EXPLORE BRISBANE’S CITY CENTRE

Welcome to the City 

Whether you call Brisbane home or are visiting, Brisbane’s city centre is a vibrant hub offering shopping, dining, accommodation, and entertainment options that cater to all. 

Nestled between tranquil green spaces and fringed by the glistening Brisbane River, the City is packed with the best places to shop, dine, play and stay. This is the vibrant heart of Brisbane, and the precinct pulsates with the energy and exuberance of a contemporary global city forging its own path forward. 

Amidst the gleaming skyscrapers and iconic heritage buildings lining the City streets, you’ll discover a tantalising array of dining destinations that beckon you to embark on a gastronomic adventure. Opportunities for a solid dose of retail therapy abound, with the Queen Street Mall as a captivating centrepiece of the inner-city landscape. 

The precinct also boasts a dynamic line-up of entertainment, with live music, bustling nightlife, and an exciting program of events at venues and public spaces throughout the City.

Ever evolving and always exciting, Brisbane delivers a unique experience with every visit.

Shop and Dine 

At the heart of it all is Brisbane’s Queen Street Mall, where rich heritage and modern retail collide to create an unbeatable open-air promenade, nestled among an army of skyscrapers. Queen Street Mall stands out as the City’s premier shopping destination. It’s simply paradise for those seeking satisfaction in retail therapy. Here you’ll find over 500 retailers, including a diverse range of stores and boutiques. From high-end fashion to everyday essentials, the mall offers an accessible and enjoyable shopping experience for all visitors. Give your credit card a workout as you explore the extensive collection of retailers, ranging from department stores to local and international designer precincts like Uptown, Wintergarden, Queens Plaza, and Brisbane Arcade. Street performers, live music and events, plus an array of restaurants, cafes and entertainment further add to the vibrant atmosphere. 

Now that you’ve worked up an appetite, indulge your senses in the City’s vibrant dining scene, offering everything from casual cafes to fine dining experiences. Prepare your tastebuds for a culinary journey that spans the globe, in a fusion of international cuisine and fresh local flavours. Whether you prefer to dine by the river, explore hidden laneways, or enjoy iconic eateries, there's something to satisfy every palate. Sample delectable dishes at award-winning restaurants, drink in the sunshine at charming city cafes or unwind at rooftop bars. There’s plenty of great options on the menu when it comes to the City’s dining destinations. 

Play 

Throughout the year, the City hosts a variety of events and activities suitable for all ages and interests. Enjoy live music with City Sounds, browse local markets, or immerse yourself in cultural experiences at museums and galleries. From fashion festivals to foodie events and everything in between, the City’s calendar brims with opportunities to experience the diversity and uniqueness of all that’s on offer here. Brisbane embraces and celebrates its rich global culture, which is reflected in its multi-cultural events and authentic cultural experiences centred around the City. 

If you’re craving connection with nature, or simply looking to let the kids run off some energy, the City’s lush, green spaces offer an ideal retreat from the bustling streets. The City Botanic Gardens, perched beside the Brisbane River, are a picturesque haven of tranquillity featuring the Riverstage, a bamboo grove, sculptures, fountains, ornamental ponds and the inclusive, all abilities play space of the Baldwin Lawn Playground. Or embrace the great outdoors with a picnic, barbecue or free guided tour amidst the 16 hectares of lush, landscaped gardens at Roma Street Parklands. 

There’s never a shortage of things to do and discover in Brisbane!

Stay 

Planning to stay in the City? Discover a range of accommodation options that cater to different preferences and needs, whether you're looking for luxury hotels, boutique stays, or budget-friendly accommodations. Accessibility features are available in many establishments to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable stay for all visitors.

Whether you're seeking a weekend filled with fine wining and dining, a week brimming with events and entertainment, or a relaxing urban escape to unwind, the City is your perfect base for exploring all that’s on offer. By choosing to stay centrally, you can rest assured that you’re never far from the action. It’s the perfect way to immerse your senses in Brisbane’s lively atmosphere, from dazzling sunrises reflected on the river’s surface to glittering streets illuminated by nightlife. 

Here you’ll find all the options you’d expect in a modern, cosmopolitan capital city. Choose from an extensive range of accommodation options including ultra-chic, sky-high penthouses, boutique hotels, family-friendly, self-contained apartments and inner-city budget lodgings. 

Discover your perfect holiday haven of rest and rejuvenation in the heart of the action with a Brisbane City stay! 

One of the best ways to truly get to know Brisbane is through the eyes of a skilled and knowledgeable local. Did you know that you can enjoy a free guided tour of the City Centre and beyond, courtesy of the Brisbane City Council’s award-winning Brisbane Greeters Program?

Brisbane Greeters embody the warmth and friendliness that Brisbane is recognised for and they have shared their passion for Brisbane with more than 110,000 people since the first tours in 2012.  They are proud and passionate volunteers who are keen to share Brisbane's stories, show you some great spots and introduce you to our vibrant city. They can help you find your way around Brisbane in a number of languages, and can deliver inclusive tours for people of all ages and abilities, creating customised experiences to suit the needs and interests of each group of up to six guests. One-on-one tours may also be offered in accordance with individual’s needs. Each walking tour last for a duration of between two to four hours, as Greeters reveal the history and stories that have helped shape this dynamic city into the cosmopolitan capital it is today. 

All Greeters Choice tours commence from King George Square in front of City Hall. Bookings should be made at least the day prior to your preferred tour. For more information, or if you require assistance to make a booking, email brisbanegreeters@brisbane.qld.gov.au or phone Council on 07 3403 8888.

Reflecting Brisbane’s commitment to be an inclusive destination for all, the City Centre incorporates a host of accessibility features and handy transport options to ensure everyone can access and enjoy all that’s on offer.

The City is easily accessed via Brisbane’s extensive public transport network including buses, trains and ferries. Buses provide the closest connection to Queen Street Mall, while Central and Roma Street Stations are the inner-city train hubs. For public transport journey planning information, or the latest accessibility updates please visit translink.com.au or call 13 12 30.

The Brisbane Visitor Information and Booking Centre is conveniently located right in the City Centre, and provides a one-stop shop for travel information, directions and advice during your visit.  They offer insightful inspiration, itinerary planning assistance and free booking services to help you explore and discover the very best of Brisbane. The centre is located in the heritage-listed Regent Theatre near the centre of the Queen Street Mall. 

The city centre’s braille trail is a major navigational aid for people who are blind or have low vision. The Brisbane City Council's braille trail runs down both sides of the Queen Street Mall. There are six cross-over trails between the two main trails. The trail also runs through Reddacliff Place, at the river end of the Queen Street Mall; and through King George Square between Adelaide and Ann Streets, connecting to the main entrance of City Hall and both entrances of the King George Square Bus station. The inner city and surrounding precincts also feature quite extensive use of audio-tactile pedestrian facilities. These devices are attached to push-button pedestrian crossing, offering an audio, tactile and visual signal to indicate when it’s safe to cross a road or intersection, assisting with safe passage of pedestrians. You’ll also find tactile street signs at many major City Centre intersections. 

Brisbane City Council has produced a mobility map to assist in navigating the City centre. It shows accessible infrastructure, including accessible toilets, seating, disability parking spots, taxi ranks, drop-off zones and path gradients. It is available for download from the Brisbane City Council website at Brisbane.qld.gov.au. Hard copies of the mobility map are also available from the Brisbane Visitor Information and Booking Centre in the Queen Street Mall and the Southbank Visitor Information Centre in Stanley Street.

The Mobility Centre at City Hall provides free loans of mobility devices for use within Brisbane's City Centre, Southbank Parklands and the Southbank Cultural Precinct. Wheelchairs, wheeled walkers and single prams can be borrowed for long or short periods, depending on availability. The centre is located on the ground floor of Brisbane City Hall in Adelaide Street and is open Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm and Saturday and Sunday: 9am to 5pm. To make a booking or for more information phone Council on 07 3014 4702. City Hall also incorporates a host of convenient accessibility features, including accessible toilets and a Changing Places disability change room on the ground floor. 

Accessible toilets are also widely available throughout the shopping centres, parks and public spaces within the city centre. Grassy areas suitable for the toileting of registered assistance animals can be found in ANZAC Square, at Queens Park (on the corner of George and Elizabeth Streets) and at the Magistrate’s Court in George Street.

The Brisbane Square Library on George Street also provides a wealth of accessible amenities, including free Wi-Fi, wheelchair charging points, meeting rooms with hearing loops and much more. 

For more detailed information about accessibility within Queen Street Mall, please refer to the accessibility section of the Queen Street Mall audio guide available on the Visit Brisbane website at visit.brisbane.qld.au or at vacay.com/experience.