Planning a staycation? Here's the ultimate guide to spending 4 days in St Kilda.

Just 20 minutes from the Melbourne CBD, St Kilda offers a blend of bayside charm with a vibrant cultural scene. The beach, with its fiery sunsets and majestic palm trees, serves as an endless source of inspiration for numerous artists and creatives of all kinds.

Music, culture and nightlife lovers of all ages flock to St Kilda. Eclectic jazz bands perform in hidden laneways while DJs set the beat for beachside revelers. Top international artists, contemporary musicians, and acclaimed local talent share the stage in iconic concert halls and long-standing live venues, rich in history. Vibrant murals and street art honour the area’s creative spirit.

In summer, the St Kilda foreshore turns into a huge outdoor stage, hosting some of Australia’s most prominent live music events, including the St Kilda Festival, Australia’s largest free outdoor music event.

Diverse communities and prominent LGBTIQA+ culture add to the unique cultural landscape, while an abundance of restaurants and bars, including a lively alfresco dining scene, offer distinctive and diverse culinary experiences. Artist studios and cutting-edge galleries are complemented by the celebrated St Kilda Esplanade Market, showcasing the finest works from local artists against the breathtaking backdrop of Port Phillip Bay.

Getting to St Kilda From Melbourne

BY CAR

From Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, take the 30km drive on the Tullamarine Freeway/M2 towards Southbank. Take exit 2 for Kings Way and then continue on National Route Alternative 1. Finally, take Lakeside Drive exit to St Kilda.

BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT

From Melbourne’s Southern Cross Station, take tram 96. Alternatively, from Flinders Street Station, take trams 16, 64, 3 or 67. Travel time via tram is approximately 25 minutes, however, it can vary. For timetables, maps and fares to public transport disruptions, planning your journey and grabbing or topping-up a myki card, visit Public Transport Victoria.

BY AIR

The Peninsula Express provides direct airport transfers between Melbourne Tullamarine Airport and St Kilda seven days a week. For more information, visit SkyBus.

TAC PAUSE STOPS

If driving a long journey when visiting St Kilda, ensure you plan a TAC Pause Stop to rest and recharge.

Day 1 - Acland Street to the beach

Explore Acland Street, St Kilda’s original beachside village, and surrounds – including the sparkling St Kilda foreshore.

CHECK IN

An elegant Art Deco hotel steeped in local history with food, drink, and music at your doorstep.

The Prince Hotel, 2 Acland Street, St Kilda | From $195 per night

The Prince Hotel is a St Kilda institution. Built in 1937, it boasts luxe accommodation, a bustling public bar, an acclaimed wine shop, an award-winning restaurant, and a rooftop deck with views overlooking Fitzroy Street. It’s also home to the Prince Bandroom, one of Melbourne’s most iconic music venues, which has been hosting top international and Australian talent including the Ramones, Bonnie Tyler, the Avalanches and Smashing Pumpkins, for decades. Some of the venue’s most memorable shows are captured in a picture gallery on the Bandroom wall.

BREAKFAST

Start the day right with a European-style breakfast at St Kilda’s newest brunch spot.

Al Naturale, 6 Acland Street, St Kilda

Just a few steps from The Prince’s front door, Al Naturale offers a fresh take on natural, healthy cuisine, using ingredients from sustainable and ethical Victorian suppliers. Feast on breakfast favourites and locally roasted coffee. Their house-made almond milk is a specialty. Don’t forget to stop at Black Star Pastry next door to grab a slice of their Insta-famous strawberry watermelon cake for later.

EXPERIENCE

Explore the latest exhibitions at one of Melbourne’s most acclaimed contemporary galleries.

Linden New Art, 26 Acland Street, St Kilda | Free

Head up the hill to Linden New Art, a five-minute stroll through lush tree-lined streets dotted with striking terrace houses and vintage apartments. Located in a historic property with impeccably manicured gardens, the gallery showcases local artists, both emerging and established, in a year-round program of exhibitions. Over the summer months, the beautiful gardens host acoustic music sets every Sunday.

EXPLORE: CAKE AND CULTURE ON ACLAND STREET

Famous for its old-school cake shops, independent boutiques, and alfresco dining, Acland Street village—running between Carlisle Street and Barkly Street—beckons with local charm.

Pause at Monarch Cakes, a historic café dating back to 1934, for coffee and a slice of their famous chocolate kugelhopf. Sit at an outdoor table to admire Rory Lynch-Wells’ eye-catching mural of international DJ Carl Cox, in the laneway next door. Indulge your sweet tooth by browsing the windows at Acland, Le Bon, and Europa Cake Shops, with their astonishing assortment of mile-high vanilla slices, cakes, pastries, and macarons.

Visit Readings bookstore to check out the latest literary releases. For music-lovers, there are vinyl records to dig through, and shelves stacked with art and music publications. Nearby, Beyond the Pale offers collectible limited edition posters featuring bands like Foo Fighters, QOTSA, Soundgarden, and Arctic Monkeys. It’s a three minute walk away, around the corner on Carlisle Street.

LUNCH

Rest and recharge at this local favourite.

Sorsi e Morsi, 31 Blessington Street, St Kilda

Head right down Barkly Street, past Acland Plaza, to Italian eatery Sorsi e Morsi, a popular neighbourhood haunt, known for its pasta and drool-worthy gnocchi.

Make time to visit the scenic Peanut Farm Reserve, a few steps away at the end of Blessington Street. With non-stop basketball games at its public courts, local football, artist studios, and a monthly farmers market, it’s always a hub of community activity. Peanut Farm also hosts the Veg Out Community Gardens, which is a haven for many local musicians and artists.

The opposite end of Blessington Street, across the Barkly Street intersection, is known for its distinctive strip of hole-in-the-wall cafes and bars. It’s worth coming back later in the afternoon to catch a gig at Surabaya Johnny’s, a favourite with locals, hosting a mix of blues, roots, country and jazz bands.

EXPERIENCE

Spend the afternoon at Melbourne’s favourite bayside playground.

ST KILDA FORESHORE

Take in the sea breeze, sink your toes into the sand, or stroll the boardwalk at Melbourne’s most famous beach. Here, the action never stops with a never-ending stream of joggers, cyclists, rollerbladers, dog walkers, kite surfers, and hardy all-weather swimmers.

Walk along the St Kilda Pier for a striking view of the city skyline and St Kilda Marina. A few steps back from the water, Catani Gardens beckons with its sprawling lawns and rows of palm trees. Across the road lies Cleve Gardens, where beneath the sprawling canopies of ancient fig trees, the late legendary First Nations artists Archie Roach and Ruby Hunter used to create music together.

In the evenings, St Kilda’s cutest residents, the little penguin colony, come out to play around the breakwater past the marina. Book St Kilda Ferry’s Sunset Penguin Cruise to see them up close. It departs from the Pier on selected days at sundown.

Stop for a drink and admire the view at Republica Bar. Located at St Kilda Sea Baths complex, its beachfront seating has prime views of the passing people parade along the boardwalk. Inside, there’s a colourful courtyard with pub-style seating, with live music and local DJs on offer several days a week.

DINNER

Make any day a celebration at this iconic venue.

Stokehouse, 30 Jacka Boulevard, St Kilda

One of the best beachside locations in St Kilda, Stokehouse is a go-to spot for both upscale dining and casual beachside hangs. Grab one of their coveted outdoor tables to take in bay views, and watch the sun melt into the ocean. Or head inside for a relaxed beachy vibe and house-made pasta. Upstairs, a fine dining experience with unparalleled sea views awaits.

CATCH A GIG

An intimate jazz performance in a cosy wine bar or top international and Australian artists at one of St Kilda’s most popular band rooms? The choice is yours.

Claypots, 213 Barkly Street, St Kilda | Free

Around the corner from where the Acland Street tram terminates, Claypots serves up the freshest seafood with a side order of live music. Live music happens regularly at their tiny wine bar next door, from its long-running Elvis show to after-dark gigs with Melbourne’s finest jazz and blues performers. It’s a raucous night out where the audience entertains as much as the tunes.

The Prince Bandroom, 29 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda | Ticketed

Looking for a big night out? You’re guaranteed to find it at The Prince Bandroom. Over the past six decades, it has attracted top Australian and international talent including the likes of Nick Cave, Lenny Kravitz, Billie Eilish, Doja Cat and G-Flip. Check out the program on their website before your visit to plan your night out.