Getting There
Your primary gateway is Melbourne Airport (IATA: MEL), formerly known as Tullamarine Airport, located approximately 19 kilometres northeast of the city centre. This is where your international flight lands. Regular SkyBus services run between Melbourne Airport and Southern Cross Railway Station in the city centre, operating every 10 minutes during peak times — no advance booking required. From Southern Cross, you're in the heart of Melbourne's transit network.
For getting to the ground itself, skip the rideshare stress on game day and use public transit — locals do, and there's a reason. Jolimont station (also called MCG station) is a 5-minute walk (350m) through Yarra Park to Gate 2 — take the Hurstbridge or Mernda lines from Flinders Street Station in the CBD. Richmond station is further out (850m) but served by more lines: Belgrave, Alamein, Glen Waverley, Frankston, and Sandringham. Either way you're under 10 minutes from the CBD. If you're tram-inclined, trams 70 and 75 serve the MCG area, running from Flinders St to the ground every 15 minutes.
One practical win: travel on trams within Melbourne's city centre is free. Get a myki card for everything else — it's Melbourne's smartcard ticket for trains, trams, and buses, loaded with stored value and available at major train stations, 7-Eleven stores, and online. Also worth noting: for the months of April and May 2026, public transport in Victoria is free, and from the end of May until the end of 2026, fares will be half-price. Depending on your game date, you may be riding for nothing.
Where to Stay
CBD (Central Business District) is the default choice and a solid one — you're connected to everything by foot or tram, and you won't feel like you're grinding through suburbs to find a meal. Hotels here range from budget-friendly to legitimately excellent four-star options, with mid-range rooms typically landing in the AUD $200–350/night range.
Richmond is the underrated call. It's the neighborhood on the MCG's front doorstep, Swan Street is full of bars and restaurants, and you'll roll to the game in under 15 minutes on foot. It tends to run slightly cheaper than CBD and feels more lived-in. If you want to be where Australians actually eat and drink before footy, Richmond is the answer.
Southbank works if you want hotel views of the Yarra River and easy access to the arts and dining scene along the waterfront. It's a short tram or walk from the MCG, slightly more upscale in feel, and favored by travelers who want a neighborhood that doesn't shut down at 9 PM.
Before the Game
London Tavern (395 Victoria St, Richmond) is the mandatory first stop for anyone headed to a major event at The G. Its massive beer garden fills in the lead-up to every match, with big TV screens, an impressive range of beers on tap, and dozens of wine options available by the glass. This is where you'll find fellow NFL fans in jerseys, and where Australian fans will be curious what sport you're dressed for.
Riverland Bar (Federation Wharf, under Princes Bridge) is tucked down by the Yarra River directly below Federation Square, a 10-minute walk from the MCG. Nestled by the Yarra with a bit of luck on the weather, you can have a swift drink by the water before the game, with share plates and pizzas to fuel the short walk to The G.
The Corner Hotel (57 Swan St, Richmond) is a Richmond institution. It hosts live music most nights of the week and lets you enjoy a classic parma or a drink on the rooftop before a match at the MCG. The parma — that's a chicken parmigiana — is non-negotiable on your first visit to Australia.
Geppetto Trattoria (East Melbourne, directly across from the MCG) is where you go if you want to sit down properly before kickoff. Conveniently located right across the road from the Melbourne Cricket Ground, this traditional Italian restaurant offers plenty of pasta and antipasto dishes to fill up on before the game. Book ahead for an NFL game day.
Game Day Tips
The MCG runs completely cashless. The MCG operates as a cashless venue — your Australian dollars won't help you inside. Make sure your card has no international transaction fees, or tap with your phone.
On bags: keep your bag or backpack to a size that fits comfortably under your seat. Larger bags — duffle bags, sports bags, suitcases — must be checked into cloaking facilities at Gate 3. Don't bring your whole carry-on to the game.
Alcoholic beverages may not be taken into or out of the MCG — not a six-pack from the shop, not a bottle of wine, nothing. Drink before you walk in. Alcohol is available for purchase inside, served in plastic cups. Smoking — including electronic cigarettes — is not permitted within the MCG or in designated smoke-free areas outside the stadium.
Security does conduct bag checks and wanding. The MCC reserves the right to inspect any patron's bags, which may include visually or physically inspecting the bag or seeking the patron's assistance to remove items. Arrive at least an hour before kickoff — with 100,000 people funneling through gates, the queues can be serious.
The crowd at The G is knowledgeable and loud but not hostile to visitors — Australians are genuinely curious about NFL, and wearing an NFL jersey will get you into conversations, not trouble. Don't be surprised if someone sitting next to you has never watched American football and asks you to explain the down system during the first quarter.
Exploring the City
Federation Square and the Yarra precinct — Start here on your first morning. It's the cultural crossroads of the city: the Ian Potter Centre, ACMI (Australian Centre for the Moving Image), and the broad riverfront that connects the CBD to the MCG. The NGV (National Gallery of Victoria) is a 10-minute walk south; founded in 1861, it is Australia's oldest, largest, and most visited art museum. Free general admission.
Fitzroy and Collingwood — Melbourne's creative and food-obsessed inner suburbs, a tram ride north of the CBD. Brunswick Street and Smith Street are where you'll find interesting coffee shops, independent bookstores, and the city's best casual eating. Nothing here is for tourists — that's the point.
The Queen Victoria Market — A working market operating since the 1870s. Go on a weekday morning. Grab some of Victoria's farmhouse cheese, fresh pastries, and coffee. It's a genuine slice of Melbourne life rather than a souvenir trap.
The Great Ocean Road — If you have a spare day and want to leave the city, this is one of the genuinely spectacular drives on Earth. About 90 minutes southwest of Melbourne, the limestone Twelve Apostles rising from the Southern Ocean are the kind of thing that makes Americans suddenly go quiet. Rent a car or book a day tour. It warrants the detour.