Australia’s best city swaps this winter

Image credit: Visit Victoria

Swap London For Melbourne

Melbourne and London share more than just their reputation for the weather. Both cities run on culture and coffee (well, tea for London), with a vibrant live music scene, impressive galleries, covered markets, and laneways full of things you'll only find by wandering. Melbourne does all of it in a city that's easier to navigate and considerably cheaper to eat and drink in.

For the art lovers: The NGV International has a permanent collection that holds its own against Tate Modern, with blockbuster touring exhibitions running through winter that are worth travelling for. ACCA, the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art in Southbank, runs exhibitions that really push the boundaries of art. 

For the bargain hunters: For markets, Queen Victoria Market has the same energy as Borough Market or Spitalfields but without the high UK exchange rate. For live music, head to the Corner Hotel in Richmond, the Forum Melbourne and the Palais Theatre in St Kilda, with international and local acts running right through the winter season.

Image credit: Visit Victoria

For the culture vultures: The East End theatre district is Melbourne's answer to the West End, with productions like Waitress and Book of Mormon running through the city's winter in stunning, historic theatres worth seeing in their own right. Melbourne's street art along Hosier Lane and Rutledge Lane arguably rivals what you’d find in Shoreditch. Walk through on a weekday when it's quiet and you can actually appreciate it properly. 

For the sports fanatics: Like Wembley Arena or the O2 London, Melbourne has its own world-class sporting stadiums. AAMI Park is where Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory play A-League football (also called soccer in Australia) through the winter months, where you can join in the energy and enthusiasm of a packed stadium crowd. Like Harrods or the boutiques of Mayfair; Myer, David Jones and the Emporium are a haven for shopping. The State Library of Victoria, with its domed La Trobe Reading Room and free entry, is full of charm and character, and will make you feel like you’ve been teleported to London.

Stay: YHA Melbourne Central

Tip: Melbourne has plenty of British-inspired pubs like the Mitre Tavern, the Elephant and Wheelbarrow, the Charles Dickens Pub, and the Sherlock Holmes Inn. Check for happy hour before you arrive, and when you need to get back, the free tram zone covers the CBD, with a stop outside YHA Melbourne Central, so getting home after a few pints costs nothing too.

Image credit: Tourism & Events Queensland

Swap Lisbon For Brisbane

Brisbane is a city that, like Lisbon, embraces a warmer climate and riverside setting, with outdoor cafes, open green space and stretches of parklands that run for kilometres in either direction. During winter, it’s still warm enough to eat outside most nights, and you’ll find plenty of alfresco dining options like the Howard Smith Wharves, which has 13 restaurants with the Storey Bridge as the perfect backdrop.

For the foodies: For the full Lisbon experience, head to Lisboa Caffe on Edward Street and order the pastéis de nata, which are made in the traditional style. Order them with a coffee and you’ve started the day perfectly. From there, walk over to the cultural precinct of South Bank and you'll arrive at the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA), which is free to enter. Like Lisbon’s Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology (MAAT), GOMA runs some of the best contemporary art exhibitions in the country. Also nearby, the Queensland Art Gallery and the Queensland Museum make for a solid morning out. 

For the night owls: When the sun goes down, follow the crowd towards James Street in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane’s boutique shopping and dining strip. Great restaurants line the street, and here, you’ll find bars and clubs with the energy of a Saturday night out in Lisbon, with better beer and no language barrier. Salsa and bachata are woven deep into Lisbon's nightlife culture, and Brisbane has a scene to match. Join a social dance night like Sunday Salsa Seduction, pick up a few moves, and you might just forget you never booked that Portugal trip.

Stay: YHA Brisbane City

Tip: Lisbon is famous for its miradouros, the hilltop lookouts and parks where locals gather to eat, drink and watch the sun go down. Brisbane has its own version in the form of the City Botanic Gardens stretching along the river, and the Kangaroo Point Parklands, perched on ancient volcanic cliffs and offering sweeping views of the city skyline. Just five minutes from YHA Brisbane City, the South Bank Parklands are the perfect place to channel that European vibe. Pick up fresh bread, cheese and something to drink from a local deli, gather some travel buddies, and settle in for a low-cost, riverside picnic as the sun disappears on the horizon.

Swap Los Angeles For Sydney

Much like Los Angeles, Sydney has a fitness-focused, sun-chasing energy you’ll notice as soon as you wake up. Many Sydneysiders start their day outdoors, even during winter. If you’re staying at YHA Sydney Harbour, lace up your shoes and do a sunrise run around the Opera House and Botanic Gardens. 

Or head down to Bondi Beach, which delivers the best of Venice Beach vibes including the outdoor gym culture, but with better coffee and no need to tip anyone. The coastal walk from Bondi to Coogee takes about two hours and passes several hidden local beaches along the way. It's entirely free and it's one of the best scenic walks in Australia. Walking at your own pace in the sunshine can feel like a mini vacation in itself.

For drinks, head to the bar at Barangaroo House overlooking the water of Darling Harbour, or grab a cocktail at Maybe Sammy in The Rocks, which was voted out of the top 50 bars in the world. The restaurant scene around the Opera House matches anything you'd find in West Hollywood, without the valet. Opera Bar has one of Sydney’s best views, with an affordable drinks list too.  Head to Everleigh or Moore Park, where many TV networks host regular studio tapings with free audience tickets. You might find yourself in the crowd for a taping of shows like The Voice or Australian Idol. 

There’s no need to head to Hollywood to spot your favourite celebrities. Sydney is Australia's glam capital, and the chances of crossing paths with a name you recognise are higher than you'd think. For music lovers, forget venues like Hollywood Palladium or the Hollywood Bowl. Hordern Pavilion in Moore Park hosts artists like Peking Duck, Zara Larsson and Two Door Cinema Club, who are all taking to the stage in 2026. For bigger international acts like Olivia Dean, Jason Derulo and Alex Warren, head to Qudos Bank Arena in Olympic Park, which is a little further out from the CBD but very accessible by public transport. 

Stay: YHA Sydney Harbour, YHA Sydney Central

Tip: Getting fit while you travel closer to home is one of those unexpected wins.  If you want access to a gym, most Fitness First and Virgin Active locations offer free trial passes, and YHA regularly hosts casual fitness classes and free wellness events you can drop into. Back at YHA Sydney Harbour, there's free rooftop yoga overlooking the harbour, even during winter mornings. And on the rare chilly days when you'd rather not leave the property, simply relaxing on the rooftop with a coffee in hand and a good book in the other is the best way to feel completely away from it all.

Words: Troy Nankervis