Best Time to Visit Melbourne

March to May, September to November

Months to avoid: July to August (cold, grey, persistent drizzle, short days, though hotel prices drop)

Recommended stay: 4-6 days

Plan Melbourne for March to May, September to November. Give it 4-6 days. The window to avoid is July to August (cold, grey, persistent drizzle, short days, though hotel prices drop).

What the season gets you

• The coffee culture is not hype. Melbourne trained the world to expect better espresso, and every neighbourhood has three cafes worth going out of your way for.
• An AFL match at the MCG with 80,000 people is a tribal experience unlike anything else in Australian sport, especially a finals game in September.
• Fitzroy and Collingwood on a Saturday: independent bookshops, vinyl stores, Tamil lunch spots, and street art that changes every few weeks.