Federation Square is the civic heart on the Yarra. ACMI and the Ian Potter Centre sit under the sandstone shards. Trams and Flinders Street Station are next door. Walk this order. Plaza → ACMI edge → Yarra view → Transport hub → Beer Depository edge → Flinders exit

Flinders Street Station is the yellow-and-green landmark at the corner of Flinders and Swanston. Meet under the clocks. The main concourse and platform facade face the Yarra. Walk this order. Swanston steps → Main facade → Clocks → Concourse → Platform light → Elizabeth exit

Hosier Lane is Melbourne’s best-known street-art laneway, one block behind Federation Square. Paint changes weekly. Stay on the laneway; do not block the roadway. Walk this order. Street entry → North murals → Mid lane → South walls → ACDC Lane edge → Flinders exit

Queen Victoria Market is Melbourne’s working produce market, open since 1878. Sheds, dairy and meat halls sit behind the Victoria Street gates. Closed Mondays and public holidays; check stall days before you walk. Walk this order. Victoria St gates → Meat Hall → Dairy Hall → Shed aisles → Outer stalls → Peel St exit

State Library Victoria is Australia’s oldest public library, opened in 1856. The Swanston Street steps and dome reading room are the landmarks. Free entry; the La Trobe Reading Room is the essential interior. Walk this order. Swanston steps → Forecourt lawn → Dome reading room → Cowen Gallery edge → Courtyard → La Trobe exit

Carlton Gardens wrap the UNESCO World Heritage Royal Exhibition Building and Melbourne Museum. Palm avenues and the fountain lawn sit between Victoria and Nicholson. Walk this order. Victoria St gate → Exhibition Building → Fountain lawn → Palm avenue → Museum edge → Nicholson exit

The Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne open from Observatory Gate on Birdwood Avenue. Ornamental Lake, Fern Gully and the Temple of the Winds sit inside the Domain. Free entry; allow a slow loop. Walk this order. Observatory Gate → Ornamental Lake → Fern Gully → Temple of Winds → Separation Tree → Domain exit

The Shrine of Remembrance stands on the Domain axis south of the city. The sanctuary, eternal flame and balcony view are free. Silence in the sanctuary. Walk this order. Bulleen approach → Forecourt → Sanctuary → Balcony view → Eternal flame → Birdwood exit

Southbank runs the Yarra promenade under Eureka Tower toward Crown. Princes Bridge is the return to Fed Square. Skydeck is a paid extra; the promenade is free. Walk this order. Southgate promenade → Eureka base → Skydeck → Yarra outlook → Crown edge → Princes Bridge exit

St Kilda sits on the bay south of the city. The Esplanade, Luna Park face, Palais and pier are the walk. Trams 16 and 96 drop you on the Esplanade and Fitzroy Street. Walk this order. Esplanade entry → Luna Park face → Palais → Pier → Beach → Fitzroy St exit