//
Suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Photo: Iceger, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Melbourne's inner north is a vibrant and diverse area, home to a number of cultural and social icons of Melbourne. It is famed for the popular Lygon Street Italian district, while next door lies the University of Melbourne, the best university in Australia by many rankings. Major tourist attractions such as the Melbourne Museum, Royal Exhibition Building and Melbourne Zoo are in the district. Much of the area is covered by parks, including the huge Royal Park in the north, the UNESCO-listed Carlton Gardens and popular Princes Park.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
Beautiful European-style gardens featuring a number of towering plane trees and majestic fountains, some of which date from the Victorian era. It's a World Heritage Site along with the Royal Exhibition Building there.
One of the few World Heritage listed buildings in Australia, it was completed in 1880 to host the Melbourne International Exhibition and was the site of Australia's first Federal Parliament in 1901. With its meticulously restored interior, expansive galleries and soaring dome, it offers a magnificent setting for trade shows, fairs and cultural events. Tours are available, although you need to call in advance to confirm dates.
Opened in 2000, the award-winning museum houses a permanent collection in eight galleries, including one just for children.
A small but fascinating autobiographical museum on the university's western side. Documents the life and times of Percy Grainger, a Victorian concert pianist who achieved international fame and success. In addition to the Grainger collection, there is a broad variety of items relating to music.
The Potter
Houses and displays the university's wide collection of artworks, from classical antiquity to the contemporary, of Australia and European origin. Temporary exhibitions of other artefacts and artworks are regularly hosted.
Museo Italiano
Recounts the history of the tens of thousands of Italian migrants that came to Melbourne following World War II, including the impact that they've had on Australian culture. Also details the story of the Lygon Street precinct and how it has developed over time. Includes a number of permanent and rotating exhibitions.
An expansive park just north of the city centre, containing grasslands, native gardens and many sporting facilities, and home to the city's zoo.
One of Melbourne's most popular attractions. It is the oldest zoo in Australia and third-oldest in the world, having opened in 1861 from the proceeds of the Gold Rush. There are over 320 species of native Australian and exotic animals, birds and butterflies. The enclosures are spacious and engaging for the animals, as well as visitors. Particularly good are the lion exhibit, trail of the elephants, butterfly house, aviary and seal enclosure. Feeding and entertainment shows also run regularly throughout the day, but find out the time and plan in advance.
Contemporary theatre showing the latest in Melbourne's emerging theatre scene. In a front row seat you can literally see the actors sweat. Check their website for upcoming plays. Be sure to check if your play is at La Mama or La Mama Courthouse (see entry below).
When booking a play at La Mama, double check if it's at the main theatre on Faraday Street, or the Courthouse on Drummond St. Don't miss your play by going to the wrong address!
Films screen every day on the hour, 10AM-10PM, except Christmas Day.
This annual festival held in October celebrates all things Italian. Along with a variety of musical and comedic performances in Lygon Street's Piazza at Argyle Square, there are a number of Italian culinary stalls, cooking workshops, European vehicle displays and sporting events.
Late March or early April.
A large Italian cafe that does cake and coffee on a huge scale, with multiple counters and a ticket system to ferry you around. The Italian hot chocolate is worth the fuss. They also sell sweets and gelato. The cafe also pioneered the now ubiquitous use of environmentally precarious gas heaters to let customers sit outside, even in the winter months.
Consistently crowded, it rates highly among the locals for its modern Italian food and attentive service. Be sure to try the 'spaghetti don giovanni', it always delivers.
Just a bit away from the crowds and spruikers of Lygon St, I Carusi is one of Melbourne's best kept secrets and has one of Melbourne's most finest pizzas. Try the ‘Gamberi Piccante’ (prawn, semi-sundried tomato and fiore di latte) or ‘Pizza for a Friend’ (roast pumpkin, pine nuts, rocket and goats cheese). All pizzas fit neatly within the $11-20 price range and makes for happy eating.
Classy yet casual wine bar. Try the house vermuth
An easy walk to the charming atmosphere and bustling cafes of Lygon St, the Rydges offers 107 boutique rooms with a heated pool, spa and even a BBQ on the rooftop.
Melbourne's oldest radical bookshop, located in the basement of the historic Trades Hall building. It offers a large selection of books on Australian history and politics (including Aboriginal history, women's and LBGTI struggle). It has a large second-hand section covering all genres, including a $1 book section. This bookshop is a not-for-profit co-operative that runs literary events on most Wednesdays at 6:30PM. Refreshments and snacks are available, as are badges, stickers, cards and other souvenirs.
By tram
Carlton is well connected by tram from the City Centre.
By bus
The busiest part of Lygon Street is served by buses 200 and 207 from Lonsdale and Queen Streets in the City Centre, which operate at a 10 minute frequency between them; these routes also link the…
By train
Melbourne's inner north has three stations: Royal Park Station on the Upfield Line, adjacent to Melbourne Zoo, as well as Arden Station and Parkville Station on the Metro Tunnel.
By bike
Due to the high student population, cycling is a very popular mode of transport, which has pressured the government to provide the appropriate infrastructure.
By car
Most of the City Centre's north-south streets extend into Carlton.
The inner north is generally very walkable, although covers a large distance. Trams and buses serve the main north-south thoroughfares, although it can be difficult getting east-west by public transport.
Read in the guideChoose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Melbourne · International · MEL
Loading places around the airport…
Articles and travel topics about Inner north and Australia.
Travel tipsCompare and apply for the Australia ETA and New Zealand NZeTA in 2026. Step-by-step mobile app guides, fees, the IVL levy, and trans-Tasman rules.
7 min read
Travel tipsPlan your trip to the Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia with match cities, ticket windows, domestic flights, visa rules, and budget advice.
8 min read
Travel tipsDiscover how to use AI to find cheap flights. Learn prompt strategies, smart fare engines, open-jaw routings, and error-fare booking techniques.
6 min read
Travel tipsComplete 2026 guide to visa-free travel for US citizens. Learn where American passport holders can go without a visa, new eTA rules, and entry fees.
7 min read
Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.