In 2015, Australia’s second largest city was named the world’s most liveable city.

It was the fifth year in a row that Melbourne has taken out the title as derived from The Economist magazine’s annual liveability study. Travellers often leave the city wanting to live there, and while American students at AIC are on their ‘winter break’ each year over Christmas, Australians are in the midst of summer enjoying the very best the city has to offer.

For travellers, the city isn’t missing anything, and summertime is the perfect time to visit. Melbourne’s food culture is notoriously world class, bringing international acclaim. The diversity of cultures creates buzzing vibes and the laneway networks filled with cafès, boutique shops and street art are unique to the city. Widely regarded as the sporting capital of Australia, Melbourne offers up endless sporting events at its world-class venues. Whatever it is you like, Melbourne has it.

Perhaps most notable for Melbourne is the café culture that people speak so wildly about. Melbourne is home to a ridiculous amount of amazing cafès offering up delicious food and coffee brewed to near-perfection. The best part about Melbourne is that you could find a top-rated café miles out of the city centre. 30 minutes out of the city centre is ‘Middle Street Food & Coffee’ which serves up delightful food and equally good coffee in the heart of Melbourne’s northern suburbs.

If you find yourself inner city or actually in the CBD finding a good coffee and food is an easy task. There are numerous websites, like a website called ‘Broadsheet Melbourne’ which lists restaurants and places to eat and go by area.

The famous laneways are not to miss if you find yourself in Melbourne. Hosier lane is world-famous for the street-art and a photo opportunity should not go begging. There are boutique shops in many of the hidden laneways where you can buy something unique to Melbourne and Australia. Travellers often find themselves lost in Melbourne’s network.

Of course another huge part of the Australian summer is sport. During the summer months, Australia is home to a massive amount of sport. Australia’s top-flight soccer league is played out during summer, with teams competing for the A-League title. The new, big league is Australia’s domestic ‘Twenty20’ cricket league in which the world’s best cricketers often play in at world class venues in Melbourne – the Melbourne Cricket Ground and Etihad stadium. It is an abbreviated, shorter and exciting game of cricket which recently entertained a crowd of more than 80,000 people.

Of course, in January Melbourne is home to the Australian Open, the year’s first tennis Grand Slam event. Other sporting events during the summer include the women’s professional soccer league (W-League) and cricket league (Women’s Big Bash League) and many more.

If the hot weather is bothering you, there is no shortage of places to cool off. Melbourne’s proximity to beaches is a huge reason so many people love to live there. The bay beaches are not the cleanest but if you’re looking to cool down and lie in the sun, they are perfect. Williamstown beach is only a 20-minute drive from the CBD and offers city views from the beach itself and also has a lovely selection of shops and places to eat and drink. Brighton beach is famous for its colourful ‘Beach boxes’ and is another lovely spot.

Further out from the city are ocean beaches and more bay beaches. A popular spot recently is a spot called ‘The Pillars’ where you can relax on the rocks and then jump into the clear, refreshing water.

Travellers cannot miss out on a day trip to see the famous ‘Twelve Apostles’ on the famed Great Ocean Road. It is truly a sight to see, with the brutal waves of the ocean whipping against the stand alone limestone ‘apostles’ with the dense trees of the Port Campbell National Park surrounding the area.

Melbourne is truly a wonderful city and in the summertime there is no better time to visit. It should definitely be on everyone’s list of places to go and see. There is no other city that has its diversity, culture, nightlife and sporting culture. Visitors will leave understanding why it is the world’s most liveable city.