This post was originally published on A Globe Well Travelled in 2018. The content has been revised and updated with fresh information.
Brisbane isn’t always the first city that comes to mind when people plan a trip to Australia, but this sunny riverfront city surprised me in the best ways.
My husband and I spent a week working remotely in Brisbane before our East Coast road trip began, and I made it my mission to uncover the city’s most photogenic spots. What I found was a delightful mix of modern architecture, pretty waterfront areas, and tropical parks — all perfect for travellers who love exploring with a camera in hand.
If you’re planning a weekend in Brisbane, this itinerary covers the city’s top attractions and its hidden gems. Get ready for some fun activities and plenty of photo ops in Queensland’s capital!
Quick summary:
This 2-day Brisbane itinerary takes you to the city’s most photogenic attractions, from riverside parks and modern art galleries to skyline viewpoints and lively food markets.
Recommended tours:
👻 Haunted Brisbane CBD Ghost Tour – Discover the spooky stories behind Brisbane’s historic streets and landmarks on this after-dark walking tour.
🌉 Story Bridge Adventure Climb – Scale one of Brisbane’s most iconic structures for panoramic city and river views.
⛴️ Brisbane River Sightseeing Cruise – Relax on a guided cruise while admiring Brisbane’s skyline and waterfront highlights.
Where to stay in Brisbane
🏨 We stayed at The Constance in Fortitude Valley – a boutique hotel located just outside of the city centre.
Fortitude Valley is an interesting location. While the area can get quite lively on a Friday/Saturday night, daytime in ‘The Valley’ means visiting great coffee spots and quirky restaurants (I had some truly excellent sushi there!).
The Constance was street-art-themed with murals by local artists covering the walls and prints inside the rooms. It was comfortable and clean. There was even a rooftop bar and a fabulous burger joint downstairs — definitely more interesting than your average hotel!
Day 1 Brisbane itinerary
Stroll along South Bank
I was skeptical about South Bank as it’s a tourist hotspot and I generally try to avoid those areas, but I was pleasantly surprised by this waterfront park in Brisbane. South Bank is one of the best Brisbane attractions for first-time visitors, and definitely one of the city’s most Instagrammable spots.
The South Bank parklands, which stretch along the Brisbane River with views towards the city skyline, didn’t feel overcrowded at all and had plenty of great photo ops.
South Bank features more than just the riverside boardwalk and grassy lawns – it has a number of interesting attractions including a man-made beach (it sounds terrible but it was actually pretty nice!), a walkway lined with pretty flowering plants, a miniature rainforest, a Nepalese peace pagoda, and a giant ferris wheel.
See some art at GoMA
Right next to South Bank, you’ll find the Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA) — one of Brisbane’s most popular attractions for art lovers and photographers, so it’s well worth adding to your Brisbane weekend itinerary.
I’d hoped to see the Yayoi Kusama temporary exhibition when I visited in 2018, but the line to get in was insane! We ended up visiting other exhibits instead, which ranged from modern Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander works to giant balloon dogs made from garbage bags.
Walk across the river
There are some pretty pedestrian bridges crossing the Brisbane River that are worth walking across. We chose to wander along Kurilpa Bridge, one of Brisbane’s most Instagrammable landmarks, which is an easy way to connect your visit to South Bank with the city centre. We were rewarded with dreamy views of the skyline reflected in the water. This bridge lights up in bright colours at night, making it perfect for photography.
You can also walk across Victoria Bridge or Goodwill Bridge if you want to explore different riverfront areas.
Visit City Hall and the Clock Tower
It may not be quite as impressive as London’s Big Ben, but the clock tower on Brisbane’s City Hall is nearly as tall at around 90 metres. I found this 1930s building to be very photogenic with its large columns and decorative facade.
We managed to see the City Hall building both in the daytime and at night, and it was stunning to look at both times. There are plenty of photo ops in front of the building, or you can actually go up the tower (for free!) and find a viewing platform at the top with views of the surrounding buildings.
👻 If you want to see a completely different side of the city after dark, join the Haunted Brisbane CBD Ghost Tour. This guided evening walk uncovers eerie tales from 200 years of Brisbane’s history — a mix of crime, tragedy, and ghostly legends — all starting right outside City Hall.
Day 2 Brisbane itinerary
Check out the City Botanic Gardens
We started our second day with a peaceful stroll through the City Botanic Gardens, which is Brisbane’s oldest park and one of the best free things to do in Brisbane. Located right on the river, this lush green space is filled with tropical palm trees, bamboo groves, and massive fig trees.
While you’re in the area, pop over to Old Government House — one of Brisbane’s most important heritage buildings. Built in the 1860s, this grand sandstone residence was once home to Queensland’s early governors and now houses a small museum and café.
See the skyline from Wilson Outlook Reserve
Wilson Outlook Reserve has arguably the best views of the city with the iconic Story Bridge in the foreground and Brisbane’s skyscrapers positioned behind it. We walked to this scenic spot from our hotel in Fortitude Valley to see the city skyline at sunset, though it looks good at any time of day.
This place is super popular with photographers (I spotted at least 3 others with tripods while I was there) but luckily there’s plenty of space for everyone to snap a good photo.
🌉 If you’re looking for something more adventurous, book a Story Bridge Adventure Climb! Climbs are available day or night, and will take you to the summit of the bridge for an amazing perspective of the city and Brisbane River.
Cruise the Brisbane River
One of the best activities for any visitor to Brisbane is getting out on the river. Locals use ferries as a form of public transport, but tourists can also use the ferries to get a fabulous view of Brisbane from the perspective of the water.
The CityHopper ferry is free and stops at numerous points throughout the city center, or if you want to go out a little further (like we did – we took the ferry to Northshore in Hamilton to visit the Eat Street Markets) then you’ll need a public transport card such as the Go Card.
⛴️ Alternatively, you can choose to do a Brisbane river sightseeing cruise from South Bank which will give you some great photo ops with morning tea included.
Visit the Eat Street food markets
Eat Street is one of Brisbane’s most vibrant food destinations. These night markets are located a little ways out of the city centre, but you can easily get there if you take the public ferry to Northshore Hamilton.
On arrival, you’ll find this collection of coloured shipping containers which have been decorated brightly with fairy lights and converted into pop-up food stalls featuring a huge range of cuisines.
These night markets are open on Fridays and Saturdays from 4 PM -10 PM, and Sundays from 12 PM – 8 PM. We spent a solid hour and a half wandering the stalls before settling on Japanese noodle dish and a truly Australian Gaytime-flavoured donut ice cream cone. Delish.
Have an extra day? Take a day trip to Moreton Island
If you’re lucky enough to have an extra day in Brisbane, I would highly recommend taking a day trip to Moreton Island. Just a short ferry ride away, this island paradise feels worlds apart from the city.
We took a day tour to visit the island, where we snorkelled around the famous Tangalooma Wrecks, raced down desert dunes on a sandboard, and hand-fed wild dolphins at sunset. It was an unforgettable experience and is honestly one of the best day trips in Queensland!
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