Queen Victoria Market
The largest open-air market in the Southern Hemisphere, open since 1878, with over 600 stalls selling fresh produce, prepared food, gifts and souvenirs. The hot jam doughnut van is a must-visit.
Queen Victoria Market lies on the northern edge of the CBD and covers about 7 hectares. It opened in 1878 and is Melbourne's only surviving 19th-century market hall, and it is also where locals do their everyday shopping. The market is divided into zones: Deli Hall (cheese, ham, olives and coffee), Meat & Fish Hall (meat and seafood, where you can buy oysters fresh), the produce sheds (A–I), and the general merchandise area around String Bean Lane, which sells UGG boots, woollen goods, Australian souvenirs and clothing. Must-eats include the American Doughnut Kitchen hot jam doughnut van at the market entrance (operating since 1950; six doughnuts for about AUD 8), Bratwurst Shop German sausages, Borek Bakery's Turkish meat pastries, and handmade cheese and coffee in Deli Hall. The summer night market (mid-November to mid-March, Wednesdays 17:00–22:00) and the winter night market (June–August, Wednesdays) offer global street food, live music and handmade crafts, and are the liveliest times. The market offers a 2-hour Ultimate Foodie Tour (about AUD 79, with tastings). Opening hours: Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 06:00–15:00; Saturday 06:00–16:00; Sunday 09:00–16:00. The market is closed during the day on Mondays and Wednesdays, though night markets still run. Transport: it is in the free tram zone, and trams 19, 57 and 59 stop at Queen Victoria Market. You can also walk about 15 minutes from Flinders Street Station. Notes: 6–7 a.m. is the most lively time, and some fresh-produce stalls close after midday. Souvenirs can be haggled over. Australian customs strictly prohibits taking meat, seeds and other agricultural products out of the country.
Opening hours
Tue, Thu, Fri 06:00–15:00; Sat 06:00–16:00; Sun 09:00–16:00; closed Mon and Wed
Nearby sights
- Old Melbourne Gaol
- State Library Victoria
- Block Arcade & Royal Arcade
- Chinatown, Melbourne
- Degraves Street & Centre Place
- SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium
- City Circle Tram (Route 35)
- Royal Exhibition Building