Collins Street and Little Collins Street
Collins Street exudes style and glamour. It's a boulevard of chic designer shopping, five-star hotels, exclusive jewellers, grand heritage buildings and private clubs. It's also the city's premier commercial streetscape and home to big corporations and the stock exchange.
Flagship stores include Chanel, Giorgio Armani, Tiffany & Co, and Louis Vuitton. A more relaxed shopping style can be found further west, in the mid section of Collins Street between Swanston and Elizabeth streets, where the bustling retail centres of two3four and Australia on Collins house many chain and concept stores.
The story of Melbourne
The City Museum at Old Treasury, one of Australia's finest 19th century buildings, is on Spring Street at the top end of Collins Street, and tells the story of Melbourne's development.
For a different perspective, the Melbourne Observation Deck lays out 360-degree views of the city.
Pinnacle of style
From haute couture to hip culture, Little Collins Street is where the streetwise head to shop. Some of Melbourne's most interesting designers and boutiques are here, and the stretch between Swanston and Russell streets is lined with the best in menswear. Then there is Howey Place for fabulous local designer fashions.
After a solid day's shopping there are plenty of trendy bars hidden in laneways or upstairs like the Gin Palace, Tony Starr's Kitten Club and the Hairy Canary. The Causeway oozes with European ambience and style, and you can sit at one of the many cafes and watch the world go by.
How to get there
By tram: Any tram along Swanston and Elizabeth streets to Collins Street; the free City Circle Tram to the corner of Spring and Collins streets or the corner of Spencer and Collins streets.
Free Melbourne City Tourist Shuttle: Stop 4. The complete trip includes in 13 stops and takes approximately an hour and a half. The bus runs every 30 minutes between 9.30am and 4.30pm daily (excluding Good Friday and Christmas Day) and includes an on-board commentary.
By foot: One to one and half blocks north from Federation Square (about 3 minutes).
