What to see, where to stay and the best time to visit Brisbane, Australia.
Photo: Lee Burn / Pexels
Brisbane is a coastal city in Australia, but not the capital. For visitors, much of the appeal sits along the Brisbane River: the galleries and parklands of South Bank, the Kangaroo Point Cliffs and the CityCat ferry. Fortitude Valley suits nightlife and live music. West End suits foodies and budget-minded travellers. The best months to go are June, July, August and September. The rest of the year does not rank as highly in our data.
We have no recommended number of days for Brisbane. As a guide, South Bank Parklands and Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary each take half a day, and QAGOMA takes 2–4 hours. Plan around the sights you want most.
South Bank
A long riverside park across the river from the city centre, with gardens, walking paths, cafes and Streets Beach, a man-made lagoon with a sandy shore. It is the easiest place to spend an unplanned afternoon, and it links to the city's main museums and galleries. Weekends and school holidays get very crowded around the lagoon.
South Bank
Two large art galleries in the Cultural Centre. The Queensland Art Gallery covers Australian, Indigenous and international art, and the Gallery of Modern Art next door shows contemporary work. The buildings are air-conditioned, which makes them a good choice on a hot or wet day.
South Bank
The state museum of natural history and culture, with dinosaur fossils, Queensland wildlife and displays on First Nations history. It works well for families and sits right next to the art galleries.
Fig Tree Pocket
One of the best-known wildlife parks in Australia, focused on koalas but also home to kangaroos, wombats, platypus and native birds. You can walk among kangaroos in an open reserve. It is outside the city centre, so allow time to get there by bus, car or the river cruise.
Mount Coot-tha
The main viewpoint over Brisbane, looking across the city, the river and on clear days out towards Moreton Bay. Bushwalking tracks start nearby if you want to walk up. Late afternoon gives the best light, but go on a clear day or the view is not worth the trip.
Mount Coot-tha
Large botanic gardens at the foot of Mount Coot-tha, with themed areas such as a tropical dome, a Japanese garden and Australian native plants. It is quieter than the city parks and pairs easily with the lookout on the same trip.
Brisbane River
The fast river ferries that run up and down the Brisbane River are public transport, but they also give the best view of the city from the water. Ride a long stretch, for example between the University of Queensland and Northshore Hamilton, and hop off at South Bank, New Farm or the city on the way.
Kangaroo Point
Cliffs on the river bank facing the city centre, with a park and walkway along the top and rock climbing and abseiling on the cliff face. The view of the skyline is very good at sunset and after dark. Avoid the middle of the day in summer, as there is little shade on the top.
Brisbane CBD (below the Story Bridge)
Old riverside wharves under the Story Bridge, now turned into a place for restaurants, bars and a brewery with river views. It is mainly an evening spot for food and drinks, and you can reach it by CityCat or on foot along the river walk.
Brisbane CBD
Brisbane's original gardens, on a bend of the river next to the city centre and Queensland Parliament House. Shady paths, big old trees and the riverside walk make it a calm break from the shopping streets. It connects to the Goodwill Bridge for an easy walk across to South Bank.
Average weather and our month score, from 10 years of climate data.
| Month | High / low | Rain days | Sunshine | Sea temp | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 29°C / 21°C | 15 days (131 mm) | 11.4 h/day | 27°C | 4.3/10 |
| February | 29°C / 21°C | 13 days (177 mm) | 10.3 h/day | 28°C | 4.8/10 |
| March | 28°C / 20°C | 16 days (149 mm) | 10.0 h/day | 26°C | 4.9/10 |
| April | 26°C / 17°C | 8 days (59 mm) | 10.2 h/day | 24°C | 8.3/10 |
| May | 23°C / 14°C | 7 days (68 mm) | 9.2 h/day | 21°C | 8.6/10 |
| Best month: June | 21°C / 11°C | 7 days (43 mm) | 9.0 h/day | 18°C | 8.7/10 |
| Best month: July | 21°C / 10°C | 6 days (38 mm) | 8.9 h/day | 17°C | 8.9/10 |
| Best month: August | 23°C / 11°C | 5 days (31 mm) | 10.0 h/day | 18°C | 9.0/10 |
| Best month: September | 25°C / 13°C | 6 days (48 mm) | 10.7 h/day | 21°C | 8.7/10 |
| October | 26°C / 16°C | 11 days (113 mm) | 10.7 h/day | 24°C | 7.7/10 |
| November | 28°C / 18°C | 11 days (101 mm) | 11.4 h/day | 25°C | 7.0/10 |
| December | 29°C / 20°C | 13 days (117 mm) | 11.7 h/day | 28°C | 4.9/10 |
High of 29.4°C and about 15 rain days. Scores 4.3, only ok. Hot and often wet, so this is a weaker time to go.
High of 29.1°C, 13 rain days and 177 mm of rain, the wettest month by total. Scores 4.8, only ok.
High of 28.1°C and about 16 rain days, the most of the year. Scores 4.9, only ok. Plan indoor backups.
High of 25.6°C, and rain days drop to about 8. Scores 8.3, one of the best months to go.
Mild high of 23.2°C, 7 rain days and 9.2 hours of sun. Scores 8.6, a best month.
High of 20.9°C, lows near 11°C and 6.5 rain days. Scores 8.7, a best month. Bring a layer for evenings.
Coolest month, with a high of 20.7°C, a low of 10.3°C and 5.5 rain days. Scores 8.9, a best month.
High of 22.6°C and just 5.2 rain days, the fewest of the year. Top score of 9, the best time to go.
Warming to 24.7°C, with 6.4 rain days and 10.7 hours of sun. Scores 8.7, a best month.
High of 26.1°C, but rain days rise to 11. Still scores 7.7, a best month, though less dry.
High of 27.9°C, 10.5 rain days and 11.4 hours of sun. Scores 7, a good month before the hot, wet stretch.
High of 29.1°C and about 13 rain days. Scores 4.9, only ok. Hot and wet, like January.
Climate averages 2015–2024 · Best time to visit Australia →
The best areas to base yourself and who each one suits.
Good for first-timers, families, culture lovers
Just across the river from the city, South Bank has the riverside parklands, a free man-made lagoon beach, and the state museum, gallery and performing arts centre. You can walk to the CBD over the pedestrian bridges in minutes. It gets crowded on weekends and during events, and the choice of places to stay is smaller than in the city.
Good for nightlife, live music, younger travellers
The Valley is Brisbane's main area for bars, clubs and live music, with Chinatown and plenty of late-night food. It has its own train station and is a short trip from the CBD. It is loud on Friday and Saturday nights and can feel rowdy late, so light sleepers should look elsewhere.
Good for independent travellers, foodies, budget-minded
West End has a relaxed, alternative feel, with independent shops, bars, small music venues and a Saturday market. It is next to South Bank, so the city and cultural sights are within walking distance. Public transport is mostly by bus, and some streets are hilly and busy with traffic.
Good for views, walkers, active travellers
This peninsula faces the CBD across the river and is known for its cliffs, which are popular for climbing and have some of the best city views. Ferries and the Kangaroo Point Bridge link it to the city. There are few shops and restaurants of its own, so you will often head elsewhere to eat out.
Typical journey times and fares from the airport and other cities.
| Route | By | Time | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney → Brisbane NSW TrainLink XPT, about 14 hours. One daily daytime train runs between Brisbane Roma Street and Sydney Central. The other XPT ends at Casino, with a coach link to Brisbane. Check fares at transportnsw.info. | train | 14 h | – ↗ |
| Brisbane → Cairns Queensland Rail's Spirit of Queensland tilt train runs along the coast, 1,681 km in about 25 hours, with seats and RailBed options. Sources disagree on frequency (4 or 5 trains a week). One guide lists Brisbane departures Mon/Wed/Fri/Sat at 3:45pm. Check the Queensland Rail timetable for fares. | train | 24 h 55 min | – ↗ |
A small, flat slipper lobster caught in the bay east of the city. Locals eat it grilled with garlic butter or in rolls at seafood restaurants and fish shops, especially near the water.
A large crab with heavy claws and sweet meat, caught in local mangrove estuaries. It is a treat for special occasions, served whole, often with chilli, at seafood restaurants.
A square of sponge cake dipped in chocolate and rolled in coconut, named after Lord Lamington, a governor of Queensland. You find it in bakeries and cafés, usually with tea or coffee.
The macadamia tree is native to southeast Queensland. Locals snack on the nuts roasted or salted, and cafés use them in cakes, cookies and ice cream.
The best-known Queensland beer, brewed at the Castlemaine Perkins brewery in the inner suburb of Milton. It is the standard pub beer, often drunk cold while watching football or cricket.
August is the best month to visit Brisbane, with the highest score of 9 out of 10. Days reach about 22.6°C and nights drop to 11.1°C. It is also the driest month, with 5.2 rain days and 31 mm of rain. July (8.9), June (8.7) and September (8.7) are close behind. All of these months are mild, sunny and much drier than summer.
January is not a great time for Brisbane. It scores only 4.3, the lowest of the year. Days are hot at 29.4°C, nights stay at 21°C, and it rains on about 15.2 days. February is similar, and it has the most rain of any month at 177 mm. March has the most rain days, at 15.8. If you can choose, go between April and October instead.
July in Brisbane is mild, not cold. Days reach about 20.7°C, but nights fall to 10.3°C, so bring a jacket for evenings. It is also dry, with 5.5 rain days and 38 mm of rain, and you still get about 8.9 hours of sun a day. The sea is cool at 17.1°C, so it is better for sightseeing than swimming.
Yes, October is still a good month, with a score of 7.7. Days are warm at 26.1°C and the sea reaches 23.5°C. But rain starts to increase: October has about 11 rain days and 113 mm, compared with 48 mm in September. November scores 7 and gets 11.4 hours of sun a day, but it is also wetter than the winter months.
Plan at least a full day for South Bank if you want to see its main sights. South Bank Parklands alone takes about half a day. The Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) needs 2–4 hours, and the Queensland Museum needs 2–3 hours. All three are in the same area, so you can walk between them easily.
Enter to search · Esc to close