Melbourne Collins Street & Little Collins Street

Lined with designer stores in heritage buildings, five-star hotels, private clubs and exclusive jewellers, Collins Street is Melbourne's centre of style and glamour. The home of the city's most exclusive fashion houses is also a bustling commercial centre and the address for the Melbourne stock exchange.

Haute and hip
Head up to the 'Paris End' of Collins and visit the flagship stores of Chanel, Giorgio Armani, Tiffany & Co, and Louis Vuitton, or for more relaxed shopping stroll west where bustling retail centres like two3four and Australia on Collins house many chain and concept stores. The less mainstream customer can find everything from haute couture and hip culture to clothes by Melbourne's most interesting designers on Little Collins Street and Howey Place. If you're after menswear, head to the stretch between Swanston and Russell streets where options abound.

Cocktails and revelry
After a long day on your feet shopping, stop for a drink in one of the many hidden bars on Collins and Little Collins. Sip cocktails at Hairy Canary, have a G&T at the Gin Palace, or for late night revelry walk to the top of the hill and catch a band at the infamous Pony Bar.

Tales of the city
Hear how Melbourne developed into what you see today at The City Museum at the Old Treasury, one of Australia's finest 19th century buildings at the top end of Collins Street.

How to get there
By tram: Any tram along Swanston and Elizabeth streets to Collins Street; the free City Circle Tram to the corner of Spring and Collins streets or the corner of Spencer and Collins streets.

Free Melbourne City Tourist Shuttle: Stop 4. The complete trip includes in 13 stops and takes approximately an hour and a half. The bus runs every 30 minutes between 9.30am and 4.30pm daily (excluding Good Friday and Christmas Day) and includes an on-board commentary.

By foot: One to one and half blocks north from Federation Square (about 3 minutes).