After traveling around Australia for one month, we found Melbourne to be the most convenient yet affordable city in Australia. It’s for many reasons that for seven years in a row, the Economist names Melbourne as the world’s livable city!

If you want to get the most out of the Melbourne without breaking the budget, here’s a list of things to do for free that we’ve done or are planning to do.

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The 14 Best Free Things To Do In Melbourne on a FREE Tram.

1. Take the City Tram for Free

I spent $70 for an Opal card in Sydney, $20 on Go Card for transportation in Gold Coast and Brisbane. But in Melbourne city, I spent zero on Myki card!

The public transportation system is so impressive, efficient, safe and almost free!

The best way to explore Melbourne city is by foot. From its busy shopping streets, lovely riverside promenade, graffiti laneways, pleasant coffee shops, many beautiful gardens and parks dotted around the Melbourne city center.

If you get tired from all the walking, jump on a tram for free, as long as you’re traveling in the green Free Tram zone (refer to the picture below). This city tram covers the whole Melbourne CBD and you don’t need a Myki card to enjoy the free ride.

2. City Tour on the City Circle Tram

Taking the City Circle Tram, route 35, is one of the best ways to explore Melbourne city for free. It will bring you to the main tourist attractions in Melbourne, including the Princess Theater, Parliament House, and Federation Square. The whole trip will take about an hour. Sit back and enjoy the view while listening to the prerecorded audio guides to learn more about the city and attractions.

This free tram service constantly runs in a loop around the Melbourne CBD, you can hop on and off, as you like.

Get more information on The City Circle Tram

3. Explore the laneways and street art

Melbourne has one of the most riotous and vibrant street art scenes in the world.

As you wander through the labyrinth of laneways, you’ll discover some magnificent street art scenes. From cute postage stamp paste-ups, creative stencils, murals to thought-provoking paintings and images.

To start off your Melbourne street art hunting, go to Hosier Lane, right opposite Federation Square. Follow the cobblestone pathway and head to the north. Don’t forget to look around, look up and part of the fun is getting lost!

There are other stunning paintings and street artworks that you can find at these laneways:

Keith Haring mural
AC/DC Lane
Duckboard Place
Croft Alley
St Fitzroy
Stevenson Lane
Rutledge Place
Union Lane

4. Take a stroll along the Yarra River

I like to see the city from different perspectives. Yarra Riverbank is one of the best places to do that.

Take a stroll along the promenade, there are lots of things to see: the unique architecture, the sepia-colored river, the bridges, people and of course the Melbourne skyline.

Check out some of the good and reasonably priced restaurants and bars along the riverside.

5. Wander through the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria

Royal Botanic Gardens offers visitors tranquility and peace among its stunning 38-hectares on the south bank of the Yarra River.

It’s a great place to relax, breathe some fresh air.

We spent the entire morning wandering through this beautiful Royal Botanic Gardens and discovered several types of themed gardens, including the Chinese garden, roses, ferns, herbs, shrubs, rare trees, and Australian native forest walk.

There are more than 10,000 plant series in this hilly green space.

6. Pay Respect at Shrine of Remembrance

Located right next to the Royal Botanic Gardens, this secular shrine is a war memorial built to honor the fallen heroes of Victoria.

Shrine of Remembrance is open free of charge to all visitors. It houses various exhibitions featuring stories, historical events, photos, uniforms, military medals and other objects where you can learn more about the war in history.

Before you go off, climb to the top balcony to enjoy beautiful views of the city, the Royal Botanic Gardens and the memorial grounds.

7. Visit the National Gallery of Victoria

Located on St Kilda Road, about 15 minutes walk from the Shrine of Remembrance, you’ll reach the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV).

Showcasing more than 70,000 works of art, The National Gallery of Victoria is the largest and oldest art museum in Australia.

General entry is free. To enter the special exhibitions, you’ll need to buy a ticket.

If you’re carrying a large backpack, you have to leave it at the counter. They will keep your bags for free.

8. Take a tour of Parliament House

Situated at the intersection of Spring and Bourke streets, Parliament House is one of Melbourne’s most famous landmarks.

When Parliament is not sitting, you can join one of the 8 free public tours. Each tour is limited to 25 persons, where you’ll get to explore the grand interiors of Parliaments and learn the political history of Melbourne.

On sitting days, you can enter and see Parliament in action. We wanted to see that but we’re just not so lucky.

During our visit there, the Parliament House was closed to all visitors. I would recommend you check out the calendar before you go.

9. Visit The Old Treasury Building

If you are interested in Melbourne’s history, visit The Old Treasury Building.

Located just beside the Parliament house, this public museum showcasing the history of Victoria and Melbourne through archaeological artifacts and historical events.

Admission is free, open from Sunday to Friday 10 am to 4 pm.

10. Visit The Australian Centre for the Moving Image

While you’re at Federation Square, pop into the ACMI (the Australian Centre for the Moving Image) to explore leading edge and historical moving image forms- television, film, games and digital culture.

There are interactive exhibitions, digital workshop, and screenings for all film lovers.

Here you can catch the classics of Australian Cinema, learn about the evolution of television and film, play vintage video games and have a virtual reality experience.

The permanent exhibition, Screen worlds is free, but you’ll need to pay for the special exhibition.

11. Meander Through the Queen Victoria Market

Established in 1878, Queen Victoria Market is the largest market in Australia.

Meandering through this loud and proud open market, you’ll find a huge selection of fresh produce, sweet and savory treats, clothes and fashion, locally made souvenirs and more.

Browsing is free of course. Many shops offer food samples to taste if you’re tempted.

During Sundays, the marketplace comes alive with an entirely different personality –live music, entertainments and a children’s area.

Here are some other unique markets which located further from the Melbourne CBD, you might need to pay for the train ride to get there:

Creator’s Market – to discover Melbourne–made products
Rose Street Market in Fitzroy– meet, greet and speak with designers and artists in person
Camberwell Sunday Market – give you a true flea market experience
Collingwood Children’s Farm

12. Discover St Paul’s Cathedral

St Paul’s Cathedral is a very beautiful church, from the magnificent exterior architecture to the impressive interior design.

When you step into the church, it’ll give you an immense sense of calmness. You don’t have to be religious to appreciate the gothic style architecture and the peaceful atmosphere of this sacred place.

13. Visit the State Library Of Victoria

State Library of Victoria is one of the first free libraries in the world and the oldest public library in Australia.

The domed La Trobe reading room is well worth a look- it’s the library highlight. With natural light shining through the majestic domed ceiling, there’s no better place to read your book.

We spent our evening in the La Trobe reading room while browsing the Internet. It’s a fantastic place to just relax and get away from the bustling city streets.

14. Federation Square

Sitting along the route of free Melbourne City Circle Tram, Federation Square is a wondrous place to soak up the city vibes and admire the architecture.

This square is always full of people hanging out just to relax, enjoy the lively atmosphere, and watch some street performances. It’s a great stop to get free Wifi access too.

Conclusion

We spent 5 days in Melbourne and barely scratched the surface of adventures Melbourne has to offer. I hope this guide will help you in planning your trip and ticking off these free things to do in Melbourne.

What’s your favorite free thing to do in Melbourne?

Do you have any favorite place or thing to do in Melbourne that I didn’t mention in this post?

Feel free to share with us in the comment below.

Looking for exciting adventures, scenic views or exotic experiences in Melbourne?

Klook can help. Here are some tours that will sort out your itinerary with just a click away.

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board the Puffing Billy Steam Train
Great Ocean Road

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Lonely Planet Pocket Melbourne is a comprehensive travel guide to the country, offers the most up-to-date advice on what to see and skip, and what hidden discoveries await you. It is ideal for those who want to both explore the top sights and take the road less traveled.