Best Areas to Stay in Melbourne: Top Districts and Hotels

They are not as central as the CBD, but they are the coolest areas to stay in Melbourne.

Located northeast of Melbourne’s business district, these three neighbourhoods show a friendlier face of Melbourne, different to the sometimes aseptic succession of glass skyscrapers that you can find in the CBD.

These three areas represent the most classic side of Melbourne; victorian architecture, low rises and houses with wrought-iron balconies.

We have grouped them together, but each has got its own essence.

Carlton is one of the poshest districts in Melbourne. A neighbourhood of a refined character, with wide tree-lined avenues and single-family, gardened houses. This area is also known as “Little Italy” as it was a favourite district of settlement for Italian immigrants. It is also known for being Melbourne’s SoHo; Carlton is packed with restaurants and bars.

Fitzroy represents the wild side of Melbourne, it is the creative, bohemian and hipster neighbourhood of the city. It has many alternative bars and restaurants and arguably the best nightlife in the city.

Collingwood is slightly quieter and less central than Fitzroy but shares that avant-garde casual character. It is also Melbourne’s main LGBT neighbourhood.

The three boroughs are connected by the city’s subway and tram system, the huge Melbourne Museum is also in this area.

The CBD is the central district of Melbourne and, as the name implies, it is located in the geographical centre of the city.

Commonly referred to as “Central City” or “The City”, the CBD is the heart of Melbourne. This is the area where the city’s tallest financial office buildings and the main shopping areas are located.

Here, century-old commercial galleries with their unique architecture and local shops and bakeries lie side by side with world-renowned fashion boutiques and food chains like Starbucks or McDonalds.

Its two main streets, Collins and Bourke feature lots of shops, restaurants and bars and are an excellent place to stroll.

The main transportation hubs of the city, such as Central Station, Finders Street Station, Flagstaff Station and the main bus and train station, Southern Cross Station (terminus stop for the airport Skybus) are located within the CBD.

It is one of the top areas to stay in Melbourne as it has the widest variety of public transport service, while also being walking distance to many of the attractions. If you intend to visit the city and the surroundings without renting a car, this is probably the best district to stay.

Hotels in this area tend to be the most expensive in the city, with large international chains and business hotels around every corner. However, it is possible to find some bargains, especially in low season.

South of the CBD we find another of the most popular and busy neighborhoods in Melbourne, Southbank has good access to public transport, with 6 different lines of tram moving around the area, the West Gate Highway adjoins the south part of the district and offers quick access by car.

Southbank is home to the Eureka Tower, the highest in the city, second in Australia and one of the highest residential use towers on the planet.

But undoubtedly the most striking of this neighborhood is its river walk, one of the most beautiful places in Melbourne. The famous South Melbourne Market is located within easy reach.

This area also has attractions such as the Melbourne Exhibition Center or the Melbourne Casino entertainment complex.

Southbank is one of the most exclusive areas of the city, so the hotels and apartments here are usually luxurious and can be quite expensive.

Located six kilometers southeast of downtown Melbourne, along the coast, this is one of the most dynamic and exciting neighborhoods of the city.

St Kilda has been many things since its inception; at first it was a recreation site for the wealthy, then it grew as a large red light district and today it is one of the most renowned alternative and bohemian neighborhoods in the world.

It is one of the most peculiar places of the city and contains great tourist attractions.

Among the attractions of this suburb are St Kilda Beach, South Australia’s most popular beach and venue for the great summer festivals, Acland Street which has some of the best restaurants in town and one of the oldest parks Themes of the world.

St.Kilda has one of the best public transport services, as it is connected by several tram lines. It is a relatively cheap area to stay, especially during the low season.

Just off the CBD you can find the Docklands area, Maelbourne’s old port district. Today it is a thriving neighborhood that attracts business giants and sports fans alike.

It is the district where you can find the Docklands Stadium (a.k.a. Etihad Stadium), one of the most important multifunctional stadiums in all of Australia. It serves as the headquarters for the AFL (Australian Football League, a local version of rugby) and it also hosts cricket and rugby matches, other special events and even concerts.

In Docklands you can also find the gigantic Melbourne Star Observation Wheel, a 120-metre-high Ferris wheel offering views of the city.

Docklands is an area with activity 24 hours a day and has one of the best night views of the city.

This is the best place to stay in Melbourne for sports fans and concert-goers.

Home to the Victoria State Parliament and one of the city’s oldest districts, East Melbourne hosts many of Melbourne’s government institutions and it is also packed with Victorian buildings.

It is a very convenient area to stay in the city, with good public transportation and beautiful architecture.

It is also a neighbourhood full of green areas and places for picnics on a spring day. The Yarra Park is popular all year round as it houses MCG, the city’s largest cricket stadium, home to a multitude of different sporting and entertainment events.