What to do in Melbourne when it rains
Caught by a shower in Melbourne? There's history to explore indoors, art to admire, markets to browse and cafés to settle into until it clears.
Museums
Spend a few hours in the city's museums — many are free, and a rainy day is the perfect excuse to take your time.
- Melbourne Museum 11 Nicholson St, Carlton VIC 3053, Australia
- ACMI Federation Square, Flinders St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
- Immigration Museum 400 Flinders St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
- Old Melbourne Gaol 377 Russell St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
- Old Treasury Building 20 Spring St, East Melbourne VIC 3002, Australia
- Potter Museum of Art Corner Swanston Street and, Masson Rd, Parkville VIC 3010, Australia
Art galleries
Duck into the art galleries; they're quiet, warm and rarely busier than on a wet day.
- State Library Victoria 328 Swanston St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
- National Gallery of Victoria 180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne VIC 3006, Australia
- Fed Square Swanston St & Flinders St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
- ACMI Federation Square, Flinders St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
- Metartworld 155 Boundary St, Port Melbourne VIC 3207, Australia
- The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia Federation Square, Flinders St &, Russell St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
Historic sites
Explore the indoor historic sites and their covered galleries.
- Chinatown Melbourne Little Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
- Royal Exhibition Building 9 Nicholson St, Carlton VIC 3053, Australia
- Victoria Park Abbot Street &, Lulie St, Abbotsford VIC 3067, Australia
- Old Treasury Building 20 Spring St, East Melbourne VIC 3002, Australia
- Cooks' Cottage Fitzroy Gardens, Wellington Parade, East Melbourne VIC 3002, Australia
- Hellenic Museum 280 William St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
Covered markets
Browse the covered market — street-food stalls, local makers and somewhere dry to graze for an hour.
- Queen Victoria Market Queen St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
- South Melbourne Market 322-326 Coventry St, South Melbourne VIC 3205, Australia
- Prahran Market 163 Commercial Rd, South Yarra VIC 3141, Australia
- Fitzroy Market 75 Rose St, Fitzroy VIC 3065, Australia
- The Rose Street Artists’ Market 60 Rose St, Fitzroy VIC 3065, Australia
- Lost and Found Market 288 Brunswick St, Fitzroy VIC 3065, Australia
Cafés
Claim a window seat in a cosy café and watch the rain instead of walking in it.
- Good Measure 193 Lygon St, Carlton VIC 3053, Australia
- Brunetti Oro Flinders Lane 250 Flinders Ln, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
- Higher Ground 650 Little Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
- Brick Lane Melbourne 33 Guildford Ln, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
- Patricia Coffee Brewers Rear of, 493-495 Little Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
- Lune Croissanterie Fitzroy 119 Rose St, Fitzroy VIC 3065, Australia
Indoor shopping
Hit the covered shopping streets and centres — everything under one roof.
- Melbourne Central Cnr LaTrobe and Swanston Streets, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
- DFO South Wharf 20 Convention Centre Pl, South Wharf VIC 3006, Australia
- South Melbourne Market 322-326 Coventry St, South Melbourne VIC 3205, Australia
- QV Melbourne Cnr Lonsdale Street and, Swanston St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
- Emporium Melbourne 287 Lonsdale St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
- Spencer Outlet Centre 201 Spencer St, Docklands VIC 3008, Australia
Venue suggestions powered by Google — tap a name for the map, and always check opening times before you go. 36 places listed; the list refreshes regularly.