Overview
Melbourne is on the Space Coast in Brevard County. Melbourne is a principal city of the Palm Bay – Melbourne – Titusville Area, and was home to 83,000 people in 2019.
3 sights · 9 things to do · 6 places to eat · 3 bars & cafés · 12 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Melbourne
Henegar Center for the Arts
Honor America's Liberty Bell Museum
Honor America, Inc. is a patriotic non-profit, non-partisan and non-sectarian organization who operates the Liberty Bell Memorial Museum and the Melbourne Military Memorial Park and hosts patriotic events throughout the …
Brevard Zoo
Animals and exhibits of different habitats, along with a treetop trek.
The Botanical Gardens at FIT
A 15-acre botanical garden, open to the public.
Andretti's Thrill Park
Go-karts, mini-golf.
Brevard Symphony Orchestra
Founded in 1954, the orchestra-in-residence at the King Center for the performing arts. Brevard's only professional orchestra. Inquire online or at the office for performance locations.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Oct–May. Summer highs reach about 91°F; winter lows dip to about 54°F. Very hot (Jun, Jul, Aug) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: Sep and Jun.
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- MLB Melbourne Orlando International Airport, Melbourne — 1 mi away. Directions
- VRB Vero Beach Regional Airport, Vero Beach — 34 mi away. Directions
- MCO Orlando International Airport, Orlando — 46 mi away (major hub). Directions
* Allegiant: (Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, and Allentown, PA) * PSA Airlines dba American Eagle (Charlotte (CLT)) * Delta (Atlanta (ATL)) * Sun Country (Seasonally from Seasonal from Minneapolis-St Paul (MSP)) * TUI from the UK cities of Belfast, Bristol, Edinburgh; Glasgow, London–Gatwick, Manchester (UK), Newcastle upon Tyne There are taxis, rideshare and hotel shuttles to bring you into town locally. There are also car rentals available from the airport which is the preferred method, for greater flexibility, in getting around to the surrounding areas. See this Link for a list of taxi and shuttle providers. Bus routes 21, 29 and 30 serve the airport from the city. The #21 and 30 buses connect the airport to downtown. The 30 bus also go to Eau Gallie and Melbourne Beach from the airport while the #29 goes across the area between Viera (in the north) to Palm Bay West in the south. Other nearby airports include:
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
- Typical meal: about $6 per person at listed restaurants.
Options are grouped as Near airport, Jct I-95 and US Hwy 192 (W New Haven Ave), Bed & Breakfast in the Sleep guide ↓.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Henegar Center for the Arts, Melbourne Civic Theatre, Melbourne Community Orchestra
- Lunch Siam Orchid Thai & Japanese
- Afternoon Honor America's Liberty Bell Museum, Melbourne Arts Festival
- Dinner Makotos Japanese Restaurant
- Evening Meg O'Malley's Irish Pub & Restaurant
Day 2
- Morning Brevard Symphony Orchestra, Galaxy Skateway
- Lunch Cedar's Cafe
- Afternoon Maxwell C King Center for Performing Arts, Brevard Zoo
- Dinner The Wagon Wheel Pizza
- Evening Hemingway's Tavern
Day 3
- Morning The Botanical Gardens at FIT, Andretti's Thrill Park
- Lunch Squid Lips
- Afternoon Space Coast Art Festival
- Dinner Friendly Toast Cafe II
- Evening Twisted Rooster
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
While most of Melbourne is on the mainland, a small portion is located on a barrier island. The Indian River Lagoon separates the mainland from the island. The island is a narrow strip of land that separates the Lagoon from the Atlantic Ocean.
Spanning the Indian River Lagoon to connect the mainland to the barrier island are a pair of four-lane, high-rise bridges: the Melbourne Causeway and the Eau Gallie Causeway.
- Melbourne City Council website
Get in
By plane
* Allegiant: (Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, and Allentown, PA) * PSA Airlines dba American Eagle (Charlotte (CLT)) * Delta (Atlanta (ATL)) * Sun Country (Seasonally from Seasonal from Minneapolis-St Paul (MSP)) * TUI from the UK cities of Belfast, Bristol, Edinburgh; Glasgow, London–Gatwick, Manchester (UK), Newcastle upon Tyne There are taxis, rideshare and hotel shuttles to bring you into town locally. There are also car rentals available from the airport which is the preferred method, for greater flexibility, in getting around to the surrounding areas. See this Link for a list of taxi and shuttle providers. Bus routes 21, 29 and 30 serve the airport from the city. The #21 and 30 buses connect the airport to downtown. The 30 bus also go to Eau Gallie and Melbourne Beach from the airport while the #29 goes across the area between Viera (in the north) to Palm Bay West in the south. Other nearby airports include:
- Orlando International Airport (MCO) 64 mi NW of Melbourne via I-95 and FL-528
- Orlando-Sanford International Airport (SFB) 84 mi miles NW of Melbourne via I-95 and FL-46.
- Daytona Beach International Airport (DAB) 91 mi miles north of Melbourne via I-95
By car
- Interstate 95 (I-95) Melbourne is accessed from exits #176 ("Palm Bay Rd/Palm Bay") through #188 ("FL Hwy 404 Patrick AFB Satellite Beach") along I-95. There are five exits from I-95 into town. Downtown can be accessed from Exit #180 ("US Hwy 192 Melbourne West Melbourne") from both directions of I-95.
- Dixie Highway and Harbor City Blvd pass through town as NE Dixie Hwy, N Harbor City Blvd and S Harbor City Blvd.
- US-192 connects Melbourne to Walt Disney World 69 mi through St Cloud, Kissimmee and Celebration. Going east of its junction with I-95 (Exit #180), US Hwy 192 enters into town as West New Haven Ave and ends in Indialantic (as 5th Ave) at SR A1A.
- Highway A1A/SR A1A is the coastal highway connects which Cape Canaveral in the north, through Melbourne Beach to Stuart Beach in Fort Pierce in the south. In town, it passes through Satellite Beach, Indian Harbor, Indiaatlantic and Melbourne Beach.
See By car under Get around in below for a more local description of the above.
By bus
- Space Coast Area Transit operates intercity routes within Brevard County from Titusville with the following:
* 1 Connects Titusville Government Center to Viera Government Center through Cocoa & Rockledge along US Hwy 1 and S Fisk Blvd (SR-519). * 29 Connects Melbourne Airport to Viera Government Center where passengers transfer to #1 bus to reach Titusville (via Cocoa and Rockledge). Likewise passengers can also transfer to the #7 bus at Walmart in Viera to get to Cocoa but it goes on a longer route than the #1 bus. The first/last stop is in the Taxi/Bus Lane, on the other side of the island, from the departures entrances. Passengers can transfer directly to #21 (to downtown) and 30 (to South Beach, Indialantic and Eau Gallie) from the same airport stop. Check schedules and maps for a list of stops and transfer points.
Get around
By bus
- Space Coast Area Transit is the name of the local Brevard County bus service. It is a cheap way to get around and is handicap accessible. The website provides maps and timetables. Buses travel to most sites and places of interest. The #21, 29 and 30 buses go into town from the airport. $1.25 per ride, or $35 for a monthly pass.
By car
The best way to get around Melbourne is by car. Major Roads include:
- US 1 passes through town as Harbor City Boulevard which runs parallel to the Indian River on the eastern side of the city. This road allows easy access to the beaches over 3 causeways: the Pineda Causeway (Florida State Road 404), Eau Gallie Causeway, and Melbourne Causeway.
- US 192 is locally named New Haven Avenue and Strawbridge Avenue (historic downtown), US 192 is one of the major commercial, entertainment, and retail areas of Melbourne. Many businesses, large and small, are located on this busy avenue. It serves as a route to Kissimmee and the tourist corridor of Orlando to the west, and the town of Indialantic to the east via the Melbourne Causeway.
- . Interstate 95 (I-95) passes through the city limits as a 6-lane interstate highway, with 4 exit ramps in the Melbourne Vicinity. It serves as the main north-south route in the metropolitan area.
- This road runs along the beaches and provides easy access to other areas of Brevard County.
- (Wickham\Minton). Wickham serves as a second north to south route in the Melbourne area.
See
Do
Buy
Shop Melbourne Square Mall
Melbourne Square Mall hosts Dillard's, Macy's, JCPenney, Dick's Sporting Goods and numerous other hotels, shops & restaurants in the mall and in the immediate surrounding area not part of the mall (Best Buy, Burlington Coat Factory, Pet Smart, Ross Dress for Less, Extended Stay America, Marriott Courtyard, among others). There are other smaller strip malls & free-standing establishments across the street along W New Haven Ave.
Eat
Eat Siam Orchid Thai & Japanese
Eat Cedar's Cafe
Lebanese cuisine. Tabouli.
Eat The Wagon Wheel Pizza
In business for over 40 years, known for pizza and stromboli.
Eat Friendly Toast Cafe II
Diner-style restaurant. Great food at great prices. You can eat inside (usually crowded) or at a few tables outside.
Drink
Drink Meg O'Malley's Irish Pub & Restaurant
Also offers catering and takeaway and a live music calendar.
Drink Hemingway's Tavern
Also offering a cafecito for takeaway food.
Drink Twisted Rooster
21+ only.
Sleep
Near airport
The airport locations are southeast of the airport terminal, southeast of the intersection of NASA Blvd & MLK along MLK Blvd:
Jct I-95 and US Hwy 192 (W New Haven Ave)
There are several chain hotels & motels on W New Haven Ave (US Hwy 192) east of its intersection with I-95 (Exit #180):
Stay Budget Inn
Bed & Breakfast
Go next
- Kennedy Space Center is about an hour's drive north, in Cape Canaveral.
- Disney World is 1-1½ hours by car due west in Lake Buena Vista.
- The beaches at Melbourne Beach and Indialantic
Nearby
Satellite Beach
City / town · 7 listings · 5 mi away
Indialantic
City / town · 18 listings · 5 mi away
Melbourne Beach
City / town · 13 listings · 6 mi away
Palm Bay
City / town · 7 listings · 9 mi away
Malabar
City / town · 6 listings · 9 mi away
Cocoa Beach
City / town · 27 listings · 14 mi away
Rockledge
City / town · 11 listings · 16 mi away
Merritt Island
City / town · 8 listings · 17 mi away
My experience
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