So you’ve decided to go to Brisbane! Or at least you’re highly considering it because you’re here! I applaud you and definitely recommend visiting–I can even help plan your day there. Travelers often overlook this city which I can kind of understand considering Australia is so vast and has many treasures to discover. But spending one day in Brisbane is totally worth it!
Brisbane is Australia’s third largest city behind Sydney and Melbourne. It is a great place to visit if you want to see a true Aussie city. Its central location in Queensland is also helpful if you plan on continuing your travels after (easy access to the Sunshine Coast or the Great Barrier Reef for example).
I’ve spent a total of 8 weeks in Brisbane, so I feel confident about making these recommendations. But as you will see from your own visit, Brisbane is full of construction with buildings going up every day. New bars and restaurants may have opened up in the area, so ask your hotel staff or Airbnb host for their favorite spots in addition to what you find here 🙂
Before I share my one-day-in-Brisbane itineraries, I want to give you some background information about the city.
Brisbane, Australia Overview
Aussies refer to Brisbane as Brissy or Brisvegas, but it’s actually named for the Brisbane River that runs through it (you’ll see on some maps I share later).
While Sydney is more multicultural, Brisbane is a city full of Australians. You’ll really get a feel for the culture and people during your visit.
Brisbane sees about 300 days of sunshine per year, but it isn’t a beachfront city. If you’re picturing your holiday to be beach time only, Brisbane is not your best option. The best beaches are 1-2 hours away by car.
Brisbane, Australia History
The Aboriginals have been in the Brisbane area for 22,000 years, but the city as we know it today started when it was chosen as a place for secondary offenders from the Sydney colony. England sent its prisoners to Australia after America stopped accepting them, remember? That’s the way things were until 1838 when non-convict settlement began in Australia. The country became independent in 1901.
Side note tied into the history of Australia as a prison: James Squire Brewery makes a popular craft beer called 150 Lashes… I believe they named it after Captain Logan who controlled the penal settlement. There was a rule that 50 was the maximum number of lashes to be given to a prisoner, but Captain Logan often overstepped and applied 150 lashes. You will see this 150 Lashes beer all over Brisbane, so you have to try at least one schooner of it!
One Day in Brisbane Itineraries
Speaking of beer, Australians quite enjoy alcoholic beverages, so many of these routes reflect that. Cricket and rugby are also beloved, so you’ll see various sporting events make the lists. These one-day-in-Brisbane itineraries are all based on things I’ve done in Australia with Australians. If you’re traveling somewhere, you have to embrace the local culture 🙂
Option 1: Story Bridge Route
This route includes the old and the new, amazing views of Brisbane, and lots of opportunities to eat and drink! But don’t worry because it’s all walkable, so you can burn some calories and not feel as bad haha. Brisbane does a great job of retaining its history while modernizing at the same time. The stops on this itinerary will give you a chance to see that for yourself. For example, The Story Bridge Hotel, Howard Smith Wharves, and Brisbane Showgrounds have all been around for decades, but now they are developing those areas to thrive in the 21st century.
Stop 1–The Story Bridge Hotel:
Start your day here for an early lunch and order the steak sandwich. Steak sangas are an Australian pub classic, and the Story Bridge makes the best one in the city in my opinion. This “hotel” is a Brisbane icon and you can find out why here. Even if you’re there during the week, you’ll notice it’s full of Aussies grabbing lunch and oftentimes conducting business meetings. No one will judge you if you crack into your first beer at 11 am!
Stop 2–Walk across The Story Bridge:
Now its time to walk off those sandwiches and get amazing views of Brisbane at the same time.
Stop 3– Howard Smith Wharves:
After spending the early afternoon appreciating a more historic side of Brisbane, you’ll head now to new development, the Howard Smith Wharves. This area right on the riverfront has been remodeled and is home to lots of trendy restaurants and bars. My favorite is Felon’s Brewing Company. Grab a beer flight and a seat by the water and enjoy the ambiance!
Stop 4– Eleven Rooftop Bar:
Your next stop is a rooftop bar in the heart of Fortitude Valley, Brisbane’s clubbing/going out area. You can come to The Valley again at night if you’re young and want to party hard, but during the day it’s more low-key. Any time I travel to a new place, I love seeing the view from a rooftop bar with a drink in hand. (Eleven is closed on Mondays.)
Stop 5– King Street:
My last recommendation for this route is ending your day on King Street. This is a newly redeveloped area that was once part of the Brisbane Showgrounds where they have the Ekka. The Ekka is short for “exhibition,” and it’s Queensland’s annual agricultural show. Now the area is full of restaurants, so you can choose to eat dinner wherever your heart desires! Be on the lookout for happy hour deals as well. With how expensive Australia can seem, the happy hour deals we found here pleasantly surprised us.
Story Bridge Route on a map:
Option 2: Explore Southbank
Southbank is one of my favorite areas in Brisbane because it’s beautiful and offers so much to do! This itinerary is jam-packed and can probably be done across a couple of days. You may need to pick and choose the things that most interest you from the list of my recommendations.
Stop 1– Picnic lunch on RiverQuay Green:
Start your afternoon with a picnic lunch next to the river. You don’t even need to bring anything to enjoy a picnic in Southbank! Popolo Italian is a restaurant that makes and delivers a full picnic to you, blanket included. They highly recommend booking in advance, so visit their website or give them a call. You can even bring your own alcohol, which would be a fantastic way to spend a lazy afternoon. However, if you want to accomplish more during your one day in Brisbane, I would skip the alcohol at this point haha.
Stop 2– Wander around Southbank and head towards Streets Beach:
I mentioned earlier in this post that Brisbane is not really a beach destination, but it does have its very own man-made beach right in the heart of Southbank! You should not miss the views at Streets Beach, even if you don’t end up sunbathing or in the water. If you want to admire the view for a while, but don’t want to get sandy, you can head to one of the pubs nearby to grab a drink. I really liked Southbank Beer Garden.
Stop 3– The Wheel of Brisbane and the Brisbane Sign:
If you’re a fan of Ferris wheels, you can head to The Wheel of Brisbane and take a ride. You will find the Brisbane Sign close by, which is a fun spot for photo ops!
Stop 4–Experience the cultural side of Brisbane:
Southbank is a cultural hub in Brisbane and is home to museums and performing arts centers. You can spend time exploring whatever interests you, but the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art comes highly recommended and is also free!
Stop 5–Grab dinner:
You have more than a few options for dinner in the area, but I recommend picking somewhere on Grey Street, Little Stanley Street, or Fish Lane.
Grey Street is home to Little Big House, which is a bar/restaurant inside a classic, Queenslander house that’s squished right in between two huge, modern buildings. This place was super cute, and experiencing the Queenslander style of architecture is a must when in Brisbane.
Little Stanley Street is a street lined with restaurant after restaurant. Everything looks delicious, and there are so many options–you are bound to find something you’re craving.
Another cool area for food in Southbank is Fish Lane. It’s basically a hipster laneway full of street art and restaurants/bars. It’s also home to the dessert spot I recommend visiting next.
Stop 6– Head to Gelato Messina for dessert:
As if this day wasn’t sweet enough, finish up with one last treat from Gelato Messina 🙂 They have so many flavors that picking just one will be close to impossible!
Southbank route on a map: You can see from the purple stars how close together all these activities are. This route is ideal for those who don’t have a car and who want to spend a whole day in one area.
Option 3: A True Aussie Day
This route incorporates much that is dear to Australians: good coffee, local rugby, and a fantastic pub (I’ve been to it so many times and it never gets old). If you like to have more local experiences when you travel versus days full of sight-seeing, this itinerary is perfect. However, this will only be possible on Saturdays during the rugby season.
Stop 1– Grab your morning coffee:
Australians have a reputation for being the coffee snobs of the world, so you’ll definitely find great coffee in Brisbane. On my latest visit to Aus, my husband took me to Fonzie Abbott Coffee Roasters and Brewing Company and their coffee was my favorite of the whole trip. They have also started brewing craft beer, so you can come back later in the day to enjoy a flight. This spot is conveniently located across the street from where you’ll be watching rugby all afternoon 😉
Stop 2– Brothers Rugby Club:
Brothers is one of Australia’s largest rugby clubs. Many of its players have gone on to play at the international level. On Saturdays during the season, games will start around 10 am, and the main game will be on around 3 pm. Definitely check the day’s schedule before you go. If you decide to spend your afternoon at Brothers, you will be surrounded by Aussies and the vibe may get rowdy! Australians are friendly and chatty, though, so strike up a conversation with a local and get a real feel for the culture.
Stop 3– The Breakfast Creek Hotel:
This pub is only one mile away from Brothers, so it’s the perfect place to grab a meal and a beer after the rugby. Its convenient location is not the reason I recommend checking it out, though. The Breakfast Creek Hotel isn’t just a pub–it’s a destination and a Queensland icon.
The last time I visited, there was a tour bus full of people who were dropped off for a meal, tour guide and everything. All the tourists were taking photos, but since it’s a pub I’ve been to on countless occasions, I didn’t understand what everyone was making a fuss about. I thought it was just a popular pub in Brisbane that did great steaks. I got a quick history lesson from my husband and found out how iconic it really is.
The hotel was built in 1889 and has survived the numerous floods Brisbane has seen since then. You can see all the flood photos throughout the pub–definitely take a look at those. The other thing you have to do is get a beer “off the wood.” In 1977 all the hotels had to switch to steel kegs, but thanks to a petition by The Creek’s managing director at the time, they were able to continue selling beer from the traditional wooden kegs (they tap one per day). Last but not least, make sure you get yourself a steak!
Option 4: Attend a Sporting Event
Attending a sporting event is one of the best ways to experience a place. The culture will shine through as you see fans decked out in apparel cheering on their team… I’m giving you options for this itinerary because obviously sports aren’t played year round. You’ll have to choose based on what’s in season during your visit.
Suncorp Stadium:
Suncorp mainly hosts professional rugby. If you end up at an event here, you could also check out the XXXX Brewery because it’s close by. XXXX is a classic Aussie beer (it’s been around for 135 years) that you’ll see in every pub. If you enjoy brewery tours, this is one you shouldn’t miss while in Brisbane.
The Gabba:
The Gabba is Brisbane’s cricket ground. It’s also home to the Brisbane Lions (Australian Rules Football). While cricket is not widely popular in the U.S., it is HUGE in Australia. Attending a game would be a unique experience to have while in Brisbane. The Gabba is also close to Kangaroo Point Cliffs Park (less than a 20-minute walk), which is a really beautiful area with views of the river and Brisbane’s CBD. If you’re hungry you could head to the Pineapple Hotel on Main Street for a pint and a steak.
Brisbane Racing Club:
Horse races are very popular in Australia. Almost everyone will place their bet and tune in. But getting fancy and actually going to the race is quite common as well. Doomben and Eagle Farm racetracks stay pretty busy–you can check the Brisbane Racing Club’s website for the most up-to-date information!
Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre:
The Brisbane Bullets are Brisbane’s NBL team (professional basketball league in Australia). They play their home games at the BCEC, and their back up stadium is the Brisbane Entertainment Centre. If you go to a game at the BCEC, you’ll be conveniently located in Southbank! See “Option 2” itinerary for ideas on how to spend the rest of your day.
Option 5: An Epic Brisbane Pub Crawl
If you have one day in Brisbane and want it to be a party, you can definitely put together a really epic bar crawl. You can spend your time drinking and still get a good feel of the city if you go to the right places. Make sure you utilize public transport for this day whether that be Uber, the bus, or the City Cat ferries (which are free). Remember that Brisbane is full of RBTs (randomized breath tests). The police are not lenient if they pull you over, and the limit is lower than we are used to here in the States. Just be responsible! While there, do as the locals do and get on the pokies as you aggressively request the live band play The Horses by Daryl Braithwaite. Here are some of our favorite watering holes in Brisbane:
- The Story Bridge Hotel
- The Breakfast Creek Hotel
- The Hamilton Hotel
- Felon’s Brewing Company
- Fridays
- The Charming Squire
- The Fox
- Fitz and Pots
- Pig n Whistle
Option 6: The Best of Brisbane in One Day
All of the options above can be combined across several days if you have more than one day in Brisbane. However, if you truly only have 24 hours to explore this city, here is what I recommend (having a car will be the most convenient way to explore different areas). Also, feel free to pick and choose whatever sounded most fun from the sections above to create your own itinerary!
Visit Mount Coot-tha for sunrise:
I haven’t spoken about Mount Coot-tha yet, mainly because it’s out of the way unless you have a car. However, it’s a short 30-minute drive from the city center, and it’s one of my favorite spots in Brisbane. The panoramic views at the summit would be especially impressive at sunrise. Grab an Aussie coffee on the way there or back for a fantastic start to your one day in Brisbane.
Spend your afternoon in Southbank:
Next head to Southbank and spend a couple hours taking in the sights, especially Streets Beach and the Brisbane Sign. You can check out one of the museums or galleries and grab a light lunch. There is so much to do in a small, walkable area, which is one of the reasons I recommend visiting.
See the trendy side of Brisbane:
Head to Felon’s Brewing Company at the Howard Smith Wharves for one drink. You’ll be treated to incredible views of the city and The Story Bridge. You can even walk along The Story Bridge afterward if you feel up to it.
Dinner and drinks at The Breakfast Creek Hotel:
It’s time to drop your car and close out your one day in Brisbane at one of the most iconic spots in Queensland. Head to The Breakfast Creek Hotel for possibly the best steak you’ll ever have. Don’t forget to take in the history of the building and order a beer “off the wood.”
Option 7: Day Trips from Brisbane
If nothing interests you after reading the previous 6 options, don’t fear! Or maybe you’ve been to Brisbane before and want to expand your explorations to outside the city limits. There are so many amazing things to do in the surrounding areas. I’ll share some of my favorite day trips from Brisbane below 🙂 This is not an exhaustive list, just things I’ve done before and loved.
Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk:
Mount Tamborine is an hour drive south of Brisbane. If you want to get amongst the Australian rainforest canopies, this day trip from Brisbane is for you! There’s also a really cute spot nearby called St Bernards Hotel which I recommend checking out for the dogs and good views.
Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary:
Many people who dream of visiting Australia dream of cuddling a koala once there. If that’s you then make the 20-minute drive to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. Or you can take a 35-minute ferry that leaves from Southbank to get there via the Brisbane River. This experience is one of my favorites from my time in Aus!
Australia Zoo:
If you’re interested in Australian wildlife then you can’t miss visiting Australia Zoo, home of the Crocodile Hunter. Steve Irwin is a national hero in the land down under, and his zoo is arguably one of the best in the world. What his family is still doing in terms of wildlife conservation and carrying on his legacy is incredible. The zoo is an hour north of Brisbane, and I recommend stopping at Beefy’s for a meat pie or two on your way there.
Noosa:
This beautiful spot deserves more than one day, but a day trip is definitely doable. Don’t miss the hike to Hell’s Gates and the Noosa Heads Surf Lifesaving Club (a bar right on the beach). Also, make sure you spend a few hours lounging in the sand and/or shopping in the main precinct.
One Day in Brisbane Conclusion
You now have tons of ideas on what to do if you have one day in Brisbane. It’s a great city in a wonderful country that is totally worth checking out. Let me know if you have any other questions, and enjoy your time in Australia! If you found this article helpful, please share it 🙂
