Collins Street & Little Collins Street

It can be hard to tell whether you're LV or Alannah Hill, Bar Lourinha or No35, and thanks to the blurred distinctions between Collins and Little Collins streets, you can be a bit of both.

Haute
You may know Collins Street proper for its designer stores in heritage buildings, five-star hotels, private clubs and exclusive jewellers. It boasts its very own 'Paris End' and is often referred to as 'the top end of town'. Head in this direction for the flagship stores of Chanel, Giorgio Armani and Louis Vuitton. For more relaxed shopping stroll west where bustling retail centres like two3four and Australia on Collins house many chain and concept stores.

Hip
It's time to add something local to your designer outfit, so veer out of the mainstream and into to Little Collins and Howey Place for haute couture and hip culture, and clothes by Melbourne's most interesting designers. Head to the stretch between Swanston and Russell streets for menswear.

Cocktails and revelry
Keep your eyes out between shops for the hidden bars on Collins and Little Collins. Sip cocktails at Hairy Canary, have a G&T at the Gin Palace, munch on tostadas and tequila at Mamasita, or for late night revelry catch a band at the infamous Pony Bar.

Tales of the city
Hear how Melbourne developed into what you see today at striking City Museum at the Old Treasury.

How to get there
By tram: Any tram along Swanston and Elizabeth streets to Collins Street; the free City Circle Tram to the corner of Spring and Collins streets or the corner of Spencer and Collins streets.

Free Melbourne City Tourist Shuttle: Stop 4. The complete trip includes in 13 stops and takes approximately an hour and a half. The bus runs every 30 minutes between 9.30am and 4.30pm daily (excluding Good Friday and Christmas Day) and includes an on-board commentary.

By foot: One to one and half blocks north from Federation Square (about three minutes).