The Australian Open is more than a tennis Grand Slam — it is a three-week summer festival that transforms Melbourne Park into one of the most electric sporting venues on the planet. Held every January at Melbourne Park in the heart of the city, it draws top-ranked players, passionate fans, and curious first-timers from every corner of the globe. Whether you are planning around Opening Week practice sessions or holding out for finals weekend, this guide covers everything you need to know to make the most of your visit.

Book your flights early — Melbourne fills up fast in January, and fares climb as the tournament approaches. Traveloka lets you compare flights, lock in accommodation, and add experiences all in one place.

The Australian Open runs across three weeks in January, typically beginning in the second week of the month. The 2027 edition is scheduled from Monday 11 January to Sunday 31 January, with Opening Week from 11–16 January and the Main Draw commencing on 17 January. Finals weekend falls on the last two days of the tournament. Always confirm the current season's schedule at the official tournament website before booking.

The tournament spans 35 courts at Melbourne Park, anchored by three main show courts — Rod Laver Arena, Margaret Court Arena, and John Cain Arena — all equipped with retractable roofs. Opening Week is a favourite among knowledgeable fans: crowds are smaller, the atmosphere is relaxed, and the practice courts are accessible, meaning you can watch top players train from just a few metres away. As the Main Draw progresses and the field narrows, the energy builds to an almost unbearable pitch by the time semifinals and finals weekend arrive.

A Ground Pass is the most flexible and most affordable ticket option, starting at $49 with early bird pricing. It gives you access to John Cain Arena (subject to availability), all outdoor courts, practice sessions, big screens, and the Grand Slam Oval festival zone. Daily caps on Ground Pass numbers have been introduced for recent editions, so purchasing in advance rather than at the gate is strongly recommended.

Reserved seat tickets for Rod Laver Arena, Margaret Court Arena, and John Cain Arena are sold by session at prices that vary based on the venue, session type, stage of the tournament, and availability. Night sessions at Rod Laver Arena tend to sell out fastest and command premium prices. Booking the moment tickets go on sale at noon on the official sale date gives you the best chance of securing preferred sessions.

Melbourne Park is fully accessible, with ramps and lifts at all venues and a dedicated accessible drop-off point. A dedicated accessibility line operates daily from 9 am to 5 pm for any specific requirements. Re-entry is permitted on the same day — scan out at the gates to receive a pass-out, which lets you step away for lunch or a rest and return without purchasing a new ticket.

Arriving at Melbourne Park for the first time is a sensory experience. The precinct buzzes from the moment gates open, with live music, DJ sets, and acoustic performances across multiple stages running alongside the tennis. The Grand Slam Oval is the social heart of the grounds — a sprawling outdoor space with giant screens, food stalls, and seating where fans gather to watch matches on the broadcast feed together.

Bring a hat, sunscreen, and a sealed water bottle; Melbourne's January heat can be intense. Outside catering in sealed containers and your own food are permitted through the gates. Arriving early is the best strategy — it gives you time to explore the grounds, grab a good position on the outdoor courts, and settle in before the day session crowd builds.

Getting to Melbourne Park is easiest by public transport. The venue sits roughly a 10-minute walk from the Melbourne CBD via Birrarung Marr or Tanderrum Bridge. If you prefer door-to-door convenience, an airport transfer from Melbourne Airport can be arranged directly to your hotel, and rideshare pickup points operate on Olympic Boulevard outside John Cain Arena.

Melbourne Park's food and beverage precinct has grown into a serious culinary destination in its own right. The Railyards offers an à la carte menu suited to pre-match dining, while the Upper Deck provides a rooftop setting with views over the precinct. St Andrews Beach Brewery brings coastal craft brews and signature dishes to the tournament grounds. Specific outlet lineups are confirmed closer to each tournament, so check the official Melbourne Park food guide when planning your day.

The suburb of Richmond, immediately adjacent to Melbourne Park, offers a dense strip of restaurants along Bridge Road and Swan Street that cater heavily to tournament crowds. Richmond's Swan Street is particularly strong for casual dining — expect everything from Vietnamese pho to wood-fired pizza and craft beer bars. The area's dining scene extends into South Yarra and Fitzroy for those willing to travel a little further.

The Melbourne CBD is a short walk or tram ride from the precinct. Flinders Lane is lined with celebrated restaurants, while Degraves Street is the spiritual home of Melbourne's world-class coffee culture — a narrow laneway of espresso bars and al fresco tables that has been the reference point for serious café culture since the 1990s. For a longer evening out, Lygon Street in Carlton and Chinatown on Little Bourke Street offer reliable dining anchors.

Staying within walking distance of Melbourne Park eliminates transport stress during the tournament. The Richmond and East Melbourne neighbourhoods are the closest residential areas to the venue. The Melbourne CBD is equally convenient — most central hotels are within a 15-minute walk or a single tram stop of the grounds. Book well in advance: Melbourne's hotel market tightens significantly for the full three weeks of the tournament.

For the best rates and the widest range of properties, browse hotels on Traveloka, where you can filter by proximity to Melbourne Park, star rating, and guest review score.

Melbourne's tram network is the most convenient way to navigate the city during tournament weeks. The Free Tram Zone covers the entire Melbourne CBD — you can board any tram within that boundary without a ticket or payment card. For travel beyond the CBD, a reloadable Myki card is required. Trams run frequently and reliably, connecting the CBD to Richmond, South Yarra, Fitzroy, Carlton, and most major tourist precincts.

The City Circle Tram (Route 35) is a dedicated tourist route that loops the CBD perimeter, stopping at Federation Square, Flinders Street Station, Docklands, and the Melbourne Aquarium. It operates on heritage W-Class trams and runs free of charge. For days when you want to explore beyond the tram network — the Yarra Valley wine regions, the Dandenong Ranges, or the Great Ocean Road — a car rental gives you the flexibility to go at your own pace.

No visit to Melbourne is complete without an afternoon in the CBD laneways. Hosier Lane is the city's most celebrated open-air street art gallery — a narrow cobblestone alley where rotating murals and paste-ups layer on top of each other in a constantly evolving canvas. Nearby AC/DC Lane and Centre Place offer more laneway character, independent boutiques, and hidden cafés. Degraves Street, just off Flinders Lane, is the quintessential Melbourne coffee alley: espresso bars and al fresco tables running the full length of a sun-dappled arcade.

The Eureka Skydeck on the 88th floor of Eureka Tower delivers panoramic views across the city, the bay, and — on clear days — as far as the Dandenong Ranges. Federation Square, directly opposite Flinders Street Station, serves as the civic heart of Melbourne and is home to the Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, where the collection of Australian art is displayed free of charge.

Queen Victoria Market, operating since 1878, is Melbourne's largest open-air market and one of the Southern Hemisphere's most significant heritage markets. Its sheds stretch across several city blocks, covering fresh produce, deli goods, clothing, souvenirs, and street food from dozens of global cuisines. The market runs Tuesday through Sunday with a particular buzz on weekend mornings. It is a 10-minute tram ride from Flinders Street Station and easily combined with a morning in the CBD before heading to the tennis in the afternoon.

To book experiences in Melbourne — from Skydeck tickets to guided laneway tours — browse activities on Traveloka for a curated selection of things to do during your stay.

Southeast Asia's leading travel platform, trusted by over 100 million users, Traveloka promotions regularly feature discounts across the full suite of travel products — making it straightforward to build a Melbourne itinerary that works within your budget. The platform covers flights, hotels, activities, car rental, eSIM, and travel insurance, all bookable through a single app. Download the app, search Melbourne, and secure your Australian Open trip before the next round of tickets sells out.