How To Spend A Weekend In Melbourne For Under 100

These days, $100 doesn’t go very far, especially when you’re travelling. From accommodation to sightseeing, your funds can quickly disappear. However, that doesn’t mean it’s not possible to stay and explore Melbourne without spending big. In fact, it’s more than possible as long as you make smart choices along the way. Read on to find out how to spend a weekend in Melbourne for under $100.

Accommodation

Most of your funds will go towards accommodation, so choosing a low-cost hostel is the smartest choice. Keep in mind that prices can rise over the weekend. For only $37 a night, you can stay in a four-star mixed or gender-separate dorm at Greenhouse Backpacker. Conveniently located in Flinders Lane, Greenhouse Backpacker has a rooftop terrace, self-catering kitchen, and BBQ facilities. Rates include a complimentary daily breakfast and free Wi-Fi. A two-night stay at Greenhouse Backpacker will cost a mere $74, compared to over $200 per night for a typical hotel room in Melbourne.

228 Flinders Ln, Melbourne VIC Australia +61 3 9639 6400

Activities

Getting around

Melbourne is serviced by tram, train and bus networks, all of which require passengers to touch on with a pre-purchased Myki card. International and interstate visitors can purchase the Myki Explorer pack for $15 full fare.

A cost-effective alternative is the free City Circle Tram. Introduced in 1994, the service travels the perimeter of the city along La Trobe Street, Flinders Street, Spring Street, Nicholson and Victoria Street. The tram ride also includes audio commentary that points out some of Melbourne’s most famous landmarks. There is also a Free Tram Zone within the CBD, in which commuters and tourists can travel for free, without a Myki card.

W6 1000 turning from Nicholson Street into Victoria Parade on the City Circle, 2013

Cheap eats

Travelling on a budget shouldn’t mean denying yourself a good meal. When you need to refuel, your first choice should be the vegetarian, ‘pay as you feel’ restaurant Lentil as Anything, which has four locations around Melbourne. Another cheap and yummy option is Huxtaburger, which serves up some of the best burgers in Melbourne. Just outside the city, on Brunswick Street, you can get $4 pizzas at Bimbo Deluxe; at nearby Naked for Satan you’ll find a selection of $9 tapas Monday to Friday, 12 pm to 4 pm, and Sunday nights from 5pm.

Nightlife

Drinks don’t always come cheap, but you’ll be surprised by the deals you can find if you know where to look. For cheap beer and cocktails, visit Asian Beer Café at Melbourne Central during happy hour. Not too far away, at Father’s Office, you’ll find a wide range of drink specials for under $10 throughout the week. Centrally located at Federation Square, Transport Bars offers $3 pots and $5 house wine on Friday between 5 pm-7 pm. Meanwhile, at Black Rabbit, Island Somewhere and The Mill House you’ll find drink specials for less than $8. Father’s Office and The Mill House also have yummy food specials.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.