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How Headout makes choosing experiences effortless

We curate the best ways to experience

We research and organise all unique experiences - from tickets to tours to special combos - so you get all the choices without the clutter.

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Overview

  • Ways to explore: The National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) is Australia's oldest and most visited art museum. While entry to the permanent collection at NGV International and The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia is free, tickets are required for blockbuster exhibitions, exclusive installations, and select special events. Exhibition tickets provide timed entry, allowing you to explore at your own pace.
  • Additional access: Exhibition tickets include admission to your selected temporary exhibition. During your visit, you can also enjoy NGV International's permanent galleries at no extra cost. Selected talks, guided tours, workshops, and after-hours events may require separate bookings.
  • Unique experiences: NGV hosts internationally acclaimed exhibitions featuring celebrated artists, fashion houses, museums, and private collections from around the world. Alongside these rotating exhibitions, visitors can discover more than 75,000 works spanning European masters, Asian art, Indigenous Australian art, photography, fashion, decorative arts, and contemporary design.
  • Queues & access: Entry to the permanent galleries is generally quick, while popular exhibitions can attract queues during weekends, Victorian school holidays, and the final weeks of their run. Timed-entry tickets help manage visitor numbers and reduce waiting times.
  • When to book: Special exhibitions frequently sell out—particularly weekend sessions and school holiday dates. Booking online in advance is recommended to secure your preferred entry time.
  • Good to know: Most visitors spend around 2 to 4 hours exploring NGV International, while blockbuster exhibitions often require an additional 60 to 90 minutes. The gallery is fully wheelchair accessible and offers cafés, a restaurant, lockers, a gift shop, baby-changing facilities, and free Wi-Fi.
  • Best upgrade: Choose tickets for NGV's latest blockbuster exhibition to experience internationally touring artworks that are often displayed exclusively in Melbourne.
International art collections
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International art collections

Explore one of Australia's largest art collections featuring European paintings, Asian masterpieces, decorative arts, photography, fashion, design, and contemporary works spread across multiple gallery levels.

World-class special exhibitions

Experience internationally acclaimed exhibitions featuring renowned artists, prestigious museums, luxury fashion houses, and exclusive collections that rarely travel to Australia.

Current and upcoming exhibitions

The Great Hall

Relax beneath Leonard French's iconic stained-glass ceiling—one of Melbourne's most recognisable public artworks and a favourite gathering space within the gallery.

Contemporary art & design

Discover thought-provoking installations, sculptures, multimedia works, contemporary Australian artists, architecture, furniture, and industrial design across dedicated galleries.

Fashion & decorative arts

Browse exhibitions showcasing haute couture, jewellery, textiles, ceramics, glass, furniture, and decorative arts from different cultures and historical periods.

Plan your visit

Iconic architecture & sculpture garden

Walk through NGV's famous Water Wall entrance before exploring the surrounding sculpture garden, outdoor installations, and peaceful public spaces overlooking St Kilda Road.

  • Choose the right ticket: Entry to NGV International's permanent collection is free. Tickets are only required for paid exhibitions such as Cartier, Women Photographers 1900–1975: A Legacy of Light, French Impressionism, Westwood | Kawakubo, Martin Grant, Ragnar Kjartansson: Mercy, as well as experiences like NGV Friday Nights, Best of NGV Guided Tours, and dining packages that include exhibition entry.
  • Book early for special exhibitions: Major exhibitions and evening experiences, particularly Cartier, French Impressionism, and NGV Friday Nights, are timed-entry experiences and frequently sell out during weekends, school holidays, and peak travel seasons. Booking online in advance is recommended to secure your preferred date and timeslot.
  • Know what's included: Exhibition tickets include entry to your selected paid exhibition along with access to NGV International's permanent galleries. Guided tour tickets include a one-hour expert-led tour of either NGV International or NGV Australia, while dining experiences combine exhibition admission with high tea or a Garden Restaurant lunch.
  • Choose the experience that suits you: If you're visiting for a major exhibition, opt for an exhibition ticket. Choose the Best of NGV Guided Tour for expert insights into the permanent collection, NGV Friday Nights for after-hours access with live music and entertainment, or pair your gallery visit with High Tea or a Garden Restaurant Lunch for a more leisurely experience.
  • Plan your visit: Enter NGV International via the main entrance on St Kilda Road. Paid exhibition visitors should proceed to the designated exhibition entrance after ticket validation. Security screening and bag checks may be conducted before entry.
  • Visiting with family: NGV is suitable for visitors of all ages, with spacious galleries, family-friendly facilities, accessible routes, and seasonal children's programs. Family ticket options are also available for selected exhibitions such as Ragnar Kjartansson: Mercy.
  • Accessibility: NGV International is fully wheelchair accessible with lifts, ramps, accessible restrooms, hearing loops, sensory resources for selected exhibitions, and assistance for visitors with mobility or accessibility requirements. Assistance dogs are welcome throughout the gallery.
  • Gallery policies: Large bags and suitcases must be left outside exhibition spaces. Food and drinks are not permitted inside galleries. Flash photography, tripods, selfie sticks, and professional filming equipment are prohibited in most exhibitions, and photography restrictions may apply for selected exhibitions due to lender requirements.

Your guide to National Gallery of Victoria tickets

Ticket typeIncludesWhy pick thisRecommended forPrice from

Women Photographers 1900–1975: A Legacy of Light Tickets

Timed entry to the exhibition and access to NGV International

Explore over 300 photographs, prints, photobooks, and magazines by pioneering women photographers from around the world.

Photography enthusiasts, history lovers, and visitors interested in women's contributions to modern art.

AU$25

Melbourne Winter Masterpieces® Cartier Exhibition Tickets

Timed entry to the Cartier exhibition and access to NGV International

Discover more than 300 extraordinary Cartier creations, including iconic jewels, watches, gemstones, and archival design drawings spanning over a century of craftsmanship.

Luxury enthusiasts, jewellery lovers, design aficionados, and first-time NGV visitors.

AU$43

French Impressionism Exhibition Tickets

Timed entry to the French Impressionism exhibition and NGV International

See masterpieces by Monet, Renoir, Degas, Pissarro, Sisley, Morisot, and other Impressionist masters in one of Australia's landmark international exhibitions.

Fans of Impressionist art, first-time NGV visitors, and international art lovers.

AU$39

Westwood | Kawakubo Exhibition Tickets

Entry to the Westwood | Kawakubo fashion exhibition and NGV International

Discover the groundbreaking designs of Vivienne Westwood and Rei Kawakubo through couture garments, sketches, and immersive fashion displays.

Fashion enthusiasts, design students, and contemporary art lovers.

$40 AUD

Martin Grant Exhibition Tickets

Entry to the Martin Grant exhibition and NGV International

Explore the elegant creations of acclaimed Australian designer Martin Grant through couture garments, sketches, archival material, and exclusive displays.

Fashion lovers, Australian design enthusiasts, and visitors interested in haute couture.

$25 AUD

Ragnar Kjartansson: Mercy Exhibition Tickets

Timed entry to the Mercy exhibition and access to NGV International

Experience immersive video installations blending music, theatre, humour, and performance by one of the world's leading contemporary artists.

Contemporary art lovers, families, and visitors interested in immersive multimedia exhibitions.

AU$25

Best of NGV Guided Tour

One-hour guided tour of NGV International or NGV Australia with expert storyteller and audio headset

Discover the gallery's highlights with expert commentary, learning the stories, symbolism, and history behind iconic artworks without planning your own route.

First-time visitors, travellers short on time, and anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the NGV collection.

AU$35

NGV Friday Nights: Cartier Exhibition Tickets

Evening admission to NGV Friday Nights with entry to the Cartier and Ragnar Kjartansson exhibitions, plus live entertainment

Experience NGV after hours with blockbuster exhibitions, live music, DJs, and the option to enjoy food and drinks in a vibrant evening atmosphere.

Couples, after-work visitors, and anyone looking for a unique cultural night out.

AU$50

High Tea at The Tea Room + Exhibition

High Tea at The Tea Room with exhibition entry (as per ticket selected)

Pair a visit to a major exhibition with an elegant high tea featuring sweet and savoury treats in the iconic Tea Room.

Couples, special occasions, and visitors looking for a relaxed cultural afternoon.

$65

Garden Restaurant Lunch + Exhibition

Two-course lunch at the Garden Restaurant with exhibition entry (as per ticket selected)

Combine world-class art with a seasonal dining experience overlooking the NGV Garden for a leisurely half-day visit.

Food lovers, leisurely travellers, and visitors wanting a complete art and dining experience.

AU$78
Stained-glass ceiling by Leonard French at National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne.
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The Great Hall

The heart of NGV International, this soaring space is famous for Leonard French's stained-glass ceiling, one of Australia's most iconic public artworks. Visitors often lie on the floor beneath it to admire its colourful geometric design.

International Collection

Explore artworks spanning the Middle Ages to the present day, featuring European masterpieces, Impressionist paintings, modern art, sculpture, and decorative arts. Highlights include works by Rembrandt, Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso, Francis Bacon, Auguste Rodin, and Giambattista Tiepolo.

Asian Art Galleries

Discover one of Australia's finest collections of Asian art, including Chinese ceramics, Japanese screens, Buddhist sculpture, Indian miniature paintings, Korean decorative arts, and Southeast Asian treasures.

Contemporary Art Galleries

See thought-provoking installations, multimedia works, photography, sculpture, and contemporary artworks by Australian and international artists that explore modern social, political, and cultural themes.

Fashion & Textiles Gallery

Browse exhibitions showcasing haute couture, designer fashion, jewellery, textiles, and accessories from leading international and Australian designers. NGV is renowned for its blockbuster fashion exhibitions.

Decorative Arts & Design Galleries

Explore beautifully crafted furniture, ceramics, glass, silverware, metalwork, and decorative objects that trace centuries of craftsmanship and design innovation from around the world.

Photography Galleries

View rotating displays of historic and contemporary photography, featuring influential Australian and international photographers across a range of styles and periods.

From Hokusai to Picasso: NGV’s Must-see artworks

Cleopatra at a banquet table with attendants, National Gallery of Victoria.

The Banquet of Cleopatra by Giambattista Tiepolo (1743) | Level 2, European Art Galleries

A dramatic Old Master painting, famed for its opulence and storytelling, and one of NGV’s most celebrated highlights.

Weeping Woman painting by Picasso at National Gallery of Victoria.
The Great Wave off Kanagawa by Hokusai, displayed at National Gallery of Victoria.
Abstract painting "Big Yam Dreaming" by Kwementyay Kngwarreye at National Gallery of Victoria.
Stained-glass ceiling by Leonard French at National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne.

General admission to NGV's permanent galleries is free. Paid tickets include timed entry to selected temporary exhibitions and special events.

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