5 Cost-Saving Ways To Get The Most Out Of Your Weekend In Melbourne

Winter is behind us, the sun is starting to shine, and Melbourne has a whole new lease on life. There's an abundance of fun things to do without breaking the bank—like $4 oysters, $8 vino, fresh seafood, and free art exhibitions.

The best part? You can get around town (and beyond) on public transport for half price, from now right up until 1 January 2027. Full fares tap on for just $5.70 (normally $11.40) to score all-day travel, and concessions are just $2.85 (usually $5.70). That’s trams, trains and buses for half-price fares, thanks to Transport Victoria.

Whether you’re looking to explore the city's outskirts or travelling further for the weekend, here are five ways to enjoy this weekend in Melbourne without the high price tag.

Be Merry With The City’s Best Happy Hours And Cheap Eats

Image credit: Frenchie | Instagram

It’s called happy hour for a reason. Nothing sparks joy quite like half-price drinks and nibbling for less. And you’re in luck: Melbourne is full of some of the country’s most exciting places to eat and, if you time it well, you won’t have to rinse your wallet dry. 

For stellar pub vibes and cheap frothies, Springrock does $10 pints, $8 wines and $9 spirits from Monday to Friday, 3pm to 6pm. Mesa Verde takes Taco Tuesday seriously with $5 tacos from 5pm and $10 margs, 4pm to 6pm (bonus: the margs special is an everyday thing). And you can slurp back $4 freshly shucked oysters at Chancery Lane’s Le Jardin every weekday from 5pm for two glorious hours.

For cheap eats around the clock, at Times New Roman in Brunswick East, a hearty bowl of handmade pasta goes for as little as $6.66. The Heart Of Carlton, accessed easily via the 200 and 207 buses, does nothing over four bucks. That’s fresh baguette sangas, piping hot toasties and barista-made coffee all for less than a pink $5 note.

For fancy French bites and sips, Frenchie on Collins Street is every part affordable as it is divine, with every dish on the menu going for just $14. And for a bit of wallet relief, Republic Economica does $9 pasta, $12 margherita pizzas and $5 beers in South Yarra. Who's in?

Travel For Less With Half-Price Public Transport

Image credit: Visit Victoria | Website

Trying to navigate parking in the CBD isn’t for the faint of heart. Busy, spenny and hard to find a solid park. The best way to get around? Public transport, baby. Your trams within the CBD are entirely free, thanks to the Free Tram Zone. And yes, that includes the heritage City Circle Tram.

But if you’re venturing out, say to the leafy suburb of Belgrave to ride Puffing Billy, heading to Brighton Beach for some bayside adventures or catching the latest flick at Yarraville’s art deco Sun Theatre, your Myki fee is now half price, and it’s running every single day until 1 January 2027 on trains, buses and trams. Leave the four wheels at home and choose the affordable way to make your way around Melbourne.

Dine On A Dime At Melbourne’s Greatest Markets

Image credit: Queen Victoria Market | Facebook

Melbourne does markets all too well. It’s a matter of matching the market to your mood. Planning to play host? Bee-line to South Melbourne Market, where fresh seafood, delis and veggie stalls will practically build your charcuterie board for you. And pair it with a borek from Market Borek for just a few bucks.

Or head to Prahran Market to Pino’s for their $35 assorted veggie boxes (before they sell out) and have brunch at Maker & Monger for an artisan toastie with excellent cheese flown in direct from regional France and Italy.

For gift shopping, Queen Victoria Market is your place to go, with a special shout-out to the library dedicated to pre-loved and new cookbooks, Books For Cooks, served with the famous fresh hot jam doughnuts from American Doughnut Kitchen. 

Getting to these markets is a breeze. South Melbourne Market is on routes 12, 96, 109 and 1 tram; beachside St Kilda Esplanade Market is on route 16 and 96; Prahran Market is a short stroll from Prahran train station; and Queen Vic Market is easy to visit by tram and train. So no matter which public transport option works for you, it’s all half-price fares for everyone.

Explore Melbourne's Lush Gardens

Image credit: Royal Botanic Gardens | Visit Victoria

As we all know, when the sun's out in Melbourne, it's best to make the most of that fleeting vitamin D. May we suggest soaking up the rays at one of the city’s gorgeous gardens. Take the Royal Botanic Gardens, for example, an absolute playground for adults. Jump on an open-air minibus, see the lush gardens on a serene cruise or tuck into a low-spend homemade picnic.

Over northside, Fitzroy Gardens is decked out with mystical Faerie Trees, a beautiful model Tudor Village and a captivating conservatory for you to explore. Over in South Yarra, you’ll find Como House and Garden with picturesque walks and manicured gardens. And out in Werribee, the Victoria State Rose Garden is home to 5,000 roses and a stunning ornamental lake perfect for a picnic with loved ones. 

Save Your Cents With These Free Attractions And Events Around Town

Image credit: National Gallery Of Victoria International | Facebook

You know the saying, the best things in life are free? That holds for Melbourne. Some of the best things you can do on your weekend won’t cost you a single cent. We’ve got laneways like AC/DC Lane filled with street art you can check out whenever suits your itinerary; the State Library is a destination in itself with its famous auditorium and its free exhibition, Rebel Heart: Love Letters, an archive of soul-baring love letters, intimate diaries and rare manuscripts exploring romantic love in all dimensions.

Plus, the National Gallery of Victoria always has a freebie up its sleeve. NGV’s International Art collection is in selected spaces throughout the gallery, featuring Australia’s oldest and most diverse range of contemporary art and period pieces. Entirely free to view, just walk past the giant thumb sculpture, the entry rain window and under Yayoi Kusama’s monumental five-metre-tall Dancing Pumpkin sculpture.

So there you have it. Consider your cost-saving weekend in Melbourne sorted, all thanks to Transport Victoria’s half-price fares until 1 January 2027. Find out more about your public transport options or use the handy journey planner to navigate your way around Melbourne and beyond here.

Editor’s note: This article is sponsored by Transport Victoria and proudly endorsed by The Urban List. To find out more about who we work with and why read our editorial policy here.