Brisbane, the Queensland capital, is a fun and vibrant city with plenty to offer. But if you’re visiting Brisbane as a solo traveller, not to worry—the city is really welcoming and easy to navigate, so it’s a great place to explore on your own.
You’ll find plenty of tourists, backpackers, and business travellers in the city, so whether you want to meet new people or just enjoy the city on your own, it’s easy to find what you’re looking for. It’s also really safe with plenty of public transportation, but it’s also very walkable-as long as you don’t mind the heat.
Here are some of the best things to do in Brisbane as a solo traveller.
Check out South Bank
Ok, I know it’s touristy, but South Bank is really fun! I always enjoy walking around this part of Brisbane, as there are plenty of restaurants, ice cream places, shops, and bars. It’s also a beautifully designed public space, with lots of open space and seating areas, ideal for reading, people watching, or just relaxing.
The City of Brisbane also offers free outdoor yoga classes at South Bank Parklands.
However, one of my favourite things about South Bank is Streets Beach, a man-made beach and swimming area, right in the city. It’s free, patrolled by lifeguards, and there are locker rentals available–always safer to pop your stuff in a locker before getting in the water if you’re travelling alone.
It’s awesome that you can swim, splash, and sunbathe right in the city, so don’t be afraid to jump in! Brisbane can be seriously hot and humid so it’s one of the best ways to cool off on a sweltering day. There are also no beaches in Brisbane, and you can’t swim in the Brisbane River, so this public swimming spot is a fab alternative.
Explore Fish Lane
Just a short walk from South Bank is Fish Lane, a trendy arts precinct with lots of amazing food, street art, and funky bars. It’s essentially a long laneway that spans from South Brisbane to the city’s West End.
It has a pretty hip vibe and be sure to check out La Lune Wine Co or Kiki, both great spots to grab a drink. Kiki in particular is ideal for an afternoon, since it’s outdoors and set in a green, leafy space that feels like an oasis from the city surrounding it. Fish Lane is also known for its street art, so definitely go for a stroll and check out the gorgeous murals.
Fish Lane is also really close to some of Brisbane’s museums, such as the Queensland Art Gallery & Gallery of Modern Art, so you can easily do both in one afternoon.
Looking for more street art? You can also find plenty of amazing street art in Sydney!
Jump on a Free City Tour
It’s great to do a walking tour in a new city because it’s (a) an easy way to get your bearings and (b) can be an fun way to meet new people, if you’d rather not sightsee alone.
The Brisbane Greeters are a volunteer organisation that offers free tours, with a set tour departing daily at 10 am from Queen Street Mall Visitor Information Centre. However, they can also make a custom tour with advance notice, depending on your interests, which is pretty neat.
There are also plenty of paid walking tours dedicated to everything from food and true crime or Brisbane by Bicycle offers cycling tours of the city.
Enjoy Some Alone Time in one of Brisbane’s Best Museums
Sometimes when travelling alone, you just want to get lost in a museum—one awesome thing about solo travel is you can do whatever you want, as your time is your own! Depending on your interests, Brisbane has some pretty impressive museums.
I can recommend:
- Gallery of Modern Art
- Museum of Brisbane
- Queensland Maritime Museum
- Boggo Road Gaol (Note, as of March 2022 the goal is temporarily closed due to nearby development. It will reopen as soon as possible.)
The Queensland Art Gallery is also well worth a visit and they have a gorgeous outdoor cafe that makes for a great lunch stop.
Head Out on a Day Tour
While Brisbane is a great place to spend a few days, it’s also worth doing a day tour if you want to see more of the surrounding areas. There are plenty of companies offering day tours to local attractions, which can be helpful for meeting people but also they’re ideal if you want to travel around a bit and you don’t have a car.
Some of the best day trips from Brisbane include:
- Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary (or, slightly further away, but you can also find day trips to Steve Irwin’s Australia Zoo)
- Gold Coast Hinterland
- Moreton Island
- North Stradbroke Island
Day tours can usually be booked through your accommodation or online via a site like Get Your Guide or Viator and will usually include transport, lunch, and a sightseeing guide for the day.
Cruise Around Town on an E-Scooter
When in Brisbane, you’ll see plenty of people cruising around on electric scooters. These have become very popular in Brisbane as a way to get around, as you can rent them easily via an app.
Lime is the main scooter rental company, so sign up and download the app before you arrive if you want to ride one around town. However, you can also find bike rentals and public transport is really good in the city too.
Yes, they can go fast, so wear a helmet and stay safe!
Where to stay in Brisbane as a Solo Traveller
My top accommodation recommendation for solo travel in Brisbane is the Brisbane City YHA. I love the YHAs and have stayed at many across Australia—they run their hostels to a very high standard and are very clean, modern, and friendly.
The YHA has both private and shared rooms, depending on your budget, but the reason I recommend it for solo travellers is the rooftop. There, you’ll find a swimming pool with sweeping views of the river and the city, plus an awesome bar and restaurant made out of old shipping containers.
This makes it so easy to chat with people, make new friends, and get involved, since the rooftop has such a friendly atmosphere. I’ve stayed there a few times and always grab a beer at the bar. Noise is kept to a minimum after 10 pm, so it’s still easy to get a good night’s sleep.
The YHA is just a few minutes walk from Roma Street Station and it’s also just across the road from Suncorp Stadium, if you’re planning to go to an event.
Book your room here: Brisbane City YHA
What are your favourite things to do in Brisbane?