Melbourne Royal Arcade Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience the Melbourne Royal Arcade. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Ultimate Melbourne Walking Tour: History, Laneways & Culture

• Melbourne Foodie Discovery Walking Tour

• Original Melbourne Lanes and Arcades Walking Tour

• Private Bespoke Melbourne Walking Tour - Expert Local Guide

• Guided Chocolate Walking Tour in Melbourne City

Melbourne Royal Arcade is open to the public and has no entrance fee. However, walking tours of the city’s laneways and arcades can teach you a little of their history and find hidden gems—walking tours start from as little as US$10, while food tours begin around US$60.

Shops within the Melbourne Royal Arcade include jewelry stores, clothing boutiques, and gift stores. One of the most popular shops inside the arcade is Koko Black, an Australian chocolate shop. As for the arcade’s attractions, people visit to see its architecture and Gaunt’s Clock, which features two giant statues by its sides.

Gaunt’s Clock is a historic addition to the Melbourne Royal Arcade, created by the prominent watchmaker Thomas Gaunt, who owned a store in the arcade. Gaunt had the Gog and Magog statues made to sit on either side of the clock in 1892, and ring a bell on the quarter hour, based on similar statues of the mythological giants seen in Guildhall, London.

Yes, several cafés are tucked away in the Melbourne Royal Arcade, some even having tables and chairs in the arcade so that you can admire its design while you get a drink. The arcade doesn’t offer much dining, but the surrounding streets in the city center provide plenty of options for food.

Not usually, no. The Melbourne Royal Arcade is a place to buy high-end goods such as jewelry and specialty chocolates, but it’s not a destination for general, affordable souvenirs. Stores for souvenirs can be easily found nearby on Swanston Street or at the Queen Victoria Market.