From the majestic national museum to the colorful contemporary art space, Melbourne is an ideal destination for a cultural exploration journey. So which Melbourne museums can you not miss on your upcoming trip? Let’s check out 9 Top museums in Melbourne, Must-Visit & best museums in Melbourne in this article!
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Melbourne is not only the “coffee capital” of Australia, but also a paradise for art lovers. Amidst the modern pace of life, this city preserves countless cultural treasures in unique museums.
Join us to check out the 9 must-visit museums in Melbourne, where you can both admire and “touch” the artistic quintessence of the kangaroo country.
Best museums in Melbourne: Melbourne Museum – The Soul of the City
Located in the heart of the city, Melbourne Museum is the largest museum in the Southern Hemisphere and a top destination in Victoria. It takes you on a journey to discover the history, nature and people of Australia through vibrant exhibition spaces.
At Melbourne Story, visitors learn about the city’s past – from the early days of interaction between white settlers and the local Aboriginal community. The Science & Life Gallery takes you through the natural world with exhibitions such as Bugs Alive, Dinosaur Walk and Dynamic Earth.
Families with young children will love the Pauline Gandel Children’s Gallery – a creative play area included in the entry fee (please check availability when arriving). Don’t miss the Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre, which tells the stories of the Boonwurrung and Woi Wurrung communities, and Our Wondrous Planet – a stop filled with inspiration about nature and indigenous knowledge.
Fox Classic Car Collection – A Paradise for Classic Car Lovers in Melbourne
Hidden in the historic Queen’s Warehouse, the Fox Classic Car Collection is home to dozens of the world’s rarest classic supercars. This collection was formed from the lifelong passion of Lindsay Fox – founder of Linfox, who has spent more than 50 years collecting and donating all of it to charity.
Here, you will admire legendary mechanical works from Ferrari, Porsche, Jaguar, Bentley, Rolls-Royce, Mercedes-Benz to Nissan – spanning from 1923 to 2020. In particular, the famous Porsche collection is on full display for the first time, making this place an unmissable destination for all speed enthusiasts.
The Fox Classic Car Collection Ticket in Melbourne
Visitors can freely explore at their own pace or join a guided tour with enthusiastic volunteers to understand more about the story behind each car.
Scienceworks Museum – Touch the World of Science in Melbourne
If you love exploring and are always curious about how the world works, Scienceworks Museum is the destination for you! Located in Spotswood, where technology, education and fun meet, the museum offers a constantly evolving range of exhibitions, programs and performances, making every visit a different experience.
Scienceworks Museum Ticket in Melbourne
Here, you can take part in athletic challenges, compare your speed, strength and reflexes to learn more about the science behind the human body. Don’t forget to join the Spotswood Industrial Heritage Walk – a guided tour that takes you through the evolution of this historic industrial area.
Top museums in Melbourne: ARTVO Museum in Melbourne – A New 3D Experience
It’s time to break the boundary between art and reality at ArtVo Museum in Melbourne – Australia’s first interactive art gallery! With over 80 giant, hand-painted 3D paintings, ArtVo opens up a space where you can touch, pose, and become part of the artwork.
ARTVO Melbourne – 3D Experience!
Get ready to “get lost” in 9 unique themed areas, from the magical ocean, the adventurous jungle to the colorful fantasy world. Every corner of ArtVo is a creative stage – where you can freely take photos, laugh, and let your imagination guide you through each frame.
Polly Woodside – Legend of the Sea in the Heart of Melbourne
Step aboard the Polly Woodside and you will feel like you are traveling back in time to the 19th century – when giant sails ruled the ocean. Built in Belfast in 1885, this three-masted ship once transported coal and nitrate between England and South America, passing the dangerous Cape Horn 16 times.
Polly Woodside was built of iron – the cutting-edge material at the time – for the W.J. Woodside Company, and was affectionately named after the shipowner’s wife, Marian “Polly” Woodside. After decades of seafaring adventures and conversion into a fuel tanker, the ship was given to the National Trust in 1968 for just 1p, kicking off a remarkable restoration of this maritime icon.
Polly Woodside Ticket in Melbourne
Today, visitors can board the ship to explore the hold, join in the fun of Pirate Day, or experience old-time sailor life in the windswept setting of South Wharf. A trip that is both historic and adventurous!
Sovereign Hill – Gold Rush in Ballarat
Get ready to travel back in time to the 19th century, when Ballarat was ablaze with the great gold rush. At Sovereign Hill, a 15-hectare open-air museum, you will be immersed in the vibrant atmosphere of the 1850s – where gold miners, blacksmiths, printers and artisans came together to create a vibrant gold town.
Pig yourself to gold in the mines, take a ride in a vintage carriage, or visit traditional workshops where rope, sweets and candles are handmade right before your eyes. Every street corner, every character in period costume tells the story of a time of prosperity and turmoil. Don’t miss Aura – a multi-sensory show that recreates the outbreak of the gold rush and the Eureka Rebellion – a historic moment that shaped the Australian spirit.
Melbourne Immigration Museum – The Story of Migration That Made Australia
Located in the beautiful neoclassical Old Customs House in the heart of Melbourne, the Immigration Museum recounts the emotional journeys of migration that have shaped modern Australia.
Immigration Museum Ticket in Melbourne
Here, visitors can hear the true stories – at times humorous, sad and touching – of those who left their homeland to seek a new life in the land of kangaroos. Each artifact and each photograph reflects the cultural diversity and resilience of immigrant communities, while also providing insight into the impact of migration on Indigenous Australians.
Australian Sports Museum Melbourne – Where the Spirit of Sport Comes Alive
Located within the grounds of the legendary Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), the Australian Sports Museum is a haven for all sports enthusiasts – from die-hard fans to active families.
Here, you will experience a series of interactive exhibitions: from Game On realistic sports games, modern touch screens, climbing objects and skill challenges for all ages. Each area is a vibrant playground where you can learn, have fun and “test” your strength like a real athlete.
MCG Tour and Australian Sports Museum Ticket in Melbourne
Don’t miss the life-size 3D holograms of two AFL stars – Bachar Houli and Tayla Harris – or the inspirational stories of legendary athletes who have made Australia famous.
LEGO® Star Wars™ Exhibition – Meet the LEGO® Bricks
From 4 May 2025 to 26 January 2026, Melbourne Museum will become a “galaxy far, far away” when it welcomes LEGO® Star Wars™: The Exhibition – a one-of-a-kind exhibition in the world, created by internationally certified LEGO® expert Ryan ‘The Brickman’ McNaught.
Using over 8 million LEGO® bricks and taking 25,000 hours to complete, the exhibition recreates in detail the characters, ships and legendary battles from the Star Wars universe – all hand-built with breathtaking precision.
LEGO® Star Wars: The Exhibition Ticket
Not only can visitors admire, but they can also directly participate in building giant LEGO® landscapes, designing fighter jets, or customizing their own lightsaber. How exciting, right?
In Melbourne, museums tell stories with emotion, with each painting, each artifact, each display space whispering about the history, aspirations and creative spirit of the people here. If you are looking to understand Melbourne with your heart, start by stepping into these museums.
Which museums will you visit in Melbourne?
Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in and from Melbourne you can refer to
- Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL) Express Transfers by SkyBus
- Avalon Airport (AVV) Express Transfer by SkyBus for Melbourne City
- Werribee Zoo Ticket
- Penguin Parade, Wildlife & Phillip Island Day Tour from Melbourne
- Moonlit Sanctuary Ticket or Bus Tour
- Great Ocean Road Reverse Adventure Tour with 6 Iconic Stops
- SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium Ticket
- Melbourne Museum Ticket
- Puffing Billy and Phillip Island Wildlife Day Tour from Melbourne
- Puffing Billy Railway Ticket or Bus Tour
- Great Ocean Road Tours from Melbourne
- Great Ocean Road Day Tour: 12 Apostles, The Loch Ard Gorge and More
- Klook Pass Melbourne
Are you looking for more Melbourne travel guide and top things to do in Melbourne: Tours, activities, attractions and other things? Read more: Melbourne travel blog — The fullest Melbourne city guide for a budget trip to Melbourne for the first-timers.
