6 things to do in Melbourne this weekend

Melbourne is a lively city that has something for everyone to enjoy over the weekend.

Melbourne is starting to look lively again now spring is here. The weather is getting warmer, and the trees are starting to get the greenery leaves back. All the rooftop bars are filled again by happy locals now the sun is back.

When the weather is looking good over a weekend, here are some great things to do in the city and out of Melbourne.

1. See the art exhibits at the National Gallery of Victoria

The National Gallery of Victoria, or NGV as the locals call it, always has a new exhibit showing for free entry or at a cost. You can visit and see the standard exhibits or check out one of the limited exhibits.

There is currently a selection of limited free exhibits happening at NGV, so start making your way down and discover what’s on show.

2. See the Myer Christmas Windows

The Myer Christmas Windows is almost a 70 year old tradition that takes place every year at Myer on Bourke Street Mall. Join the queue outside and see all the different mini detailed under stage vignettes in the different windows outside of Myer.

The very first Christmas Windows took place in 1956 and was Santa and the Olympics. Over the years the Christmas Windows has seen Alice in Wonderland, Nursery Rhymes, and more recently celebrated Disney 100 Years of Wonder!

3. Bar crawl

Discover some of the best bars within Melbourne CBD and enjoy a drink or two at each one along the way. The best way to do a bar crawl is to plan which bars you want to drink at to figure out a route.

Discover some of Melbourne’s best hidden bars and book a hidden bar walking tour! You’ll go to three lively hidden bars within the city that can often be hard to find. This tour is great for those who want to discover Melbourne’s hidden bars and learn more about the busy city.

4. Queen Victoria Markets

Queen Vic Markets is one of the most popular markets in Victoria and is also the largest open air market in the Southern Hemisphere!

The markets are open between Thursday to Sunday and have a variety of fresh produce and small market stalls selling all kinds of goods.

Be sure to grab some iconic hot jam doughnuts from American Doughnut Kitchen – you won’t regret it!

5. Go to a musical or theatre show

Melbourne hosts quite a lot of the most popular musicals throughout the year. There is always a musical or a theatre show taking place in the city!

Some of the current and most popular ones include Mamma Mia! The Musical, Moulin Rouge! The Musical, and Elvis: A Musical Revolution. These shows are running across the weekend during the day and at night.

6. Go to a festival

It always feels like there is some kind of festival happening in Melbourne whether it’s a film festival, music festival, or culture festival.

The Summer Night Market at Queen Vic is coming up in November and runs all the way through March.

Coming up over the next few weeks includes the Queenscliff Music Festival, Beyond the Valley, and Meredith Music Festival.

Melbourne is arguably one of the most lively cities with something to do throughout the day and has the best nightlife in Australia. On your next trip, make sure you spend at least three days or up to a week to get the best experience of Melbourne.

Cameron Ward

Managing Director at Sightseeing Tours Australia

Cameron Ward turned his travel passion into a thriving Australian tourism business. Before he co-founded his own business, Sightseeing Tours Australia, he was enjoying being a Melbourne tour guide. Even now, Cameron delights in helping visitors from all around the world get the most out of their incredible Australian trip. You’ll see Cameron leading tours or writing about his favourite Australian places where he shares his local insights.