All of Brisbane’s urban villages do things a little differently, from Australia’s premier live music scene in Fortitude Valley, to exclusive world class exhibitions at Australia’s largest Gallery of Modern Art at South Bank and to the natural splendour of Moreton Bay and the Scenic Rim, Brisbane enjoys a lifestyle that the world envies.
The main tourist districts are:
View of Brisbane CBD and Story Bridge.
The CBD is where Brisbane's major businesses are interspersed with several shopping malls, cinemas, parks and many of Brisbane's historical tourist sites. Queen Street Mall in the heart of the CBD is Queensland's premier shopping destination and a must see for all visitors.
South Bank (often misspelled as 'Southbank') has ethnic restaurants, edgy cafes, riverside boardwalks and an inner-city beach. Located at South Bank is Queensland’s Cultural Precinct, which includes the Performing Arts Centre, Queensland Museum, the State Library, Queensland Art Gallery and the spectacular Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA).
Fortitude Valley (or "The Valley") combines Brisbane's Chinatown, alternative shopping and vibrant nightlife. Eclectic bars with emerging and innovative DJs and world-class super clubs have brought a larger than life feel to the Valley precinct. Home to the best live music and entertainment scene in Australia.
West End, located just behind South Bank, is an edgy, bohemian district with artsy shops and cafes. West End is where you’ll find alternative books, cult video stores and organic produce and quirky locals.
New Farm, located next to The Valley, features upmarket shopping and trendy dining places. A confirmed favourite of the locals, New Farm is high up on the hot list of places to be and to be seen.
Portside Wharf, located at Hamilton, is where the cruise ships dock on the Brisbane River. This area was formerly known as Brett’s Wharf and offers world class dining, cinemas and speciality shopping. A great place to wander and have a meal.
Paddington / Rosalie / Milton. Paddington is quickly becoming the place to shop with many little, unique boutiques full of local designs and hard to find fashion gems. Rosalie is home to many quaint bars, markets and restaurants. Milton has two of Brisbane’s most famous icons placed side by side the XXXX Ale House and Suncorp Stadium.
Mount Coot-tha, a suburb as well as a mountain (more accurately, a large hill) approximately 6 km (4 mi) west of the CBD, iconised by the large TV and radio antennas that line its peak. You can take a scenic drive through The Mount Coot-tha Reserve which visits the peak and has majestic 360� views of Brisbane and the surrounding region. Also features the Brisbane Botanic Gardens , the Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium and numerous walking and bicycle tracks.
Most inner-city suburbs, or those close to the CBD have their own style and offer some small, unique attractions to the city, notably cafés, restaurants, historical sites or artistic ventures. Some of the other major districts are Spring Hill, Indooroopilly, Manly Harbour, Toowong, St. Lucia and South Brisbane.
The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Brisbane
Where To Stay & Best Hotels in Brisbane - updated May 2024
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Brisbane Travel Guide from Wikitravel. Many thanks to all Wikitravel contributors. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.
