Travel guide · Australia
Hobart travel guide
Sandstone waterfront, MONA and a mountain at the end of the street
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: File:Franklin Wharf 2015.jpg : Michael fromholtz derivative work: Georgfotoart, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Quick answer
Hobart is Australia's second-oldest capital, founded in 1804 on the Derwent estuary below kunanyi/Mount Wellington. Its Georgian sandstone warehouses at Salamanca Place, the cottages of Battery Point and the working fishing docks make the waterfront easy to explore on foot, while MONA, a ferry ride upriver, gives the city a cultural draw out of proportion to its size. It is also the base for Port Arthur, Bruny Island and Mount Field, and its food scene leans heavily on Tasmanian oysters, salmon, cool-climate wine and whisky. Plan 4 days for a first visit; the best months are December–March.
Key facts
- Country
- Australia
- Best time to visit
- December–March
- Ideal stay
- 4 days
- Main airports
- HBA
- Mid-range daily budget
- $180–$320 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- MONA, Salamanca Market, kunanyi/Mount Wellington and Convict heritage
Why visit Hobart
- MONA, one of Australia's most talked-about private museums, is reached by a 25-minute ferry from the city waterfront.
- The Saturday Salamanca Market fills a row of 1830s sandstone warehouses with Tasmanian produce, crafts and food stalls.
- kunanyi/Mount Wellington rises to 1,271 metres just above the city, with a sealed road to the summit lookout.
- Seafood is the local strength: oysters from nearby farms, flathead from the floating fish punts and scallop pies.
- Port Arthur, Bruny Island, Richmond and Mount Field are all within a day's drive.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 16 things to do.
Museum · Berriedale
MONA – Museum of Old and New Art
Built into a sandstone cliff on the Berriedale peninsula, David Walsh's private museum mixes ancient antiquities with provocative contemporary installations across three underground levels.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- Iconic
- Art
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Market · Salamanca
Salamanca Market
Every Saturday, a few hundred stalls line Salamanca Place in front of the sandstone warehouses, selling Tasmanian produce, Huon pine woodwork, knitwear, cheese, cider and street food.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Food
- Shopping
- Kids
Viewpoint · Wellington Park
kunanyi/Mount Wellington
The 1,271-metre mountain behind Hobart is reached by a 21 km sealed road to a summit lookout with views over the city, the Derwent and the D'Entrecasteaux Channel.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Views
- Free
- Outdoors
- Nature
Waterfront · Waterfront and CBD
Constitution Dock and the fish punts
Constitution Dock is the finishing point of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race and home to floating fish punts selling fish and chips, oysters and scallops straight from the boats.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- Kids
- Photo spot
- Iconic
Historic site · Salamanca
Salamanca Place
This row of Georgian sandstone warehouses was built in the 1830s and 1840s to store whale oil, grain and wool beside the port.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- After dark
Neighbourhood · Battery Point
Battery Point and Arthur Circus
Named after a gun battery built in 1818, Battery Point is a hill of colonial cottages, churches and pubs.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Couples
- Photo spot
Where to stay
Waterfront and CBD is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 6 areas.
$$$ · Best for first-timers, families and food lovers
Waterfront and CBD
Fishing docks, ferry piers and the compact grid of the city centre
$$$$ · Best for couples, culture, food lovers and luxury
Salamanca and Battery Point
Sandstone warehouses below a hill of 19th-century cottages
$$ · Best for food lovers, nightlife, budget and solo travellers
North Hobart
A strip of restaurants, pubs and an art-house cinema on Elizabeth Street
$$$ · Best for families, quiet stays and beach
Sandy Bay
Riverside suburb of the university, the casino and Long Beach
What to eat
- Tasmanian oysters — Pacific oysters farmed in the cold, clean waters of Pitt Water, Little Swanport and Bruny Island are briny and plump, served natural with lemon or lightly dressed.
- Scallop pie — A Tasmanian bakery speciality: whole scallops in a creamy, often curried, sauce inside a pie crust.
- Fish and chips — Flathead, blue-eye trevalla and other local fish fried to order and eaten by the water; scallops and calamari are common add-ons.
- Tasmanian salmon — Atlantic salmon farmed in Tasmanian waters appears on most menus smoked, cured or pan-roasted.
- Southern rock lobster — Tasmanians call rock lobster 'crayfish'; it is a celebration dish, simply grilled or served cold with mayonnaise.
- Leatherwood honey — A strongly floral honey made from the flowers of leatherwood trees that grow in Tasmania's western rainforests.
When to go
The best time to visit Hobart is December to March, when days are long and mild, festivals fill the waterfront and the sea is at its warmest. Autumn (April–May) brings calm weather and fewer crowds, while June is worth it for Dark Mofo if you can handle the cold.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Summer | December–February | Warm, long days with highs around 21–22°C, yacht-race celebrations and festivals; the busiest and priciest season. |
| Autumn | March–May | Calm, settled weather, autumn colour and the golden fagus at Mount Field; crowds and prices fall. |
| Winter | June–August | Cold, short days with snow on the mountain, but Dark Mofo in June and cosy pubs make it a distinctive time to visit. |
| Spring | September–November | Blossom, tulips and lengthening days, though windy, showery weather is typical until November. |
Getting there and around
Hobart Airport is about 17 km east of the city, roughly 20 minutes by car via the Tasman Bridge. An airport shuttle bus links to central hotels, and taxis, rideshare and hire cars are available at the terminal.
Central Hobart, Salamanca and Battery Point are walkable, although hilly. Metro Tasmania buses reach the suburbs, ferries cross the Derwent, and a car is the practical way to see the rest of southern Tasmania.
Plan your days
Two days covers the waterfront, Battery Point, MONA and the mountain. Four days lets you add Port Arthur and Bruny Island; a week allows a loop to Freycinet or the Tasman Peninsula with a night away.
Practical information
- Currency
- AUD
- Language
- English
- Plugs
- Type I sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe and good to drink.
- Emergency number
- 000 (police, fire, ambulance)
- Tipping
- Tipping is not expected in Australia because wages are higher.
Hobart is generally a low-stress city for visitors. The main risks are outdoors: sudden weather changes on kunanyi and walking tracks, cold water at the beaches and wildlife on rural roads after dark. Strong UV means sunburn happens quickly even on cool days.
Flights to Hobart
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Hobart?
Two days covers the waterfront, Battery Point, MONA and the mountain. Four days lets you add Port Arthur and Bruny Island; a week allows a loop to Freycinet or the Tasman Peninsula with a night away. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Hobart?
The best time to visit Hobart is December to March, when days are long and mild, festivals fill the waterfront and the sea is at its warmest. Autumn (April–May) brings calm weather and fewer crowds, while June is worth it for Dark Mofo if you can handle the cold.
+What is Hobart known for?
MONA, Salamanca Market, kunanyi/Mount Wellington, Convict heritage, Seafood and oysters, Tasmanian whisky and Dark Mofo. MONA, one of Australia's most talked-about private museums, is reached by a 25-minute ferry from the city waterfront.
+Is Hobart expensive?
Hobart is expensive for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $180–$320 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Hobart?
Not for the city itself, which you can cover on foot, by bus and ferry. A car is strongly recommended for day trips; most of southern Tasmania's highlights have little or no public transport.