Top 5 budget-friendly activites and cheap eats in Melbourne | Summer edition
Known as a cultural and food capital of Australia, Melbourne has so much to offer and is one of my favourite cities to visit in Australia - especally during the summer.
Trams are free in Melbourne CBD - great for those on a budget!
As a Sydneysider, I tend to argue that we have better beaches, weather and a decent coffee and food scene, but I was surprised at how great the weather was (30 degrees every day) for summer activities, and how good the cheap eats in Melbourne were!
Here are some of my discoveries for budget friendly options in Melbourne - thank you to my friends who suggested these!
Visit South Melbourne Markets
Opening times: Wed, Sat & Sun (8am-4pm), Fri (8am-5pm)
Just south of the CBD lies South Melbourne Markets which is home to a wide variety of great food options, coffee and fresh food vendors (think meat, seafood and vegetables/fruit).
I came here with some friends to wander around and eat some delicious food (as you do in Melbourne) in the sunny Food Hall and it was quite affordable!
I would recommend stopping at Market Borek in the Food Hall for a burek for $6 (try the spicy lamb), grabbing a coffee from Padre ($5.50) and if you’re feeling like some burrata, a sandwich or a bowl from UGO Burrata Bar ($20) that you can share with a friend. There were also some hot cinnamon donuts which looked delicious which I’ll come back for next time!
Have lunch at the Heart of Carlton
Opening hours: 6am-6pm
Visiting The Heart of Carlton felt like entering a time capsule - everything from the restaurant decor to the prices. Their menu is simple and the best part - everything is under $5 which is unheard of in this economy. Talk about cheap eats in Melbourne!
They serve coffee, orange juice, milkshakes and smoothies, and for food you can get curries, pasta or sandwiches all for $5. There’s a decent amount of seating inside and outside the restaurant - and while there are lines during lunch time, it moves quickly.
I ordered a berry smoothie and pesto pasta which was only $10! And the vibe was impeccable - books and records all along the walls, making you feel like you’ve stepped into someone’s cosy home with heartwarming food and drinks.
Inside The Heart of Carlton - a very cute (and affordable) spot for lunch.
Take a walk along the Yarra River, relax in a park or a quiet spot in the city
A great budget-friendly way to see the city is to take a walk along the Yarra River - you can walk on either side (CBD or Crown side), and even do it as a loop and cross the river at the bridges on St Kilda Road and Queens Bridge Street.
I’m an avid get your steps in kind of person, so this is a lovely activity during summer when the sun is out!
You can then make your way to one of Melbourne’s many parks and gardens and relax under the trees, or use the trams in the CBD to get around to other sites.
If you’re into art and beautiful architecture, two other chill, quiet spots include The National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) and the State Library of Victoria which has a beautifully grand reading room. Entry to NGV is free for a lot of their exhibitions and entry to State Library of Victoria is also free.
Visit Melbourne Park for the Australian Open
If you happen to be in Melbourne in January during the summer tennis season, the Australian Open is an affordable summer attraction that suits the whole family.
I would recommend getting a Grounds Pass ticket which only costs AU$35 (whole day) or AU$19 (entry after 5pm).
This includes access to fun activations, Grand Slam Oval, Garden Square and other open viewing areas like practice courts, and you can also get into all of the areans aside from Rod Laver Arena and Margaret Court Arena.
They also allow you to bring your own food in, and there are plenty of water fountains all around the grounds so bring a bottle so you can stay hydrated! There was also free sunscreen, and a free shuttle tram from Melbourne CBD.
I went on a Monday afternoon and I saw a few games at the practice courts, Court 3 and John Cain Arena. This was my first time watching tennis live which was pretty awesome after watching the Australian Open every year growing up - the thing that fascinated me the most was watching the ball boys and girls at work!
I had lots of fun exploring the grounds as well, including taking a photo with a giant racket, hitting a tennis ball attached to a string on a pole and relaxing on a sun lounge in front of a big screen.
View from stands at the John Cain Arena at the Australian Open - included in the grounds pass!
Visit the beach - and see a beautiful sunset
While Melbourne isn’t known for their beaches, one of my favourite things to do when I visit a new place is to find a good, west-facing sunset spot - and St Kilda beach provides just that.
You can come down here during the afternoon for some beach time, join a beach volleyball game and go for a swim, and stay for sunset which is around 8:30-9pm during summer.
You can also go for a walk along the Bay Trail next to the beach all the way to the famous Brighton Boxes at Brighton Beach.
There is plenty more to explore in Melbourne even if you’re on a budget - what are your favourite things to do? Comment below!
