Which section of Melbourne, AU’s city is actually the downtown area?
Looking at trip options, I’ve got the following choices: Carlton, Dandenong, East Melbourne, Fitzroy, South Melbourne, South Yarra-Prahran, St. Kilda and Tullamarine airport. I can obviously narrow some of it down, but I still don’t understand the layout of the city. Which of these areas would have good, clean hotels and be in the midst of activities for tourists who won’t be driving a car?
Dandenong and Tullamarine are way out, forget them. All the others are close to the city and on tram lines into the city. Carlton has good Italian restaurants in Lygon St and the others all have their share of good pubs and restaurants. Theatres are in or close to the city – just a short tram ride away and many night spots are around Prahran and St Kilda. I’ve always lived south of the river – South Melbourne, South Yarra and St Kilda – when I’ve lived in Melbourne but any of the near-city suburbs will be fine.
By the way “downtown” is a meaningless term in Australia. I sort of know what it means in the USA but we don’t use it here.
Take out dandenong and the air port,even fitzroy and carlton and go with one of the others,stkilda near the beach and a short tram ride to the city,prahran good shopping and bars close to city,sth melb really close to city same for east melb or you just stay in the CBD (central buisiness district / city)
As the others have said before me, forget Dandenong and Tullamarine. The only thing in Tullamarine is the airport(so I guess you need to go there at least at the start and end of your trip
). Dandenong is simply a suburb on the outskirts of Melbourne- fine for the people who live there but even locals don’t go there unless they need to.
For your purposes I would focus on the CBD (Central Business District)- also known as the City. You can get to all the others quite easily from there. The streets in the CBD are set out in a grid pattern. The city circle tram service runs round the outside of the Grid. It is free, and has a voice over giving handy tourist information. It’s probably a good place for you to start, and get your bareings.
Also, Melbourne’s public transport is designed with the CBD as the central point, and all services radiating out from it. You can get to anywhere by starting in the City. (Even Dandenong if you are still keen
)
A few notes about the other suburbs you listed:
Carlton- the focal point is Lygon St. This is Melbourne’s ‘Little Italy’. Although some non-Italian restaurants are beginning to emerge. Brunetti’s (just off Lygon St) is a Meblourne institution serving the best coffee and Italian pastries.
East Melbourne- This is where the Victorian Parliament building is. It’s a lovely old building, and they do guided tours that are quite good.
Fitzroy- head for Brunswick st (but there are lotrs of small streets etc running off that are worth a look). This is the home of Melbourne’s more bohemian culture. Lots of great restaurants(but that’s true all over the city) and many cool pubs and places playing live music.
South Melbourne- highlight is South Melbourne market. Home of the best dim sims in Melbourne.
South Yarra/Prahran- The South Yarra end of Chapel St is kind of Melbourne’s answer to Rodeo Drive, full of trendy boutiques, funky cafes, restaurants and bars. This is where the ‘beautiful people’ go to play. On a Friday or Saturday night it becomes a vitual carpark as many young men drive up and down showing off their hotted up cars.
The Prahan end of Chapel st is a bit more down-to-earth, but still full of life. One of my favourite haunts is the Astor Theatre which is an old cinema from before the age of the cinema multi-plex. They regularly show old classic, and newer cult films.
St.Kilda- St.Kilda is where the ‘wild things are’. It is the ‘red light district’ and all that entails. It is home to some of the best live music venues- most notably The Esplanade hotel. Called The Espy by the locals. You have the beach, and Luna Park (an amusement park that has been there forever). Also, as with everywhere else in the city you have a collection of great restaurants that are of world class standard.
As you’ve proably gathered I could go on and on…
I’ve included a couple of websites below that might help. One is for the city circle tram I mentioned earlier(which includes a great map of the ‘grid’ that I talked about) . The other is the website put togther by Melbourne Tourism. Even as a local I find it useful for planning what I want to do on a weekend etc.
Enjoy your trip!
dandenong and tullamarine are ages away dont bother staying there. the ‘downtown’ area of melbourne is parts of the central business district (the grid) if you want to be in the centre of everything thats the place to go
stkildas a bit of a red light district of melbourne by the beach,
fitzroy is a kind of alternative/bohemian area and a nice place to eat,
south yarra/prahran is a kind of up market area but chaple street in prahran has got clubs nd stuff.
by south melbourne im guessing around albert park? its where the grand prix is held and a nice leafy area
the hyatt hotel is in east melbourne near the mcg, walking distance to the cbd.
carlton is also a nice leafy suburb with a number of large parks. lygon street, the centre of melbournes italian community
if you couldnt get into a hotel or backpackers in the cbd id go for somewhere close to the city like south or east melbourne, or if you want to be near the beach go with st kilda. all the areas uve mentioned bar tulla and dandenong are serviced by trams so u should have no problems getting around wherever u go.