The Best Walking Tours in Melbourne

Posted: 3/16/23 | March 16th, 2023

Famed for its restaurant and coffee scene, Melbourne is popular with the backpacker crowd (hence why I vibe with it so much!). It has charming, funky neighborhoods, and streets lined with inspiring shops and cafés. You can tap into its amazing nightlife, from a sedate evening at a wine bar to dancing until sunrise at a thumping club. It’s also near the wine-centric Yarra Valley. There’s a lot to see and do here.

Melbourne is considered the “cultural capital” of the country and the best way to find out why is to take a walking tour.

I love walking tours. You’ll get to see the highlights and connect with a local guide that can answer all your questions. There are tours for every niche too, so regardless of your interests (or budget), you’ll be able to have fun and learn a lot about the city.

Here’s my list of the best walking tours in Melbourne.

While those may be the best free and paid tours in town, Melbourne has a lot more to offer, no matter your interests. Here are eight other insightful and educational tours:
 

1. Melbourne Street Tours

Street art has become a worldwide phenomenon in the last decade or so. Every big city on the planet has incredible street art and murals to admire — and Melbourne is no exception. In addition to taking you down some lesser-known alleyways, this tour finishes in an artist’s studio warehouse, so you can learn how these amazing works are created.

Tours start at 49 AUD.

2. Depot Adventures Hidden Bar Tour

Melbourne is littered with tiny, sometimes concealed lanes that house some lesser-known establishments. And this, of course, includes bars. This three-hour tour takes you to the backstreets to discover four hidden pubs. The expert local guide will not only regale you with tales of the bar scene in Melbourne but also tell you about the history of the city. Just be sure to come thirsty!

Tours start at 58 AUD.

3. Melbourne Walks

For over three decades, Melbourne Walks has been leading tours. No matter what your interests are, there’s probably a tour that appeals: there’s a crime-focused tour, for example, a back lanes and arcades jaunt, and tours that focus on topics such as architecture, literature, social justice, historic pubs, and individual historical figures. If you’re looking for something niche, start here.

Tours start at 70 AUD.

4. Aboriginal Heritage Walk

Through the Royal Botanical Gardens, you can take a journey through Melbourne and see it through Aboriginal eyes — specifically the Kulin people. Every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday at 11am, visitors are shown traditional uses of tools, medicine, plants, and food, as well as the rich and intriguing history and culture of the First Peoples of Australia. It’s incredibly informative!

Tours start at 40 AUD.

5. Blue Tongue Bikes

This bike tour is a great eco-friendly way to get around town. You’ll get an all-encompassing view of Melbourne, seeing all the major attractions while learning its history, from the early Aboriginal period to its establishment to the present day. During breaks, the expert local guide offers tips on what else there is to do and where to eat in the Melbourne area.

Tours start at 65 AUD.

6. Lantern Ghost Tours

For a spooky look into Melbourne’s seedy past, take a ghost tour. Over 90 minutes, you’ll travel back to the 19th century and explore the city’s haunted locations. You’ll trek down narrow alleys, marvel at historic haunted buildings, and hear all kinds of spooky stories from Melbourne’s past and present.

Tours start at 26 AUD.

7. Intrepid Urban Adventures

Sure, Melbourne has one of the best dining scenes — if not the best — in Australia. But if you’re into eating on the go, you can get another perspective on the food landscape of a place by visiting its markets. Intrepid’s 2.5-hour Multicultural Markets Culinary Culture Tour is designed to help you discover the wealth and diversity of the city’s many food markets. It celebrates the food culture in Melbourne, stopping at, among other sites, the famed Queen Victoria Market, the largest open-air market in Australia. You’ll meet vendors, sample their products, and walk away with a full stomach and a deeper knowledge of the diverse food scene of Melbourne.

Tours start at 58 AUD.

Taking a walking tour in Melbourne is the best way to kick-start your visit. You’ll connect with a local guide, see the main sights, and learn about the city’s diverse cultural landscape. Whether you’re a foodie or a cocktail aficionado, a history geek or an e-bike enthusiast, there’s a tour here for you. Just remember to tip your guide at the end!