What to do and see in Melbourne, Victoria: The Best Things to do Good for a Rainy Day

The National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) is the oldest and most visited gallery in Australia. Situated over two magnificent buildings – NGV International and NGV Australia – the Gallery presents over 40 exhibitions a year including major international blockbusters and a wide range of exhibitions, programs and events, from contemporary art to fashion and design, and major historical exhibitions that are internationally exclusive to Melbourne.

Step back in time and walk the road to the gallows in a 19th century prison, be arrested in a modern-day Police Station or put yourself on trial in court.Home to Melbourne's oldest prison, historic Magistrates' Court and former Police City Watch House, Russell Street has been at the heart of crime, law and order in Melbourne since the 1840s. Most of Australia’s infamous characters, including iconic bushranger, Ned Kelly and notorious gangster Squizzy Taylor have spent time within the walls of this amazing precinct. A ticket to the Old Melbourne Gaol grants you visiting rights to the past, present and future of crime and justice in Australia.

One of Australia's popular and loved museums! Perfect for the whole family, Melbourne Museum showcases Australian social history, Aboriginal cultures, science and the environment. Inside: Experience Victorian and Australian Aboriginal culture - from the time of Creation through to today; Marvel at the history and development of Melbourne; Walk through a living forest; Surround yourself with life-size dinosaurs and animals from around the world; - Enter a world of dreams, emotions, thoughts and memories in the Mind and Body Gallery; Visit the Children's Gallery for a world designed especially for childrend aged 3 0 8 years old; Be immersed in the latest IMAX films;- Discover the rich history of the World Heritage listed Royal Exhibition Building, and that's just the start! Melbourne Museum is located adjacent to the World Heritage listed Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton and is home to IMAX Melbourne and the Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre.

Queen Victoria Market is an authentic, bustling, inner-city market that has been the heart and soul of Melbourne for over 140 years. Home to over 600 small businesses, it’s a great place to discover fresh and specialty produce, hand-made and unique products, great coffee and food, souvenirs and clothing. Shopping at the Market has always been one of life’s great pleasures. It’s not just the abundance of fresh food, it’s the friendly banter with the traders, the vibrant and multicultural atmosphere, the special events and festivals, and the sense of belonging that comes with it. Queen Victoria Market is also home to the Night Market on Wednesday nights, showcasing global street food, live music and entertainment, festival bars, specialty shopping and a great Melbourne night out. Be sure to take the Ultimate Foodie Tour, a two-hour, guided walking tour where you’ll indulge in some of the best food the Market has to offer. Bookings essential.

Explore Australia's history and culture. Journey through Melbourn's history and explore stories of people who have migrated from all reaches of the world. From the reasons for making the journey, to the impact on indigenous communities, these stories are sometimes sad, sometimes funny, but always engaging. Located in the Old Customs House in the heart of the city - an easy walk from Flinders St Station or Southern Cross (or catch the free City Circle Tram).

St Paul's Anglican Cathedral is a beautiful, historic building, situated in the centre of the City of Melbourne, Australia. It is a place of worship and prayer. St Paul's is built on the site where the first public Christian services in Melbourne were led by Dr Alexander Thomson in 1836. Soon afterwards a small wooden chapel was built elsewhere, and the area became a corn market until 1848, when it was made available for the building of the bluestone St Paul's Parish Church. Consecrated in 1852, this Church was used until 1885, when it was demolished to make way for the present Cathedral. The decision to build on the site of the existing church was made because of its proximity to the railway and soon to be completed cable tramway service.The Swanston Street and Flinders Street corner remains one of Melbourne's busiest intersections today, ensuring the Cathedral is a place at the heart of city life.

The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) is Australia's largest, oldest and most popular sporting venue. The MCG has hosted plenty of international cricket, including the first-ever Test and the 1992 World Cup final, countless VFL/AFL Grand Finals, the 1956 Olympic Games and 2006 Commonwealth Games. It also hosted the final of ICC Cricket World Cup 2015. Other sporting spectacles include FIFA World Cup soccer qualifiers, rugby league home and away matches and State of Origin and international rugby union clashes. Apart from its sporting events, the MCG has also witnessed many blockbuster music concerts, and even Pope John Paul II held a mass there when he visited Melbourne in 1986. The MCG has a total capacity of 100,024 people, comprising 95,024 seats and 5000 standing room spaces. The stadium also houses the National Sports Museum, which includes some of the most priceless pieces of memorabilia in Australian sporting history.

For more than 30 years, Arts Centre Melbourne has been Melbourne’s leading venue for world-class theatre, dance, music and more. In the Theatres Building, directly under the venue’s iconic Spire, are three separate theatres – the State Theatre, which boasts one of the world’s largest stages and hosts performances by Opera Australia and The Australian Ballet, the Playhouse and the intimate Fairfax Studio. Next door on the banks of the Yarra River, Hamer Hall is a premier venue for musical performances, including the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, and the Sidney Myer Music Bowl is popular for open-air concerts. The new Australian Music Vault features a free exhibition celebrating Australian contemporary music. On Sundays (10am - 4pm), local artisans showcase their unique handmade goods at the Sunday Market. Book tickets at the box office to see a performance or join a guided tour. A range of cafe, dining and bar options are on site and a 24-hour car park available.