Melbourne

The state capital of Victoria, Melbourne is a city that marches to the beat of its own drum. The city has always been a diverse haven, with a distinctly liberal, bohemian and artsy ethos that has spawned a local culture with few rivals. The city has long been at the forefront of Australia's booming culinary scene, its inner-city bylanes and alleys the abode of specialty coffee roasters, hip bars, eccentric speakeasies and world-class eateries. From Vietnamese food in Richmond and Balaclava's Jewish bakeries to Footscray's African delicacies and Chinatown's Pan-Asian cuisines, Melbourne boasts a voracious appetite for world cultures, especially the culinary kind. Street art in Melbourne runs the gamut from subversive miniatures tucked into unexpected corners to larger-than-life murals that dominate the scene with their colorful visage. You don't need to visit a gallery to experience Melbourne's art scene, although there are plenty of those too. Historic facades intermingle with skyscrapers and Art Deco wonders, while its neighborhoods harbour a multicultural vibe. The city's passion for sports is another of its defining features, the birthplace of Australian Rules Football and home to several arenas of national repute including the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Coupled with cultural mammoths like the National Gallery of Victoria and the Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne is the veritable cultural capital of Australia.