Things to do in Brisbane (2025): Top nearby activities,popular attractions,itinerary planning,weather,accommodation,food,transportation,and more - all you need to know (updated August 2025) | Trip.com
About Brisbane
Brisbane Local Experiences Map
Brisbane Local Travel Guide 2025
Brisbane Brief Guide
Brisbane is the capital city of Queensland. First impressions of Brisbane include reveling in ample sunshine, lush parks, and friendly locals. Maiwar (or the Brisbane River) passes through the city. This modern metropolis is intertwined with the subtropical natural landscape. This is also the gateway to many of Queensland's attractions and a travel hub. This area has a great number of koala bears. Because of the adorable marsupials, the city is also called 'The Koala Kingdom'. Brisbane has an enchanting natural landscape but that doesn't mean the cultural landscape is lacking. You can also experience Brisbane’s strong cultural and artistic atmosphere by checking out the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art and the Queensland Museum and Sciencentre, as well as its interactive exhibitions.
Brisbane Must-try local experiences
1. Discover Brisbane's Iconic Story Bridge Climb the iconic Story Bridge for breathtaking views of the city skyline and the Brisbane River. Choose between a daytime climb for panoramic vistas or a twilight ascent for magical sunset hues. 2. Explore the Cultural Precinct at South Bank Immerse yourself in art and culture at South Bank's Cultural Precinct. Visit QAGOMA for world-class exhibitions or catch a live performance at QPAC. 3. Encounter Wildlife at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary Get up close with Australia's wildlife at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. Cuddle a koala, feed kangaroos, and learn about native animals. 4. Cruise along the Brisbane River Embark on a scenic river cruise to admire Brisbane's landmarks like the Story Bridge and Kangaroo Point Cliffs, enjoying informative commentary and picturesque views. 5. Explore South Bank Parklands South Bank Parklands features lush gardens, a man-made beach, and various dining options. It's perfect for a stroll, a swim, or a meal with a river view. 6. Explore the Brisbane Botanic Gardens Located at the base of Mount Coot-tha, the Brisbane Botanic Gardens offer themed gardens, walking trails, and a planetarium for a peaceful retreat. 7. Visit the Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art QAGOMA showcases contemporary and historical art with regular exhibitions, workshops, and events highlighting local and international artists. 8. Indulge in Queensland's Craft Beer Brisbane's craft beer scene is thriving. Visit local breweries like Newstead Brewing Co. and Green Beacon Brewing to sample unique and flavorful beers. 9. Shop at Queen Street Mall Queen Street Mall is Brisbane's premier shopping destination with high-end boutiques, department stores, and local shops, perfect for unique souvenirs and gifts. 10. Capture the Cityscape from Kangaroo Point Cliffs The Kangaroo Point Cliffs offer stunning views of the Brisbane skyline, especially at sunset. It's a popular spot for photography, picnics, and rock climbing.
Brisbane Must-see Attractions
Brisbane is a dynamic Australian city known for its lush South Bank Parklands, the historic Story Bridge, the grand Brisbane City Hall, the panoramic Wheel of Brisbane, and the scenic Kangaroo Point, offering a rich blend of cultural, historical, and recreational experiences.
Brisbane Food Guide
Brisbane's food scene is complemented by locally sourced Australian wines, particularly from the nearby Granite Belt region, celebrated for its unique terroir and cool-climate varieties like Shiraz and Chardonnay, which are enjoyed for their fresh and pure characteristics.
Brisbane Transportation
Brisbane's transportation infrastructure is well-developed, with Brisbane Airport and Central railway station being key hubs for intercity and international travel. Brisbane Airport (BNE) is a significant international gateway, serving as the primary airport for the city and the state of Queensland, it facilitates flights to numerous domestic and international destinations. To reach the city from Brisbane Airport, travelers can utilize the Airtrain service or opt for taxis. Central railway station is a historic and principal station in Brisbane's CBD, offering access to various suburban and interurban lines. It has undergone several renovations to maintain its role as a major transportation hub. From Central station, travelers can connect to different parts of the city and the wider region, with frequent services to destinations such as the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast.
Brisbane Where to Stay
Brisbane is a vibrant city that offers a diverse range of accommodation options across its various neighborhoods. The city's lodging is spread across key areas, each with unique characteristics and conveniences for travelers. From the bustling Central Business District to the convenience of Brisbane Airport, visitors can find the perfect stay to suit their travel needs.
Brisbane Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Brisbane is from March to May (fall) and September to November (spring), when the weather is warm with a breeze, ideal for sightseeing and enjoying the city's events like the Brisbane Festival. Another great period is during the winter months of June to August, offering clear days, cool nights, and the opportunity to attend cultural events such as the Ekka and the Quandamooka Festival. For those looking to enjoy outdoor activities and festivals, the high season from May to September is recommended, with reliable sunshine and little rain.
Brisbane Travel Tips
1. Advance Reservations for Queensland Art Gallery: Certain exhibitions at the Queensland Art Gallery & Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) require advance reservations. Group visits, especially those with 10 or more people, need to be booked in advance. Check the gallery’s website for details and book your spot early. 2. Be Cautious of Rip Currents: Brisbane's nearby beaches can have strong rip currents. Swim only in patrolled areas and follow lifeguard instructions. Look for signs of rip currents such as deeper, darker water and fewer breaking waves. If caught, stay calm, float, and signal for help. Avoid swimming against the current.
Brisbane Useful Guide
Brisbane, a multicultural hub, primarily speaks English, with its roots in British colonization. Despite no official language, English serves as the de facto language for communication and administration. The city's multilingualism reflects its diverse population, with languages like Mandarin, Vietnamese, and Cantonese also spoken. Visitors can navigate language barriers using translation apps or local interpretation services. Embracing gestures and visual aids like maps can aid effective communication.
Trip.Best: Brisbane
Things to do in Brisbane
What to do
Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
iQOO🐮:“Longbai Koala Reserve is a wonderful place! As soon as you step into the park, you are surrounded by greenery and tranquil atmosphere. Koalas lie lazily on the banyan tree, occasionally moving their little ears, cute, people can't help but look a few more eyes. You can also observe them eating up close and hear them chewing on eucalyptus leaves. The staff here are also very enthusiastic, the explanation is vivid and interesting, and people have a deeper understanding of the life habits of koalas. Here, it seems that time has slowed down, full of healing and relaxation.”
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Story Bridge Adventure Climb
M60***30:“Climbing the Story Bridge is a unique memory for children in Brisbane. Traveling is a great way to broaden children's horizons. During the journey, children can develop self-care skills, the ability to respond in emergencies, and the ability to empathize with fellow travelers.”
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Southbank Parklands
Rita Mashiro:“It is a very nice place to chill around, especially on the weekend. There are also restaurants by the river where you could grab a drink and enjoy your day.”
The Wheel of Brisbane
yccui:“The blue sky and beautiful water are a great place for a vacation. Australia is indeed a tourist destination! I bid farewell to the talkativeness of Shanghai and came here to be as warm as spring.
There are few people and it feels very good. I can also eat oysters at night, which is super delicious.”
Story Bridge
sculptor:“The Story Bridge is a steel cantilever bridge across the Brisbane River. It is the longest cantilever bridge in Australia and is located between the northern and southern suburbs of Brisbane, Australia, carrying vehicles, bicycles and pedestrian traffic.”Where to stay
What to eat
Malt Dining
真的在一起的时候:“Malt Dining is located at 28 Market St | Cnr Market and Charlotte St's., Brisbane, Queensland 4000, Australia. We had beautiful food and the service was friendly but not intrusive. A great highlight for us was the bar downstairs where we were able to while away the evening with a few of Josh's amazing cocktails. He was very knowledgeable and happy to explain the delicious drinks that we didn't know about. Our favorite thing about Malt was their service. The entire dinner was great whether we were upstairs enjoying the food or downstairs enjoying the drinks. The service was excellent.”
BLACKBIRD BAR, DINING & EVENTS
没有蜡olling:“We ate at the one-star restaurant Blackbird in the evening. My beef appetizer was rated the best on this trip.
The environment here was not very good before, but it has been renovated and looks much better. The quality of the products has been relatively stable. It is good and worth recommending.”
Fiasco's Steakhouse
一休哥3:“A local friend brought me here to eat, saying that this is his favorite restaurant. The restaurant environment is very good and the layout is very romantic. We ordered a lot, including pizza, steak, chicken, pasta, salad and dessert. The steak was very tender and grilled just right, and it was delicious with the seasoning; the pizza was neither thin nor thick, just the right size; the dessert was a little sweet, but the ice cream was delicious. When we came here at night, there were many customers, but there were enough parking spaces at the door.”
Hosokawa Japanese Restaurant
Kevin:“This Japanese restaurant is delicious. They have many snacks and also do barbecue. The barbecue made me drool. The quality of the meat looked very high. The noodles and other dishes are not very authentic, but it is Oceania after all.”
Bella Tiarnie
M30***41:“Good Italian Food
Food was beautiful and was cooked perfectly! The drinks were lovely and the restaurant had a good atmosphere, felt Italian”
Bacchus Restaurant
空空CJ:“Nice restaurant
This is a very quirky and beautiful restaurant. We found it by accident. Everyone loved it. Great wine and perfect dishes. I had the cream of fish soup with mussels which was delicious!! The dessert was also very tempting, I chose the cheesecake. Very friendly and welcoming waiter, highly recommend this place to everyone!”
Banana Leaf Thai:East Brisbane
justinwang1987:“Banana Leaf Thai Restaurant, Thai food is quite popular here, because there are actually a lot of Chinese people in Brisbane, so among Asian cuisines, Thai cuisine is considered to be more popular among Chinese people and it is quite authentic, especially this cup of lemongrass tea, which tastes very much like local Thai food.”
Jimmy's On The Mall
M30***41:“Dinner with Family
We always have lunch or dinner at Jimmy''s when we visit Brisbane. We like to eat upstairs as the tables look over the mall and I love to people watch. The food is always good, I especially like their pizzas.”
Fat Noodle
健康美丽的芳芳:“Fat Noodle Restaurant, this restaurant specializes in Sichuan cuisine, I personally don't think it's particularly authentic, because it has been modified to suit the tastes of locals. It's not that spicy.”
Les Bubbles Steakhouse
克纳妮莉雅:“The steak was so delicious that I forgot to take a photo. Recommended. I took the bus with my daughter. It's very close to the city, three stops away. If you take a taxi, it's only about $6 to $7. It's very unique inside. It's a bit like a French restaurant. The waiter is a beautiful girl, very nice. The menu is simple, just one type, the main dish is steak. Salad first, very delicious! There is bread and butter! Ordered red wine, mellow taste, super good dinner”
GOMA Farm-to-Table
没有蜡olling:“Goma Restaurant is highly recognizable and is a treat for spice lovers. The taste may not be the best in Bucharest, but it is the most worthwhile restaurant to try.”
1889 Enoteca
婉儿婉儿:“1889 Enoteca is located at 10-12 Logan Road, Woolloongabba, Brisbane, Queensland 4120, Australia. My partner and I had a great date night here. It was very busy that night, but they still paid enough attention to us and the food and drinks were served to the table in a timely manner. We shared a fried courgette as an appetizer, which was enough for two people and was delicious. We both had the crab chili sauce pasta, which was a little small for a main course, but it was delicious. This is our second visit to this restaurant in 4 years, as it takes 2 hours to get to this restaurant from where we live. We will definitely return for the authentic Italian food and such a good dining experience. Thanks to the team at the restaurant, the restaurant building is also very beautiful.”Brisbane Moments: Through Travelers' Eyes
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