Melbourne, to put it simply, is an incredible place. Of all the places I visited when I was in Australia, Melbourne has stuck with me the most. Yes, I saw some amazing sights, places that I would visit again in a heart-beat, but something about the culture and casual hustle of Melbourne's city has left such a lasting impression on me that even years since I left, I still think about going back daily.

From beautiful street-art and idyllic coffee shops to trams and towering structures; from people of all different varieties to lakes and beaches, Melbourne offers it all. No matter what you like or what you look for in a travel destination, there is something for everyone!

The best way to truly experience Melbourne is just to wander - find yourself lost down gorgeous alleys with cafes and vintage clothes shop, catch a tram to a completely new place, wander for hours and finally check a map when it's time for you to return to your hostel. However, if you have only a limited time to discover Melbourne, here are my top nine places that I think everyone must visit (whether you're on a budget or not).

David Hockney exhibition, National Gallery of Victoria

1: National Gallery of Victoria (NGV)
I visited the NGV so many times in the weeks that I spent Melbourne; it is such a well constructed and incredible art gallery. Situated right next to the river and Flinders Street Station, just outside the free tram zone (but an easy five minute walk outside) it makes the perfect day out.
First off, the majority of the exhibitions are free so you can't really go wrong. The permanent galleries date as far back as the Egyptians and come all the way through to modern day art.
Not only this but they are ever changing the guest exhibitions. In the short time I was there I saw a David Hockney exhibition (this one was not free, but definitely worth the dollars) and an amazing photography exhibition. You could easily spend three hours there (which admittedly I did at least twice) and it costs you nothing at all, whilst experiencing so many different art pieces and cultures.

State Library Victoria central room

2: State Library Victoria (SLV)
This may seem like a bit of a weird one, who wants to visit a library on a trip right? Well, the SLV is gorgeous and definitely worth the visit. The centre of the library is a dome and you can walk all the way round where there are galleries on several of the floors displaying old books, art, you name it. Plus, the view from these balconies looking into the centre is definitely worth it. Sat right next to a tram line, it is really accessible and entry is free so it is a great addition to any day out.

3: St Kilda Beach
If staying inside looking at art isn't your thing then the next few things might tickle your fancy.
One of my absolute favourite places in Melbourne was St Kilda beach. Not only is it a great place to visit during the day, sit on the beach and work on your tan on a nice day, it is also incredible at night.
St Kilda beach is the home of Fairy Penguins (which you can also see if you take a day trip to Phillip Island). At night they come out of the rocks and you can see them sitting or running around. Just walk to the end of the boardwalk shortly after sunset (or, even better, watch the sunset beforehand) and the penguins will undoubtedly appear. Once again this free and you get to see the amazing penguins at the same time.

Luna Park at St Kilda Beach, Melbourne

4: Luna Park
This goes hand in hand with St Kilda being situated at the beach, but it's a whole other adventure. For a cheap price you can experience the joy and magic of the world inside. Even just the view of the outside is a sight to behold, so you be disappointed by venturing inside.

5: Parks, parks, parks
Melbourne is home to an incredible amount of greenery for such a big city, you're bound to stumble upon numerous ones, but I'll share my favourites.

Albert Park: a massive park with a beautiful lake in the middle. The Grand Prix often takes place there, and is doing so this year, which puts into context how large the park actually is. You could walk around all day and barely cover the whole thing. The views are incredible and it is very peaceful and idyllic.

The parks either side of the Yarra river at Flinder's Street station are another obvious choice. You can't really beat sitting by the river as people ride past on boats, either reading a book or enjoying the sun.

I spent a lot of my time at Flagstaff Gardens, just off the back of the markets. Another busy park but still perfect for throwing about a frisbee or just relaxing, and being just by the markets means you can easily make it into a day trip.

Finally, this one is a bit further out but if you want to venture outside the centre of Melbourne and also see some Kangaroos while you're at it then check out Westerfolds Park. Easily accessible by car, bus or a combination of bus and train, it only takes about an hour to get there and is well worth it to see the wild kangaroos, especially if you're there around dusk.

6: Queen Victoria Markets
Open all week except for Monday and Wednesday, the markets are a great place to shop for locally made gifts and experience different cuisines. It is easily accessible by tram and perfect for a day out. Not only this but they have seasonal night markets on Wednesday evenings, which if you are there for those, they are something else altogether. A smaller selection of stalls but so worth it to experience Melbourne at night and get some souvenirs while you are at it.

Hosier Lane street art

7: Hosier Lane
There are so many different lanes filled with street art that you could check out, and I highly recommend just losing yourself down the endless alleys because you never know what amazing art you might find. But if you are short on time, a guaranteed winner, and the most commonly known street, is Hosier Lane. The street art there is ever changing but always incredible. Take a camera with you and see what is there that day.

Federation Square railway station

8: Federation Square
This goes without saying really, and you'll most likely find yourself here just exploring the many other places that I have mentioned, but it is worth spending some time there and not just passing through. Sit on the steps and take in the hustle and bustle of Melbourne. There is often music and performances taking place, and even if there isn't you can take in the beautiful architecture. A common tourist destination, but for good reason.

9: Suburbs
If you fancy escaping all the excitement in the CBD then hop on a tram and head over to one of the many suburbs of Melbourne. You really can't go wrong with where you choose but here are some of my favourites, all home to incredible independent cafes and shops and beautiful architecture: Balaclava, Southbank, St Kilda, Fitzroy, Brunswick, and Carlton. With the easy accessibility of trams and trains, just top up your myki card and no place is too far to check out.

This barely scratches the surface of all the amazing sights Melbourne has to offer and if you can I definitely recommend spending a week or even more here, there is so much to do here that you won't find yourself bored.

If you are visiting Melbourne sometime in the future, or you have recently, let me know where you visited and how you found it (if only so I can cry in envy because I'm not there!)