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Brisbane basks in glorious sunshine for most of the year.
However, it’s not just the great weather that makes Queensland’s capital such a fabulous place to visit. A dynamic arts scene, a fast evolving laneway culture, slick and sophisticated hotels and eateries, vibrant nightlife, and world-class shopping, are all part of the Brissy holiday package.
Brisbane also offers easy access to some of South East Queensland’s most beautiful landscapes. Popular day trip destinations include the Gold and Sunshine Coasts, Moreton Bay, the Gold Coast Hinterland, and Scenic Rim region.
This Brisbane city guide is packed with ideas for things to see and do. Enjoy your visit.
Watch our video of ten great things to do in Brisbane:
10 Amazing Things to Do in BRISBANE, Queensland, Australia, 2024 | Ultimate Brisbane Travel Guide
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Top ten things to do in Brisbane
- Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA)
- Museum of Brisbane
- South Bank Parklands and Wheel of Brisbane
- Mount Coot-Tha Summit Lookout
- City Sightseeing Tour
- CBD Walking Tour
- River Cruise to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
- City Botanic Gardens
- Story Bridge Climb
- Mount Tamborine Wine Tour
Top cultural activities in Brisbane
Culture vultures should make a bee-line for South Bank — Brisbane’s cultural epicentre, which is home to world-class performance spaces, arts facilities, and educational institutions.
Peruse the collection of 17,000-plus works of art at the Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA), spend an evening at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) taking in a stage show, or visit the Queensland Museum and learn about the region’s natural and human history.
Across town in New Farm, you’ll find the Brisbane Powerhouse. It’s been at the forefront of the city’s contemporary cultural scene for almost two decades, and features various performance and exhibition spaces in what was once a tram power station. Book a guided tour and get an all-round introduction to the intriguing structure.
Brisbane for history lovers
Habitation of the greater Brisbane region by the First People dates back over 40,000 years.
To learn more about white settlement and how it affected the local Indigenous population, pay a visit to kuril-dhagun at the State Library of Queensland. It’s a space where all Australians and visitors can engage with Aboriginal history, culture and ideas.
To experience the city’s colonial history, join a day tour to historic St Helena Island in Moreton Bay. The island was the site of a maximum-security men’s prison for 60 years from 1867. It’s now a national park. The cruise to the island departs from the bayside suburb of Manly, which is home to a plethora of bustling cafes, restaurants and boutiques. Get there early and enjoy a stroll before you board.
Back in town, the Museum of Brisbane at City Hall is a must-visit. Located on the imposing Neoclassical building’s roof and offering tours of the soaring clocktower in one of Brisbane’s oldest operating cage lifts, the museum showcases the city’s past, present and possible future through art and artefacts.
Great places to eat in Brisbane
Culinary confidence is at an all-time high in Brisbane.
Revitalised precincts such as the Howard Smith Wharves have injected renewed interest into the riverside social scene, with establishments like Mr Percival’s and Felons Brewing Co proving popular with tourists and locals alike.
The city’s swag of smart new hotels are setting the standard for restaurant dining. For possibly the best Greek food in town (along with a luxe decor and superb service), head to Hellenika at The Calile Hotel. You may also want to check out Kazba — Brisbane’s first Israeli-themed bar/restaurant — at the Ovolo Hotel on Ann Street. Over at the Emporium Hotel in South Bank, Belle Epoque offers French fare with flair.
For something a tad more casual, cruise downriver on a City Cat to Eat Street Northshore in Hamilton. This ‘world village’ of street food vendors is housed in 130 repurposed shipping containers. Enjoy the live entertainment on offer as you graze.
Brisbane has plenty of classic pubs offering good value pub grub. Stroll over the Story Bridge (or take a ferry from the city) to the famous Story Bridge Hotel in Kangaroo Point. The Breakfast Creek Hotel at Albion is another fine watering hole. It dates back to 1889 and is renowned for its steak menu.
Beautiful Mount Tamborine, conveniently located half-way between Brisbane and the Gold Coast, has lots of delicious surprises in store for visitors — including gourmet food producers and an array of picturesque wineries and cellar doors. A wine tour takes away the hassle of driving.
Where to shop in Brisbane
With more than 700 stores, Queen Street Mall is the centre of now when it comes to shopping in Brissy.
Here you’ll find all the big-name fashion brands, to suit every budget.
For upscale and up-and-coming designer labels, James Street in Fortitude Valley is lined with clothing and homeware stores that will impress seasoned shoppers. A short bus ride west of the city, Paddington is another treasure trove of independent boutiques, vintage shops and antiques outlets.
Shoppers with an eye for individuality will love The Collective Markets, held in Stanley Street Plaza in South Bank from Friday evening through to Sunday afternoon. Browse for original art, photographic prints, eclectic homewares, and trending clothing. For pre-loved fashion, Suitcase Rummage is well worth a look (check their website for dates and locations). Everything is sold out of open suitcases, and you’re sure to pull out something special.
Ways to relax in Brisbane
Brisbane offers plenty of things to do that will leave you feeling relaxed and rejuvenated.
Two of Australia’s most famous beach destinations — the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast — are only an hour’s drive away, but you don’t even have to go that far. Get some rays at Streets Beach in South Bank. It’s not often that you can laze in the sand right in the heart of a bustling city!
Afterwards, treat all five senses to a stroll through Epicurious Garden, or hop on the Wheel of Brisbane for sensational river and city views. It will ‘wow’ the kids, as will South Bank’s three fabulous playgrounds.
For another bird’s-eye view of South Bank and beyond, cross the river and make your up to the newly opened Sky Deck observation precinct at Queen’s Wharf. It’s home to several hospitality venues and the views are spectacular!
Nature lovers will find their happy place by hiking in the Mount Coot-tha Forest. The 2.4-kilometre Spotted Gum Trail starts at the Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mount Coot-tha and leads all the way up to the Summit Lookout. Enjoy yet more memorable views of the city and surrounding region, and relax over a light meal, coffee, ice cream, or glass of wine at the Summit Restaurant and Kiosk.
Cruising the mighty Brisbane River is another option for some quality R&R. The famous Koala Cruise from the city centre to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary has been popular with locals and visitors alike for decades.
The tranquil waters of beautiful Moreton Bay are also tantalisingly close to the city. Do a day trip out to North Stradbroke Island and see the bay at its best.
Need a place to stay?
The Calile Hotel
Add a tropical resort-style vibe to your Brisbane stay by checking into The Calile Hotel in Fortitude Valley. Holding court in James Street, this boutique beauty has a touch of 1950s Miami about it, and plenty of pizzazz!
The airy design, white brick archways, pastel colour palette and swaying palm trees give the hotel an easy and relaxed elegance. Choose from luxurious accommodation across 175 rooms. There’s an award-winning restaurant, an outdoor pool and lounge area, a day spa, and a handful of fashion boutiques. Many of Brisbane’s best cafes and restaurants are located nearby.
For more travel inspiration, visit www.visitbrisbane.com.au.
Browse our range of Brisbane tours and experiences here. We offer a Best Price Guarantee.
Do you have any tips to add to our Brisbane city guide? We would love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below.
Additional images: Bigstock
About the writer
Melinda Healy is an Australian-made journalist who enjoys roaming the globe and writing about it. She’s just returned to Australia after four years working in the media in Abu Dhabi, most recently as section editor of a weekly lifestyle newspaper supplement. Mel is a destination expert for Telegraph Travel and Culture Trip and has had bylines in The Times, The Independent, Etihad Airways’ Atlas online, Ultratravel Middle East, Conde Nast Traveller Middle East and The Upsider.
About the writer
Adam Ford is editor of Top Oz Tours & Travel Ideas, and a travel TV presenter, writer, blogger, and photographer. He has travelled extensively through Europe, Asia, North America, Africa, and the Middle East. Adam worked as a travel consultant for a number of years with Flight Centre before taking up the opportunity to travel the world himself as host of the TV series Tour the World on Network Ten. He loves to experience everything a new destination has to offer and is equally at home in a five-star Palazzo in Pisa or a home-stay in Hanoi.
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