Museums and art galleries

The best free museums and art galleries in Melbourne

The best free museums and art galleries in Melbourne

Explore world-class museums, edgy artist-run spaces and blockbuster exhibitions for free.

Melbourne Museum

Melbourne Museum

Explore history, culture, science, and nature at this popular Melbourne attraction.

Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia

Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia

The world’s first major gallery dedicated exclusively to Australian art.

NGV International

NGV International

NGV International houses a whole world of international art.

ACMI

ACMI

Museum dedicated to the moving image through events, film screenings and exhibitions.

Immigration Museum

Immigration Museum

An exploration of the stories of people from all over the world who have migrated to Australia.

Children's Gallery Melbourne Museum

Children's Gallery Melbourne Museum

This is a wondrous place for young children to explore, play and learn.

Museum of Chinese Australian History

Museum of Chinese Australian History

Museum preserving and displaying the history of Chinese immigration.

Australian Sports Museum

Australian Sports Museum

The Australian Sports Museum proudly features the largest sporting collection in the country.

Australian Music Vault

Australian Music Vault

A celebration of Australian contemporary music – past, present and future.

Australian Centre for Contemporary Art (ACCA)

Australian Centre for Contemporary Art (ACCA)

An art gallery presenting challenging and innovative contemporary work.

City Gallery

City Gallery

City Gallery presents free exhibitions from City of Melbourne’s art and heritage collection.

The Johnston Collection

The Johnston Collection

View beautiful objects arranged in a house-museum setting unfettered by ropes or barriers.

La Trobe's Cottage

La Trobe's Cottage

Original home of Victoria's first governor Charles Joseph La Trobe from 1839 to 1854.

Hellenic Museum

Hellenic Museum

Discover Greek art, history and culture, both ancient and contemporary.

Bunjilaka

Bunjilaka

Celebrating the history, culture, achievements, and survival of Victoria's Aboriginal people.

Mystik River Gallery

Mystik River Gallery

Specialising in the ancient art of Indian sculpting.

Fire Services Museum of Victoria

Fire Services Museum of Victoria

Australia's largest collection of fire-fighting memorabilia.

Fox Classic Car Collection

Fox Classic Car Collection

See some of the most iconic cars in the world.

Grainger Museum

Grainger Museum

An autobiographical museum of acclaimed musician and composer Percy Grainger.

Medical History Museum

Medical History Museum

A free museum focusing on medicine's contribution to scientific discovery and community wellbeing.

College of Surgeons Museum

College of Surgeons Museum

An exhibition of surgical objects and memorabilia.

RMIT Gallery

RMIT Gallery

Exhibiting Australian and international visual art and design.

Fad Gallery

Fad Gallery

An art gallery, music venue and bar in the heart of Chinatown.

Awen Company Store Gallery

Awen Company Store Gallery

A Peruvian streetwear store gallery.

The Watch Gallery

The Watch Gallery

Specialist dealer in pre-owned, modern and collectable Swiss watches.

Gallerysmith

Gallerysmith

A contemporary art gallery on the city fringe with a focus on solo exhibitions.

First Site Gallery

First Site Gallery

RMIT gallery presenting student exhibitions and events throughout the year.

Gray Reid Gallery

Gray Reid Gallery

A retailer of vintage, estate, bespoke and contemporary Australian jewellery.

Anna Schwartz Gallery

Anna Schwartz Gallery

The gallery represents over 30 established and emerging artists on individual projects.

ARC ONE Gallery

ARC ONE Gallery

A commercial gallery in Flinders Lane showing contemporary Australian art.

Fiona and Sidney Myer Gallery

Fiona and Sidney Myer Gallery

Contemporary art space presenting new works by Australian and international artists.

Flinders Lane Gallery

Flinders Lane Gallery

Exhibiting collectable artworks and featuring solo exhibitions every three weeks.

Outre Gallery

Outre Gallery

Alternative art gallery specialising in lowbrow, pop surrealism and underground art.

Leica Store and Gallery Melbourne

Leica Store and Gallery Melbourne

Showcasing the full range of Leica cameras, lenses and sport optics.

One Star Lounge & Gallery

One Star Lounge & Gallery

Friendly cafe, bar and contemporary art gallery.

Stephen McLaughlan Gallery

Stephen McLaughlan Gallery

Curated contemporary art space in the iconic Nicholas Building.

Science Gallery Melbourne

Science Gallery Melbourne

A free gallery where arts and science collide.

ArtVo

ArtVo

An interactive 3D art gallery with optical illusions that visitors can touch and explore.

Melbourne’s best student discounts, deals and freebies

Melbourne’s best student discounts, deals and freebies

Find cheap feasts, coffee deals and free or discounted entry to some of Melb’s iconic attractions.

Discover more

Monthly highlights

Monthly highlights

Make the most of your visit to Melbourne with our monthly guides to what's on in the city.

Theatre and shows

Theatre and shows

Discover Melbourne's hit musicals, cutting-edge theatre and late-night cabaret shows.

Film

Film

Melbourne has a thriving film scene, with film festivals and screenings at cinemas year-round.

Chinatown

Chinatown

Let the hanging lanterns guide you along Little Bourke Street into Australia’s oldest Chinatown.