Hotels in Brisbane

Best time to visit Brisbane

Brisbane has warm temperatures throughout the year, but if you want to enjoy as much sun as possible without excessive rainfall, April – May is best. Holiday crowds are limited at this time of the year, which means you get the city to enjoy without the usual tourist population.

Saving money in Brisbane

Brisbane is budget-friendly for even the most money-conscious traveller. Hostels in Brisbane, like most of Australia, will let you work for your accommodation. Usually, you may only have to spend a few hours per day cleaning, and you get a free room in return. Eating out in Brisbane is expensive, but if you have a hotel room with an in-house kitchen, shop for food at ALDI (the cheapest grocery store in the area) and cook on your own.

Public transportation in Brisbane

The TransLink system in Brisbane is fast and convenient. If you plan to use the buses, metro and water taxis a lot, get yourself a go card. The go card works on all trains, buses, trams and ferries in the greater Brisbane area and you do not have to worry about carrying cash for fares. The fares with the go card are 30 percent cheaper than buying regular tickets.

Best places to stay in Brisbane

Brisbane is the ideal holiday destination for Aussies. As the gateway to Queensland, Brisbane is perfect for a romantic weekend getaway, family vacation and to catch up on Australian culture. The area is rich in activities, including galleries, museums, the ballet and big capital events like the Brisbane International Tennis and Riverfire festival. If you want to explore South East Queensland, Brisbane is the perfect place to park yourself. Here you are centrally located to explore the local areas, including the Gold Coast Theme Parks and the Sunshine Coast activities.

City Centre

City centre is vibrant, and a great place to stay if you want to be a few steps away from restaurants, shopping and the main attractions. In city centre, you have the Riverside Centre tower and markets along the Pier. You can also explore the colonial architecture of the city, ride along with in-line skaters and soak up the greenery at Brisbane City Gardens. If you want to stay in this part of the city, try the Hotel Grand Chancellor Brisbane or the Royal on the Park Hotel and Suites. Both are situated close to the Brisbane River and City Botanic Gardens, and they are a short walk to Queens Street Mall.

Fortitude Valley

The locals know it as “The Valley.” While it was not considered an appropriate area for tourists, the revival of The Valley has made it home to cool cafes, food stores and even a quaint Chinatown. On the weekends, you can shop at the Valley Markets and in Chinatown malls. Stay at the hip and trendy TRYP Fortitude Valley Hotel, the only art-based hotel in the city centre. For something more upscale, try the contemporary, luxurious Emporium Hotel.

New Farm

New Farm is the perfect spot for the café hopper in you. Merthyr Street on Friday and Saturday nights is a place you want to be, especially if you enjoy unique cocktails, clubs and dancing. Hotels in Brisbane in the New Farm area are just as fashionable as the cafés. Try the art deco-inspired Spicers Balfour Hotel, which is an award-winning boutique hotel with a stylish interior. For something simpler, you can try the Bowen Terrace Guest House, which is unique, traditional and relatively more affordable.

Paddington

Escape the crowds and the pace of the city centre and enjoy the calm and quiet of this hilltop suburb. It is a couple of kilometres northwest of the downtown area and features attractive Queenslander cottages lining the streets. Many of the older homes in the area have transformed into hip cafes and boutiques. The Gambaro Hotel Brisbane offers world-class dining, luxurious suites and privacy.

Milton and Rosalie

Get a taste of the European side of Australia, including Italian cafes, French bistros and alfresco-style restaurants. Here you can find European designer clothing, refined artwork and small boutiques to explore. Stay at the elegant Lucerne on Fernberg in Brisbane that is close to the CBD and offers a cosy bed and breakfast experience.

West End

Back into the inner city and on the western side you have ethnic eateries, cafés and fashion boutiques. Most of what tourists want to see is on Boundary and Vulture Streets. Many of these hotels are along the waters of the Brisbane River or close enough to explore walking. Hotel WestEnd on Browning Street is a small-scale hotel, while The Boundary Hotel is bigger and offers in-house dining, live music and sport activities.

Cheap hotels in Brisbane

While you could find a cheap stay by the airport, what fun would it be if you had to stay further away from the attractions? Cheap hotels in Brisbane do exist, and there are quite a few to consider closer to the water, tourist activities and the CBD. Take the Brisbane Manor Hotel, for example. Located in a heritage building, you can get a quaint, comfortable room within walking distance of local pubs, restaurants and Chinatown. The Ascot Budget Inn is another good option and you are just 9 km from the CBD. The ibis Budget Windsor Brisbane is close to the Ekka Showgrounds and public transportation is only 200m away. For a hostel, try the Nomads Brisbane Hostel with its rooftop terrace, BBQ patios, and central location. Ellie’s Guest House in New Farm is 4 minutes from the ferry and 2.5 km from city centre. It is a quaint, Queenslander style home in a relaxing, quiet environment. Although more expensive than CBD budget hotels, it gives you a quiet relaxing place to stay outside of the bustle of downtown.

Brisbane is the capital of Queensland, but it has a relatively relaxed atmosphere. Even in the city centre, you find that the locals are not rushing about their business, and everyone takes advantage of leisure time. Whether you are travelling here on business or for holiday with the family, you must try to squeeze in as many of the main attractions as you can to enjoy a true taste of the Brisbane lifestyle.

• Visit the naturally landscaped sanctuary set up for koalas at the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. It is an exciting place to take the kids and a great place to spend a relaxing afternoon.
• The City Botanic Gardens are a Brisbane River oasis for recreation and plants. When the weather is favourable, plan to spend the day here.
• For the art lover in you, visit the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art. Here you have a collection of modern Australian and Asian artists’ works on display. There is also the Queensland Art Gallery, which is an acclaimed attraction with one of the largest collections of artwork in the country.
• Explore the city from above by riding on the Wheel of Brisbane. Not only do you get exceptional city views, but you can also follow the course of the Brisbane River and look down over the hustle and bustle of the city centre.
• The parklands of Brisbane are perfect for relaxing and visiting with the younger ones. Try out the Roma Street Parkland with its scenic gardens or visit the South Bank Parklands. The public lawns are open for picnics and the designated swimming areas make it an easy spot to spend the day with family and friends, taking some wonderful pictures of your holiday.