Melbourne ranks as one the safest cities in Australia. It's generally not a problem to walk most places, day or night, although commonsense precautions—avoiding dark alleys, for instance—should always be taken. You may encounter panhandlers in the city center, particularly around Flinders Street Station, along Swanston Street Walk, and near the corner of Bourke and Russell streets. Travelers should avoid walking alone at night in suburbs such as Footscray, St. Kilda, Collingwood, Sunshine and Dandenong. Crime is rare, but pickpocketing is not unheard of.
For the latest information, contact your country's travel-advisory agency.
Dos & Don'ts
Don't be offended if someone calls you "Mate." Take it as a compliment.
Do say "No worries" instead of "You're welcome."
Don't even think about drinking and driving; laws are very strict and enforced regularly.
Do wear thongs (flip-flops) in summer.
Don't ever proclaim Sydney to be a superior city.
