Queen Victoria Market is the great market of Melbourne, and this guided tour is the easiest way to eat your way through it. The Ultimate Foodie Tour lasts about two hours, starts at 10am and meets outside Mary Martin Bookshop at the corner of Queen Street and String Bean Alley. A local guide leads a small group of no more than ten travellers around the delicatessen hall, the cheese and meat stalls and the fresh produce areas, introducing the traders and the stories behind their products. The tastings are described as generous, and past guests mention a range that includes oysters, cheese, charcuterie, kangaroo sausage, doughnuts and gelato, though the exact line-up can change with the season and the stalls, so treat the list as a guide rather than a promise. The price covers the guide, the tastings and a Queen Victoria Market shopping bag, and hotel pickup and drop-off may be offered, so confirm the details when you book. The tour is rated 4.8 from around 320 reviews, which puts it among the most trusted food tours in Melbourne. It is wheelchair and stroller accessible, and service animals are allowed.
Come hungry, but do not plan a large meal beforehand, because the tastings add up to something close to a light lunch. Drinks are not provided with the tastings, and the host asks guests to bring their own water bottle, so pack one. Wear comfortable shoes, since you will spend two hours on your feet on hard floors and market aisles. A full refund is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience, and the days of operation are shown when you check availability, so confirm them when you book.
The format works especially well for first-time visitors, because the market can be overwhelming without a guide. Instead of wandering between hundreds of stalls, you are taken to the ones with the best stories and the best produce, and you learn which stalls to return to afterwards. Because the tour finishes at the market, you can buy ingredients on the way out, and the included shopping bag is handy for that. If you have dietary restrictions, tell the operator when you book rather than on the day, so they can plan the tastings.
Take your shopping bag back through the aisles afterwards to buy cheese, charcuterie, fruit or coffee beans from the traders you met on the tour, and ask your guide which stalls are busiest at which times so that your own shopping goes smoothly. Because tastings are shared among the group, tell the guide early if you do not eat certain foods.
Compare it honestly with exploring on your own. The market is free to enter, and eating well at its stalls costs little, so the tour is not about saving money. It is about context, access and the chance to try things you might not order yourself.
If you only want a quick coffee and a borek, skip the tour; if you want the story behind the market and a structured tasting, this is a reliable choice. Pair it with the laneways in the afternoon, or with a visit to the nearby Old Melbourne Gaol or Royal Exhibition Building.
What to expect
The experience
A guided tasting walk through the market halls, with generous tastings, a local guide and a market shopping bag, for groups of up to ten.
Best time
The tour starts at 10am. Check the available days when you book.
How long
About two hours.
Tips
Come hungry and bring a water bottle. Wear comfortable shoes. Tell the operator about dietary needs when you book. Full refund if cancelled 24 hours ahead.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Food lovers and first-time visitors who want a guide to the market.
- Families
- Wheelchair and stroller accessible; discounted child rates are offered. Check suitability of the tastings for children.
- Couples
- A shared tasting experience that makes a relaxed morning.
- Pair with
- The Old Melbourne Gaol, the Royal Exhibition Building or an afternoon in the laneways.
- Time needed
- Two hours plus time to shop afterwards.
Good questions
Where does the Queen Victoria Market Foodie Tour meet?+
Outside Mary Martin Bookshop at the corner of Queen Street and String Bean Alley, at Queen Victoria Market.
How long does the tour take?+
About two hours, starting at 10am.
What is included?+
A local guide, a series of generous tastings and a Queen Victoria Market shopping bag. Drinks are not provided with the tastings.
How big are the groups?+
Groups are limited to ten travellers.
Can I cancel?+
Yes. A full refund is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience.
