The Best Airbnbs in Melbourne, Australia

Owned by the folks who run the vintage menswear store downstairs, this one-bedroom apartment has been styled with the most tasteful retro decor. With a look and feel straight out of the 1950s, this Airbnb features a king-size bed and a daybed. It has a kitchenette, laundry facilities, wifi and a breakfast nook on the stairway landing. As a wintertime perk, this place is one of few in the area to feature an indoor fireplace. Given that every second shop in Fitzroy sells vintage clothing or vinyl (maybe with a few vegan cafés in between), what better way to feel immersed in the area’s hipster culture than to stay here? The apartment is located directly on Fitzroy’s main artery, Brunswick Street, and the central business district (CBD) is only a short tram journey away.

Set close to the lively suburbs of Collingwood and Fitzroy, this private room in a converted 19th-century church is grand and spacious, with high ceilings and wooden floorboards. The church was converted into a private residence in 2015 and now offers a sizeable living space lovingly decorated with a mix of modern and antique furniture. The private bedroom features an en-suite bathroom and a walk-in wardrobe; guests also have access to the kitchen, laundry room, living room, and terrace and herb garden.

St Kilda has one of the richest social and cultural histories of any Melbourne suburb. It started out as a mansion-filled metropolis in the late 1800s, before becoming the city’s crime capital after the Great Depression and then an artistic hub in the 1960s. Today, the area is celebrated for its eateries and pulsing nightlife. Set right in the heart of St Kilda, a short walk from St Kilda Beach and the cafés, bars and restaurants on Acland Street, this exposed-brick Art Deco apartment captures so much of the area’s history and combines the bohemian, classical and modern. The apartment can sleep six people across its two queen bedrooms and comfy couch that converts into another queen-size bed. The apartment comes with all standard amenities and plenty of books, board games and puzzles for cosy nights in.

This converted warehouse on Flinders Lane, the main laneway in a network that runs through the heart of the city’s CBD, exudes cool. But its perfect location isn’t even its greatest selling point. Like something out of a design magazine, this loft apartment has character and charm in spades, with lots of natural light, a curation of contemporary art and tasteful furniture. The private bedroom has a queen bed and an en-suite bathroom, and breakfast is included in the price. The apartment’s location is perfect for exploring the city and the surrounding bars, restaurants, galleries and laneways filled with street art.

In addition to a great music, food and bar scene, Richmond is home to the city’s famous sporting district, which includes the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the soccer stadium AAMI Park and the Australian Open tennis facilities, including the Rod Laver Arena. So why not go the whole nine yards and stay in this two-guest bicycle-themed studio? Bike art decorates every room, and spare parts have been upcycled into functional objects and home accessories, including wheel hubs made into a coat rack and chain wheels turned into trivets.

This spacious two-bedroom apartment offers unobstructed views of the Yarra River and Melbourne’s skyline. Inside you’ll find an open-plan living room with a dining area and kitchen, three bathrooms and a balcony. Located in Southbank, a newer part of Melbourne that lines the Yarra waterfront with contemporary apartment blocks and popular modern restaurants, this is a great base for exploring the rest of the city. It’s also a few minutes’ walk from the free tram zone, the best way to travel to the heart of Melbourne.

Melbournians know that for those looking to escape the city for a romantic winter getaway, the Dandenong Ranges are the place to go. Just a one-hour drive away, the Dandenongs are a region replete with forests, cottages and cream teas. (For the best scones in the area, check out Miss Marple’s Tea Room.) The decor of this one-bedroom cottage, set in the forest behind a picket fence and close to quaint villages, captures the character of the Dandenong Ranges. Its queen bed sits on the mezzanine floor, which is accessed by a wooden staircase; there is a gas log fire, a private balcony overlooking the surrounding lush greenery and a double Jacuzzi in the living room, which is perfectly placed for taking in the views.

Chapel Street is one of Melbourne’s most buzzing high streets, and one that attracts a trendy young crowd different from the hipster set that shapes so many inner-city suburbs. This self-contained studio is smack-bang in the middle of it. It is clean, spacious and modern, with high ceilings, a fantastic balcony and an outdoor dining area with perfect views of the street and the city skyline in the distance. The place features a shower room and a small kitchenette equipped with a fridge and a microwave (but no other cooking facilities), and a shared laundry and washing machine. The studio is ideal for doing a bit of people watching before heading downstairs to Chapel Street and getting involved in the action yourself.

For travellers hoping to experience the glamorous side of Melbourne, this opulent apartment takes a more-is-more approach to decor, with marble floors, custom-made Versace furniture, gilt chairs and crystal chandeliers. In keeping with Melbourne’s reputation for excellent coffee, its luxurious amenities include an elaborate gold Elektra coffee machine, and you’ll have access to the complex’s pool, sauna and spa while you stay. The world-famous Crown Casino and the CBD are within walking distance, and the apartment offers two double bedrooms, two bathrooms, a dining room, a living room and a fully fitted kitchen.

An industrial, New York City-style loft, this Fitzroy studio is a peaceful and light-filled space to unwind in. A curving staircase leads up to a mezzanine bedroom with a queen-size bed, and the little, bamboo-fringed private courtyard is a serene spot for an alfresco meal. Inside, contemporary fittings and vintage furnishings mix to create a boutique hotel room vibe that’s fitting for an apartment so close to Melbourne’s trendy Carlton neighbourhood. Air conditioning, a walk-in shower, a compact kitchenette and free street parking are a few more amenities that make this one of the most convenient Airbnbs in the city.