The NGV, explained: two buildings, free entry, one great day
The National Gallery of Victoria is the busiest gallery in the country and its general entry is free. Here is how its two sites work and how to plan a visit.
The short answer: the National Gallery of Victoria runs two buildings, general entry to both is free, and they open daily from 10am to 5pm. NGV International sits at 180 St Kilda Road, just south of the river; The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia is at Federation Square in the heart of the city. Only special ticketed exhibitions carry an entry fee.
The NGV is the oldest and one of the most-visited public art galleries in Australia, and the free general admission makes it one of the best-value days out in the city, whether you have an afternoon or twenty minutes between other things.
What is the difference between the two buildings?
NGV International, on St Kilda Road, holds the international collection, work from across the world and the centuries, in the large modernist building known for its water wall at the entrance. It is the bigger of the two sites and the one most visitors picture when they think of the NGV.
The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, at Federation Square, is devoted to Australian art, including a significant collection of work by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists. It is a short walk across the river from the St Kilda Road building, so you can pair the two in a single day if you want the full sweep.
How much does it cost and when is it open?
General entry to both buildings is free. Both are open daily from 10am to 5pm, with reduced hours on Anzac Day, when they open from 1pm, and closure on Christmas Day.
The one thing to check before you go is whether there is a major temporary exhibition on. These blockbuster shows are ticketed and often need booking ahead, especially at weekends, but the permanent collections that make up most of each building remain free to walk into.
How should you plan a visit?
Do not try to see everything. Both collections are large, and the pleasure of a free gallery is that you can come back, so pick a floor or a theme and give it proper attention rather than marching through. If you only have time for one building, choose by interest: international work at St Kilda Road, Australian and Indigenous art at Federation Square.
Because opening hours can vary around public holidays and exhibition seasons, confirm the day’s hours and any ticketed shows on the NGV’s own visit page before you travel.