Guide to Melbourne's Queen Victoria Market for First Time Visitors

Queen Victoria Market is Melbourne's most iconic market. The market has over 140 years of history and is a popular destination to shop and dine in Melbourne CBD. 

Whatever you're looking for you're bound to find it with over 600 shops and stalls at Queen Victoria Market offering everything from artisan crafts to designer clothing. You can’t go wrong! 

If you're visiting Queen Victoria Market for the first time, or just looking to make the most of your visit, this guide is for you. 

If you want to buy fresh produce at the market, plan to arrive early. Keen shoppers are out and about first thing in the morning and the market can become very busy. 

Queen Victoria Market is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. The general trading hours vary by day, but it typically operates from 6am to 3pm on weekdays and 9am to 4pm on weekends. You'll find Queen Victoria Market located on the corner of Queen Street and Victoria Street in Melbourne’s CBD. 

When visiting Queen Victoria Market you have multiple options for getting there. If you're driving, parking is available in both undercover and open-air areas accessible from Queen Street. It's a good idea to arrive early so you can find a parking space. 

Cyclists and scooter riders can take advantage of free parking around the market, with bike lanes running along Royal Parade and Victoria Street. 

Public transport is also convenient. Several tram routes (19, 57, 58, and 59) stop right outside the market, and both Melbourne Central and Flagstaff train stations are just a short walk away. If you're coming from Southern Cross station via a regional train or airport shuttle, the market is a 15-20 minute walk. 

If you're visiting Melbourne from a cruise ship, you can take tram route 109 from Station Pier and transfer to one of the routes that stop directly outside the market. 

Start your day in the food market section of Queen Victoria Market before moving on to the other market stalls. 

Merchants carry a range of fresh, quality produce and specialty shopping suitable for everyone. If you're into gourmet cheese and gourmet meats, the delis and butchers should top your list of places to check out. Your next stop? The nearby artisanal bread! 

If you're looking to dine while at the markets, you'll find plenty of stalls with ready-to-eat food and drink including herbal teas, smoothies, yogurt cups, and hearty soups. 

There's plenty to eat and drink while visiting Queen Victoria Market: coffee, pancakes, noodles, kebabs, and a whole lot more.  

Love chocoalate? Don't miss Koko Black. A popular spot, located in the Dairy Produce Hall, offering premium truffles and chocolates. 

The Land of Soy and Honey is another great stall to stop by. It specialises in Manuka honey, a New Zealand product famed for its antibacterial properties and healing abilities.  

Phat Fried Ice Cream is a must-visit stall if you have a sweet tooth. Here you can enjoy deep-fried, flavoured balls of ice cream.  

And if you're after something savoury? You're well looked after too with plenty of food stalls offering tasty options for lunch. 

Next, turn your attention to locally made goods and specialty shops. If you're visiting Melbourne, in this section of the market you'll find plenty of great souvenir ideas. Queen Victoria Market has lots of stalls selling gifts, from handmade jewellery to gourmet food hampers. 

A few ideas to get you started: Books for Cooks is an award-winning store in the market selling more than 40,000 new and vintage recipe guides for keen chefs. It’s ideal when shopping for foodies. Nearby Art N Groove offers photography prints from around the globe, suitable for art lovers.  

If you're looking for something a little different, check out Number-Plates-4-Fun. This stand sells funky fake personalised number plates with humourous sayings. 

With so many unique products on offer and so much variety among the traders, you could spend hours exploring these market stalls. We recommend putting aside at least a couple of hours so you can take your time browsing. You never know what you might find! 

Queen Victoria Market in Melbourne is more than a shopping destination: it’s also somewhere worth exploring in its own right. Plus, you’re less likely to miss anything when you go with a guide.  

The market offers a guided experience called The Ultimate Foodie Tour, where you'll spend a couple of hours discovering some of the best food stalls at Queen Victoria Market. 

The night markets at Queen Victoria Market are seasonal events that run at various time throughout the year. Themes, vendors, and entertainment varies but one thing is always guaranteed and that's a good time! To find out when the next Night Markets are happening, be sure to check the dedicated website for the Queen Victoria Market's Night Markets. 

You might like to time your visit to Queen Victoria Market to take advantage of one of the market’s many events. Some of these events are regular fixtures while others are seasonal.  

The Melbourne Book Market should be at the top of your list of priorities. This runs every Saturday and Sunday in C-D-E Sheds (Peel Street End), introducing thousands of new and pre-loved titles.  

There’s also the Kids Passport tour that runs frequently (similar to the foodie tour mentioned above) and is suitable for the whole family. Guides make the market interesting for young children and provide activities for them to enjoy along the way.  

Staying at a hotel near Queen Victoria Market is a convenient way to ensure you can arrive bright and early to beat the crowds. With these Melbourne hotels you can get to the markets in under five minutes. 

Novotel Melbourne Central is located in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD, close to trams, and within walking distance from the central shopping areas including Queen Victoria Market. Novotel Melbourne Central has comfortable guest rooms and a great onsite dining at Pretty Boy Bar & Restaurant. 

If you're looking for budget-friendly Melbourne accommodation, be sure to check out the ibis Melbourne Central. This Melbourne hotel offers guest rooms with ensuite bathrooms, air conditioning, and a small refrigerator for refreshments (like whatever goodies you pick up while at Queen Victoria Market!). ibis Melbourne Central is centrally located so you can easily make your way back to your accommodation after a day out shopping at the markets and discovering the city. 

Looking for more Melbourne accommodation options? Whether you're after a luxury hotel, an apartment style stay, or something in between, you have plenty of great hotels to choose from when visiting Melbourne. 

We hope you're now feeling well positioned to enjoy a day out at Queen Victoria Market in Melbourne. Want to continue planning your time in Melbourne? You can also incorporate a trip to other Melbourne markets to discover even more of what Melbourne has to offer from vintage goods, to arts, and locally produced goods.