The most popular neighbourhoods in Melbourne
Melbourne's Neighborhoods
Melbourne is a great city with a multitude of beautiful neighborhoods to live in. No matter where you are, each suburb has its own personality. Whether you're looking for culture, beaches, lively neighborhoods or a more relaxed atmosphere, Melbourne has it all!
Waterfront Neighborhoods in Melbourne
Melbourne has many beachside suburbs if you want to breathe the sea air. The most popular beach suburbs are Williamstown, Albert Park, Middle Park, St Kilda and Elwood, all within nine kilometers of the city center.
Brighton, Beaumaris, Modialloc and Frankston are further from the city, but are accessible by train, about 30 to 40 minutes from the center. Expats and travelers alike have a preference for St. Kilda and Elwood, with their many bars and restaurants and Luna Park, a theme park with the world's oldest roller coaster.
Since these places are popular, they can be tricky to rent due to high demand, but offers are always coming in. If you have a car, most apartments have access to off-street parking and if not, most places reserve one side of the street for permit holders, which you can get from your local municipality.
In the past, St Kilda had a reputation as a "shady" neighborhood because of the congregation of prostitutes and heavy drug use. But the last ten years have seen this area transformed and it is overall very safe and vibrant, plus it has a bit of a fearless side!
North of the River in Melbourne
Melbourne is divided by the Yarra River which runs through the center, so the southern suburbs are called the "Southside" and the northern suburbs the "Northside".
The Northside is far from the beach but has the advantage of trendy neighborhoods such as Clifton Hill, Northcote, Thornbury and Fairfield, which are overflowing with bars, restaurants and parks. The overall vibe of the North End is laid-back and quiet, with plenty of live music venues and mountain bike trails. The vegan/vegetarian culture is strong and there is no shortage of organic markets!
Thanks to the influx of Greek and Italian immigrants in the 1940s and 1950s, the North End is dotted with authentic Greek and Italian restaurants in the suburbs of Carlton, Brunswick and Fitzroy.
The West Melbourne Suburbs
The western section of West Melbourne is mainly dedicated to rail lines, container parks, warehouses and industrial activities, while the eastern part is mainly residential.
With an influx of immigrants and a generally low socio-economic climate, West Melbourne has been known as "unstable. However, there has been a huge turnaround in the last ten years with inner-city West suburbs like Williamstown, Moonee Ponds, Seddon, Yarraville, Footscray and Braybook becoming trendy areas, welcoming students and young people attracted by the affordable housing and proximity to the city (no more than five kilometers away).
But like the surrounding areas of Melbourne CBD, Docklands and North Melbourne, this area is under increasing pressure for residential development, especially on the outskirts of the city. Following the influx of Southeast Asian immigration in the 1970s, you'll find plenty of bistros and restaurants serving authentic and varied Asian food. The Footscray Market is a "must" for shopping for good quality fish and vegetables at good prices.
Downtown and South Shore
The Central Business District (CBD) is the financial and commercial center of Melbourne. It encompasses the area from Flinders Street to Queen Victoria Market and Spencer Street to Spring Street, as well as the area between Victoria Street and Latrobe Street. Shopping enthusiasts are sure to find something to suit their tastes with the huge Melbourne Central shopping center, and the Bourke Street Mall.
Federation Square is Melbourne's main square, located across from Flinders Station. In addition to hosting artistic and cultural events, it broadcasts major sporting events on giant screens. It houses the Melbourne Visitor Center, the Ian Potter Center and the Australian Center for the Moving Image.
The CBD also includes several large parks and gardens, including the Royal Botanic Gardens, Queen Victoria Gardens and Alexandra Gardens. The area also includes Olympic Park and Melbourne Park, which host a variety of famous sporting events, such as the Australian Open tennis tournament. Southbank is a small suburb that stretches along the southern bank of the Yarra River. Home to countless cafes, restaurants, offices, museums, art galleries and theaters, it is Melbourne's cultural hub.
You'll find more and more luxury apartments here and if you like to have everything on your doorstep, this is the area for you. The rent is generally higher due to the central location, however, most of the accommodation offered is furnished. In 2008, the Victorian government created a new suburb called South Wharf, located at the western end of Southbank. South Wharf is home to the Polly Woodside Maritime Museum and the Melbourne Exhibition Center.
Overall, Melbourne is a very safe city, and its low crime rate is one of the factors that has contributed to its being named the best city to live in for seven years running.
Melbourne is a metropolis that is well on its way to surpassing Sydney as Australia's largest city in the near future, so crime rates are bound to change. However, Melbourne firmly maintains its status as a safe city. According to The Economist's Safe Cities Index for 2021, Melbourne ranks as the 8th safest city in the world.
