City precincts
Just when you think you've got Melbourne figured out, you'll uncover one more pocket of the CBD with a particular vibe that makes it feel so right to lose another three hours or so.
While fairly compact in size, Melbourne's CBD is split into distinct areas, each with its own fortes and flavours. Bourke Street Mall offers no-strings-attached retail therapy, Chinatown is all dumplings and heritage, Collins Street knows how posh you really are, Flinders quarter squeezes your creative juices, and the sports precinct's fever is contagious. The alleys and laneways, conventional and vertical, make their own rules, and encourage you to break them.
Go on, just look around one more corner.
Take a deep breath and dive into the bustling hive of commerce that is the Bourke Street Mall, located between Swanston and Elizabeth streets.
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Make a dramatic entrance to Melbourne's Chinatown through the grand arches and get a sniff of the area's history amid the sumptuous aromas.
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There's always an exhilarating thrill to be had in Melbourne's hive of bustling, creative laneways with their boutiques, restaurants, cafes and bars.
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It can be hard to tell whether you're LV or Alannah Hill, Bar Lourinha or No35, but on Collins and Little Collins streets, you can be a bit of both.
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Luxuriate in cutting-edge restaurants, take in stunning city views over a cocktail, or bring the family for a fun-filled day around the harbour.
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Tuck your Penguin Classic into your back pocket, scuff those shoes and adjust your specs: you're entering the home of Melbourne's creative elite.
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Pick a player, choose a team and let yourself be swept along with the sports fever that grips Melbourne, year-round in the compact sports precinct.
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Take a stroll or a tram along this majestic tree-lined boulevard to see some of the city's most beautiful parks, memorials, and prestige apartments.
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Row, run and ride along it, picnic by it, photograph it, or simply enjoy amazing Yarra River views from gardens, eateries, bars and arts spaces.
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