Brisbane is the capital of the Sunshine State, aka Queensland! Besides beautiful sunny weather, Brisbane also has many more things to offer. And I am not just saying this because I was born here, I promise! Keep reading for a jam-packed 3 day itinerary that will take you to all of Brisbane’s highlights.
where to stay
I would recommend to base yourself in the Central Business District. Because guess what, this area is very centrally located and within walking distance of most of the attractions mentioned in this itinerary. Besides its walkability, all the buses and trains also come together in the CBD. There are also plenty of restaurants, bars, shops and supermarkets – if you ever need something, it’s right there 🙂
accommodation options in cbd
budget option
mid-range option
Adina Apartment Hotel Brisbane Anzac Square
luxury option
how to get around
by foot
If you’re fit and like walking, I think walking is the best way to explore a new city! There are so many benefits to walking. You’re slow enough to be able to observe everything, you can take any detour and random stops you want and you’re being active. Brisbane is also a super walkable city, with pedestrian areas in the city center, and plenty of parks and walkways along the Brisbane river.
by bus
As much as I love walking, there are simply some things that are too far away and require another means of transport. I found that Brisbane has a really great bus network, and you can easily reach most destinations by bus. I’d recommend getting an Australian SIM card and a data package and then simply use Google Maps to check the timetables.
To get around you should take out a go card, which you can top up as you go. Any remaining balance at the end of your trip you can get completely refunded! Really great system!
3-day brisbane itinerary
day 1
9 am – breakfast
If you like a good breakfast, take advantage of one of the many brunch spots in the city. Some restaurants I saw that looked great are:
- Coffee Iconic
- Goldfinch
- Coffee Anthology
10:30 am – lone pine koala sanctuary
Time to see some Koalas! Take the bus from the CBD to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. Don’t worry, it’s the end stop so you really can’t get the stop wrong 🙂
But don’t be misled by the name, the Lone Pine Sanctuary doesn’t only have Koalas, but features all the famous and not so famous Australian animals. I’m talking about Kangaroos, Tassie Devil’s, Platypuses, Cackatoos, and so many more…
Spend a couple of hours ‘aaaaawwww’-ing at the Koalas, feeding the Kangaroos and learning about all these exotic species.
The Sanctuary is open every day, and the entry is 35 AUD.
One of my personal highlights was getting to hold an actual Koala!!! Omg I can’t even explain it but they are even cuter up close!! This experience costs another 29 AUD, but hey, the Sanctuary works on a non-profit basis so at least all proceeds go towards the animals 🙂
1 pm – lunch
Depending on how hungry you are you can either have lunch in one of the two restaurants at the Koala Sanctuary, or come back to the city first and find a restaurant here.
3 pm – stroll on james street, fortitude valley
Next up, Fortitude Valley. This area of Brisbane is located east of the CBD and has a very different vibe than the CBD. Specifically I can recommend James Street, which has some nice shops and boutiques to check out.
7 pm – dinner at eagle street pier
End your day with a waterside dinner around Eagle Street Pier. The area is located right on the banks of the Brisbane river. Personally we tried an Italian restaurant called Massimo. The vibes are really great (it gives Amalfi coast vibes) and the food is very fresh, I’d definitely visit again!
day 2
9 am – breakfast
Start your day in another brunch spot, or just opt for something more casual (there are Starbucks’ everywhere!) or anything else on the go.
10:30 am – south bank
After breakfast it’s time to start exploring. Head on over to South Bank and hit up the Brisbane sign for a super-duper touristy picture. Next to the sign, you’ll see The Wheel of Brisbane – a Ferris wheel with city views! Then, keep walking along the Promenade towards Streets Beach. Streets Beach is an artificial lagoon right on the banks of the Brisbane River. Chill out for a while here and soak up the sun. If you’re up for it, you can even go for a swim!
11:30 am – riverwalk
Once you’ve had enough of the lagoon, it’s time to continue exploring. Cross back to the other side of the river via the Captain Cook Bridge, and then continue your walk along the river. You’ll soon find yourself in the City Botanic Gardens.
Funny side story here, this is the first time where I really noticed “Wow, I’m in Australia”. And you know why? Because I saw a nicely rolled up, probably around 2m long snake on the river bank. Lovely, right? 😀
Anyway, once you leave the City Botanic Gardens and keep walking along the River Walk, you’ll eventually reach a really cool lunch spot.
1 pm – lunch at felons brewery
Time for lunch at Felons! Felons Brewery is a super cool, modern brewery located right on the river. Not only can you try some great beer here, but you get great city and Story Bridge views alongside with it!
3 pm – cbd
Once you’re done with your lunch, it’s time to head back to the CBD. By now, you’ll likely have passed through the CBD multiple times. But now you’ll really have some time to explore all the ins and outs of it.
Here are some things you could check out:
- Queen Street Mall
- Brisbane City Hall
- Anzac Square
- Museum of Brisbane
7 pm – dinner at grey street
For a full circle moment, head on back over to South Bank for dinner. Specifically, you’ll want to check out Grey Street. Here you’ll find a street lined with all kinds of different restaurants, from Mexican to Italian to Asian. Because there are so many options, I’d recommend to walk the street for a bit to see what there is to offer, before you decide on where to eat 🙂
day 3
9 am – breakfast
You know the drill by now, either go for brunch around CBD or take something light to go.
10:30 am – mount coot-tha
By now you should be very familiar with central Brisbane. So let’s see the city from a different perspective for a change!
From the CBD, take the bus 471 up to Mount Coot-tha. Once you’re there, enjoy the marvellous panoramic views over the city. I personally think Brisbane is such a cool city to see from this perspective, as you can really see the river intertwining in between the high rises of the city.
Mount Coot-tha also offers several hiking trails. If you’re into that, feel free to explore some more of the area. You can find a pdf with all the information about the trails on here. Just beware, that Mt. Coot-tha is home for different kinds of animals. So be careful and mindful of that.
12 pm – break at summit café
Irrespective of whether you decide to hike around for a while or not, to conclude your visit on Mount Coot-tha you should stop at The Summit Café. This is without a doubt the café with the best panoramic views over Brisbane you can find!
1 pm – stroll along latrobe terrace, paddington
Spend your last afternoon in the city exploring the Paddington neighbourhood. While it’s nothing mind-blowing, world changing that you will find here, the contrast to the CBD is still quite remarkable. This area showcases some more typical, historical Queensland architecture. You’ll see wooden, one to two-story houses, painted in pastel colours. You’ll notice, how hilly Brisbane actually is, and that there are many quiet neighbourhoods just outside the center.
Specifically you should hit up Latrobe Terrace, which also has some unique boutiques, art galleries and second hand shops.
Once you feel like you’ve got a good feeling for the place, head back down to the CBD.
6 pm – dinner on fish lane
For your last evening in the city, head over to South Bank again for a final supper at Fish Lane. Fish Lane is a unique…lane, alley, street (whatever you want to call it), with really cool and modern restaurants. The street is nothing special during the day, but it really comes alive at night, especially on the weekends!
OPTIONAL
DAY 4: DAY TRIP TO SURFERS PARADISE
Surfers Paradise is one of the most famous cities on the Gold Coast. It has a really laid back, beachy vibe and you can easily spend a day or even more here.
HOw TO GET THERE
Surfers Paradise is easily reachable by train or bus from Brisbane.
BY TRAIN
If you want to go by train, you can use the same city card that you’ve used before for the city buses. I do have to note that you will need to change trains once. But with google maps that should be no issue. The train uses the same payment system as the city buses. That means, you can just top up the same card and pay as you go. I believe the fare was around 10 AUD, but don’t quote me on that fully.
BY BUS
Alternatively, there is also a daily Greyhound bus that goes to Surfers Paradise. Perhaps you already own a bus pass anyway, then this might definitely be of interest to you! If not, a one way ticket costs 17 AUD, which is more expensive than the train ride.
WHAT TO DO IN SURFERS PARADISE
- Go shopping (there are a ton of surf shops around!)
- Chill & walk along the beach
- Check out the beach markets
Surprisingly, there really aren’t that many surfers in Surfers Paradise. Shocking, right? So I’m sorry to disappoint, but I’m not sure that surfing will be on your itinerary here.
That’s it. You’ve now got yourself a diverse, active Brisbane itinerary that covers all the major sights. If you are really tight on time you could pack the activities even tighter together, e.g. into a 2 day Brisbane itinerary. Brisbane is a “small big city”, everything seems walkable and just friendly. So if you’re not pressed on time, take the extra day and take it slow 🙂
If you’re looking for some more travel inspiration and guides for the East Coast of Australia, also make sure to check out my other posts here!