Australia, Oceania & Pacific
The best time to visit Melbourne
Four seasons in one day, a sporting calendar that fills every hotel, and a city best in its shoulder months.
- Best months
- Mar to Apr and Oct to Nov
- Think twice
- No month is a write-off
- Quietest
- May
- Cheapest
- June
The straight answer
The best time to visit Melbourne is March through May or October through November, the mild autumn and spring months, when days sit near 68F to 75F (20C to 24C) and the city's festivals and footy season are in full swing without summer's heat spikes.
Go in autumn, March through May, or spring, October through November. Southern hemisphere seasons are flipped, so Melbourne's autumn is the northern spring. March is the sweet spot: warm, settled days near 75F (24C), the Food and Wine Festival, and usually the Australian Grand Prix, with the Comedy Festival running into April. By May the Yarra Valley vines turn gold and days cool toward 63F (17C).
Spring, October and November, brings mild days, blooming gardens, and the Spring Racing Carnival, which peaks with the Melbourne Cup on the first Tuesday of November, a public holiday in Melbourne. The flip side is the city's famous changeability: in any season, a hot northerly wind can swing to a cool southerly change within an hour, so pack layers.
Summer, December through February, is peak season for beaches and the Australian Open in January, but it brings heat waves that can push past 104F (40C) and bushfire smoke in bad years. Winter, June through August, is cool, grey, and drizzly, with highs near 57F (14C). It is also cheaper, cozy with laneway bars and galleries, and the height of the AFL season, which ends with the Grand Final in late September.
Melbourne, month by month
Every month gets a verdict. Tap one for its own page: weather, crowds, prices and what is on.
- 01JanuaryTradeoffsWarm to hot, highs near 79F (26C), heat waves over 100F (38C) possibleThe Australian Open fills the city for two weeks. Great beach and rooftop weather between heat waves; hotels peak.CrowdsPrice
- 02FebruaryGoodWarm, highs near 79F (26C), dry, occasional heat wavesSummer holidays over and the city returns to work. Warm evenings and outdoor events, with occasional scorching days.Hotels for February →CrowdsPrice
- 03MarchBestWarm and settled, highs near 75F (24C)Arguably the best month: steady weather, the Food and Wine Festival, Moomba, and usually the Grand Prix. Book around Grand Prix week.Hotels for March →CrowdsPrice
- 04AprilBestMild, highs near 68F (20C), cool morningsAutumn color, the Comedy Festival, and the AFL season under way. Easter school holidays add a short busy spell.Hotels for April →CrowdsPrice
- 05MayGoodCool, highs near 63F (17C)Crisp days and gold vines in the Yarra Valley. Quieter, cheaper, and good for food and wine trips.Hotels for May →CrowdsPrice
- 06JuneQuiet valueCool and grey, highs near 57F (14C), drizzleWinter arrives. Cozy bars, galleries, and footy crowds; good hotel deals. Pack a warm coat.CrowdsPrice
- 07JulyQuiet valueCold and grey, highs near 56F (13C), nights near 43F (6C)The coldest month. Ideal for the city's indoor culture, and a short trip to the snowfields in the Victorian Alps.CrowdsPrice
- 08AugustQuiet valueCool and windy, highs near 59F (15C)Late winter, with the Melbourne International Film Festival and southern right whales off Warrnambool. Quiet and good value.CrowdsPrice
- 09SeptemberGoodMild, highs near 63F (17C), changeableSpring begins, gardens bloom, and footy finals build to the AFL Grand Final in late September, when accommodation prices spike.Hotels for September →CrowdsPrice
- 10OctoberBestMild, highs near 68F (20C), showersSpring racing and gardens at their best, and comfortable walking weather. A great all-round month.Hotels for October →CrowdsPrice
- 11NovemberBestWarm, highs near 72F (22C), changeableThe Melbourne Cup on the first Tuesday brings a public holiday and a citywide party. Book that week early.Hotels for November →CrowdsPrice
- 12DecemberGoodWarm, highs near 75F (24C), heat waves possibleSummer starts, rooftops and beaches fill, and the Boxing Day Test at the MCG on December 26 is a local ritual.Hotels for December →CrowdsPrice
Book Melbourne for March.
Sponsored links to Expedia and Vrbo. We may earn a commission; it never changes a verdict.
- Hotels for March
Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in MelbourneOpens a hotel search for Melbourne in March, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
- Rentals on Vrbo
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in MelbourneWhole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
- Tours and tickets
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in MelbourneTimed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Melbourne for March. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Why go to Melbourne
Australia's food and coffee capital
Melbourne built a global reputation on its cafes, laneway restaurants, and markets. The Queen Victoria Market and Chinatown are just the start.
A sports-mad city
The Australian Open, the Grand Prix, the Melbourne Cup, the Boxing Day Test, and AFL at the 100,000-capacity MCG make Melbourne one of the world's great sporting cities.
Culture in every lane
The National Gallery of Victoria, street art in Hosier Lane, live music venues, and a year-round festival calendar give Melbourne its creative identity.
Great day trips
The Great Ocean Road, the Phillip Island penguin parade, the Yarra Valley wineries, and the Mornington Peninsula are all within reach.
Things to do, and when to do them
National Gallery of Victoria
Australia's oldest and most visited art museum, split between the international collection on St Kilda Road and Australian art at Federation Square. General admission is free.
Melbourne Cricket Ground
Take a stadium tour or, better, catch an AFL game from March to September or cricket in summer.
Queen Victoria Market
A historic market for produce, deli goods, and street food. It is closed on some weekdays, so check the day before you go.
Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria
Some 94 acres (38 hectares) of gardens beside the Yarra, beautiful in spring and autumn.
Phillip Island Penguin Parade
Little penguins waddle ashore at sunset every night of the year. Book ahead in summer and dress warmly year-round.
The Great Ocean Road
Coastal cliffs, surf towns, and the Twelve Apostles. Best as an overnight trip; spring and autumn avoid summer traffic.
Laneways and street art
Degraves Street, Centre Place, and Hosier Lane for coffee, street art, and small bars. Explore on foot or with a guided walk.
Events and seasons worth planning around
Australian Open
Usually the second half of January
The first tennis Grand Slam of the year runs for two weeks at Melbourne Park. Ground passes are an affordable way in; hotels book out early.
Australian Grand Prix
Usually March, sometimes shifting on the Formula 1 calendar
The Formula 1 race at Albert Park draws big crowds and pushes hotel prices up for that week.
Melbourne International Comedy Festival
Late March into April
One of the world's biggest comedy festivals, with hundreds of shows across the city for around four weeks.
AFL Grand Final
Usually the last Saturday in September
Australian football's biggest day at the MCG, preceded by a parade and a Friday public holiday in Victoria. Expect accommodation to spike.
Melbourne Cup
The first Tuesday of November
The race that stops a nation, at Flemington, is a public holiday in Melbourne and the centerpiece of the Spring Racing Carnival.
Boxing Day Test
December 26 every year
The traditional Test cricket match at the MCG, one of the biggest crowds in world cricket.
Beat the crowds
- Check the sporting calendar before booking: the Australian Open, Grand Prix week, Grand Final week, and Melbourne Cup week drive hotel prices sharply higher.
- Visit in April, May, or October for the best balance of good weather, lower prices, and busy but not overwhelming events.
- Arrive at the Phillip Island Penguin Parade early, and consider upgraded viewing areas in summer when the main stands are packed.
- Drive the Great Ocean Road against the tour-bus flow: start from the western end, or stay overnight so you are at the Twelve Apostles at sunrise.
Open or closed
- Melbourne Cup Day (first Tuesday in November) and the Friday before the AFL Grand Final are public holidays in Victoria; some businesses close or open late.
- Queen Victoria Market is closed on some weekdays; check current opening days before planning a visit.
- Total fire ban days in summer can close some parks and trails around Victoria. Check conditions before driving to the Great Ocean Road or Dandenongs.
- Christmas Day, Good Friday, and Anzac Day morning (April 25) see many shops and some attractions closed.
With kids in tow
- Melbourne Zoo, the Melbourne Museum, Scienceworks, and the Sea Life aquarium make strong rainy-day options for kids.
- The Phillip Island Penguin Parade is an unforgettable family trip; combine it with the Koala Conservation Reserve on the island.
- Free trams in the city center make getting around with kids easy, and the Royal Botanic Gardens has a dedicated children's garden.
- For homeschool families, the Melbourne Museum and Immigration Museum offer deep dives into Aboriginal history and Australia's multicultural story.
Getting there
- Melbourne Airport (MEL) at Tullamarine is the main international gateway, about 30 minutes from the city by car or the SkyBus.
- From the US, nonstops run from Los Angeles and, depending on the season and carrier, from Dallas and San Francisco; otherwise connect via Sydney.
- From Texas, Qantas has operated nonstops from Dallas to Melbourne; otherwise route via Los Angeles or Sydney.
Packing? Packing cubes and the airport kit.
Melbourne timing, quick answers
What is the best month to visit Melbourne?
March. Settled, warm weather, the Food and Wine Festival, and often the Grand Prix. April and October are also excellent.
What is the cheapest time to visit Melbourne?
June through August, Melbourne's winter. Hotel rates fall, the weather is cool and grey, but the city's food, bars, galleries, and footy keep it lively.
When is Melbourne hottest?
January and February. Average highs are near 79F (26C), but heat waves can push temperatures past 104F (40C), often followed by a sudden cool change.
Is Melbourne cold in winter?
Cool rather than cold. July highs average near 56F (13C), with nights around 43F (6C). Snow does not fall in the city, but the Victorian Alps are a few hours away.
When is the Melbourne Cup?
The first Tuesday of November every year. It is a public holiday in Melbourne, and hotels book out, so plan ahead.
Why does Melbourne have four seasons in one day?
Hot northerly winds from the interior can be replaced suddenly by cool southerly changes from the ocean, dropping temperatures sharply within an hour. Layers are always a good idea.
Weighing alternatives
Similar trips, with their best months.
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