Leafy, genteel Carlton — home to Melbourne's Little Italy on Lygon Street, the grand Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens, the university and the excellent Melbourne Museum. Green, cultured and relaxed, a short tram from the centre; the base for travellers who want tree-lined streets, great Italian food, parks and museums, a calmer setting near the action. Melbourne's most elegant inner suburb.
A look around
What you’ll be living next to. Swipe through.
€170–280
typical per night in Australia
The sensible middle
Typical prices for Melbourne — neither steal nor splurge.
Where it sits
The circle is Carlton & Parkville and roughly a 10-minute walk around it.
How far is everything?
From the middle of this area to the city's headline sights — pick your own on the city page and these become your list.
- Fitzroy & Brunswick Street12 min walk960 m
- Queen Victoria Market15 min walk1.2 km
- Melbourne coffee culture19 min walk1.6 km
- The laneways & street art22 min walk1.8 km
- Federation Square & the NGV24 min walk2.0 km
- NGV International8 min taxi2.5 km
- The MCG & sport8 min taxi2.6 km
- St Kilda (beach)23 min taxi7.6 km
- St Kilda & the bay23 min taxi7.6 km
On your doorstep
What you’re living next to if you stay here.
- 11.Lygon Street, Carlton — Melbourne's Little Italy — leafy Lygon Street in Carlton, lined with Italian restaurants, gelaterias, cafés and delis, the birthplace of the city's café culture and still a wonderful place to eat pasta, sip espresso and soak up the atmosphere. Stroll the tree-lined street, tuck into a plate of pasta or a gelato, and enjoy the old-world charm; nearby are the grand Carlton Gardens and museum. A tasty, atmospheric slice of Melbourne's Italian heritage. Lovely for a long lunch or dinner.
- 12.Royal Botanic Gardens — A magnificent 38-hectare oasis just south of the centre — the Royal Botanic Gardens, with sweeping lawns, ornamental lakes, thousands of plant species and lovely city views, a beloved spot for a picnic, a stroll or the summer Moonlight Cinema. Wander the beautiful landscaped grounds, spot the eels and birds on the lake, and escape the city bustle; the adjoining Kings Domain holds the Shrine of Remembrance. A peaceful, green highlight and a gorgeous place to relax. A local treasure.
- 13.Melbourne Museum & Exhibition Building — In leafy Carlton Gardens stand two treasures — the excellent modern Melbourne Museum, with superb natural-history, Indigenous (the Bunjilaka centre) and cultural galleries, beside the grand UNESCO-listed Royal Exhibition Building, one of the world's last great 19th-century exhibition halls. A rewarding cultural half-day, especially strong on Aboriginal culture and Australia's story; explore the museum, then admire the magnificent domed hall and gardens outside. Excellent for families and curious travellers alike.
- 18.The Yarra Valley — Cool-climate wine country an hour out — cellar doors, long lunches, and hot-air balloons over the vines at dawn. Melbourne's favourite indulgent day.
When are you staying?
Booking.com & Airbnb open searched to Carlton & Parkville; flights via Google Flights.