From the chic boutiques and bistros of Fitzroy to cutting-edge culture on the banks of the River Yarra, Melbourne is the multicultural, metropolitan capital of Victoria. The story of Melbourne’s good fortune can be read in its architecture, from the resplendent 19th century buildings of the goldrush to the ultramodern (and hugely controversial) architecture of Federation Square.

Style mavens pound the pavements of uber trendy Chapel Street, while second-hand shoppers scour for bargains on Acland Street. The bohemians and the beach bunnies savour the alternative vibes of St. Kilda, while the surfers ride the waves at Bells Beach.

Culture radiates from the Southbank, from the steel spire of the avant-garde Victoria Arts Centre, to the performance spaces and galleries of the Southgate complex. Further north, the new multicoloured rubix-esque Melbourne Museum dominates Carlton Gardens, the southern hemisphere’s largest museum complex in the heart of the Italian district.

Melbourne maintains a relentless pace year round. Carols by Candlelight, cricket at the MCG, and the Australian Open are the major draws of the summer, while the Food & Wine Festival and Grand Prix are the highlights of the autumn months. Winter brings the cinephiles to town for the International Film Festival, while spring ushers in the Fringe Festival, Melbourne Cup and the International Arts Festival.

And if your soul cries out for fresh air and green space, the sanctuary of the Royal Botanical Gardens, the elegance of Fitzroy Gardens, or the modern sculpted terraces of the Birrarung Marr will soothe your jangled nerves.