Brisbane, Australia: travel guide
A sunny river city with a laid-back South Bank spirit
The Sunshine City — a vibrant riverside capital known for year-round climate, South Bank Parklands, and laid-back culture.
About Brisbane
Brisbane sits on a looping river in south-east Queensland, and much of its appeal comes from living outdoors. South Bank Parklands, with its swimming lagoon, riverside gardens and cafes, is the natural starting point, and a CityCat ferry is an easy way to see the rest.
Things to do in Brisbane include the galleries and museum around the cultural precinct, a climb up Mount Coot-tha for the city view, and a visit to a koala sanctuary. The coast and the islands of Moreton Bay are a short trip away.
The city suits relaxed, mild-weather travel and works well as a base for Queensland. The best time to visit Brisbane is the drier, sunny months from roughly May to October, when the humidity eases.
- Country
- Australia
- Currency
- AUD
- Time zone
- Australia/Brisbane
- Nearest airport
- BNE
Last updated
Top places to visit in Brisbane
Brisbane City Hall & Museum of Brisbane
civic-building · 4.5 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
A grand 1930 sandstone civic building with a clock-tower viewing platform and the free Museum of Brisbane.
Story Bridge
landmark · 4.7 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
Brisbane's heritage steel cantilever bridge over the river — walk it, or take the summit adventure climb for city views.
Fortitude Valley & Chinatown
neighbourhood · 3.6 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate
Brisbane's entertainment quarter — the Chinatown Mall, live-music venues, laneway bars and a thriving dining scene.
Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
wildlife-sanctuary · 4.6 rating · about 3 h · entry $55 (≈ ₹3,660)
The world's first and largest koala sanctuary — hold a koala, hand-feed kangaroos and see platypus and Tasmanian devils.
Queensland Museum
natural-history · 4.6 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
The state museum of natural history and culture, home to Muttaburrasaurus and the Sciencentre, in the Cultural Precinct.
Mount Coot-tha Lookout
lookout · 4.7 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
A hilltop lookout with panoramic views over Brisbane to Moreton Bay, best at sunset, with a cafe and botanic gardens below.
Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA)
art-gallery · 4.6 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
Australia's largest gallery of modern and contemporary art, part of the riverside Cultural Precinct — free entry.
Howard Smith Wharves
riverside-precinct · 4.6 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
A revived riverside precinct under the Story Bridge with a brewery, restaurants, bars and events on the water.
New Farm Park
park · 4.7 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
A riverside park famed for its jacaranda avenues and rose gardens, next to the Brisbane Powerhouse arts centre.
City Botanic Gardens
garden · 4.7 rating · about 1.3 h · check the fee at the gate
Brisbane's oldest gardens on a river bend beside the CBD — subtropical plantings, ancient trees and riverside paths.
South Bank Parklands
parkland · 4.8 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
Riverfront parkland with rainforest boardwalks, the Wheel of Brisbane and the man-made Streets Beach lagoon.
Streets Beach
lagoon · 4.7 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate
Australia's only inner-city, man-made swimming beach — a sandy lagoon fringed by palms in the heart of South Bank.
Things to do
- Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary River Cruise Tour · 5 h · from AUD 99 per person
- Story Bridge Adventure Climb Adventure · 2.5 h · from AUD 139 per person
- Tangalooma Moreton Island Day Trip Tour · 10 h · from AUD 149 per person
- Brisbane River City Sightseeing Cruise Cruise · 1.5 h · from AUD 35 per person
- Wheel of Brisbane Ride Activity · 0.5 h · from AUD 22 per person
- North Stradbroke Island Day Tour Tour · 9 h · from AUD 135 per person
Day trips and tours
- Brisbane City & Lone Pine Koalas 6 h · from AUD 129
Where to stay in Brisbane
- South Bank about AUD 3,500 per night
Cultural precinct with accommodation
- Fortitude Valley about AUD 195 per night
Brisbane's nightlife and dining hub — Chinatown, live-music venues and boutique hotels.
Hotels
- Emporium Hotel South Bank 5-star · AUD 350 to AUD 850 per night
- The Fantauzzo 5-star · AUD 280 to AUD 600 per night
- Brisbane City YHA 3-star · AUD 40 to AUD 150 per night
- Ovolo The Valley 4-star · AUD 210 to AUD 420 per night
- ibis Styles Brisbane Elizabeth Street 3-star · AUD 140 to AUD 260 per night
Where to eat
- Otto Ristorante Brisbane Italian · about AUD 110 per person
- Gerard's Bistro Middle Eastern · about AUD 90 per person
- Felons Brewing Co. Australian, Pub · about AUD 55 per person
- Greca Greek · about AUD 80 per person
- Julius Pizzeria Italian, Pizza · about AUD 45 per person
- The Charming Squire Pub, Australian · about AUD 40 per person
Getting to Brisbane
Airport: Brisbane (BNE)
How visitors arrive in Brisbane
- Flights to Brisbane Airport By air · common
Brisbane Airport is the main gateway with flights from all Australian capitals and some international routes. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
- Train to Roma Street By train from Sydney · common
NSW TrainLink runs from Sydney and Queensland Rail serves most Queensland centres. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
- Coach or drive via the Pacific Motorway By road from Sydney / Gold Coast · common
Long-distance coaches use the Brisbane Transit Centre; the Pacific Motorway links the Gold Coast and NSW. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
- Cruise ship By ferry · possible
The international cruise terminal is at Pinkenba. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
From the airport to the centre
- Airtrain to the city
Airtrain is the dedicated rail link from Brisbane Airport into the city and beyond. Its ticketing is separate from the standard network fares, so check the operator before travelling. Source: bne.com.au
- Taxi or Uber/DiDi from the airport
Taxis and ride-hail (Uber and DiDi) serve the airport. Confirm your destination with the driver before setting off. Source: bne.com.au
Getting around
- Bus useful for some trips
Buses serve Brisbane on many routes, some on dedicated busways, run by Transport for Brisbane and private operators.
- Ferry useful for some trips
CityCat catamarans run along the Brisbane River from the University of Queensland at St Lucia to Northshore Hamilton, with many stops between.
- Train useful for some trips
Queensland Rail's Citytrain network links the centre of Brisbane with suburbs on many lines, and a separate airport line serves Brisbane Airport.
- Walking
Paying
- Contactless Visa or Mastercard and phone wallets work on public transport; touch on and off for each trip. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
Safety and scams to avoid
Backpacker job-deposit
Major tourist zones
Online "casual work" offer demands $50–200 deposit for "uniform/training"; job doesn't exist.
How to avoid it: Never pay deposit for a job before starting. Use official jobactive portal.
Best time to visit Brisbane
- Jan 30°C
- Feb 30°C
- Mar 29°C
- Apr 27°C
- May 25°C
- Jun 22°C
- Jul 22°C
- Aug 24°C
- Sep 26°C
- Oct 27°C
- Nov 28°C
- Dec 30°C
More in Australia
Frequently asked questions about Brisbane
- What are the top-rated places to visit in Brisbane?
- The highest-rated places in our Brisbane guide are South Bank Parklands, Story Bridge, Mount Coot-tha Lookout, New Farm Park, City Botanic Gardens.
- Where should I stay in Brisbane?
- Our guide covers these areas to stay in Brisbane: South Bank, Fortitude Valley.
- How do I get around Brisbane?
- Ways to get around Brisbane covered in our guide: City bus, Ferry, Train, Walking.
- What scams should I watch out for in Brisbane?
- Scams reported to us for Brisbane include Backpacker job-deposit. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.
- What is the weather like in Brisbane?
- Average daytime highs in Brisbane run from 22°C in Jul to 30°C in Jan.
- Which airport is nearest to Brisbane?
- The nearest airport to Brisbane has the code BNE.