Our free walking tour of Melbourne is so fun and informative that I have to share it over two posts. Today I’ll show you my favorite parts of the tour — the secret alleys and street art in Melbourne.

Our guide veers just off a major street and we find ourselves in a funky little courtyard filled with impressive graffiti.

A few minutes later and we’re on another alleyway of graffiti art.

I love this city’s juxtaposition of edgy street art and luxury shopping areas with vaulted glass ceilings. The photos below were taken mere blocks apart.

Here are a few more shots from inside my favorite high-end shopping area. I love the black-and-white tile floors.

This looks good:

Next our guide brings us down two hidden alleyways bustling with coffee shops and cafes. The first is Centre Place and the second is Degraves Street.

I am obsessed with these two side streets — there’s so much packed into each square foot.

For the rest of my time in Melbourne, I find an excuse each day to detour down these streets. I only stop to buy something once: tasty eggplant fries…!

But even without stopping to make a purchase, I get excited just walking down Centre Place and Degraves Street. A must-do if you are in Melbourne.