What is there to do in Melbourne during the Melbourne International Comedy Festival?
Between shows, Melbourne has NGV International, State Library Victoria, Queen Victoria Market and Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, and five more picks across the city and around it. The NGV's home of international art and design, with Australian art at its second gallery, The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, in Fed Square.
NGV International
The NGV's home of international art and design, with Australian art at its second gallery, The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, in Fed Square. Both are free and open daily, 10am to 5pm; some special exhibitions charge entry.
State Library Victoria
Its La Trobe Reading Room opened in 1913: an octagonal room six storeys high under a dome, with rows of desks lit by green glass lamps. The Library is open daily, 10am to 6pm, and closed on Good Friday.
The La Trobe Reading Room ↗ · Opening hours ↗
Queen Victoria Market
Melbourne's market for farm-fresh produce, with open-air stalls for home, fashion and gifts, inside the Free Tram Zone. It trades Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 6am to 3pm, Saturday 6am to 4pm and Sunday 9am to 4pm; the specialty shops open at 9am.
Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne
Thirty-eight hectares on the edge of the CBD, holding more than 8,500 plant species from around the world. Free to enter, and open every day of the year.
MCG Tours, Melbourne Cricket Ground
A 75-minute guided tour behind the scenes at the MCG: the MCC Long Room, the players' change rooms and a walk along the boundary line. Tours leave Gate 3 regularly between 10am and 3pm. Book ahead: on event days tours may not run, or keep different hours.
ACMI
Melbourne's museum of film, TV, videogames and art, where The Story of the Moving Image is something you do as well as watch. Free entry, with some ticketed events; open daily, 10am to 5pm.
Shrine of Remembrance
The memorial on St Kilda Road, 1.3km from the city centre. Free, with no tickets needed; open daily, 10am to 5pm (last entry 4.30pm), and closed on Good Friday. Guided 45-minute walking tours leave the Visitor Centre every hour, except at 1pm.
Penguin Parade, Phillip Island
A day trip out of the city: little penguins come home across the beach at sunset every evening, watched from grandstands over Summerlands Beach. Phillip Island is about 90 minutes' drive from Melbourne. Bookings are essential, and no public bus runs back to Melbourne after the parade.
The Comics Lounge
Melbourne's home of live stand-up since 2000: a 400-seat room in North Melbourne with shows most nights and dinner from its kitchen. One more show on a night off the festival.
What's on ↗ · About the club ↗
Sources
- NGV International: ngv.vic.gov.au/plan-your-visit ↗
- State Library Victoria: slv.vic.gov.au/visit/our-magnificent-spaces/la-trobe-reading-room ↗
- Queen Victoria Market: qvm.com.au/visit-us ↗
- Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne: rbg.vic.gov.au/melbourne-gardens ↗
- MCG Tours, Melbourne Cricket Ground: mcg.org.au/australian-sports-museum-mcg-tours/tours-and-experiences/mcg-tours ↗
- ACMI: acmi.net.au/plan-your-visit ↗
- Shrine of Remembrance: shrine.org.au/plan-your-visit ↗
- Penguin Parade, Phillip Island: penguins.org.au/attractions/penguin-parade ↗
- The Comics Lounge: thecomicslounge.com.au/about ↗
More questions
- When is the Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2027?
- Where is the Melbourne International Comedy Festival held?
- How do I get from the airport to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival?
- What comedy festivals are in New Zealand?
Facts as of 16 October 2026. Festivals change their plans: confirm on the festival's own site before you book. Every question