Vivir en Melbourne, Australia

Melbourne

The best city in the world

Melbourne, centro cultural y gastronómico y capital del estado de Victoria, catalogada como una de las mejores ciudades para vivir, demuestra su amor por el arte y la cultura albergando una gran cantidad de galerías, museos, teatros y festivales durante todo el año. El deporte también forma parte de su ADN. Si quieres estudiar y vivir en la ciudad más europea de Australia, ¡sigue leyendo!

Known asthe art capital of Australia, Melbourne offers a very rich and varied cultural life, with a variety of sporting events, concerts, exhibitions, plays and gastronomy. If you decide to live in Melbourne, you will find an environment of leisure and culture that you will hardly be able to find in other Australian cities... not even in many European ones!

The pros and cons of living in Melbourne

The good thing about living in Melbourne:

• You can enjoy your favorite sport whenever and wherever you want.
• You will witness countless events of international importance, such as the Moto GP Grand Prix, the Australian Open, the Melbourne Cup, among others.
• You will never finish discovering all the restaurants and entertainment venues from countless different cultures that this city has prepared for you.
• Beach? The best beaches in Australia will be just a step away from you.
• El tranvía y los buses son gratuitos en el centro de la ciudad. ¡Cuenta con uno de los mejores sistemas de transporte del país!
• It is the second largest city in Australia and has been named the best city  of the world for seven consecutive years by The Economist magazine.There must be a reason!
• One of the best advantages of living in Melbourne is the large number of places to practice outdoor sports. In addition, you will enjoy a very varied cultural life. It is the ideal place in Australia for those people who want to forget about routine and live a full experience. What we call life!
• In most Melbourne suburbs you will find film and music festivals, parties of all cultures, art exhibitions, theater, concerts, bars with live music, cafes, street artists and nightclubs with a wide variety of musical styles.

Some small – very small – drawbacks of the city:

• The famous phrase "four seasons in one day" is true. The weather in the city is sometimes truly crazy, and winters are usually colder than in other cities. A coat, and that's it!
• The rental prices They tend to be a little higher than in other cities. It's normal... Everyone wants to enjoy this city!
• It brings together quite a few tourists every year. Therefore, sometimes, depending on the areas, there may be a lot of people.
• It has no surfing beach, the waves are an hour south of Melbourne. There you will find Bells Beach, a world-renowned surfer beach.

Where exactly is Melbourne located?

To begin with, Melbourne is located in the state of Victoria, in the southeast of the country. It was founded less than 200 years ago, but it has been growing unstoppably with the various waves of immigrants, especially after the Second World War.

It is a city in constant movement, but capable of balancing the hustle and bustle of the center with the tranquility of the suburbs and parks. It also has beaches where you can walk, spend the day, or see dwarf penguins every afternoon when the sun sets!

In addition, this cosmopolitan city has a wide range of nationalities, so the fact Being a foreigner will not mean, in the least, receiving different treatment. On the contrary! There will be no shortage of people who will ask you where you are from, ask you to tell them things about your country... In this city, you will be more than welcome!

What is the weather in Melbourne like?

As we have said, the Four Seasons in One Day are a reality in Melbourne. The changing climate of the city can throw you off when you get ready to get dressed in the morning. If your question is how to survive in Melbourne with this weather, don't worry, keep reading.

If you are already starting to pack your bags, don't rule out a raincoat and that hand umbrella that fits in any pocket, because be it summer or winter , you're going to need it.

In the cold months, the day usually starts out cloudy and cold (it's important to bring a jacket) and then the sky begins to clear... or not. The truth is that it is completely unpredictable. Although one thing that does not usually fail is the rain and the drop in temperatures.

Anyway, after a few days in the city you will end up getting used to this crazy climate. And whoever says getting used to it, says forgetting you. It's easy to do with all the things you'll be enjoying!

How to get around Melbourne?

Es transporte en Melbourne es uno de los mejores del país. Cuenta con tren, tranvía y autobuses que te llevan a todos los suburbios de Melbourne. Todos ellos con buena frecuencia y buenas conexiones. Además, el centro de la ciudad cuenta con una zona en la que el tranvía es gratuito (free tram zone). Si vives en el centro y estudias y trabajas aquí, te ahorrarás mucho dinero.

Para desplazarte en transporte público por Melbourne debes tener la Myki Card obligatoriamente. La puedes comprar en cualquier estación y cuesta 6 AUD. No está mal, ¿no?

La tarifa de un día, siempre y cuando sea entre semana, es de 9,20 AUD (zona 1 y zona 2) o 6,20 AUD (zona 2) y tan solo eso, da igual los viajes que hagas. Durante el fin de semana el transporte te costará 3 AUD por viaje, pero la cantidad máxima que pagarás será de 6,70 AUD.

Por otro lado, también existe la Myki Card – Money. Con esta tarjeta puedes recargar la Myki por semanas o incluso meses. Si vas a usar continuamente el transporte público, esta es tu mejor opción. Lo más usual es recargarla cada 28 días y el precio actual es de 155 AUD, aproximadamente.

How to get from the airport to the center of Melbourne?

You are about to arrive in Melbourne. You've been through months of paperwork, you already have your visa, your ticket, your suitcase but you just realized that you don't know how to get to the center of Melbourne from the airport.Don't panic!You have several options: the most used, the cheapest or the most comfortable.

• La más utilizada: lo más común para llegar al centro de la ciudad desde el aeropuerto es utilizar el Skybus. Funciona 24 horas al día los 7 días de la semana, así que da igual cuándo aterrices porque siempre habrá uno. Durante el día, su frecuencia es cada 10 minutos desde las terminales 1,3 y 4, así que no tendrás que esperar mucho a por el siguiente. Una vez en él, te llevará a la estación de Southern Cross en unos 20 minutos. El ticket cuesta 22 dólares australianos solo la ida y tienen precios especiales para familias. Si sois un grupo de al menos cuatro personas os descontarán dos dólares en el billete a cada uno.
• La más barata: si quieres ahorrar nada más llegar a Melbourne ármate de paciencia porque este trayecto te llevará un ratito e incluye transbordo. Necesitas hacerte una Myki Card que es la tarjeta para viajar en transportes públicos en Melbourne. Te costará 6 AUD hacerla, pero la podrás usar para el resto de tu estancia. La puedes comprar en las taquillas del Skybus en el aeropuerto o incluso a bordo, pero te recomiendo que optes por la primera opción para evitar problemas. Una vez con ella, te vas a por el bus número 901, que te llevará hasta Boadmeadows. El trayecto te llevará unos 20 minutos. Allí, vas a por el tren que te llevará hasta la estación de Southern Cross en otros 40 minutos. Una hora de viaje por 3,9 dólares australianos.
• The most comfortable: the taxi is, without a doubt, the most comfortable way to get to the center but, inevitably, it is the most expensive. The price is around 60 Australian dollars and it can take about 20 minutes. It is an option to take into account if there is more than one of you traveling or if your destination is not the center of the city.

The best neighborhoods to live in Melbourne

¿Cuáles son las mejores zonas para vivir en Melbourne? ¡Tienes muchísimas opciones! A continuación, te presentamos una recopilación de los mejores barrios en Melbourne:

• The center or CBD: you will find the neighborhoods of Fitzroy, Brunswick, North Melbourne, South Yarra, Cartlon, Collingwood, Southbank and St Kilda. These are the most sought-after neighborhoods in the city, so rental prices are much more expensive compared to the rest of the areas. However, you have facilities such as public transport or the comfort of living near the heart of Melbourne. A single room in a shared apartment will cost you between 250-350 AUD and a shared room in a shared apartment between 110-190 AUD.
• The east: Hawthorn, Camberwell, Malvern, Ausburton, Caufield, Prahran, Kew and Toorak. These neighborhoods are suburbs of Melbourne's east side. Despite not being really far from the city, they have a quiet and cozy atmosphere. Surrounded by green areas and full of bike-trails, these neighborhoods are also well connected to the center. These areas are usually populated by well-off people, so room prices are also usually a little higher.The single room in a shared apartment will cost youbetween 200-300 AUD and a shared room in a shared apartment between 110-190 AUD.
• The West: Maidstone, Footscray, Yarraville and Moonee Ponds. In these areas the rental price is noticeably lower. Even so, they are neighborhoods that we do not recommend. To live the Melbourne experience to the fullest, we consider that it is better to invest in other areas to make the most of it. A single room in a shared apartment will cost you between 170-230 AUD and a shared room in a shared apartment between 90-130AUD.
• The northern neighborhoods: Coburg, Preston, Reservoir, Thornbury and Northcote. These neighborhoods are much further from the center, but have much more affordable prices and a quiet and welcoming atmosphere. The options for getting a comfortable home are much more common. They are highly recommended neighborhoods to live your adventure! A single room in a shared apartment will cost you between 190-260 AUD and a shared room in a shared apartment between 100-150 AUD.

Find out about the best events in Melbourne

Another reason to choose to live in Melbourne is the large number of festivals and events that take place throughout the year.We have made a compilation of the best events so that you do not lose details of what happens in your new city:

• Enero: Australian Open Tennis. Es el primero de los cuatro torneos que forman el Grand Slam de tenis. Tiene lugar en el complejo deportivo situado en Melbourne Park y atrae no solo la mirada de todos los habitantes de la ciudad, sino del país… ¡y del mundo entero! Además, en las afueras del estadio, ponen pantallas gigantes para poder disfrutarlo de una forma mucho más económica. ¿Te apuntas a verlo?
• Febrero: White Night Melbourne. La primera edición de este festival fue el 23 de febrero de 2013. Desde las 7 pm hasta las 7 am de la mañana siguiente, actividades relacionadas con la música, la danza o espectáculo de luces se adueñan del evento.
• Marzo: Moomba Festival. Moomba es un festival Se celebra durante cuatro días y normalmente tiene lugar el Labour Day (Día del trabajador). En este evento todo el mundo se disfraza y la música se adueña de la ciudad.
• Abril: Melbourne Food and Wine Festival: es un evento que se celebra para promover la cultura de la comida y el vino de Melbourne y Victoria. Este evento sin ánimo de lucro es digno de cualquier amante de la mejor gastronomía.
• May: Good Beer Week: is Australia's largest beer event. In just seven years, Luna has grown from a small initiative to a festival made up of over 300 diverse and innovative events across Melbourne and Victoria.
• June: Melbourne International Jazz Festival: is an annual jazz music festival first held in 1998. The festival takes place in concert halls, art halls, jazz clubs and on the streets of Melbourne.
• Julio: Open House Melbourne: es un evento artístico y cultural que abre las puertas de muchos de los edificios de la ciudad. Este evento anual se celebra el último fin de semana de julio desde 2008.
• August: Melbourne International Film Festival: is an annual film festival held for three weeks in the city. It began in 1952 and is currently one of the oldest and most prestigious film festivals in the world.
• September: AFL Grand Final:The AFL Grand Final is an annual football match traditionally held on the last Saturday in September or the first Saturday in October at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne.
• October: Melbourne Marathon: The Melbourne Marathon has been held every year since 1978. The 195 kilometer route has become one of the must-see events for running lovers.
• Noviembre: Melbourne Cup Carnival: es la carrera de caballos de pura sangre de Australia más prestigiosa. Celebrada en el Hipódromo de Flemington en Melbourne, es motivo de celebración en el país. De hecho, en cualquier esquina de Australia, la gente se pone sus mejores galas y va a algún bar a disfrutar de la carrera y seguramente de una que otra cerveza. ¡Este día nadie trabaja!
• December: Christmas Festival:The annual Christmas festival transforms the city into a magical place and celebrates the spirit of Christmas in true Melbourne style.

Mistakes to avoid in Melbourne

• No hurry, but no pause. As soon as you see a room you really like, fits your budget and your needs, go for it! There are always several people interested in it and waiting to compare with others will make you lose the opportunity to opt for it.
• Pay your transport ticket. If you risk not carrying a ticket, the fines can be quite high. And the Australians are not messing around. They are in uniform, but also dressed in street clothes, so doing things right will save you a good scare and a few dollars.
• Coming with little savings... bad!You may be lucky enough and find a job during the first month, but sometimes it takes several months and can become desperate. With the savings you can feel calm until you find it.

What to visit in Melbourne

We know that you love to travel and discover new places, that's why we have made a list so you know what to visit in Melbourne.

• Botanic Gardens: puedes dar un paseo por estos jardines tan famosos y observar toda la fauna, acompañada de miles de plantas diferentes, flores y árboles.
• Bath Boxes on Middle Brighton beach: colors and more colors! The well-known bath houses in Brighton have been around since 1862 and are wonderful.
• The Street of Changing Graffiti: Located on Hosier Lane, near Fed Square. You will be able to observe how the art of this city changes rapidly.
• Melbourne Museum: is a museum of natural and cultural history located in Carlton Gardens and is the largest museum in the southern hemisphere.
• State Library Of Victoria: The library has more than 2 million books and 16,000 serial publications, including the folios of Captain James Cook, R.N.
• Puffing Billy Railway: located in Belgrave. It is the inland terminus of the famous “Puffin Billy” Heritage Steam Railway.
• Wilsons Promontory: known locally as “The Prom”. It contains the largest coastal wilderness area in Victoria.
• Great Ocean Road: national heritage. 243 kilometers from the road between Torquay and Allansford.
• The Grampians: parque nacional. Se encuentra a 235 kilómetros al oeste de Melbourne, repleto de montes increíbles de roca arenisca.
• Phillip Island: Australian island, about 140 kilometers southeast of Melbourne. It forms a natural breakwater through the waters of the Western Port.