Collins Street

The basics

Thanks to its cultural significance and atmospheric buzz, Collins Street is a staple of Melbourne sightseeing tours—especially ones that focus on food and architecture. If you’re exploring independently, start at the east end of the street, known as the “Paris End” due to its lavish Victorian-era buildings, constructed in the 1880s when Melbourne grew recklessly during the gold rush. It’s also worth seeing the late 19th-century Old Stock Exchange, which looks like something straight out of Venice, and the ANZ Gothic Bank—inside of which you’ll find gold leaf embellishments and grand ceilings.

Things to know before you go

• Collins Street is a great place for some retail therapy, with branches of Prada, Armani, Tiffany & Co, and Longchamp, plus several shopping malls.

• It’s also home to the Athenaeum and Regent theaters, which present dramas, musicals, and comedies. Check their websites for tickets and schedules.

• Though Collins Street is even and accessible for wheelchairs and strollers, it is a steep street that requires strong arms or someone to help you travel upwards.

How to get there

Running between Elizabeth and King Street, Collins Street is centrally located, less than a 10-minute walk from Melbourne Central Station, Flinders Street Station, and Southern Cross Station. Plus, the street is part of Melbourne’s Free Tram Zone, in which tram travel is free of charge.

When to get there

Collins Street is a daytime and late-night destination year-round. Stores and coffee shops generally open from morning until early evening, while bars and restaurants tend to stay open late. During the winter season (June and July), the street is decorated festively and runs a varied program of events.

Eating and drinking on Collins Street

Whether you want to soak up Melbourne’s famous coffee culture or feast on culinary delights, Collins Street is bound to have a dining option for you. Top picks include Freyja, a sleek Scandinavian restaurant; Warabi, a Japanese restaurant where diners watch a cooking spectacle from counter seats overlooking the kitchen; and 1932 Cafe and Restaurant, one of the street’s longest-running establishments.