Every year people fly into Melbourne, spend two days at Albert Park, and leave thinking they’ve “done” the city. Race week in Melbourne is more than the Formula 1 Grand Prix with so much to discover in Victoria’s capital.
The Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix is the headline act, sure. Nearly half a million people move through Albert Park across four days and the energy builds from Thursday, peaking on Sunday.
In a city that normally dresses in black, suddenly there’s Ferrari red everywhere. Dutch accents mix with English ex-pats, and the tifosi flock to Lygon Street cafés. Trams are so full of fans it can feel like a moving grandstand before you even reach the circuit.
Here are some tips to making the most of your time in Melbourne:
First Rule: Don’t Overcomplicate It
Albert Park is minutes from the CBD and it’s that proximity that makes this race special.
You can leave your hotel, grab a proper coffee, take a tram, and be at the track without too much stress. No rental car. No highway strategy. And definitely no resort bubble.
Stay near a tram line and your weekend becomes infinitely easier. Melbourne’s public transport system runs on myki cards, easy to buy at train stations or a 7Eleven and top up, and race ticket holders travel free to the circuit.
Simple is good. Melbourne works best when you work with it.
Second Rule: Respect the Weather
March in Melbourne is unpredictable. That’s not marketing copy, it’s fact.
One afternoon can be sunburn weather and an hour later you could be ducking for cover in sideways rain. Layers are not optional, they are the only way to dress in Melbourne (at any time of year). A light rain jacket and proper walking shoes are non-negotiable.
Albert Park is a public park that becomes a racetrack. It is not polished marble. It’s dusty when it’s hot, and muddy when it’s wet, and both can be true within hours.
Third Rule: Treat Coffee with respect
Let’s clear something up. Melbourne did not accidentally become famous for coffee. It earned it.
The flat white was born here. Order one and you’ll fit right in. If you want to sound like you’ve done your homework, ask for a ‘magic’. Smaller cup, double ristretto, silky milk, strong and balanced.
Coffee here is not a grab-and-go afterthought. It’s how the day begins. During race week, the ritual is the same, it’s just that the coffee queues are more colourful.
How to Eat in Melbourne
If you only eat at the circuit, you’re missing half the experience.
Melbourne takes food personally. Book ahead if you want to go big at renowned award-winning restaurants like Attica and Vue de Monde. Florentino is where I send people who want classic Italian done properly and value tiramisu. Chin Chin is delicious, busy and always delivers. Stalactites will feed you late when nowhere else will, a place my Greek husband swears by.
And Lune. Go to Lune. The founder Kate Reid used to work in Formula 1, which feels fitting during race week. The croissants are ridiculous good. She’s adapted her engineering precision into pastry baking and it shows.
Then there’s Pellegrini’s. Espresso at the counter. Pasta. Characters. No fuss. It’s part of the city’s DNA.
Where to drink in Melbourne
From iconic pubs like the Espy and The Prince in St Kilda to the Middle Park Hotel that actively caters for race fans, there are many places to drink. One thing Melbourne has become known for is its roof top bars. Whether it’s sitting on wooden crates or surrounded by a crowd that wouldn’t look out of place in ‘Sex in the City’, those in the know to up to drink.
There’s a list of roof top bars to check out in my Melbourne Grand Prix Guide – see below.
When You’re Not at the Track
Walk. That’s my advice. And explore the neighbourhoods.
Wander the city laneways. Go to the NGV. Do a tour of the one of the greatest sporting grounds in the world, the MCG, which will help you understand why Melbourne calls itself the sporting capital of Australia.
Choose a neighbourhood and spend actual time there. Carlton for Italian energy. Fitzroy for bars and edge. Collingwood for breweries and warehouse conversions. St Kilda for sunset, sea air, and live music. South Melbourne for its markets.
The F1 Exhibition is on until April, but book it now. It’s immersive, full of racing history, and a good way to learn more about the sport with seven rooms of stories, interactive displays and memorabilia.
Stay Longer If You Can
If you’ve travelled internationally for this race, add a few days.
The Yarra Valley is an easy wine escape. Mornington Peninsula delivers hot springs and coastline. The Great Ocean Road deserves time as it’s one of the world’s greatest road trips. Phillip Island combines the cutest fairy penguins, tree top koalas, and a world-class circuit in one trip – an overnight stay is a must.
Melbourne is the gateway, the rest of Victoria is the bonus.
More Formula 1- the Activations
Teams and sponsors hold a number pop ups and activations across the city, many outside the track. I’ll keep an updated list of all those I hear about in my Melbourne Grand Prix Guide.
Want the Full Version? Download my guide
This is just an overview.
If you want neighbourhood breakdowns, specific tram routes, restaurant tiers, what to pack, where to stay, how to avoid the worst race-day congestion, and insider tips I give friends, download my Melbourne Grand Prix Guide.
It’s free. It’s detailed. And it will make your race week better. You’re welcome!
And if you’re not already, please follow my F1 and podcast, Away We Go Podcast.
Chin Chin. Photo credit: That’s Melbourne