Brisbane guide

New to Brisbane? Where to start

New to Brisbane? The first week feels like a holiday. Around week three the novelty fades and your phone goes quiet. Use the first month to learn the city and find one regular thing, and you’ll know people by the time that quiet arrives.

Artist in Residence: Renee Kire · Photo: Brisbane City Council

Learn Brisbane on foot

Free guided walks teach you a city faster than any map. Brisbane Greeters pairs you with a local volunteer for a free walk. The City Botanic Gardens and Mt Coot-tha gardens run free tours too.

Start at City Hall in King George Square. The Museum of Brisbane sits inside, and the Clock Tower tour gives you the best view of how the city fits together.

Get around Brisbane by river

The Brisbane River ties the inner suburbs together. The CityCat ferries run between UQ St Lucia and Northshore Hamilton, with stops at South Bank, the CBD and New Farm, and they cost the same as a bus.

The riverside paths take you from South Bank to New Farm Park on foot in about an hour.

Brisbane suburbs to know

South Bank: parklands, galleries, the free lagoon and the river walk.

Fortitude Valley: bars, live music and late nights.

West End: cafes, markets and a relaxed crowd across the river from the CBD.

New Farm: a big riverside park, the Powerhouse arts centre and weekend markets.

Paddington: hilly streets, old Queenslander houses and shops along Given Terrace.

Brisbane weather for new arrivals

Summer runs hot and humid, with storms most afternoons from November to March. Plan outdoor things for the morning. Winter stays mild and dry, which makes it the best season for walks and outdoor events.

Find your regular thing in the first month

Pick one activity that repeats every week and go three weeks running. A library group, a free fitness class or a bushcare morning all work. Regulars notice a new face fast, and the third week is when invitations start.

Meet people after moving to Brisbane

We’re building Vesica for this moment: new in town, nobody to go with yet. Once it’s out, you’ll find something on, tap “I’m going”, and chat with the others going before the day. Everyone there chose to meet new people.

Good first outings in Brisbane this week

See everything on in Brisbane this week →

Questions people ask

What should I do in my first week in Brisbane?

Take a free guided walk, ride a CityCat along the river, and visit City Hall and the Museum of Brisbane. Then choose one weekly activity to start in week two.

How do I meet people after moving to Brisbane?

Join something that repeats every week, like a fitness class, library group or volunteer team, and go three times. Vesica, once it’s out, will help you find events and meet the others going in a group chat.

How do I get around Brisbane?

Translink runs Brisbane’s buses, trains and ferries on one card. The CityCat ferries along the river are the most scenic way to get between South Bank, the CBD and the inner suburbs.

Updated Mon 5 Oct. Event listings and photos from Brisbane City Council (CC BY 4.0), refreshed every morning.