Brisbane

River City with a Laid-Back Vibe

Brisbane stands out as a city where modern life meets relaxed coastal living. The river runs through its center, giving residents and visitors easy access to parks, markets and cafes along the waterfront. Public transport connects neighborhoods without heavy traffic, making it simple to explore cultural sites like museums or art galleries. Outdoor spaces are common, with plenty of walking paths and gardens nearby. The climate supports year-round outdoor events and festivals that reflect local traditions and diverse communities living together in a comfortable setting.

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City in Australia

$$$

$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

See price details

Safety: 8.3

General Safety:	8
Health & medical:	9
Accessibility:	8
Tap water:	9

Read details

5/5

English is the primary language spoken in Brisbane, and tourists will have no trouble communicating, as services, transport, and businesses operate entirely in English.

Highlights Attractions Getting there Hotels Tips Travel costs Safety Articles

Last update: 24 Oct 2026

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Brisbane Summary

These place ratings give you a quick overview of how well a destination matches different types of trips.

‘Best for’ scores:
The specific interest scores show where this place really shines – whether it's ideal for hiking, food & drink experiences, museums or other activities. These highlights help you understand what makes the destination special at a glance.

‘Your personal’ scores:
This reflects how well a place matches your personal preferences. You can adjust the importances of travel topics or other personal requirements categories in your account settings.

‘Suited for’ badges:
These give you a quick overview of how well a destination suits specific types of travellers, to help you find the places that match your lifestyle, preferences or travel situation.

Read how our scores work

Strong in riverside city life and outdoor culture. Walk waterfront promenades, visit museums, relax in parks and enjoy nearby beaches.

Place score

7.7

Best at:

Spotless

Art

Wildlife

Large cities

Islands

Personal score

Suited for

👶 9

Families

🧓 8

Seniors

🛡️ 9

Travel Beginners

🥜 9

With food allergies

Australia – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	230 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type I Type I: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Australian Dollar (AUD) £1 ≈ A$1.89
Cashless info:	Rating 5/5 Cashless payment is widely accepted, even in rural areas. Digital wallets are commonly used. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is not mandatory in Australia. Rounding up or 10% is appreciated in high-end restaurants.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is regulated and often prohibited, except in designated areas.
Public smoking:	Smoking is banned in public indoor spaces and most outdoor public areas.

Australia Day (January)	Public events and celebrations occur nationwide.
ANZAC Day (April)	Commemorations and closures happen.
Christmas (December)	Festive events and closures occur.

Emergency contact:	Emergency Number: 000 (Police, Fire, Ambulance)
Taxi apps:	Uber, 13cabs, Ola
Other:	Australia's vast size requires careful planning for travel between regions. Be aware of wildlife and sun exposure.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Brisbane, Australia

🔥

Jan

🌤️

Feb

🌦️

Mar

☀️

Apr

☀️

May

☀️

Jun

☀️

Jul

☀️

Aug

☀️

Sep

☀️

Oct

☀️

Nov

🌤️

Dec

High season:	June - Sep.
Shoulder season:	Jan., March - May, Oct. - Dec.
Crowdedness:	5 (Moderate tourist numbers)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Storm season November to March, with flash floods and cyclone remnants possible

Australian school holidays from mid December to late January bring domestic visitors and higher prices

Don't miss

🌉 Climb Story Bridge for breathtaking city and river views
🏖️ Stroll through South Bank Parklands and relax by Streets Beach
🦘 Visit the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary and meet native wildlife
⛴️ Take a ferry ride along the Brisbane River at sunset
🎨 Explore modern art at QAGOMA
🍸 Enjoy rooftop drinks overlooking the skyline in Fortitude Valley

You've been here?

Why travel to Brisbane?

Brisbane offers an unbeatable mix of culture, nature and adventure. Stroll along the South Bank, hop on a river cruise or check out the lively arts and music scene. The city's subtropical climate means outdoor activities are a year-round pleasure, from climbing the Story Bridge to taking a ferry to Moreton Island. Plus, it's a great gateway to the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Brisbane City Botanic Gardens
2 Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
3 New Farm Park
4 Gallery of Modern Art
5 South Bank Parklands
6 Story Bridge
7 Lookout Trail
8 Howard Smith Wharves
9 Brisbane Powerhouse

🎡Places for activities

1 The Wheel of Brisbane
2 Brisbane Cricket Ground
3 Story Bridge Adventure Climb
4 Roma Street

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Moreton Island
2 North Stradbroke Island
3 Glass House Mountains
4 Gap Creek Reserve Picnic Area
5 D'Aguilar National Park
6 Brisbane river
7 Cedar Creek Falls
8 Tangalooma Wrecks

🛍️Shopping

1 Indooroopilly Shopping Centre
2 Westfield Chermside
3 Eat Street Markets
4 Queen Street Mall
5 James Street
6 Brisbane Arcade

🎈Events

Brisbane Festival
Riverfire
Brisbane Comedy Festival
Ekka (Royal Queensland Show)
Woodford Folk Festival
Valley Fiesta
Paniyiri Greek Festival
Brisbane Good Food & Wine Show
Laneway Festival
Curiocity Brisbane

Explore on map

Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Subtropical climate means strong sun; plan for heat, humidity and storms.
Base near South Bank or CBD for easy access to riverside walks, museums, restaurants and free inner-city attractions.
Use Go Card or contactless payment on public transport and ferries, including scenic CityCat rides along the Brisbane River.
Spend an evening at South Bank Parklands and nearby Kangaroo Point for sunset skyline views, riverside dining and relaxed local atmosphere.

How to travel to Brisbane

Brisbane Airport (BNE) connects to major domestic and international destinations. The Airtrain offers a quick link to the city. Long‑distance trains and buses also connect Brisbane to other parts of Australia, including Sydney and Cairns.

Access summary

From Brisbane Airport (BNE): Airtrain to CBD, around 20 minutes.
From Sydney: Frequent direct flights to BNE, usually about 1.5 hours.
From Gold Coast: Trains and buses via Airtrain/Translink, typically 1.5–2 hours.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Brisbane

Brisbane offers a range of accommodations, from riverside luxury hotels to boutique stays in trendy neighborhoods like New Farm. Budget travelers can find hostels and there are also many Airbnb options.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

CLLIX Brisbane Skytower Apartments

Oaks Brisbane Festival Suites

8.7

Morgan Suites

8.5

Capri by Fraser, Brisbane

9.0

Hyatt Regency Brisbane

9.0

Great Southern Hotel Brisbane

8.1

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Brisbane

Public transport includes buses, trains and the CityCat ferry system, which offers a scenic way to travel along the river. Cycling is popular and rideshare services are widely available. The city center is walkable, with pedestrian-friendly streets.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-4 %

Daily expenses in Brisbane are around 4% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend around the same on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-2 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to AUD) is 2% better than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£69	£149	£388
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£38	£75	£150
🍝 Food per day	£30	£69	£212
🚕 Transportation per day	£2	£5	£26

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£25
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£11.50
🍟 Fast food combo	£9
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£10
☕ Cappuccino	£3.10
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£6

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£0.27
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£17
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£1.05

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£10.50
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£45
🤧 Cold medication	£6
💇 Basic haircut	£16

Safety information overview

General safety

Brisbane is generally safe, but petty theft can occur in crowded areas. Be cautious at night in certain areas like Fortitude Valley. Watch out for strong sun exposure during the day.

Health & Medical

High-quality medical facilities are available, including major hospitals and pharmacies. Heatstroke and dehydration can be a risk in summer, so stay hydrated and wear sun protection.

Accessibility

Brisbane is accessible, with many ramps and lifts in public areas. Public transport is wheelchair-friendly, though some older buildings and streets may have limited accessibility.

Tap water

Tap water in Brisbane is clean, safe and widely available. Public water fountains can be found in parks and along walking trails.

Packing recommendations for Brisbane

📷

Camera

👟

Comfortable walking shoes

🌞

Sun cream

🚰

Reusable water bottle

👕

Light, breathable clothing

Universal travel adaptor

💳

Credit card with no foreign transaction fees

Nearby recommended places

Sydney

Cairns

Gold Coast

Byron Bay

Whitsunday Islands

Sunshine Coast

Great Barrier Reef

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Summary:	Hot and humid, heavy thunderstorms
Temperature:	22 – 28 °C
Water temp.:	26 °C
Rain:	78 mm (Moderate rain nearly daily)
Crowdedness:	Many tourists

Summary:	Hottest and wettest, flooding possible
Temperature:	22 – 27 °C
Water temp.:	27 °C
Rain:	78 mm (Moderate rain nearly daily)
Crowdedness:	Few tourists

Summary:	Warm and humid, storms easing
Temperature:	21 – 27 °C
Water temp.:	26 °C
Rain:	90 mm (Moderate rain nearly daily)
Crowdedness:	Few tourists

Summary:	Warm and drier, comfortable for sightseeing
Temperature:	19 – 25 °C
Water temp.:	25 °C
Rain:	66 mm (Steady, gentle rain)
Crowdedness:	Few tourists

Summary:	Mild and sunny, low humidity
Temperature:	15 – 22 °C
Water temp.:	24 °C
Rain:	42 mm (Steady, gentle rain)
Crowdedness:	Few tourists