Can't decide what to do on the public holiday? Take a look at what's free, what's on and what's open. Check individual events and venues for exact opening hours.

When is ANZAC Day in 2025?

The public holiday falls on Friday 25 April this year.

Free things to do

Making Memoir of a Snail
Until

Making Memoir of a Snail

Explore handmade sets, props and characters from Adam Elliot's claymation film Memoir of a Snail.

Taste of Combat
Until

Taste of Combat

Honouring the vital work of the Catering Corps and the evolution of military food.

Best events on ANZAC Day

Cats & Dogs
Until

Cats & Dogs

From cattle dogs to lap dogs, divine felines to cat superstitions, explore more than 250 works.

Notre-Dame de Paris: The Augmented Exhibition
Until

Notre-Dame de Paris: The Augmented Exhibition

Experience the heart of Paris, right here in Melbourne.

Van Gogh
Until

Van Gogh

See Van Gogh reimagined with a world-first shared VR experience.

Melbourne's Night Bites: Evening Food Tour
Until

Melbourne's Night Bites: Evening Food Tour

Taste the best of Melbourne on a progressive dinner showcasing restaurants, bars and bites.

Joy
Until

Joy

Experience an emotive adventure where creativity, colour and storytelling join forces.

Jesus Christ Superstar
Until

Jesus Christ Superstar

Experience a revived production of this iconic and unmissable musical.

Martin Grant
Until

Martin Grant

A major exhibition of work by Australian-born Paris-based fashion designer Martin Grant.

Punting on the Lake
Until

Punting on the Lake

Glide between the bays and islands of Ornamental Lake on a guided boat cruise.

Top Arts
Until

Top Arts

The annual Top Arts exhibition provides a platform for emerging artists from across the state.

Bark Salon
Until

Bark Salon

Bark Salon is a large-scale display of First Nations bark painting, with more than 160 works.

Best events on for the long weekend

Arts Centre Melbourne Tours
Until

Arts Centre Melbourne Tours

Explore Hamer Hall, the auditoriums, Theatre Building and Public Art Collection.

Elissa Goodrich: Waves and Bubbles – Turbulent Waters
Until

Elissa Goodrich: Waves and Bubbles – Turbulent Waters

An exhibition of climate-science, sound and visual arts, for all ages.

World of the Book
Until

World of the Book

Explore the rare, the sacred and the iconic in this one-of-a-kind exhibition.

Michael McNamara: Salt, Sand and Sea
Until

Michael McNamara: Salt, Sand and Sea

Stunning aerial photos of World Heritage site Shark Bay and Monkey Mia.

Free Guided Walk
Until

Free Guided Walk

A free guided walk is the perfect way to enjoy the sunny weather in Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne.

Tour the Old Treasury Building Museum

Tour the Old Treasury Building Museum

Discover early Melbourne, through architecture, art and artefacts, in an iconic gold rush building.

What's open to eat and drink

Rosso Coffee Experience: Specialty Coffee Roastery & Cafe

Rosso Coffee Experience: Specialty Coffee Roastery & Cafe

North Melbourne’s hub for coffee: expert roasting, gourmet food and hands-on experiences.

Transport Public Bar

Transport Public Bar

Bustling pub in Federation Square with tasty pub meals and an impressive range of drinks.

Taxi Kitchen

Taxi Kitchen

Accessible and affordable meals in a light-filled room with great views.

Transit Rooftop Bar

Transit Rooftop Bar

Large rooftop bar in Federation Square, with expansive views of the Melbourne skyline.

Hofbräuhaus

Hofbräuhaus

Delivering hand-selected German beer, authentic food and classic hospitality since 1968.

Bottega

Bottega

Modern Italian fare at the leafy end of Bourke Street.

Hotel Nacional

Hotel Nacional

An entirely gluten-free Mexican-inspired rooftop bar and restaurant.

Ombra

Ombra

Guy Grossi's Ombra serves cured meats, Venetian tapas and excellent wines to share.

Arlechin

Arlechin

Arlechin is a cocktail and wine bar.

Johnny's Green Room

Johnny's Green Room

A rooftop bar above King & Godfree with great views, tunes and Italian inspired food and drinks.

St Ali and the Queen

St Ali and the Queen

Coffee meets cocktails at this new concept in the Queen Victoria Market.

The Terrace

The Terrace

Enjoy an artful brunch inspired by the European pursuit of pleasure and joy.

Green Cup

Green Cup

Specialising in smoothies, acai bowls, smashed avo and raw snacks.

Good Heavens

Good Heavens

Rooftop bar on Bourke Street serving fabulous cocktails, craft beer and Australian wine.

Queen Victoria Market

Queen Victoria Market

This beloved Melbourne landmark is the largest open air market in the southern hemisphere.

Aru

Aru

Bringing together the woodfire hearth and flavours of Asia and Australia.

Grossi Florentino

Grossi Florentino

Grossi Florentino has set the bar for Italian fine dining in Melbourne since 1928.

Bomba Tapas Bar and Rooftop

Bomba Tapas Bar and Rooftop

Serving great Spanish tapas and wines like the worker's bars of the Iberian peninsula.

Dessous

Dessous

Hide away for a few hours at Dessous and soak up the best of Melbourne’s wine-bar culture.

DOC Pizza & Mozzarella Bar

DOC Pizza & Mozzarella Bar

The authentic flavour of a Rome-style pizza without the cost of a plane ticket.

Gimlet at Cavendish House

Gimlet at Cavendish House

An elegant cocktail bar and dining room from renowned chef Andrew McConnell.

The Courthouse Hotel

The Courthouse Hotel

A beautiful art deco pub delivering warm hospitality and serving pub classics.

La Camera

La Camera

Classic Italian food overlooking the river at Southbank.

Kafeneion

Kafeneion

A culinary love affair that merges the best of Melbourne's charm with authentic Greek cuisine.

Chocolate Buddha

Chocolate Buddha

A Japanese-inspired dining room at Fed Square, offering ramen, donburi and sushi.

Secret Kitchen

Secret Kitchen

An excellent spot for yum cha and Chinese delicacies.

The European

The European

Enjoy premium pan-European cuisine with exceptional service.

Kan Eang

Kan Eang

Unsung Thai dishes and range of family favourites.

Pidapipo Gelateria

Pidapipo Gelateria

Authentic, artisanal Italian-style gelato in bustling Degraves Street.

Pidapipo Gelateria

Pidapipo Gelateria

Authentic, artisanal Italian-style gelato in the heart of Carlton's Lygon Street.

Society

Society

A glamourous restaurant and bar with contemporary dining and bespoke cocktails.

Grill Americano

Grill Americano

Offering Italian classics with signature Chris Lucas spin in sophisticated surrounds.

Kisumé

Kisumé

Exquisite sushi and one of the city's finest wine cellars.

Yakimono

Yakimono

Yakimono is a high energy Japanese-inspired eating house.

Chin Chin

Chin Chin

A fast-paced hawker-style dining sensation serving Thai-inspired food.

Maison Bâtard

Maison Bâtard

Chris Lucas' Maison Bâtard heralds a grand new legacy for a heritage Bourke Street site.

Last updated on Thu 24 Apr 2025

Only In The City

Only in the City

Only in the City

There’s more to explore, only in the city.

Melbourne's essential night-time events

Melbourne's essential night-time events

From hidden laneway markets to epic pop-ups, Melbourne gets lit once the lights go out.

Melbourne's best blockbuster events

Melbourne's best blockbuster events

The best major events on in Melbourne this year.

Discover more

What's free and what's open on the King's Birthday long weekend

What's free and what's open on the King's Birthday long weekend

Free events, winter markets, family-friendly activities and more.

Nocturnal: Museum After Dark
Until

Nocturnal: Museum After Dark

Step into a world of wonder at an after-hours Melbourne Museum experience just for adults.

Imprint: Epilogue

Imprint: Epilogue

An evening of paint, poetry and performance to conclude the Imprint program.

View of Melbourne from across the Yarra River

Psarokokalo

A selection of short films from the Athens Short Film Festival.