Brisbane: what to see, where to stay and how to get around
Brisbane began in 1825 as a penal settlement for convicts who had reoffended in New South Wales, and free settlers were kept out until 1842. Only two buildings survive from the convict years, and both are on this walk. From there the route follows the city as it grew into the capital of Queensland in 1859, through its civic buildings, its old synagogue and the parliament, to the gardens on the river. About three hours on foot through the CBD; in summer, go early and carry water.
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A short history of Brisbane
The Turrbal and Yugara peoples lived on the banks of the Brisbane River for thousands of years. In 1824 a penal settlement for hardened convicts was set up on Moreton Bay, and in 1825 it moved to where the city centre stands today. In 1842 the area was opened to free settlers, and in 1859, when Queensland separated from New South Wales, Brisbane became the capital of the new colony. The river flooded the city again and again, in the great floods of 1893, 1974 and 2011. The World Expo 88 transformed the South Bank, which became a park. In 2032 the city is due to host the Olympic Games.
The ten best sights in Brisbane
1South Bank ParklandsGardens, cafés and the river walk; the place to spend the first evening
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2Streets Beach
A free man-made beach with lifeguards in the city centre; bring a towel
3Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA)Free entry to the collection; the big shows are ticketed, check what is on
4Queensland Art GalleryFree; strong on Aboriginal art, next door to GOMA
5Queensland MuseumFree; dinosaurs and sea creatures, an easy rainy-day hour
6Story BridgeWalk across for free, or book the climb; at night it is lit in colours
7Kangaroo Point CliffsThe view of the skyline across the river; climbers on the rock until late
8Howard Smith WharvesBars and restaurants under the Story Bridge; arrive by ferry
9City Botanic GardensFree, on the river bend next to the CBD; go in the cool of the morning
10Parliament HouseFree guided tours on non-sitting days; bring photo ID
Scan with your phone camera to open the map there
What is an audio walk?
Tours in Brisbane →A guide in your headphones: open the walk on our site, walk from stop to stop, and at each one your phone tells its story. No guide, no group, and free. This is the first walk in Brisbane:
Free walking tours in Brisbane
From convict camp to capital
Brisbane began in 1825 as a penal settlement for convicts who had reoffended in New South Wales, and free settlers were kept out until 1842. Only two buildings survive from the convict years, and both are on this walk. From there the route follows the city as it grew into the capital of Queensland in 1859, through its civic buildings, its old synagogue and the parliament, to the gardens on the river. About three hours on foot through the CBD; in summer, go early and carry water.
- The Old Windmill · Convicts built the windmill in 1828, and when the sails failed they were made to turn the grinding stones on a treadmill as punishment. A century later, in the 1930s, it was used for some of the first experimental television broadcasts in Australia.
- Brisbane City Hall · City Hall was finished in 1930, and for decades its clock tower was the tallest point in Brisbane. An old cage lift still carries visitors up past the back of the clock faces.
- Commissariat Store · Built by convicts in 1829 to hold the settlement's food and supplies, it is the second of the two buildings left from the penal colony. Today it is the home of the Royal Historical Society of Queensland.
- Brisbane Synagogue · The Brisbane Hebrew Congregation was founded in 1865, and its synagogue on Margaret Street was consecrated in 1886. It is the oldest synagogue in Queensland and is on the state heritage register.
- Parliament House · Queensland became a separate colony in 1859, and its parliament moved into this French Renaissance building in 1868. Queensland abolished its upper house in 1922, and it is still the only Australian state with a single house of parliament.
- City Botanic Gardens · Convicts grew vegetables on this river bend for the settlement, and in 1855 it became a botanic garden, where the curator Walter Hill tried out crops for the new colony, among them mango and sugar cane.
The river by CityCat
The Brisbane River winds through the city in tight bends, and the fast CityCat catamarans run along it like a bus line. This route uses the ferry to hop between the river's best places, from the jacaranda park at New Farm to the bridge, the cliffs and the galleries of South Bank. A full day with stops; buy a go card or tap a bank card, and sit outside on the back deck.
- Brisbane Powerhouse · The brick building at New Farm was built in the late 1920s to power Brisbane's trams. After decades as a derelict shell it reopened in 2000 as an arts centre, with the graffiti of its abandoned years kept on the walls.
- Howard Smith Wharves · Under the cliff by the wharves are concrete air-raid shelters built during the Second World War, when Brisbane was the headquarters of General MacArthur's forces in the South-West Pacific.
- Story Bridge · The bridge opened in 1940 and was designed by John Bradfield, the engineer of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It is the longest cantilever bridge in Australia, and you can climb to the top of its steel frame.
- Kangaroo Point Cliffs · The cliffs are an old quarry: convicts cut the volcanic stone here from the 1820s, and it was used for some of the colony's first buildings. Today they are floodlit at night for climbers and abseilers.
- South Bank and the Nepal Peace Pagoda · South Bank was the site of World Expo 88, and the carved wooden pagoda is one of the few pavilions left from it. Nepal built it for the fair, and Brisbane kept it when the rest was cleared to make the parklands.
- Gallery of Modern Art · GOMA opened in 2006 and is the largest gallery of modern and contemporary art in Australia. With the Queensland Art Gallery next door it forms QAGOMA, and both collections are free to enter.
West to the hills and the koalas
West of the centre the city climbs into the forested ridge of Mt Coot-tha, and beyond it, along the river, lies the oldest koala sanctuary in the world. This drive goes through the brewery district of Milton, up to the gardens and the lookout, and out to the koalas. Half a day by car; the sanctuary is best in the morning and the lookout at sunset, so do them in whichever order the day allows.
- Roma Street Parkland · The parkland was built on old railway yards next to the station and opened in 2001. It is often described as the largest subtropical garden in any city centre in the world.
- XXXX Brewery · Castlemaine beer has been brewed at Milton since 1878, and the brewery's XXXX sign is a city landmark. The four Xs go back to an old brewers' mark for the strength of a beer.
- Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens · The gardens opened in 1976 at the foot of the mountain and gather plants from arid and tropical zones, including a tropical dome and one of the best collections of Australian native plants.
- Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium · The planetarium is named after the governor the city is named after: Sir Thomas Brisbane was a keen astronomer who built an observatory near Sydney in the 1820s and catalogued thousands of southern stars.
- Mt Coot-tha Lookout · The name Coot-tha is usually traced to an Aboriginal word for the honey of native bees, gathered on these slopes. From the lookout the city, the river and, on a clear day, Moreton Bay and its islands spread out to the east.
- Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary · Opened in 1927, Lone Pine is the world's first and largest koala sanctuary, home to well over a hundred koalas. It takes its name from a single hoop pine that stood on the site.
Getting to Brisbane and getting around
- Brisbane Airport · The Airtrain reaches the city in about 20 minutes; drop the hire car here if the trip ends
- Roma Street Station · Trains and long-distance coaches in one place, including the Sydney train
- CityCat ferry (QUT Gardens Point) · The river ferry is the best way to see the city; the red CityHopper is free
Cheap eats in Brisbane
Brisbane eats outdoors most of the year, and the city's food is a mix of Asian, Greek and Italian kitchens with Queensland produce: Moreton Bay bugs, a flat local lobster, mangoes and tropical fruit. Breakfast cafés are a serious institution, and the night markets are the cheap way to eat well. Expect about A$15-25 for a casual lunch.
- Eat Street Northshore · Entry about A$6, dishes about A$12-20
- Davies Park Market · Saturday mornings; breakfast from a stall about A$8-15
- Jan Powers Farmers Market · Saturday at the Powerhouse; coffee and a pastry about A$8-12
- Gelato Messina · Ice cream after the river walk, about A$7-10
- Pancake Manor · Pancakes in an old church, open late, about A$15-25
- Harajuku Gyoza · Dumplings and beer in the Valley, about A$15-25
- Ben's Burgers · Burgers in a Valley laneway, about A$14-20
Museums in Brisbane
- Gallery of Modern Art · Free collection, ticketed blockbusters
- Queensland Art Gallery · Free; Australian and Aboriginal art
- Queensland Museum · Free; natural history and Queensland stories
- Museum of Brisbane · City history and the clock tower tour
- Newstead House · Built in 1846, Brisbane's oldest surviving home
Nature and day trips near Brisbane
- Mt Coot-tha · Forest trails and the city's big lookout
- Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens · Free; tropical dome and Japanese garden
- Kangaroo Point Cliffs · Riverside cliffs, climbing and the skyline view
- Moreton Island · Sand island, dunes and wrecks; a day or overnight
- Roma Street Parkland · Subtropical garden next to the station
Things to do in Brisbane with kids
- Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary · Koalas, kangaroo feeding and a river cruise there
- Streets Beach · Free city lagoon with lifeguards
- Queensland Museum · Free; dinosaurs and a hands-on science centre
- Planetarium · Dome shows under the southern sky
- Dreamworld · Theme park on the way to the Gold Coast
- Daisy Hill Koala Centre · Free; koalas in bushland south of the city
Where to eat in Brisbane
- Howard Smith Wharves · Riverside dining under the bridge
- Felons Brewing Co · Brewery hall on the wharves, beer with a bridge view
- Hellenika · Greek grill on James Street in the Valley
- Chu the Phat · Asian share plates at South Bank
- Chinatown · Cheap Asian dinners in the Valley
- West End, Boundary Street · Greek tavernas and small world kitchens
- Eat Street Northshore · Container night market, Friday to Sunday
Frequently asked questions about Brisbane
What is there to see in Brisbane?
The top sights in Brisbane are South Bank Parklands, Streets Beach and Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA). The full list on this page has 10 sights, each with a photo and a short note.
How many days do you need in Brisbane?
Three to four days are enough to see the best of Brisbane without rushing, including at least one walking tour.
Is there a free walking tour in Brisbane?
Yes. sleepntrip has 3 free audio walks in Brisbane, with no guide and no group: your phone tells the story at every stop. The first one: From convict camp to capital.
How do you get to Brisbane and get around?
The main ways are Brisbane Airport, Roma Street Station and CityCat ferry (QUT Gardens Point). Full details are in the transport section on this page.
Where to stay in Brisbane, and for how much?
sleepntrip shows only rooms in Brisbane that meet nine conditions: a good location, high guest scores, cleanliness, and a price of up to $80 a night for two. Pick your dates and see what is free.
Looking for a hotel in Brisbane for your dates?
Only rooms that meet nine conditions, up to $80 a night.