Melbourne, is the capital of Victoria, the second largest city in Australia. When travelling to Melbourne, you will instantly feel an air of resemblance to Europe. This is the first thing that many travellers comment about the city.  The city is divided into two parts by the Yarra River, creating predominantly working class areas in the North and West regions, and more affluent areas in the South and the East.The CBD used to be known as the 'Golden Mile', as it is 1 mile long and 1/2 mile wide. 

The main difference with Sydney is that Melbourne is by far much more artistic and classic looking. It's a city of culture, architecture and art. However it also has many modern features, new buildings and residential complexes being built in recent years. Organised tours are available within the city as well as day trips outside of Melbourne.
Very important being the Great Ocean Road tour which is highly recommended. 

Melbourne is known for its changeable weather, the city has been described as having four seasons in one day! Generally good temperatures can still be enjoyed all year round. The best advice is to plan a little ahead and look at the forecasts ahead before you go to have an idea what to except. Taking an umbrella with you is a good tip! Melbourne warms up in summer (December till March) with temperatures between 14 - 25.3°C. In the Winter (June to September) the weather is frequently cold and cloudy, and nights can be accompanied by frosts. Rain is not uncommon to fall with frequent showers.

Best time to visit Melbourne therefore is in Spring (September to November) and Autumn (March to June). 

From the airport you can take the SkyBus, which is an express bus leaving every 10 minutes to the centre of Melbourne. It arrives to the coach station Terminal/Spencer St.
It costs AU $19 one way and takes 40 min. Melbourne's grid layout makes it an easy city to navigate, with most attractions within walking distance.

Transport options include train, tram or bus. The Night Network also operates on weekends with after hours transport to many locations.

Myki is Melbourne's ticket to travel on the city's trains, trams and buses. It's a plastic smartcard with stored value which can be topped up and re-used again. Purchase the card, at main train stations and retail outlets displaying the myki sign (including 7-Elevens). 

✔️Tip: Trams are FREE in the city centre, perhaps the best way of moving around the city. The only thing you will need is a Myki card if you plan to start or finish your journey outside of the central area of free travel. For more information on the area covered by the Free Tram Zone check the map links below. 

Tram 35 (City Circle) is also a circular line which covers most places of interest. These trams are also old fashioned and are a tourist attraction within themselves. Be aware that they can be very busy and there is limited seating. 

The Great Ocean Road is the number one trip out of Melbourne! Drive a car or join a tour which takes you this famous road, which winds alongside the wild and windswept Southern Ocean. It's home to the world-class surf at Bells Beach and the limestone spires of the 12 Apostles, this diverse and dramatic region is best explored over the course of a few days due to its length. The Great Ocean Road begins a 90 minute drive from Melbourne's city centre. It spans 400 kilometres (249 miles) from the town of Torquay to Nelson on the South Australian border. It's best to hire a car and drive along the road comfortably yourself for the best experience. But it's also possible to do it by tour from Melbourne costing about AU $100 per person. 

During the drive, its very probable that the weather will change constantly, often it can be wet, cloudy in some areas and later completely clear in others. Take raincoats, umbrellas and in the summer sun cream and protective sunglasses. 

Melbourne has a vibrant nightlife, where you can find cocktail lounges, pubs, underground dance clubs and international theatre productions. There is no one distinct party area; instead, various entertainment pockets can be found in Melbourne.

Melbourne's Central Business District was once very quiet after dark but the last few years there has been a rebirth of nightlife in the CBD which is now home to plenty of bars and nightclubs. Hotspots in the CBD include King Street and Swanston Street.

The most famous nightlife districts are the Collingwood and Fitzroy neighbourhoods in northeastern Melbourne, where night-time entertainment venues centre on streets including Brunswick, Johnson, Smith and Fitzroy. 🌈The LGBT nightlife hub is Commercial Street.

The charming St Kilda neighbourhood is also a good bet after dark as the crowds of beachgoers tend to move into the pubs and bars as the sun goes down.

Melbourne offers a good array of shopping opportunities from both enormous malls and department stores to small quirky side-street boutiques and speciality shops.

The main shopping strip is on Bourke Street with Bourke Street Mall at its heart, while the east end of the street has mainly fashion boutiques and bookshops. There are bargains to be found at Queen Victoria Market, while Melbourne Central is the place to find leading Australian and international labels.
There are laneways and arcades throughout the city offering everything from magic spells and antique books to eclectic fashions and household goods. 

Chinatown, encompassing Little Bourke Street and the neighbouring lanes, offers Asian grocery stores, Chinese medicine, music and jewellery. The Sunday's Market at the Art Centre is good for unique jewellery, ceramics and glassware.

Compared to Sydney, you will notice that in Melbourne accommodation is much more affordable and cheaper to stay closer to the city. However the quality and standards might not be as high due to a very relaxed way of life in Melbourne, (somewhat hippie some people might say). This however is good news for those more money conscious so you can stay closer to the city and within walking distance to public transport. Also it's easy to find hostels, Airbnb and private accommodation. Rooms start at €45 for Hotels. 

Visiting Melbourne is quite more relaxing as the city moves at a slower pace and everything is more chilled. There is plenty to see and do, however a lot can be made from within the city centre and taking free trams helps a lot in moving along.
A 3 night stay in Melbourne is good time to enjoy all the city has to offer and with the addition to any tours you can increase this to 5 nights easily.