Book a Flight to Melbourne from €1087

Federation Square: An urban complex of open-air and indoor public spaces, in the heart of the Melbourne business district. The complex was constructed in 2002 to mark the centenary of the State of Victoria, and houses art venues, museums, cafes, shops, bars and restaurants. It is particularly known for the spectacular events staged here, and for its futuristic architecture. Address: Corner of Swanston and Flinders Streets, 0061 3 9655 1900, www.fedsquare.com

St. Paul’s Cathedral: Just a stone’s throw from Federation Square, this masterpiece of neo-Gothic architecture with its three pointed bell towers was founded in 1881, on the site of an older Melbourne church. Address: Flinders Lane & Swanston St., 0061 3 9653 4333, www.stpaulscathedral.org.au

Carlton Gardens: Beautiful Victorian gardens in the suburb of Carlton, north-east of the city centre, a UNESCO Cultural Heritage Site of rare historical, architectural and aesthetic value. The gardens feature fountains, decorative ponds, lush vegetation and beds full of flowers. The gardens are also home to the Royal Exhibition Building, an architectural gem of the 19th century, and the Melbourne Museum. Address: 1-111 Carlton St., 0061 3 9658 9658

Melbourne Museum: The largest museum in the southern hemisphere is located within the Carlton Gardens. Its eight wings are home to thousands of exhibits, illustrating the natural and cultural history of Victoria. Of particular interest is the cultural centre dedicated to the Aborigines, and there is also an excellent children’s wing and an IMAX cinema with a giant screen. Address: 11 Nicholson St, 0061 3 8341 7777, http://museumvictoria.com.au/melbournemuseum

Victoria National Gallery: This, the oldest public art museum in Australia, was founded in 1861 and is home to 70,000 works of art, displayed in two buildings. The NGV building on St. Kilda Road, in appearance like a fortress, has the collection of art works from Europe, Asia, America and Oceania. The futuristic Ian Potter Centre in Federation Square presents the kaleidoscope of Australian art from the Aborigines and the first colonists to the present day. Address: ΝGV International 180 St Kilda Rd, Ian Potter Centre Federation Square, 0061 3 8620 2222, www.ngv.vic.gov.au

Royal Botanical Gardens: An expanse of green space of unrivalled beauty, located on the southern banks of the River Yarra. Designed in emulation of the landscaped gardens of the 19th century, Melbourne’s Royal Botanical Gardens are an open-air tapestry of indigenous and exotic plants and lakes with swans gliding across them – the perfect place to relax, walk and have a picnic. Address: Birdwood Avenue, South Yarra, 0061 3 9252 2300, www.rbg.vic.gov.au

Great Ocean Road: One of the most famous and spectacular road trips anywhere in the world. This is a magical 243km itinerary through wild natural landscapes, running parallel to the Pacific coastline, in the south-eastern corner of Australia. It runs from Torquay to Warrnambool in Victoria. A must-see along the way is the 12 Apostles, a remarkable complex of gigantic monolithic stones emerging from the sea near the coast at Port Campbell National Park. Eight of the stones are still upright, the rest have collapsed under the pressure of water erosion. Along this marvellous coastal route you will encounter picturesque villages, forests and surfers riding gigantic waves. The travel agencies in Melbourne organize excursions by coach to various points along the Great Ocean Road, which can involve outdoor activities like riding, cycling, water sports – and even a helicopter ride over the 12 Apostles! Address: www.visitgreatoceanroad.org.au

Phillip Island: 140km south-east of Melbourne lies a wildlife island paradise, connected to the mainland by a bridge 640m long. You can see koalas in their natural habitat in the Koala Sanctuary, or watch the nightly procession of little penguins along Summerland beach. As the sun begins to set the penguins leave the day’s work of fishing and return to the sand dunes, granting visitors a unique spectacle. Address: www.visitphillipisland.com

Dating from 1878, the Queen Victoria Market, abbreviated to The Vic, is the must-visit destination for foodies and others, located at the corner of Victoria and Elizabeth Streets. The stalls sell local cheeses, exotic fruit, organic produce and sweets, as well as souvenirs, like boomerangs painted with traditional aboriginal designs, decorative woodcarvings, batik fabrics, koala and kangaroo dolls. Melbourne city centre is a consumer paradise, with elegant boutiques, cafes and restaurants where you can pause for breath in between shops. In the city’s jewellery shops you should look for pendants made of opal, a precious stone that comes in all the colours of the rainbow. There are also many superb specialist bookshops, where you can find first editions, albums of photographs of Australia and travel guides. The malls in the central business district and on the south-eastern side of the city offer a shopping experience of completely different dimensions, with Melbourne boasting the biggest mall in the southern hemisphere, housing no fewer than 530 outlets!.

Melbourne is a melting pot of different peoples and cultures, and this is reflected in its multicultural gastronomic scene. You can enjoy Italian pizza in the suburb of Carlton, or sample Lebanese mezedes in Brunswick, Vietnamese food in the ethnic restaurants of Richmond, or moussaka in the Greek tavernas on Lonsdale Street. Internationally renowned chefs work their magic in the award-winning restaurants of New Quay, while you can eat cheaply and well in the canteens and diners of the city centre, in Chinatown and in the African restaurants in Footscray. Melbourne is also the coffee capital of Australia and you can enjoy a delicious espresso in the European-style cafes of the city centre or in St. Kilda. Wine aficionados must head for the Yarra Valley, with its huge vineyards, dozens of wineries and a tradition of wine-making that dates back to 1838. You can visit the wine cellars and sample excellent local reds, whites and rosés. In the centre of the city and its suburbs you will find lots of restaurants that remain open till late at night to cater for hungry revellers. You will find ear-splitting electro, house and R&B music in the nightspots of South Yarra, in the fashionable haunts on Collins Street, where the all-night parties at the clubs sometimes go on till ten in the morning!.

Melbourne stages events that draw in audiences from far and wide, major occasions in the arts and sporting calendars.

• Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix: An absolute must for fans of motor sport, this spectacular race, featuring the elite of F1 drivers, is held in March on the Melbourne circuit.
• Australian Open: The world’s top tennis players descend on Melbourne Park every January for one of the four Grand Slam events.
• Melbourne International Film Festival: Already six decades old, the Melbourne Film Festival is one of the world’s main cinema events, attracting directors, actors and important figures in the industry from fifty countries. There are screenings of the latest batch of films from Australia and elsewhere, as well as themed evenings and galas.
• Equitana: The biggest equestrian event in the southern hemisphere, staged for four days each November in the city’s show grounds, features Olympic riders in spectacular horse races, displays by cowboys from all over Oceania and parades of thoroughbred horses.
• Antipodes Festival: Every year Melbourne’s big Greek community stages an authentic traditional festival. Dionysian in spirit, the festival is held in Lonsdale Street, over a two-day period close to Greek Independence Day, March 25th. The fun includes tastings of Greek food, music and dancing from mainland and island Greece, art exhibitions and special tributes to leading figures in the Greek world and Greek history – all in all, a fine opportunity to learn more about Greek culture.

Transport from the airport

Aegean Airlines flights land at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL), 25km north-west of the city. This is Melbourne’s biggest airport, with duty free shops, ATMs, bureaus de change, restaurants, cafes, showers, a pet hotel, a chapel and free WiFi. To get into the city you can take the Sky Bus Express (24 hours a day), which leaves for the centre every ten minutes. There is also the SmartBus Route 901, which will take you to Broadmeadows Station, where you continue the journey into central Melbourne by train. There are also taxis, and you can even make the trip by helicopter – in just 6 minutes!