay, while the city centre is laid out in a large rectangle on the northern banks of the Yarra River, about five kilometres from the bay.

This lively and cosmopolitan city combines a fanatical love for the creative arts and good living with a state-wide sports addiction to make a city like no other. Food, art, music, wine and football – is there anything else?

One glance at a map and it’s obvious that Melbourne is a planned city: a tidy, balanced grid of neatly angled streets. But beneath this lies a restless creative energy constantly pushing back at the city’s seeming conservatism. From Southbank and the Yarra to the Flinders and Greek Quarters, the CBD is made up of precincts – distinct enclaves each with its own flavour and charm.

Extending around the bay are a number of inner suburbs, each with its own distinct character and personality. A short tram ride from the city centre, Melbourne’s suburban neighbourhoods are a must see for anyone wanting to experience what life here is really all about.

Discover the depth and diversity of Melbourne with a few days exploring the eclectic precincts that make up the city. Dine out at one of Chinatown's renowned dumpling houses or visit the Greek Quarter for the best of Hellenic cuisine. Wander through the historic laneways at night to find the latest hidden restaurants, music venues and bars, then spend the morning shopping amongst the glitz and glamour of the 'Paris End' of Collins Street.

Bourke Street Mall

Visit Melbourne's retail heart – a busy mall bustling with shoppers, buskers and city workers.

City laneways and arcades

Explore Melbourne's intimate and enchanting web of lanes, alleys, little streets and arcades.

Chinatown

Experience the flavours of Asia and find intimate drinking spots in the centre of Melbourne.

Collins Street and Little Collins Street

Spend a day shopping amidst the glitz and glamour of tree-lined Collins Street.

Docklands

Find bars, restaurants, markets, performance spaces and cinemas, right on the waterfront.

Flinders quarter

Explore the tiny bars, edgy designer shops and commercial galleries of Flinders Lane.

Greek quarter

Understand the Greek-Australian experience with authentic Greek food, bookstores and music shops.

Sports precinct

Get to know Melbourne's fascination with sport by catching a football game at the MCG.

Yarra precinct

Enjoy stunning architecture, restaurants, cafes, and bold galleries in the city's festival hub.

For more, go to www.visitmelbourne.com/