Bourke Street Mall

Melbourne's shopping district is home to big department stores and intimate, chic boutiques, all housed in beautifully preserved historical buildings.

Bourke Street Mall can be found between Elizabeth Street and Swanston Street, in the bustling heart of central Melbourne, and attracts local and visiting shoppers alike. Pedestrians and trams share the space, with no traffic permitted on the street, making it an ideal location for the wide variety of street performers who can always be found entertaining the crowds here.The huge diversity of retail options available requires time to explore properly – the dedicated shopper should set aside a full day. If you're not sure where to go, the Melbourne Visitor Booth (located on the mall) will be happy to direct you and provide you with maps.Big department stores share the space with more intimate, designer boutiques, and there's plenty to cater for the high-street brand-seeker, including David Jones and Myer. For the bargain-hunter, there are lots of independent shops to be found in small arcades and just off the main stretch.The old-fashioned grandeur of the Royal Arcade and the Melbourne General Post Office are well-worth a visit, even if you don't like shopping. They're home to small restaurants and fashionable boutiques, housed in beautiful 19th-century style.A favourite pastime for locals is to grab a coffee on the terrace outside the post office, and watch the world go by. And this is also one of the best places to see the music, dance, acrobatics, art and much more served up daily by the unrivalled Melbourne street performers on the mall. This is where all the top performers come to display their talents, and the shows are first-class as a result.Bourke Street Mall is to be found in Melbourne city centre, a 10-minute walk from central Flinders Street Station, and is well-serviced by the city's famous tram network.