Best Art Tour in Melbourne | The National Gallery of Victoria

Do you want to discover the best art tour in Melbourne?

If you’re an art lover, visiting the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) is a must. Here, you’ll find more than 70,000 pieces of art from renowned artists across the globe.

The impressive range of works from different periods and styles can inspire even the most disinterested minds. In addition, the strategic setting of this iconic art museum makes it one of the most popular stops for tourists who visit Melbourne.

It’s impossible to describe in words the feeling that you get when standing in front of these works at NGV. So, if you want to get up close and personal with famous art, this is your tour.

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The National Gallery of Victoria curates one of the finest collections in Australia that you can enjoy with a guided tour. Art lovers will not only enjoy seeing different kinds of artworks, but they will also have fun learning about them too.

Join one of our private tours at the NGV to discover more about art and artists, collections, and special exhibitions. Led by our expert art guides, we’ll add stories and insights into the subjects and history behind each artist’s work.

Different tours are available for every visitor’s enjoyment and educational needs. Also, there’s a free guided tour for children that uses audio-visual materials in order to help them understand more about the gallery.

With a collection spanning thousands of years of art history and representing hundreds of artists from around the world, you could easily spend days here – if only they’d let you!

National Gallery of Victoria: Overview

Founded in 1861, the National Gallery of Victoria is the oldest and largest public art gallery in Melbourne, Australia. With an outstanding collection from around the world, it’s considered one of the top galleries in Australia and the Pacific Rim.

NGV presents free exhibitions and public programs for more than 1.3 million visitors each year.

The art gallery is split into two buildings: the Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, which houses Australian art from the colonial period to contemporary work. The other is NGV International, which focuses on international and historical works.

Explore The Galleries: How to Get There

The NGV houses a comprehensive art collection across two sites:

The Ian Potter Centre

The Ian Potter Centre is located at Federation Square on Flinders Street in the heart of Melbourne CBD.

It’s dedicated to Australian art and displays an expansive collection of Indigenous art from across the country and exhibitions of Australian art from the Colonial period to contemporary art.

NGV International

NGV International is located on St Kilda Road opposite Federation Square and a short walk from Flinders Street Station in the heart of Melbourne CBD.

It houses outstanding European and Asian art collections, 19th-century French Impressionism, 20th-century modernist masterpieces, and a diverse range of contemporary works.

Collection

The NGV includes five distinct collections: Australian Art, Asian Art, European Art, Contemporary Art, and Indigenous Art.

Highlights

Highlights are Napoleon Bonaparte’s portrait, Monet’s Waterlilies, Moma’s Mona Lisa, and many more famous paintings. Also, there are modern art masterpieces by Picasso, Dali, Matisse, Mondrian, and Australian artists Sidney Nolan and Fred Williams. Other highlights include Ancient Egyptian artifacts, Renaissance bronzes, and European furniture.

Free Tours at NGV

Entry is free to see the permanent collection, after which prices for special exhibitions vary.

You can book the free ticket online or in person. The ticket gives access to the national collection, Sculpture Gardens, and most exhibitions.

Tours for Kids at NGV

But what about kids? They can get bored with paintings, but there are ways to turn a visit here into something enjoyable for them as well.

The NGV Kids on Tour program is designed with kids in mind. This tour program takes place during the summer school holidays’

Also, there is the Great Hall and NGV Garden, where kids can roam, relax, and stretch their legs.

Did you know that kids under 5 years don’t need a ticket? So, feel free to come and enjoy the NGV collection with your little ones.

Interactive Virtual Tours

The National Gallery of Victoria recently launched a new interactive virtual tour experience for their collection.

So if you can’t make a trip to the gallery, let the National Gallery of Victoria envelop you in incredible artworks from around the world. The idea behind it is brilliant – you get to see what’s inside the museum without visiting it!

So whether you’re looking at a specific object (like a painting) or exploring an entire gallery, you can do so without being there in person.

Opening Hours

NGV is open seven days a week between 10 am and 5 pm and 10 am to 9 pm on Friday.

Best Art Tour in Melbourne NGV FAQs

Can you go to the NGV without booking?

Yes, you can go to the NGV without booking (or buying tickets online). However, walk-ins can be very stressful with long lines.

Is the NGV good for kids?

The NGV is a great venue for kids. It prides itself on being a place where families and students meet and discover.

Is there disabled access to the gallery?

Yes, there is. The NGV is wheelchair accessible has hearing loops and family rooms for mothers. Also, there are touch tours and audio guide tours.

Conclusion

There’s no better way to experience Melbourne’s art than with an expert guide who’s passionate about art! Let’s take you on a guided tour of the National Gallery of Victoria for the best art tour in Melbourne. Book now and get a chance to discover the art and architecture of Melbourne’s iconic NGV.