Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Brisbane?

Q: Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Brisbane?

Since it's a good-sized city, you'll probably need more than a weekend to take advantage of everything to do in Brisbane. Two or three days still gives you a good amount of time to explore, though, as you'll have a chance to experience at least some of the major attractions. In addition to the great beaches and fun museums and landmarks, visitors can enjoy the shopping, scuba diving and snorkeling, and hiking by staying for a weekend.

Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Brisbane?

Many travelers spend two to three days in Brisbane during their visit. After all, the cultural coastal city has plenty to explore such as the beaches, the famous sights and museums, and the nightlife scene.

Brisbane is the capital of Queensland. It's also a cultural city with many museums and a vibrant nightlife scene. The city makes a good base for exploring the many nearby beaches and outdoor parks. There is plenty of green space and a great setting for soaking up the atmosphere and beautiful climate.

Do you have one or two days to visit Brisbane? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.

Is one day enough time in Brisbane?

With a variety of sights and attractions, Brisbane is a fairly popular choice for tourists. So with one day, you'll probably feel rushed to see the main attractions around the city. You really need more time to appreciate everything that the cultural coastal city has to offer. Many visitors prefer to have two to three days to fully enjoy the coastal city even though it's not huge. If you have one day or less, we still have some great ideas for what to do while you're in town.

How to spend a day in Brisbane

The beautiful beaches await you in Brisbane, so spend the day (or several, if you can) relaxing on the sand or swimming in the water. For the best beaches, you'll want to take a day trip out of town, but there are also some nice beaches right by the city. About 30 minutes from town is family-friend Suttons Beach, or you can stay in the city center and check out the man-made Streets Beach. Shorncliffe Beach is another option that's less than a half hour from town.

A few tour suggestions include:

Brisbane Kayak Tour ($50)
Brisbane River Cruise with entry to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary ($73)
Fiesta De Kayak Twilight Kayak ($92)

The nightlife scene is very popular here. After dark, head out to one of the many venues around town. Fortitude Valley is the entertainment district in the city, and it really comes to life at night. There are also many venues that take advantage of the beautiful weather with outdoor and rooftop bars.

Brisbane is a walkable city and easy to explore on foot. With only a day in the coastal city, you'll have no trouble seeing the local sights. There's a good network of paths that make parts of the city walkable.

Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Brisbane?

Since it's a good-sized city, you'll probably need more than a weekend to take advantage of everything to do in Brisbane. Two or three days still gives you a good amount of time to explore, though, as you'll have a chance to experience at least some of the major attractions. In addition to the great beaches and fun museums and landmarks, visitors can enjoy the shopping, scuba diving and snorkeling, and hiking by staying for a weekend.

Brisbane skyline

How to spend 2 days in Brisbane

With a weekend (two to three days) in Brisbane, you'll have a bit more time to enjoy everything that the coastal city has to offer.

A number of fantastic museums and famous landmarks are found in Brisbane, so spend at least one full day exploring those that look the most appealing to you. The Cultural Centre is where you'll find many of the city's museums. It sits on the banks of the Brisbane River and is home to the State Library of Queensland, the Queensland Museum and Sciencentre, and Queensland Art Gallery & Gallery of Modern Art. This is also where you'll find the Queensland Performing Arts Centre. Also popular is the Brisbane Botanic Gardens and the Wheel of Brisbane.

You can't miss out on tasting the fantastic cuisine at one of the best restaurants in town, so make sure you find somewhere special for lunch or dinner. You'll find all of the standard eateries around town, with casual cafes, family-friendly restaurants, and some fine dining experiences to choose from.

A few tour suggestions include:

Mount Tamborine Wine Tasting Tour from Brisbane or the Gold Coast ($132)
Deluxe Wine Tour to Tamborine Mountain, includes two course lunch ($142)
Wine tasting tour to Tamborine Mountain ($104)

The public transit in Brisbane is fast and efficient. Over the course of a few days, you should be able to explore the coastal city quite easily and affordably. There are buses, trains, and ferries around town, but many people prefer to have their own vehicle. Ferries are the most fun and scenic way to get around.

More Info

If you're looking for more information about Brisbane, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.