For a fun-filled family holiday, action-packed weekend or culture-infused vacation, it’s hard to beat Brisbane. The city’s balmy weather and picturesque landscape attracts travellers year-round, but it is also Brisbane’s world-class art, culture, entertainment and dining scenes that position Queensland’s capital as an ideal destination for holiday-goers of all stripes. Here are our top picks not to be missed.
Discover Brisbane, Queensland’s culture capital
Arts & Culture
The Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) houses more than 16,000 works of historical, modern and contemporary art, and is one of the best contemporary art museums in Australasia. In addition to the main exhibits, little artists will love the interactive art at the Children’s Art Centre, and cinefiles can discover films at the Australian Cinémathèque.
In addition to QAGOMA, Brisbane is a hotbed of smaller museums and galleries. For up-to-date info on artistic happenings from painting to photography to fashion, check out Brisbane Art.
Shopping
Riverside Markets has been luring locals and visitors to the Eagle Street waterfront every Sunday morning for the past 22 years. From 7:00 am to 3:00 pm, dozens of stalls sell handicrafts and food and drinks, while street performers blanket the boardwalk.
For an indoor shopping fix, Queen Street Mall is the shopaholic’s dream, with more than 700 shops including international and Australian designers, unique boutiques and flagship department stores. It’s also the perfect place for people-watching while enjoying a meal or snack at one of the fresh-food delis, open-air cafes or laneway beer and wine gardens.
Dining
Foodies need look no further than the Eagle Street Pier, where a smorgasbord of al fresco restaurants, sophisticated bars and bustling pubs overlook the illuminated Story Bridge. This is also a great place to grab a coffee on Sunday morning before wandering through the Riverside Markets.
Theatre
At the forefront of Brisbane’s culture scene is the legendary Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC). Theatre, music and dance lovers are treated to an impressive lineup of international plays, musicals, opera, ballet, comedy and family-friendly performances.
A Change of Pace
Explore the city on two wheels with Brisbane Bicycle Tours, or slow down at the City Botanic Gardens, home to some of Australia’s most beautiful blooms, manicured gardens, walking paths and shaded picnic spots.
For great river and city views and convenience to the best sites in Queensland, check out our Club Escape in Oaks Charlotte Towers Brisbane, one of the beautiful Oaks Hotels & Resorts properties in the city.
Great food? World-class shopping? Exciting arts scene? Tell us what you’re most excited to experience in Brisbane on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Weibo.