Population: about 3.5 million residents.

Founded: 1835.

Melbourne is the capital of Victoria and the second largest city in Australia after Sydney. Melbourne is known for its lovely parks and gardens from the Victorian era, and especially for its mix of cultures (its population hails from more than 140 different countries), which creates a rich cosmopolitan atmosphere.

The land on which Melbourne stands today was bought by Tasmanian settlers from an Aborigine family in return for flour, tools and clothes. In the 19th century, the city experienced a golden era because of goldmines and became Australia’s economic center for an extended period. Today, Melbourne is a world focal point of sports and culture. On its calendar appear Australian Open Tennis Championship, the Grand Prix of Formula One Cars, and many international festivals. Melbourne is spread over a huge area (17000 km2) that is mostly covered by private homes and large parks.

In the city center, we recommend visiting the old Flinder’s Train Station and the public library from the middle of the 19th century. Victoria’s Market has more than 1000 stalls and is a great place for buying cheap items as well as having a good time. Melbourne’s China Town is on Little Brook Street and offers a variety of Chinese restaurants and antique shops.

In the Crown Casino you can gamble 24 hours a day. It is the biggest such institution in the southern hemisphere. In addition to gambling halls, it includes movie theaters, restaurants and coffee shops. The Arts Compound opposite the train station is Melbourne’s main cultural center and includes concert halls and theaters. In the Botanical Gardens, you can stroll among serene lakes and amazing trees, as well as watch the stars at an observatory. Entrance is free during daytime hours. Melbourne’s Cricket Stadium (MCG) is one of the most impressive in the world, and includes close to 100,000 seats. It was the main stadium at the 1956 Olympics, which Melbourne hosted, and today, is the site of many of the seasonal Australian Footy Games. Melbourne’s zoo is the third oldest in the world, with more than 350 different kinds of animals on display.

Night life – some say that Melbourne’s night life is the best on the continent. There is a huge variety of clubs, pubs and bars, with the main entertainment areas in the city center, the suburb of Pittsroy (Brunswick Street), St. Kilda (Pittsroy and Auckland Street), and South Yarra (Chapel and Turk Street). A survey of all of these places can be had at the MelbournePubs site. Most clubs insist on a dress code, but there are also more alternative places, mostly in Pittsroy east of the city center. During the summer months, many shows are held under the open sky. Tickets for these and other cultural events can be bought at Ticketmaster.

Where to stay

Most backpackers stay at St. Kilda because it is next to the beach, and most of its entertainment establishments are open until the wee hours of the night. For years, this was the town’s sinners’ section, but today, you can find exclusive restaurants there, right alongside the drunks and other doubtful characters. Torack is Melbourne’s most fashionable quarter, with its elegant homes along the riverside belonging to locals. In Pittsroy, you can find the artsy crowd and the Sephardic community. Richmond houses most of the Vietnamese refugees who arrived with the last immigration wave.

Public transportation

Melbourne is divided into three areas, each priced differently. You can buy a ticket according to time usage (for two hours, a whole day or a week), which will entitle you to riding the tramway car, train, or bus. It can be bought at stations or in the vehicle itself. The tramway covers the city center and most inner suburbs, while buses serve all other neighborhoods. The train crosses town with several routes which all end in the downtown underground station. More information on timetables, prices, and maps can be viewed at the next site.