Open House Melbourne: a free weekend inside the city

The Hotel Windsor on Spring Street, in the Parliament precinct, is Melbourne's only surviving purpose-built grand Victorian hotel and is on the Victorian Heritage Register. Afternoon tea in its grand dining room has long been a Melbourne institution. If a night there is out of budget, book the tea instead and take in…

Moomba takes over the Yarra riverside over the Labour Day long weekend in March. Entertainment is free, with fireworks each night, live music, food trucks, watersports and the Birdman Rally, where homemade flying machines try to cross the river. A Monday parade of floats, puppets and bands closes the weekend. Arrive…

The Esplanade Hotel, known as the Espy, has hosted live bands on The Esplanade in St Kilda since the 1970s heyday of its several stages. Its Gershwin Room, a former 1920s dance and jazz hall, reopened in 2025. Downstairs, the Basement runs regular nights such as open mic and blues, so there is often music without a…

The Corner Hotel on Swan Street is a Richmond pub with a standing-room band room and a rooftop bar, and it has hosted live music since around the 1940s. Most band-room shows are general admission, so arrive early for a spot near the stage. The rooftop is open Tuesday to Sunday and closed Mondays, and you can book a…

Victoria has restricted trading days: Good Friday, Christmas Day and Anzac Day until 1pm. Only exempt shops can open, which includes cafes, restaurants, chemists, petrol stations and some smaller shops. Do your shopping the day before or after, and use those mornings for walks, parks and meals. On Anzac Day, cinemas…

Rose Street Artists' Market in Fitzroy runs on weekends, with local artists, designers and makers selling their own work. Expect jewellery, fashion, prints, photography and home goods rather than souvenirs, and ask the maker about a piece before you buy. There is an eatery and rooftop bar on site, and entry is free…

The Shrine of Remembrance is free to enter with no booking, and its outdoor balcony gives wide views over the city and the memorial reserve. Take the stairs, because the lift does not go up to the balcony. Inside, the Sanctuary holds a Ray of Light demonstration through the day. This is a place of remembrance, so keep…

ACMI, at Federation Square, has a free permanent exhibition called The Story of the Moving Image on its ground floor. It covers shadow puppets, optical toys, film costumes and sets, and the rise of video games. Pick up the free Lens handheld to collect objects and revisit them online, and try the Foley studio where…