A guide to shopping in Melbourne

We break down some of the best shopping destinations in Victoria's capital.

One of the most popular shopping hubs in the city, Bourke Street Mall is buzzing with locals and tourists rushing from shop to shop buying from some of the country's biggest brands. Fashion giants Myer and David Jones have massive stores here both with eateries inside so you can take a break from shopping and have a treat without having to leave the store. Other brands calling the mall home include popular Spanish brand Zara, Cue, Roger David and Forever New to name a few. Bourke Street Mall also has off-shooting arcades and blocks that are well worth. Trading hours differ from store to store so be sure to check individual store for their opening hours online.

Accessed via Bourke Street Mall, Melbourne's GPO is a former post office turned shopping hub. A small yet worthwhile shopping arcade, Melbourne's GPO features a number of shops and boutiques including the popular international clothing brand H&M as well as local businesses Larson Jewellery and Absolutely Altered and Tailored as well as Alto Events Space which is often hired out for private functions.

One of the most iconic shopping destinations, The Block Arcade is a heritage listed building located in the CBD. The Arcade itself is something to admire with mosaic tile flooring and a glass canopy, it's 19th-century design and decoration is quite impressive. In terms of shops, you'll find a number of popular and boutique retailers including Crabtree & Evelyn, Wittner Shoes, Australian By Design and Haigh's Chocolates.

Known for the busy train station, Melbourne Central is a shopping and food mecca with a number of popular stores under the one roof. Fashion and accessory stores include Bardot, Colette, Converse, Country Road, Foot Locker, Gap, Mimco, Nike, RM Williams and Rebel Sports to name a few. Beauty stores include MAC, Sephora, Napoleon Perdis, Priceline and Mecca Maxima. In terms of entertainment, you'll also find Hoyts Cinema and Strike Bowling Bar in the centre. You can easily get to Melbourne Central with public transport or you can park in the centre for a price.

QV is one of the most popular precincts in Melbourne CBD for business and shopping. Located on the corner of Lonsdale Street and Swanston Street in the CBD< QV houses a range of speciality and retail stores including Big W, Dan Murphy's, Officeworks, Woolworths, and more. With more than 120 stores, you'll be able to do almost all of your shopping in the one convenient place.

Another small arcade off Bourke Street, Target Centre is home to a number of shops including Target, City Chic, Novo Shoes, Creelmans Pharmacy, Vintage Cellars and Mister Minit. Located across Swanston Street on Bourke Street, Target Centre is easy to find and navigate. There are multiple parking lots located in close proximity to Target Centre.

Focusing on high-end shopping with a number of international brands opening their doors. The Emporium is connected to Melbourne Central, Myer and David Jones making travelling to each of the different shops and hubs as easy as can be. If you're looking for some of the more elite, designer brands outside of the two department stores then this is the destination for you. Here you'll find Armani Exchange, Calvin Klein, Camilla and Marc, Carla Zampatti, Kate Spade, Dion Lee, Lacoste, Michael Kors, Rodd and Gunn, Scanlan Theodore and White Suede to name a few. There is no parking in the actual centre, however, there are a number of parking lots close by.

As the name suggests, this is boutique shopping located in the heart of the city on Collins Street. Home to a small collection of boutique fashion, beauty and speciality stores you will find Dymocks taking up the first floor, and fashion stores Mollini, Saba and Indigo. You can get to the centre by train or tram or park in a nearby parking lot for a cost.

Combining fashion and lifestyle, The Strand is home to a number of designer brands, beauty salons and eateries. Here you'll find fashion labels Desigual, Gorman, Nobody Denim, Midas, Veronika Maine and Habbot as well as Brow Theory, Australia Post, Dinosaur Designs and The Bathing Box.

Considered the heart and soul of Melbourne, the Queen Victoria Markets have been running from the same location for many years. Taking the title of the largest open-air market in the Southern Hemisphere, you'll find fresh fruit and vegetables, artisanal bread, butchers, fresh seafood, poultry, delicatessens and wine! In the other sheds, you'll find rows and rows of clothing, leather goods, shoes, souvenirs, toys, jewellery and more. There's sure to be something for everyone and a trip to Melbourne isn't complete without a visit to the Queen Victoria Markets. You can catch a tram or bus to the markets or park nearby.

One of the biggest suburban shopping centres, Chadstone Shopping Centre is located in Melbourne's south-eastern suburb. Making it easy to spend a whole day in the centre, Chadstone SC features a number of popular brands that Australian shoppers have come to love. With the likes of brand giants Myer, David Jones, Gap Apple, Dymocks, Tiffany & Co., Victoria's Secret, JB Hi-Fi, Kmart and Target as well as the likes of Bonds, EB Games, Lorna Jane, RM Williams, Nike, Pandora and Adidas. As an added bonus, visitors to Melbourne can grab a Tourism Shopping Passport full of exclusive deals and discounts for various stores in the centre. You are considered a tourist if you live regionally, interstate or overseas. You can catch the Free Fashion Shuttle from Federation Square, catch the public bus or trains or drive yourself and park for free.

For the best outlet shopping in Melbourne, DFO South Wharf is the place to go! Boasting over 120 factory outlet stores featuring some of the most popular clothing and accessory brands such as Lorna Jane, Mimco, Peter Alexander, Seed, Victoria's Secret and Nike. Other big name brands include Calvin Klein Jeans, Cue, M.J. Bale, Sass & Bide and Adidas. Homeware and tech brands include Bed, Bath'n'Table, Nick Scali Furniture and JB Hi-Fi. You can catch the train or tram to the centre or drive yourself and park for a fee.

Another outlet shopping centre, Harbour Town Melbourne located in Docklands is an open-air centre across the river from DFO. With over 100 stores you'll be sure to find something you'll like with the likes of Costco, Bonds Outlet, Pumpkin Patch, Levi's Outlet, Royal Doulton Outlet, Canterbury, Forever New and Toy World. It also has a popular dining and entertainment precinct with Melbourne Star, Glow Golf, O'Brien Group Arena and Simulator World all in or close to the centre. Catch the tram, bus or train to the centre or park from as little as $3.

One of the most popular shopping districts in Melbourne, Chapel Street spans from South Yarra, through Prahran and St Kilda East to St Kilda. The street is spit up into seven different neighbourhoods, each providing a different retail experience. You can catch the tram to Chapel Street with a number of services running throughout the day.

Known for attracting treasure hunters with a number of boutique and vintage stores spread along the street. The Windsor Quarter also has a busy food and drink scene with a number of local joints attraction large crowds throughout the day and especially in the evening.

Home to THE Chapel Street that everyone has either heard of or been to, this part of Melbourne is one of the most desirable in the city. With a range of designer boutiques ranging from affordable to high-end fashionistas are sure to be in their element here and when you need a break from shopping you can sit down at one of the local cafes for a drink and a bite to eat. South Yarra is also home to The Jam Factory>, a popular shopping centre off Chapel Street. The Jam Factory features four clothing shops; Cue, Nine West, Target and Topshop/Topman, a number of eateries; Boost Juice, Lindt Chocolate Café, NY. Burger and, and even entertainment; Village Cinemas and Gold Class Cinema.

Known for its fashion boutiques and vintage stores you can nab yourself an ancient keepsake or a unique frock. There are also a number of cafes and bars spread around the place making it the perfect destination to sit back, relax and people watch.

A modern take on the traditional laneways Melbourne is known for, this part of Chapel Street is edgy and delicious. There are a number of trend-hitting boutiques, however, one of the main attractions is the food and drink. Here you'll find a number of popular cafes and restaurants including Brunch Spot, Two Birds One Stone and Adriano Zumbo.

Combining some of the best shops and cafes in one spot, Prahran's Chapel St is home to the popular Chapel Street Bizarre. With a number of heritage listed storefronts, emporiums and halls branching off the main strip, you're sure to bag a bargain from one of the treasure troves or boutiques while also being blown away by the beautiful buildings.

Home to the historic Prahran Market here you'll find the streets abuzz with fresh fruit and veggies being thrown in bags, baked goods being devoured and loyal locals bartering for a good price from their trusty vendors. The atmosphere here is unlike anything else and come meal times the street is brimming with hungry people scouring the cafe and restaurant scene. It is a dining mecca with shops serving dumplings, pastries, kebabs and everything in between.

Showcasing the finer things in life, Chapel Street North is a popular lifestyle hub with a buzzing cafe culture. Come breakfast, lunch and dinner you'll see locals emerging from their luxury apartments and strolling around the area to find the pick of the day. If you enjoy browsing and wandering around then Chapel Street North is a great destination.

One of Melbourne's premier fresh food markets for the last 125 years, Prahran Market is a buzzing foodie scene just waiting to be devoured. With local vendors turning up every week you'll find poultry and game, fresh fruit and vegetables, butchers, seafood, delis and organic produce, patisseries, grocers and tea shops and ready-to-eat food from Mr Bratwurst, The Falafel Man, Ann's Fish and Chips and Dragon Sushi to name a few.