Travel guide · Australia
Brisbane travel guide
Subtropical river city of CityCat ferries, free galleries and koalas
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Chris Olszewski, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Quick answer
Brisbane, Meanjin, winds along a looping river in southeast Queensland, with a compact CBD on one bend and the South Bank cultural precinct facing it across the water. CityCat ferries link riverside neighbourhoods from New Farm to the University of Queensland, and the Queensland Art Gallery, Gallery of Modern Art and Queensland Museum are free to enter. The climate is warm and sunny most of the year, so life happens outdoors: Streets Beach lagoon, riverside walks, the Kangaroo Point Cliffs and beer gardens. The Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Moreton Bay islands are all within about 90 minutes. Plan 4 days for a first visit; the best months are April–June and August–October.
Key facts
- Country
- Australia
- Best time to visit
- April–June and August–October
- Ideal stay
- 4 days
- Main airports
- BNE
- Mid-range daily budget
- $150–$260 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Brisbane River and CityCats, South Bank, Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary and Story Bridge
Why visit Brisbane
- The Queensland Art Gallery, the Gallery of Modern Art and the Queensland Museum sit side by side at South Bank, with free general entry.
- Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, opened in 1927, lets you see koalas, kangaroos and platypus about 12 km from the city centre.
- CityCat ferries make a cheap river cruise past the Story Bridge, Kangaroo Point Cliffs and Queenslander houses.
- Mild, dry winters with daytime highs around 21–23°C make it an easy escape when southern Australia is cold.
- Beaches and rainforest on the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, Tamborine Mountain and the Moreton Bay islands are all day-trip distance.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 16 things to do.
Park · South Bank
South Bank Parklands and Streets Beach
Seventeen hectares of riverside parkland built on the World Expo 88 site, centred on Streets Beach, a free lifeguarded lagoon with sand and palm trees across the river from the skyline.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Iconic
- Outdoors
- Couples
Zoo · Fig Tree Pocket
Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
Founded in 1927, Lone Pine is the world's oldest koala sanctuary, with well over 100 koalas, a free-roaming kangaroo reserve where you can hand-feed eastern grey kangaroos, platypus, wombats and birds of prey shows.
- Time needed
- 3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Iconic
- Nature
- Outdoors
Landmark · Kangaroo Point
Story Bridge
Opened in 1940, this steel cantilever bridge links Kangaroo Point with Fortitude Valley and is the city's signature landmark, lit in changing colours at night.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes; 2.5 hours to climb
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Iconic
- After dark
- Architecture
Experience · Brisbane River
CityCat river ferry
Sleek catamaran ferries run the length of the city's river reaches from the University of Queensland to Northshore Hamilton, passing South Bank, the CBD, the Story Bridge and New Farm.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Views
- Kids
- Couples
Gallery · South Bank
Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA)
Australia's largest gallery of modern and contemporary art sits on the river at Kurilpa Point, known for its large-scale installations, the Asia Pacific Triennial and a strong Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander collection.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Art
- Free
- Rainy day
- Kids
- Architecture
Gallery · South Bank
Queensland Art Gallery
The older half of QAGOMA displays Australian, European and Asian art from colonial landscapes to Indigenous works around a calm Watermall.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Art
- Free
- Rainy day
Where to stay
Brisbane CBD is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 8 areas.
$$$ · Best for first-timers, shopping and solo travellers
Brisbane CBD
Queen Street Mall, sandstone heritage buildings and riverside gardens
$$$ · Best for families, first-timers, culture and couples
South Bank
Riverside parklands, Streets Beach lagoon and the Queensland Cultural Centre
$$ · Best for nightlife, food lovers, budget and solo travellers
Fortitude Valley
Bars, live music, Chinatown and the James Street dining strip
$$$ · Best for couples, food lovers, quiet stays and families
New Farm
Leafy riverside suburb of Queenslander houses, New Farm Park and the Powerhouse
What to eat
- Moreton Bay bugs — A local slipper lobster with sweet, firm meat, served grilled with garlic butter, in pasta or on seafood platters.
- Mud crab — Large Queensland mud crabs caught in mangrove estuaries, cooked with chilli or black pepper or simply steamed, and sold by weight.
- Tropical fruit — Mangoes (especially the Kensington Pride, or 'Bowen' mango), lychees, pineapples and custard apples grown in Queensland are cheap and abundant in season, with mangoes at their peak around Christmas.
- Lamington — Squares of sponge cake dipped in chocolate and rolled in desiccated coconut, said to be named after Lord Lamington, a Governor of Queensland around 1900.
- XXXX beer — Queensland's best-known lager has been brewed at the Castlemaine Perkins brewery in Milton for generations; Brisbane also has a large craft-brewery scene in Newstead and West End.
- Greek food in West End — Brisbane's Greek community has made West End the place for souvlaki, grilled octopus, spanakopita and loukoumades (honey doughnuts).
When to go
The best time to visit Brisbane is April to June and August to October, when days are warm, sunny and dry and nights are comfortable. Winter (June to August) is mild enough for outdoor sightseeing. Summer (December to March) is hot and humid with heavy storms, though still fine for galleries and the lagoon.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Summer | December–February | Hot and humid with afternoon storms and the year's heaviest rain; busy school holidays in January. |
| Autumn | March–May | Humidity eases into warm, sunny, drier days — May is one of the most pleasant months. |
| Winter | June–August | Mild, dry and sunny with cool nights; peak season for visitors escaping southern winters. |
| Spring | September–November | Warm days, Brisbane Festival and Riverfire in September, and jacarandas from late October. |
Getting there and around
Brisbane Airport is about 15 km northeast of the city. The Airtrain runs from the domestic and international terminals to Central and Roma Street in about 20–25 minutes, and continues to the Gold Coast line. Taxis and ride-hails take about 20–30 minutes outside peak hours.
Inner Brisbane is walkable and well served by Translink's buses, trains and ferries on one fare system. The CityCat and CityHopper ferries are the most enjoyable way to move along the river.
Plan your days
Two days covers South Bank, the galleries, a CityCat ride and Lone Pine. Four days adds Mount Coot-tha, a neighbourhood evening in Fortitude Valley or West End and a day trip to the Gold Coast, Tamborine Mountain or North Stradbroke Island.
Practical information
- Currency
- AUD
- Language
- English
- Plugs
- Type I sockets (angled two-pin), 230 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe to drink, and many parks have public water fountains.
- Emergency number
- 000 (police, fire and ambulance); 112 from mobiles
- Tipping
- Tipping is not expected in Australia.
Brisbane is generally safe for visitors. The main hazards are sunburn, heat and summer thunderstorms; avoid flooded roads and paths after heavy rain. Fortitude Valley can get rowdy late on weekend nights.
Flights to Brisbane
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Brisbane?
Two days covers South Bank, the galleries, a CityCat ride and Lone Pine. Four days adds Mount Coot-tha, a neighbourhood evening in Fortitude Valley or West End and a day trip to the Gold Coast, Tamborine Mountain or North Stradbroke Island. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Brisbane?
The best time to visit Brisbane is April to June and August to October, when days are warm, sunny and dry and nights are comfortable. Winter (June to August) is mild enough for outdoor sightseeing. Summer (December to March) is hot and humid with heavy storms, though still fine for galleries and the lagoon.
+What is Brisbane known for?
Brisbane River and CityCats, South Bank, Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, Story Bridge, Subtropical weather, QAGOMA and Gateway to the Gold and Sunshine coasts. The Queensland Art Gallery, the Gallery of Modern Art and the Queensland Museum sit side by side at South Bank, with free general entry.
+Is Brisbane expensive?
Brisbane is expensive for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $150–$260 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Brisbane?
Not for the city, where ferries, trains and buses cover the main sights. A car is useful for Tamborine Mountain, Lamington National Park, the Glass House Mountains and Noosa.