Best Museums & Family Attractions in Melbourne
Planning a family trip to Melbourne and looking for things to do that both children and adults will enjoy?
Melbourne is a fantastic city for families, with a huge variety of museums, cultural attractions, interactive experiences, entertainment and live performances to choose from.
Whether your children love art and history, are fascinated by movies and technology, are obsessed with LEGO, or simply want to see something exciting, there is plenty to discover throughout the city.
Some attractions are completely free, while others offer special exhibitions, activities or experiences that require a ticket. This means you can mix and match depending on your family's interests, the ages of your children and your budget.
Here are some of the museums and family-friendly attractions we recommend adding to your Melbourne itinerary.
National Gallery of Victoria (NGV)
The National Gallery of Victoria, better known as the NGV, is one of Melbourne's most iconic cultural attractions and a fantastic place to visit with children.
Located on St Kilda Road, the NGV houses an impressive collection spanning art, design, fashion, photography, sculpture and decorative arts from Australia and around the world.
You don't need to spend an entire day exploring the gallery. Families can choose the exhibitions and spaces that are most likely to interest their children and then move on to another activity.
The building itself is also worth seeing, with its striking architecture, impressive installations and plenty of interesting things to discover along the way.
The Children's Gallery
If you're visiting with younger children, be sure to look into the NGV Children's Gallery.
This dedicated space is designed specifically for young visitors, with interactive and hands-on experiences that encourage children to explore art through creativity and play.
One of the things we love about the Children's Gallery is that it is seasonally updated, so the activities and experiences can change throughout the year. This means there can be something new to discover depending on when you visit.
The NGV also offers additional family activities and programs at different times of the year, particularly during school holidays, so it's worth checking the current program before your trip.
There is also an outdoor play area, which is a great opportunity for children to get some fresh air and burn off some energy after exploring the galleries.
General admission to the NGV is free, although major temporary exhibitions, special programs and some experiences require paid tickets. So if there is a particular exhibition you'd like to see, it's worth checking the current schedule and ticket requirements before visiting.
With its combination of art, interactive experiences and spaces designed specifically for children, the NGV can be a great option even for families who don't usually spend much time in museums.
ACMI – Australian Centre for the Moving Image
If traditional museums aren't necessarily your children's thing, ACMI could be a great alternative.
The Australian Centre for the Moving Image is located at Federation Square and explores the world of film, television, gaming, animation and digital culture.
What makes ACMI particularly appealing for families is the interactive nature of many of its experiences. Children can explore how films are made, discover the history of screen culture and engage with technology and gaming.
It's also conveniently located at Federation Square, making it easy to combine ACMI with other attractions around the CBD.
The permanent exhibition, The Story of the Moving Image, is free to visit, while temporary exhibitions, events and special experiences may require tickets.
If your children love movies, gaming or technology, this is definitely one to consider adding to your Melbourne itinerary.
State Library of Victoria
The State Library of Victoria is one of Melbourne's most beautiful historic buildings and well worth adding to your itinerary.
You don't have to be a book lover to appreciate it. The spectacular La Trobe Reading Room, with its enormous domed ceiling, historic desks and rows of bookshelves, is one of the highlights.
For children, the architecture can feel almost like stepping into a movie set.
The library also hosts exhibitions and displays exploring Victoria's history and culture, giving families an opportunity to learn more about Melbourne beyond the usual tourist attractions.
General admission is free, although particular exhibitions, events or programs may have their own admission requirements.
Its central location also makes it easy to combine with Melbourne Central, the LEGO Store and other CBD attractions.
LEGO Store Melbourne
For LEGO fans, the LEGO Store at Melbourne Central is a fun addition to your Melbourne itinerary.
The store features an impressive range of LEGO products as well as large-scale displays and builds that are worth seeing even if you aren't planning to purchase anything.
Entry to the store is free, but this is obviously one attraction where your visit could become considerably more expensive if your children find something they want to take home!
It's a relatively quick stop, so we recommend combining it with other Melbourne Central attractions rather than planning an entire afternoon around it.
The Melbourne Central Clock
While you're exploring Melbourne Central, look up for the historic Melbourne Central Marionette Watch beneath the Shot Tower.
This colourful display is a fun little experience for families, particularly younger children.
The marionette display takes place every hour on the hour, with Australian birds and marionettes appearing as Waltzing Matilda plays.
Because it happens hourly, it's easy to work into your itinerary. You could visit the LEGO Store, grab something to eat and then time your visit to see the clock shortly before the next hour.
And there is no additional cost to watch the display.
It may only take a few minutes, but it's one of those unexpected little Melbourne experiences that children can really enjoy.
Melbourne's Performing Arts & Live Entertainment Scene
One of the things that makes Melbourne particularly exciting for families is that the city isn't just about permanent attractions.
Melbourne has a huge performing arts and entertainment scene, with events taking place throughout the year.
Depending on when you visit, you might find musicals, theatre productions, dance performances, circus shows, concerts, festivals and special family-friendly events.
During our trip, we happened to come across a circus performance, which gave us a completely different experience from visiting museums and galleries.
Live entertainment can range from free community events to ticketed productions and large-scale shows, so there are options for different interests and budgets.
Rather than planning your entire Melbourne itinerary months in advance, it's worth checking what's happening during your actual travel dates.
The What's On Melbourne website is a great place to find current performances, festivals, exhibitions, activities and events happening throughout the city.
You may even discover something you wouldn't have thought to include in your original itinerary.
Other Family Attractions Worth Exploring
The attractions above are just a starting point. Melbourne has a huge range of other family experiences depending on your children's ages and interests.
You could also look into:
🐨 Melbourne Zoo – a great option for animal lovers
🐧 SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium – particularly popular with younger children
🚂 Puffing Billy Railway – a memorable day trip outside the CBD
🔬 Scienceworks – interactive science and technology experiences
🏛️ Melbourne Museum – natural history, science and cultural exhibitions
🎢 Luna Park Melbourne – classic amusement park fun
🏖️ St Kilda – beach, Luna Park, cafes and the famous St Kilda penguins
🌳 Royal Botanic Gardens – beautiful gardens and plenty of space to explore
The best choices will depend on how long you're staying and the ages and interests of your children.
How to Plan a Family Day in Melbourne
One of the easiest ways to explore Melbourne with children is to group attractions that are close together.
For example, you could start at the State Library, walk to Melbourne Central for the LEGO Store and Marionette Watch, then continue towards Federation Square for ACMI.
From there, you can make your way towards the NGV before finishing the day with dinner and perhaps a live performance or another ticketed event.
You don't need to visit every attraction in one day.
In fact, trying to fit too much into your itinerary can make a family holiday feel exhausting. Instead, choose a couple of main attractions and leave some room for breaks, food and spontaneous discoveries.
Choosing the Right Attractions for Your Family
The best Melbourne attractions will depend heavily on your children's ages and personalities.
For younger children
Look for experiences that are visual and interactive, such as the NGV Children's Gallery, LEGO Store, Melbourne Central Clock, aquarium, zoo or family performances.
For school-aged children
ACMI, Melbourne Museum, Scienceworks and interactive exhibitions can be particularly engaging.
For older children and teenagers
The NGV, ACMI, live performances, shopping and Melbourne's broader cultural scene can offer plenty to explore.
And remember — you don't have to make every activity educational.
Some of the best family holidays combine learning, entertainment, food, sightseeing and simply having fun together.
Free or Paid — What's Worth It?
The great thing about Melbourne is that you can build your itinerary around a mixture of experiences.
There are plenty of attractions that you can visit without paying an admission fee, including the NGV's general collection, ACMI's permanent exhibition, the State Library and the Melbourne Central Marionette Watch.
Then there are paid attractions, special exhibitions and live performances that can add something completely different to your trip.
Rather than trying to make every activity free, we think it's worth choosing a few experiences that your family is genuinely excited about and then balancing them with Melbourne's excellent free attractions.
Sometimes the paid experience ends up being one of the most memorable parts of the trip.
Our Tips for Visiting Melbourne With Kids
1. Check what's happening during your travel dates.
Melbourne's exhibitions, festivals, performances and special events change regularly.
2. Mix free and paid experiences.
You don't need to choose one or the other. A combination gives you more variety and allows you to spend money on the experiences your family is most excited about.
3. Group attractions by location.
Melbourne's CBD is very walkable, so grouping nearby attractions can save time and make the day easier with children.
4. Don't overschedule.
Choose a few key attractions and leave time for meals, breaks and spontaneous discoveries.
5. Book popular experiences ahead of time.
For ticketed exhibitions, theatre shows, circus performances or other popular activities, check availability and book ahead when necessary.
6. Check official websites before visiting.
Opening hours, ticket prices, exhibitions and event schedules can change, especially during school holidays.
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A family friendly holiday
Melbourne is a wonderful city for a family holiday because there isn't just one type of experience on offer.
You can spend the morning discovering art at the NGV, let younger children explore the Children's Gallery, enjoy some outdoor play, explore the world of film and gaming at ACMI, discover the incredible architecture of the State Library, visit the LEGO Store, watch the Melbourne Central clock come to life and then finish the day at a live performance.
And that's only one possible combination.
Whether you're looking for free attractions, paid experiences or a mixture of both, Melbourne gives families plenty of options.
Our biggest recommendation is to look beyond the obvious tourist attractions and see what's happening in the city during your visit. With Melbourne's constantly changing exhibitions, family programs, festivals and performing arts scene, you may discover something completely unexpected that becomes one of your favourite memories.