Best Museums in Melbourne: Art, History and Culture Highlights

Melbourne is a really cool city with loads going on, so if you're really into art and culture, you'll love what the city has to offer. With so many museums here, there's something everyone will love. The best museums in Melbourne include science, history and even a film museum, with a mix of free and ticketed exhibitions.

Whether you're a visitor or a local looking for something to do, we've got the best Melbourne museum guide for you. Check out our top picks and start planning your visit.

Jump to:

• MUSEUMS ABOUT MELBOURNE: SCIENCE AND HISTORY
• MELBOURNE MUSEUM
• OLD MELBOURNE GAOL
• AUSTRALIAN MUSIC VAULT
• GALLERIES, ART AND CULTURAL HERITAGE
• THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF VICTORIA (NGV INTERNATIONAL)
• AUSTRALIAN CENTRE FOR CONTEMPORARY ART
• KOORIE HERITAGE TRUST
• CREATIVE AND INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCES
• ACMI
• SCIENCEWORKS
• ARTVO
• TO WRAP IT UP!
• FAQS

Museums about Melbourne: Science & History

You can learn a lot about Melbourne and its fascinating past from these three museums that will take you through the natural world, but also some of the darker days of the city's history. There's even something for music lovers if you want to know a learn more about Australian music.

Melbourne Museum

Let's start with the big one. Melbourne Museum has a bit of everything, including natural history, science and the story of Victoria all under one roof, but it never feels like a building full of dusty display cases. You won't believe the size of Horridus, the museum's Triceratops, which is a big hit with kids and adults alike! From there, you can go on through to the living Forest Gallery or learn more about Victoria's native animals in the Wild exhibition. Make sure you check out Phar Lap, Australia's most popular racehorse, and one of the museum's most popular exhibits.

The First Peoples exhibition is a must during your visit. It was developed with the Yulendj Group of Elders and other community representatives and is where you'll learn more about the Aboriginal people of Victoria, including their history and culture.

The museum is great for families, with some excellent spaces that will give adults the detail, and plenty of things for kids to touch and explore.

Old Melbourne Gaol

Old Melbourne Gaol is not a gentle history lesson; it is something that will stay with you long after your visit. Here's where the bluestone cells once held some of Victoria's most notorious prisoners, including bushranger Ned Kelly, who was executed here in 1880. This is the perfect place to hear personal accounts, see real death masks and learn so much more about Melbourne's historic prison.

This is one of the top museums in Melbourne, so it's worth taking your time instead of going straight to the Kelly displays. You can learn about how the justice system worked, everyday conditions for prisoners, and see how crime and punishment have changed over the years.

You can also enjoy something a little extra with a watch house or night experience, but you'll need to check in advance to see when these are available.

Stay nearby: Stay at Oaks Melbourne on William Suites if you want an easy city base, plus extras like full kitchens, private balconies and an onsite gym. Flagstaff Station is close by, so it's really easy to get to the gaol and the rest of the CBD.

Australian Music Vault

If you don't know much about Aussie music, you will after you've been to the Australian Music Vault, which is a free museum in Melbourne that celebrates all kinds of Australian music, including household names and artists who were really important in their genres.

There are some nice displays to see here, including the memorabilia from the Australian Performing Arts Collection, plus there are digital displays and recorded performances to enjoy. You can also hear some real-life accounts from the people behind the music. You won't need to spend all day here, so you can go check out Southbank after your visit. There's always something new to see, so you could make a repeat visit in the future.

Stay nearby: If you stay at Oaks Melbourne on Collins Suites, you'll be right in the CBD. It's really convenient for getting around and you'll love the facilities to help you enjoy a good rest after taking everything in.

Galleries, Art & Cultural Heritage

If you're looking to find the best art gallery in Melbourne, there's loads to choose from. With a real mix of art in Melbourne, including both international and local collections, there's plenty to celebrate and appreciate within some of the city's most iconic buildings.

The National Gallery of Victoria (NGV International)

NGV International makes an excellent first impression; the water wall at the entrance is unreal! But once you're inside, you'll get to see what really makes the gallery special. The permanent collection is a walk through history, with everything from paintings and decorative arts to fashion exhibits. You can easily spend a whole afternoon here, especially when there's something good in the Great Gall.

You can enter the gallery for free, so you can do a quicker, budget-friendly visit if you're short on cash and time. Some of the major temporary exhibitions are ticketed, so you'll need to book in advance for some of the popular exhibitions. Don't forget to check out the gallery shop, which has some really cool design-led bits and bobs for sale.

Stay Nearby: Stay within walking distance at Oaks Melbourne Southbank Suites and enjoy either a one or two-bed apartment with a kitchen, laundry facilities and even separate living spaces. It's got everything you will need, including a pool, gym, sauna and restaurant.

Australian Centre for Contemporary Art

It's hard to miss the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art! This rust-coloured geometric building is a Southbank landmark, and the galleries inside feature a big mix of work by both Australian and international artists. ACCA exhibitions change all the time, so you'll always find something new to see.

The changing exhibits mean you can enjoy all kinds of art, including sculpture, performance and even digital media. It's another free museum in Melbourne, so you can go without feeling pressured to know a lot about art. It's also a good one to take the kids to if they've never been to an art gallery before.

Koorie Heritage Trust

You'll get to learn so much about Melbourne and its history at the Koorie Heritage Trust, which we reckon is a must during your time in the city. It's in Federation Square and gives a First Peoples perspective that is worth checking out. It's Aboriginal-owned and managed and offers a bit of everything from art and history to the living cultures of Aboriginal peoples from south-eastern Australia. Every exhibition is led by Koorie voices, which is what makes it a must-see.

The programme changes regularly, but there's also some permanent art, photographs and oral histories. You should also check out the cultural map, which gives useful context around the diversity of Nations and language groups across Victoria. If you check the calendar, you could also take part in walks and other experiences that will make your visit even richer.

Creative & Interactive Experiences

Not every museum is designed to be a quiet space. If you like a little more noise in your life, some of these top museums in Melbourne will deliver. There are spaces to engage and play, and interactive artworks that are perfect for families or mates visiting together. These aren't your typical museum experiences, so buckle in.

ACMI

If you love film, TV and video games, you'll be right at home at ACMI. The stand-out exhibit here is The Story of the Moving Image, which goes all the way from ancient shadow play to the modern world of streaming and gaming. There's even a lens device that lets you collect objects to look at online later on.

There's loads to appreciate about big and small screens here, and it's not pretentious either. Australian stories are mixed in with some big global events, and there are loads of costumes and props to keep you entertained for hours.

Stay nearby: If you stay at Oaks Melbourne on Market Hotel, you'll be in a great spot for Federation Square and the wider CBD. Back at the hotel, make sure you check out the indoor pool and spa, and enjoy a bite or a drink at the Oak and Vine restaurant.

Scienceworks

We reckon Scienceworks is one of the best museums in Melbourne, and not just for kids. There's loads to do here, spread across different zones. In Sportsworks, you can test speed, movement and reaction times, which could cause rivalry within families! Younger kids will love Ground Up, which is a bright and colourful space for building and problem solving, helping them learn a little bit too.

The Melbourne Planetarium is well worth seeing here. There's gentle introductions for youngsters, and some more in-depth talks for adults. It can get busy on weekends and in the school holidays though, so be prepared to queue for some of the popular activities.

ArtVo

Nobody's telling you to keep your hands off the art at ArtVo. The whole point is to interact with the exhibits! There's more than 40 large optical illusion scenes, which will help you become part of the activity using a phone to capture the different bits.

There's plenty of staff to help suggest angles and poses, although working it out is a big part of the fun. This is a really fun experience to enjoy with your mates and is just silly, laugh-out-loud fun. It's also a good shout if it's raining out!

To wrap it up!

With so many top museums in Melbourne, you can base your whole trip around seeing them. From dinosaurs to interactive art exhibits, there's something for everyone, and they're all across the city too.

Whatever your interest, you'll find something to enjoy in Melbourne!