Heart of the City Walk (Central Melbourne)
Wander Melbourne’s famous symmetrical city grid. Find legendary landmarks, iconic malls, hidden little streets and art-filled alleys. Crammed with historical facades, beautiful boutiques and world-class dining, this is the locals’ guide to the heart of the city.
From iconic corners to secret shortcuts, see the city centre like a local on this 2.5km (1.5 hour) walk.
Heart of the City Walk Map
Heart of the City Walk
Start out at Melbourne’s iconic meeting place Fed Square (1). Snap a photo with the odd angles and drop by the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) film and TV museum for digital exhibitions. Check out the Koorie Heritage Trust gallery for local Aboriginal history and explore contemporary art in the Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia.
Across Flinders Street is the gothic revival designed St Paul’s Cathedral (2), the site of the first public Christian services in Melbourne. Take a shortcut through Chapter House Lane and grab a cuppa at Chapter House Coffee. Find yourself in Flinders Lane’s (3) fashion heaven and make sure to try something on in Alpha 60. Local foodie favourites Chin Chin and Supernormal are worth queuing for. And check out AC/DC Lane and Hosier Lane for a selfie with the street art.
Wander through Regent Place, past five-star hotel The Westin, glamorous shoe emporium Miss Louise and the Dior boutique, to Collins Street. To your right is the roaring 1920s era Regent Theatre and Plaza Ballroom (4), the spot to catch touring musicals.
Head left and cross Collins Street for the grand old Melbourne Town Hall (5). Completed in 1870, it’s built from bluestone and Tasmanian freestone. Delve deeper with a Town Hall tour to see the enormous Grand Organ and native flora-carved ceilings.
Return to Collins Street and head uphill. The Athenaeum Theatre (6) is Melbourne’s oldest, originally an 1839 Mechanics Institute complete with reading room and museum.
The imposing Gothic Revival facade is Assembly Hall (7), which dates back to 1914. You can’t miss the quirky window displays of Kay Craddock Antiquarian Bookseller, a Melbourne institution stocking rare titles since 1965.
The luxury shopping strip at the top of Collins Street (8) is affectionately know as the ‘Paris end’. Find Hermes, Prada and Louis Vuitton alongside heritage churches and the five star Sofitel Melbourne hotel.
Turn left at Spring Street to spy The Hotel Windsor (9). Established in 1883, it predates London’s Savoy and The Ritz in Paris. Book a famous high tea and check out the iconic bats on display at the Cricketers Bar.
Climb the steps at Parliament House (10) for a view of the city. This site was a traditional meeting place for the East Kulin Nation, favoured for inter-clan gatherings and ceremonies. The Aboriginal flag has flown here since 2015.
Facing Parliament is the haunted Princess Theatre (11). Federici the opera singing ghost brings good luck on opening nights – a seat is always left empty for him.
Stroll down Little Bourke Street and find yourself in the Southern Hemisphere’s oldest Chinatown (12). Stop for yum cha or dumplings in the Midcity and Village Centre arcades. Then see the winding Chinese dragons at the Chinese Museum. Locals love a hidden bar like the alfresco Section 8 and the German-themed Berlin Bar.
Exit via the golden gateway at Swanston Street, and head left to shopping mecca Bourke Street Mall (13). Glamorous department stores Myer and David Jones have been keeping Melbourne stylish for more than 100 years.
More Central Sites to See
Want to see more of Melbourne’s central sites? Find church turrets, stop by a slick new skyscraper and watch the sun sink behind the skyline from a favourite rooftop bar.★ St Michael’s Uniting Church
St Michael’s Uniting Church is notable for its Romanesque arches, a turreted spire and multi-coloured brickwork, designed in the 1860s by Joseph Reed, who also designed the Melbourne Town Hall and Royal Exhibition Building. Find a moment of repose in Mingary – the Quiet Place, the church’s peaceful sanctuary for people of all religions and cultures.
★ 80 Collins Street
In this sparkling new office tower complex you’ll find luxury shopping from Georg Jensen and Sener Besim, three levels of Gippsland farm-to-table dining at Farmer’s Daughters and decadent champagne bar Nick and Nora’s.
★ Old Treasury Building
Old Treasury Building was built in the Renaissance Revival style in the early 1860s to store gold bullion in the vaults during the gold rush. Explore the vaults and visit exhibitions in the museum with a focus on unique aspects of Melbourne’s heritage.
★ Curtin House
Curtin House has six floors of bars, restaurants and independent retail including the high-octane Thai flavours of Cookie and quirky music venue and bar, The Toff in Town. There’s also offbeat fashion and Metropolis Bookshop. The Rooftop Bar hosts an outdoor cinema in the summer.
