Museums in Melbourne

National Gallery of Victoria (NGV): Take a stroll around one of the largest Melbourne museums that is visited by millions of people every year. The National Gallery of Victoria is home to over 70,000 world-class historic collections. The gallery is spread across two buildings- NGV International and the Ian Potter Center: NGV Australia. Offering free entry to its visitors, the NGV features all kinds of art such as design, fashion, architecture, music, dance, and more. You will find works from international, as well as local artists, exhibited in the prestigious gallery.

Location: 180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne VIC 3006, Australia
Timings: 9 AM to 5 PM Daily
Entry Fee: Free

2. Melbourne Museum: Learn about the local history and culture of the city with a visit to the Melbourne Museum. It is known to be the largest museum in the Southern Hemisphere with a variety of galleries for visitors to stroll through. Get a deep insight into the local Australian history with galleries such as Forest Gallery, Science Gallery, Melbourne Gallery, and Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Center, among others. The family-friendly gallery offers a range of interactive fun activities for kids as well as adults.

Location: 11 Nicholson St, Carlton VIC 3053, Australia
Timings: 9 AM to 5 PM Daily
Entry Fee: AUD 15 (Adults), Free for kids under 16 years

3. Australian Sports Museum: Located in the beautiful Melbourne cricket ground, the Australian Sports Museum is amongst the popular museums in Melbourne. Discover and learn about the famous sports personalities of Australia and their contribution to the history of sports. There are numerous exhibits located inside the museum where you can explore sports artifacts and indulge in interactive activities. The Australian Sports Museum is a great attraction for families to spend some quality time with their little ones.

Location: Gate 3, Melbourne Cricket Ground, Yarra Park, East Melbourne
Timings: 10 AM to 5 PM Daily
Entry Fee: AUD 30 (Adults), AUD 15 (Kids 5-15 Years)
Click Here to Book Now: Australian Sports Museum Tickets

4. Immigration Museum: Immigration Museum is one of the most important Melbourne museums that features real-life stories of Australian immigrants. The museum displays all these thought-provoking and moving experiences of immigrants to educate visitors about immigration history and immigrants’ journeys to Australia. The theme behind the museum’s collections and programs lies in identity, citizenship, migration, and community. You can learn about everything through interactive audio-visual presentations, recreated environments, image displays, and on online outlets. The museum is also known for its many events and festivals.

Location: 400 Flinders St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
Timings: 10 AM to 5 PM
Entry Fee: AUD 15 (Adults)

1. National Gallery of Victoria: One of Australia’s most visited and oldest museums in Melbourne, the National Gallery of Victoria offers free access to all its visitors. It is amongst the most famous Melbourne museums that’s home to over 75,000 pieces of artwork which include both modern and ancient art. Works of international, as well as local artists, have been exhibited in the reputed NGV gallery. Unravel the beautiful artistic themes of gender, conservation, environment, and more. You can also attend ongoing exhibitions hosted by NGV which may require paid entry.

Location: 180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne VIC 3006, Australia
Timings: 9 AM to 5 PM Daily

2. The Australian Center for Contemporary Art (ACCA): Situated in the heart of Melbourne’s art precinct, the Australian Center for Contemporary Art plays a vital role in inspiring young and budding artists in the country. ACCA is a leading modern art gallery showcasing renowned artworks of international artists from all over the world. It has also been lauded for imparting cultural and community-driven programs to lead important conversations. With free gallery access to visitors, ACCA provides a platform to inspire people to create intriguing and stimulating art.

Location: 111 Sturt Street, Southbank VIC 3006, Melbourne, Australia
Timings: 10 AM to 5 PM (Tuesday-Friday), 11 AM to 5 PM (Saturday-Sunday)

3. Old Treasury Building: The Old Treasury Building is regarded as one of the finest 19th-century buildings in Melbourne. The building is known to have been designed by a 19-year-old architect named JJ Clark. It was opened to the public in 1994 after being restored as a museum. During your visit, you can see the original old vaults where the gold bullion used to be stored along with rare and historic documents that are records of Victoria’s history. Entry to the museum is free for all to explore.

Location: 20 Spring St, East Melbourne VIC 3002, Australia
Timings: 10 AM to 4 PM (Sunday-Friday)

4. Australian Center for Moving Images (ACMI): Immerse yourself in the world of digital media comprising films, movies, TV, video games, and more at the Australian Center for Moving Images. ACMI hosts several film screenings and exhibitions celebrating all kinds of art forms. The award-winning museum also actively promotes sustainable practices and initiatives for a greener world. The home of screen culture also has a classy restaurant, cafe, and wine bar called Hero where you can indulge in bespoke cocktails and a seasonal food menu designed by chef Karen Martini.

Location: Fed Square, Melbourne, Australia
Timings: 12 PM to 5 PM (Monday-Friday), 10 AM to 6 PM (Saturday-Sunday)

1. ArtVo: ArtVo is Australia’s first ‘trick-art’ gallery that is located in Docklands, Melbourne. The self-guided gallery is a first-of-its-kind that is one of the most popular museums in Melbourne. There are optical illusions and giant animal murals offer an intriguing and stimulating experience for people of all ages. Kids and adults can explore all the different zones in the gallery and also take pictures.

Location: Shop NCF, 07 Level/1 26 Star Cres, Docklands VIC 3008, Australia
Timings: 10 AM to 4 PM (Monday-Friday), 10 AM to 6 PM (Saturday-Sunday)
Entry Fee: AUD 30 (Adults), AUD 20 (Kids aged 5-15 Years), AUD 60 - AUD 90 (Family)
Also Book: ARTVO Melbourne Tickets

2. Museum of Play & Art (MoPA): The Museum of Play and Art is amongst the best Melbourne museums for kids. It is specially designed for kids aged between 1-10 years to play, engage, and channel their creativity with all child-friendly tools and equipment. It is an immersive museum that recently opened its gates in Melbourne for young kids to express their artistic skills through art including dance, music, painting, and more.

Location: 247 Bay Road, Sandringham VIC 3191, Australia
Timings: 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM (Monday-Friday), 9 AM to 5 PM (Saturday-Sunday)
Entry Fee: AUD 14 (Adults), AUD 18 (Kids under 18 years)

3. Australian National Aviation Museum: Bring your little aviators to the Australian National Aviation Museum situated at Melbourne’s Moorabbin Airport. The museum is home to prominent ancient aircraft and engines in Australia. Visitors can scour through the museum display and indulge in interactive activities to experience life through the lens of military, naval, and civil officers. It is a fun way to learn about Australian aviation history.

Location: 12 First St, Moorabbin Airport VIC 3194, Australia
Timings: 10 AM to 4 PM (Monday-Friday), 10 AM to 5 PM (Saturday-Sunday)
Entry Fee: AUD 10 (Adults), AUD 5 (Kids over 5 years), AUD 20 (Family)

4. Scienceworks Science Museum: Treat your little ones to a day out at the Scienceworks Science Museum in Melbourne. The museum was opened in 1992 and offers a range of hands-on activities, a sports zone, and a lighting room. Take a trip to space in the planetarium that offers a cosmic journey to space. It is truly the best place for kids to put their ever-growing curiosity to work with so many activities to choose from. A must-visit for families with kids.

Location: 2 Booker St, Spotswood VIC 3015, Australia
Timings: 10 AM to 4:30 PM Daily
Entry Fee: AUD 15 (Adults)
Also Book: Gold Coast Cruises

There are over 100 galleries and museums in Melbourne that are home to a variety of art and historic works. From engineering, technology, automobiles, and the military to art, music, dance, digital media, and more, Melbourne museums have got it all. There are a few museums that offer free entry to visitors.

The National Gallery of Victoria is the largest and oldest museum in Melbourne. It was established in 1861 and has since hosted many international and local artist exhibitions and events. It is the most visited gallery in Australia with a range of contemporary and historic artworks for visitors to explore.

The city of Melbourne is best known for being the ‘Most Liveable City In The World.’ With beautiful museums in Melbourne, zoos, parks, and more it is a perfect family holiday destination. The city of Melbourne has something for everyone, from hosting grand sports events to local food and music festivals.

The months of September to November and March to May are the best months to visit Melbourne. The spring and autumn witness the least amount of tourist rush in Australia. During the off-season, many popular tourist activities in Melbourne offer tours at discounted rates due to the less tourist crowd.

Melbourne is one of the major cities in Australia with a well-maintained connectivity system including an international airport and a central train station. 

1. By Air: There are frequent direct flights available to the Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL) which is an international airport. The airport is well-connected with direct flights to most major cities worldwide. 

2. By Train: You can find many intercity trains from major Australian cities that will take you to Franklin Street Station in Melbourne. The Franklin Street Station is a central train station in Melbourne with captivating architecture. Taking the train also lets you soak in the countryside vistas of Australia.

While there's always something new you can explore daily in Melbourne, you need a minimum of 5 days to stroll around all the popular tourist sites. You can easily indulge in a lot of tourist attractions like Melbourne museums, sports events, art shows, and live music fests in 5-7 days