Brisbane

Subtropical river city with the Gold Coast on its doorstep.

Relaxed, sunny and outdoorsy, Brisbane is built along a winding river with a swimming lagoon in the middle of town. Koalas, islands and the Gold Coast’s surf beaches are all within easy reach.

Best time to visit: April to October for warm days and low humidity. Language: English. Currency: Australian dollar (AUD).

Did you know?

Brisbane will host the 2032 Summer Olympic Games.
Lone Pine, opened in 1927, is the world’s first and largest koala sanctuary.
Streets Beach at South Bank is a man-made lagoon beach in the middle of the city.

Things to do in Brisbane

City Botanic Gardens (Botanic garden): The City Botanic Gardens is a heritage-listed botanic garden on Alice Street in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary (Zoo): Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is an 18-hectare koala sanctuary in the Brisbane suburb of Fig Tree Pocket in Queensland, Australia.
Queensland Museum (Museum): The Queensland Museum is the state museum of Queensland, funded by the Queensland Government, of natural history, cultural heritage, science and human achievement.
Gallery of Modern Art (Art museum): The Gallery of Modern Art is an art museum located within the Queensland Cultural Centre in the South Bank precinct of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Cathedral of St Stephen, Brisbane (Cathedral, free): The Cathedral of St Stephen is the heritage-listed cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane and seat of its archbishop in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Queensland Art Gallery (Art museum): The Queensland Art Gallery is an art museum located in South Bank, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Fort Lytton National Park (National park): Fort Lytton National Park is a national park in Lytton, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Museum of Brisbane (Museum): The Museum of Brisbane is a history and art museum in Brisbane, Australia.
South Bank Parklands (Park, free): The South Bank Parklands are located at South Bank within the suburb of South Brisbane in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Mount Coot-tha (Botanic garden): The Brisbane Botanic Gardens are located 7 kilometres from the Brisbane CBD at the foot of Brisbane's tallest mountain, Mount Coot-tha in the suburb of Mount Coot-tha, Queensland, Australia.
King George Square (Square, free): King George Square is a public square located between Adelaide Street and Ann Street in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Holy Name Cathedral, Brisbane (Cathedral, free): The Holy Name Cathedral was a planned but never-built Roman Catholic cathedral for the city of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
ANZAC Square (Square, free): ANZAC Square is a heritage-listed town square and war memorial located between Ann Street and Adelaide Street, in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Brisbane Synagogue (Historic site): The Brisbane Synagogue is a Modern Orthodox Jewish congregation and heritage-listed synagogue, located at 98 Margaret Street, Brisbane City, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
St. Andrew's Uniting Church, Brisbane (Church, free): St Andrew's Uniting Church is a heritage-listed Uniting church at 131 Creek Street, Brisbane CBD, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Queensland Performing Arts Centre (Concert hall): The Queensland Performing Arts Centre is a performing arts centre located on the corner of Melbourne Street and Grey Street in Brisbane's South Bank precinct.
Victoria Park, Brisbane (Park, free): Victoria Park, also known by its Turrbal name of Barrambin, is a heritage-listed park located in Spring Hill and Herston in Brisbane, Australia.
New Farm Park (Park, free): New Farm Park is a heritage-listed riverfront public park at 137 Sydney Street, New Farm, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Mowbraytown Presbyterian Church (Historic site): The Mowbraytown Presbyterian Church is a heritage-listed former Presbyterian and Uniting church and associated precinct at 22–28 Mowbray Terrace, East Brisbane, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Diamantina Health Care Museum (Historic site): The former Dispenser's House of Diamantina Hospital is now the heritage-listed Diamantina Health Care Museum at Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Ann Street Presbyterian Church (Church, free): Ann Street Presbyterian Church is a heritage-listed Presbyterian church at 141 Ann Street, Brisbane City, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Albert Street Uniting Church (Church, free): Albert Street Uniting Church is a heritage-listed Uniting church at 319 Albert Street, Brisbane City, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Victoria Bridge, Brisbane (Bridge, free): The Victoria Bridge is a bus and pedestrian bridge over the Brisbane River.
Old Mineral House (Historic site): Old Mineral House is a heritage-listed warehouse at 2 Edward Street, Brisbane City, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Museum of Lands, Mapping and Surveying (Museum): The Museum of Lands, Mapping and Surveying is a museum at 317 Edward Street, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Mooney Memorial Fountain (Historic site): Mooney Memorial Fountain is a heritage-listed memorial at 118 Eagle Street, Brisbane City, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Roma Street Parkland (Park, free): Roma Street Parkland covers 11 hectares in the centre of the City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
The Skyneedle (Landmark, free): The Skyneedle is a prominent feature of the Brisbane skyline which was constructed specially for World Expo 88.
Musgrave Park, Brisbane (Park, free): Musgrave Park is a park in South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Mercy Heritage Centre Brisbane (Museum): The Mercy Heritage Centre Brisbane was a social history museum which is now closed and will re-open in June 2019 as Adderton: house & heart of mercy.
St Mary's Anglican Church, Kangaroo Point (Church, free): St Mary's Anglican Church is a heritage-listed churchyard at 433, 447 & 449 Main Street, Kangaroo Point, Queensland, Australia.
Moody's Cottages (Historic site): Moody's Cottages are a heritage-listed pair of houses, one a duplex and the other a detached house, at 8–12, & 16 Victoria Street, Spring Hill, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
South Brisbane Library (Historic site): South Brisbane Library is a heritage-listed former library at 472 Stanley Street, South Brisbane, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
TC Beirne Department Store (Historic site): The TC Beirne Department Store is a heritage-listed former department store at 28 Duncan Street, Fortitude Valley, Queensland, Australia.
Kurilpa Library (Historic site): Kurilpa Library is a heritage-listed library at 178 Boundary Street, West End, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Eagle Farm Women's Prison and Factory Site (Archaeological site): Eagle Farm Women's Prison and Factory Site is a heritage-listed archaeological site on Schneider Road, Eagle Farm, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Miegunyah (Historic site): Miegunyah is a heritage-listed detached house at 35 Jordan Terrace, Bowen Hills, Queensland, Australia.
Our Lady of Victories Catholic Church (Historic site): Our Lady of Victories Church is a heritage-listed Roman Catholic war memorial church at 29 Cintra Road, Bowen Hills, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Johnstone Gallery (Museum): The Johnstone Gallery was a private gallery located in the suburb of Bowen Hills in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia co-owned by Brian Johnstone and his wife, Marjorie Johnstone.
Kalinga Park (Park, free): Kalinga Park is a heritage-listed park at 100 Bertha Street, Kalinga, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Chapel of St Peter's Lutheran College (Historic site): St Peters Lutheran College Chapel is a heritage-listed chapel on the campus of St Peters Lutheran College in Indooroopilly, Brisbane, Australia.
Perry House, Brisbane (Historic site): Perry House is a heritage-listed office building at 167 Albert Street, Brisbane City, Queensland, Australia.
Tattersalls Club (Historic site): Tattersalls Club is a heritage-listed club house at 206 Edward Street, Brisbane City, Queensland, Australia.
John Mills Himself Building (Historic site): John Mills Himself Building is a heritage-listed warehouse at 40 Charlotte Street, Brisbane City, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Tara House (Historic site): Tara House is a heritage-listed club house at 179 Elizabeth Street in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Heckelmanns Building (Historic site, hidden gem): Heckelmanns Building is a heritage-listed warehouse at 171 Elizabeth Street, Brisbane City, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Family Services Building (Historic site, hidden gem): Family Services Building is a heritage-listed office building at 171 George Street, Brisbane City, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Hunters Buildings (Historic site, hidden gem): Hunters Buildings is a heritage-listed group of commercial buildings at 179–191 George Street, Brisbane City, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
National Australia Bank (Historic site, hidden gem): National Australia Bank is a heritage-listed former bank building at 180 Queen Street, Brisbane City, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Her Majesty's Theatre (Theatre, hidden gem): Her Majesty's Theatre was a theatre in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, between 1888 and 1983.
Queens Gardens, Brisbane (Park, free, hidden gem): Queens Gardens is a heritage-listed park located on a city block between George Street, Elizabeth Street and William Street in the Brisbane CBD, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
St Luke's Church of England, Brisbane (Church, free, hidden gem): St Luke's Church of England, Brisbane is a heritage-listed former church and now restaurant at 18 Charlotte Street, Brisbane City, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Sir William Glasgow Memorial (Memorial, free, hidden gem): The Sir William Glasgow Memorial is a heritage-listed statue of Sir William Glasgow in Post Office Square at 270 Queen Street, Brisbane CBD, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Old St Stephens Church (Historic site, hidden gem): St Stephen's Chapel, also known as the Pugin Chapel, and formerly known as Old St Stephen's Church, is a heritage-listed Roman Catholic former church, now chapel, located at 249 Elizabeth Street, Brisbane City, City of B
Rowes Building (Historic site, hidden gem): Rowes Building is an Australian heritage-listed office building at 235 Edward Street, Brisbane.
Rothwells Building (Historic site, hidden gem): Rothwells Building is a heritage-listed commercial building at 237 Edward Street, Brisbane City, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Anzac Square Building (Historic site, hidden gem): Anzac Square Building is a heritage-listed office building at 255A Ann Street, Brisbane City, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Charlotte House (Historic site, hidden gem): Charlotte House is a heritage-listed warehouse at 139–145 Charlotte Street, Brisbane CBD, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Catholic Centre, Brisbane (Historic site, hidden gem): Catholic Centre is a heritage-listed converted warehouse at 149 Edward Street, Brisbane City, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
First World War Honour Board, Lands Administration Building (Historic site, hidden gem): The First World War Honour Board is a heritage-listed memorial at the Lands Administration Building, 142 George Street, Brisbane City, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Lytton Hill (Historic site): Lytton Hill is a heritage-listed signal station via South Street, Lytton, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Enoggera Hill (Hill, free): Enoggera Hill is a mountain of the Taylor Range in suburb of Enoggera, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Holy Trinity Anglican Church (Historic site): Holy Trinity Anglican Church is a heritage-listed Anglican church at 68 Hawthorne Street, Woolloongabba, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Naval Stores, Kangaroo Point (Historic site): Naval Stores is a heritage-listed storehouse at 34 Amesbury Street, Kangaroo Point, Queensland, Australia.
Nazareth House, Wynnum (Historic site, hidden gem): Nazareth House is a heritage-listed benevolent institution at 272 Wynnum North Road, Wynnum, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Neal Macrossan Playground (Historic site, hidden gem): Neal Macrossan Playground is a heritage-listed playground at 14 Caroline Street in the former suburb of Ithaca now Paddington, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Newmarket Air Raid Shelter (Historic site, hidden gem): Newmarket Air Raid Shelter is a heritage-listed air raid shelter at Enoggera Road, Newmarket, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Newmarket Brickworks Chimney (Historic site, hidden gem): Newmarket Brickworks Chimney is a heritage-listed brickworks at 117 Mina Parade, Alderley, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Newstead Gasworks (Historic site, hidden gem): Newstead Gasworks is a heritage-listed former gasometer at 70 Longland Street, Teneriffe, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Old Bishopsbourne Chapel (Historic site, hidden gem): Old Bishopsbourne Chapel is a heritage-listed Anglican chapel at 233 Milton Road, Milton, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Oogarding (Historic site, hidden gem): Oogarding is a heritage-listed villa at 100 Simpsons Road, Bardon, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Paddington Water Tower (Historic site, hidden gem): Paddington Water Tower is a heritage-listed water tower at 16 Garfield Drive, Paddington, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Petrie Bight Retaining Wall (Historic site, hidden gem): Petrie Bight Retaining Wall is a heritage-listed embankment at 443–501 Queen Street, Brisbane City, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Pollock's Shop House (Historic site, hidden gem): Pollock's Shop House is a heritage-listed general store at 617–619 Stanley Street, Woolloongabba, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Queen Alexandra Home (Historic site, hidden gem): Queen Alexandra Home is a heritage-listed villa at 347 Old Cleveland Road, Coorparoo, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Queensland Brewery Company Building (Historic site, hidden gem): Queensland Brewery Company is a heritage-listed office building and warehouse at 501 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Queensland Club (Historic site, hidden gem): Queensland Club is a heritage-listed club house at 19 George Street, Brisbane City, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

Where to eat and drink in Brisbane

Howard Smith Wharves, Fortitude Valley: Restaurants and bars under the Story Bridge on the riverfront.
Eat Street Northshore, Hamilton: Shipping-container food market with live music, Friday to Sunday.
Stokehouse Q, South Bank: Seafood and river views at a glass pavilion.
Felons Brewing Co., Fortitude Valley: Brewery and beer hall beneath the Story Bridge.
Black Hide Steakhouse, CBD: Wagyu and grain-fed beef in a heritage building.
Jocelyn’s Provisions, New Farm: Bakery café beloved for its cakes and pastries.
San Telmo Brisbane, Brisbane City: An Argentinian steakhouse with wood-fire grills.
Bistro Tino, Fortitude Valley: A Euro-inspired breakfast bar.
Greenhouse Newstead, Newstead: Fire-cooked modern Australian.
NIIWA, James Street: Japanese dining in a garden setting.

Also in Australia

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