Best Museums in Melbourne (2026)
Planning your next outing? These are 47 of the best museums in Melbourne right now, whether you're after a lazy weekend, a day with the kids or somewhere new to explore. We rank each one by our Spot Score and keep the list fresh, so you're always seeing what's actually worth your time.
Rain or shine, Melbourne's museums are a rewarding few hours — from natural history and science to local heritage. Many offer free general entry, with ticketed special exhibitions.
47 spots
ACMI
Noteworthy institution celebrating film, television and gaming with exhibits, screenings and events.
Royal Exhibition Building
Landmark 19th-century exhibition centre, topped with a dome, and set amid landscaped gardens.
Melbourne Museum
Modern building of an institution founded in 1854 containing dinosaur and regional history exhibits.
Australian Sports Museum
Museum featuring artifacts & interactive displays tracing the history of Australian sport.
IMAX Melbourne (Museums Victoria)
Movie theater chain known for presenting 3D films on a giant screen, including blockbusters.
Old Melbourne Gaol
Now a museum with self & guided tours, this storied tri-level jail once housed notorious inmates.
Old Treasury Building
A 19th-century building with a museum showcasing the history of Melbourne & Victoria.
Melbourne Tram Museum
Tourist Attractions in Richmond, Melbourne.
Heide Museum of Modern Art
Unique modern art museum with 3 galleries & 7 hectares of gardens with imaginative sculptures.
Children's Gallery (Melbourne Museum)
Tourist Attractions in Melbourne CBD, Melbourne.
Scienceworks (Museums Victoria)
Family-focused science & technology center featuring changing interactive exhibits & a planetarium.
Immigration Museum
Multimedia exhibits documenting the history of immigration in Australia, plus a gift shop.
Hellenic Museum
Museums in Melbourne CBD, Melbourne.
Fox Classic Car Collection
Museums in Docklands, Melbourne.
BODY WORLDS: The Anatomy of Happiness
Museums in Docklands, Melbourne.
TarraWarra Museum of Art
Exhibits of modern Australian art in an architecturally unique building next to a winery estate.
Footscray Community Arts
Tourist Attractions in Footscray, Melbourne.
Hawthorn Arts Centre
Tourist Attractions in Hawthorn, Melbourne.
Museums by suburb
Zoom in on the best museums in Melbourne's most popular neighbourhoods.
Museums guides for Melbourne
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Read guide →Museums in Melbourne — FAQs
What are the best museums in Melbourne?+
Our top-rated museums in Melbourne are ranked by our Spot Score, which combines Google ratings, review volume, category fit and how recently we verified the details. The highest scorers appear at the top of this page.
How is the Melbourne museums ranking decided?+
We blend independent signals — Google star ratings and review counts, popularity, the quality of available information and freshness — into a single Spot Score out of 100. It's an editorial score, not a paid placement.
Can I filter museums by suburb or price?+
Yes. Use the filters to narrow by suburb, minimum rating, price level, whether a place is open now, and features like dog-friendly or outdoor seating.
How many museums are listed in Melbourne?+
We currently feature 47 museums across Melbourne and surrounding suburbs, and we add and re-check venues regularly.