Culture Capital Free Walking Tour

3pm, click ‘Join a tour’ to find out what days we walk 

Explore hidden lanes & arcades

Join your local guide as we leave the beaten path behind. We’ll uncover the secrets behind Melbourne’s famous culture as we take you through some of the best hidden laneways, arcades and architecture to discover the local and alternative side to Melbourne.

From world class coffee to breathtaking street art, we’ll get to the heart of Melburnian identity and discover how Melbourne’s smallest streets became its biggest attraction.

What we'll cover

– Diverse Street Art

– Coffee Culture

– Old and New Architecture

– Laneway Transformation and Planning

– Hidden Bar Culture

– Live Music Scene

– Indigenous Culture

– Multicultural Influences

– Protests & Entrepreneurs

– Environmental initiatives

– Melbourne Town Hall

– General Post Office

– Australian Rules Football

– Presgrave Place

– Postal Lane

– Union Lane

– Manchester Unity Building

– AC/DC Lane

– Coromandel Lane

– Caledonian Lane

– Russell Place

– Rainbow Alley

– Drewery Lane

Join a tour

Please note: We aren’t able to accept groups of 10+ or school / tertiary education groups of any size on the free tours. Instead we offer Private Tours. Separate registration of large groups will not be accepted on the day as it affects the tour for everyone else.

Happy snaps

How are we free?

Our tours are offered on a “pay what you think it’s worth”  model so people of any budget are able to turn up and enjoy the tour and discover and learn about our great city.

Join a Tour

Please note: We aren’t able to accept groups of 10+ or school / tertiary education groups of any size on the free tours. Instead we offer Private Tours. Separate registration of large groups will not be accepted on the day as it affects the tour for everyone else.

At I'm Free we're all about

100% Local Melburnian guides

All I’m Free guides are experienced and knowledgeable locals who are excited to show you around their hometown.

100% Independent advice

We’re all about being real! Each of us will share with you our honest, local advice about where to explore, eat or drink. We are never paid to promote or advertise to you.

Interesting stories

We will share with you the unique and quirky stories of our city as well as the history behind our main attractions.

Recommended by

Reviews

We like to think we have culture, but don’t take our word for it, have a look at what others think.

Where to Meet

FAQs

Yes, we require bookings so that we can manage numbers and guide availability.

Unfortunately, no. Due to a limitation on the numbers on one tour at the moment it would mean other participants wouldn’t be able to join. Instead we can organise a private tour for you, so flick us an email and we can talk.

Nope. Not due to weather, we walk rain, hail or shine, and that’s saying something in Melbourne!

 

We do however, take the current health situation very seriously. In the unlikely event that your guide is at all unwell before the tour and we can’t replace the guide at short notice we may have reschedule. Equally if you’re not feeling well please let us know and we’ll be happy to reschedule your booking to another time when you’re feeling 100%.

The ‘Culture Capital’ tour start point is outside the State Library Victoria (328 Swanston St) next to the Sir Redmond Barry statue. It is in the heart of the CBD (central business district) and Melbourne Central train station is across the road from our start point. All train lines in Melbourne stop at Melbourne Central Station. Click here for Google Maps directions.
The ‘Culture Capital’ tour ends at ACDC Lane. A short walk from Flinders Street Station and Federation Square.

Thank you for thinking of us. Yes we can accept, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB and eftpos cards as well as Apple Pay, Google Pay & Samsung Pay. 

Cards accepted: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover

Yes. The ‘Culture Capital’ tour is accessible to both pram and wheelchairs.

Yes! The Melbourne Sight’s tour ends an easy 12 minute tram ride from the Start point of the Culture Capital tour. Click here for a Google Maps directions.

It is a walking tour. This tour is about 2.5km (1.5 miles) in total and we walk at a leisurely pace, stopping to speak at regular intervals along the way.

Our tours are designed to be suitable for people of all ages. Over the years we have toured a wide variety of audiences of all ages and backgrounds including many families and children.

Currently we only offer tours in English.

It can be tricky to find the group once they are under way.

 

That said we give 5 minutes for people to turn up late and then are at the start point for a few minutes after that.

 

From there we walk west (right) along Little Lonsdale St and then south (left) at the first laneway, Drewery Lane. From there we continue into Caledonian lane, then West (right) along Little Bourke and south (left) through postal lane into Bourke St Mall.

Thank you for thinking of others to create spaces for them to join.

 

If you need to cancel or change the date of your booking there is a link in your confirmation email that allows you to do that. 

 

If you need to change the number of people in your booking get in touch and we can adjust it for you.

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