Brisbane is a river city, and the river shapes how you experience it. The central business district sits on a peninsula roughly 15 kilometres from the river's mouth at Moreton Bay, and the city spreads across a hilly floodplain between the ocean and the surrounding mountain ranges. Ferries, trains and buses knit the centre together, and the river itself is one of the main ways to move between the parts of town you are most likely to spend time in.
For a visitor, the practical question is which bank and which neighbourhood to base yourself in. The CBD and its immediate fringe put you within walking distance of the main shopping streets and the transit hubs. South Bank sits across the river and is connected to the centre by bridge and ferry. Fortitude Valley, Spring Hill, Kangaroo Point, West End and the airport corridor each offer a different balance of convenience, quiet and access. This guide covers those areas and what kind of stay each one suits.
Best areas to stay in Brisbane
1. Brisbane CBD
The central business district occupies the peninsula itself, with the Queen Street Mall shopping precinct, Anzac Square and the Botanic Gardens all within the centre. It is the most connected part of the city for a first visit: rail, bus and ferry networks converge here, and the main sights on both banks are reachable on foot or with a short ride.
You find the widest range of accommodation types here, from budget and mid-range rooms to serviced apartments and high-end hotels, including properties overlooking the mall, the memorial gardens and the river. Expect city noise rather than quiet, and note that the terrain is hilly in places, particularly as you move up towards Spring Hill.
2. South Bank
South Bank lies across the river from the CBD and is known for its extensive parklands, which draw very large numbers of visitors each year. It is also the city's arts and entertainment precinct, home to the Queensland Performing Arts Centre and adjacent to the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre.
This area suits travellers who want parkland, culture and river views on the doorstep, and it works well for families and for anyone attending events at the convention centre. Accommodation here leans towards modern mid-range and apartment-style stays. The CBD is a short walk or ferry ride away, and the bohemian village of West End is about a ten-minute stroll.
3. Fortitude Valley
Fortitude Valley, named after the ship Fortitude, sits on the fringe of the centre and is the city's nightlife district. It is also where you find Chinatown and a concentration of apartment-style and mid-range accommodation alongside some of the city's better-known backpacker hostels.
This is the area to choose if nightlife is a priority, since clubs and bars are within walking distance rather than a taxi ride away. The trade-off is noise, particularly at weekends. The CBD is close enough to walk to, and the valley is well served by rail.
4. Spring Hill
Spring Hill sits just north of the CBD, within walking distance of the Queen Street Mall shopping precinct and the centre's commercial streets. It is a quieter, more residential-feeling base than the CBD itself while remaining close to everything.
Accommodation here includes mid-range hotels and apartment properties. The main practical consideration is gradient: Spring Hill is uphill from the centre, so if you are walking back at the end of a day, expect an incline.
5. Kangaroo Point
Kangaroo Point is on the river opposite the CBD, connected to the centre by ferry. It is a residential area with serviced apartment accommodation, including one, two and three-bedroom self-contained options with pool and gym facilities.
This area suits longer stays and travellers who prefer an apartment with kitchen facilities to a hotel room. The ferry ride to the CBD takes only a few minutes, so you are not cut off from the centre, but you are not in the middle of it either.
6. West End and Highgate Hill
West End is described as a bohemian village, about a ten-minute stroll from South Bank, and Highgate Hill adjoins it. This is a quieter, more local corner of the inner city, with budget hostel accommodation available in the Highgate Hill area.
It suits budget travellers and anyone who wants a residential base within walking distance of South Bank's parklands and arts venues rather than the CBD's commercial core.
7. Petrie Terrace and Roma Street
The Petrie Terrace and Upper Roma Street area sits on the western fringe of the CBD, close to the Roma Street Transit Centre. Several budget hostels cluster here, some with pools, and it is an easy walk to both South Bank and the CBD.
This is the most practical base for budget travellers arriving by coach or long-distance rail, since the transit centre is within a few hundred metres of several of these properties. It is also convenient for the centre without being in the middle of it.
8. Hamilton, Albion and the airport corridor
To the north-east of the centre, the suburbs of Hamilton and Albion and the area around Brisbane Airport offer motel, apartment and airport hotel accommodation. Some properties here are close to the airport and can be reached by door-to-door transport services.
This suits travellers with an early flight, a late arrival or a car, since several of these properties offer off-street parking and easy access to the highway. The trade-off is distance from the centre: you will rely on transport rather than walking to reach the main sights.
9. Manly
Manly is a bayside suburb on the water, roughly a forty-minute train ride from the CBD. Accommodation here is limited to budget hostel-style stays, with dorms and private rooms, and activities such as sailing, fishing and diving can be arranged.
This is an option for travellers who want to be near the bay rather than the city, and who do not mind a longer commute to reach the centre.
Where to stay on a budget, mid-range or splurge
- Budget: hostels with dormitories and private rooms, clustered around Petrie Terrace, Upper Roma Street and Fortitude Valley, plus a bayside hostel at Manly and budget motel and airport properties on the city fringe. Some have pools and communal kitchens.
- Mid-range: hotels, motels and apartment-style properties in the CBD, South Bank, Spring Hill, Fortitude Valley and the airport corridor, including studio and multi-bedroom apartments and properties with parking.
- Splurge: high-end hotels in the CBD and its immediate surrounds, including heritage buildings, properties overlooking the Botanic Gardens and Anzac Square, and rooms above Central Station, some with spa and gym facilities.
- Serviced apartments: self-contained one, two and three-bedroom apartments in the CBD and Kangaroo Point, with hotel-style facilities and, in some cases, lagoon pools, spas, saunas and barbecue areas.
Best area for a first visit
Base yourself in the Brisbane CBD for a first visit. It puts you within walking distance of the Queen Street Mall shopping precinct, Anzac Square and the Botanic Gardens, and it is where the rail, bus and ferry networks meet, so South Bank and the rest of the city are a short ride away. Staying here also gives you the widest choice of accommodation types, which makes it the easiest area to match to your budget.
Frequently asked questions
Which area is best if I want to walk to the main sights?
The CBD, with South Bank across the river. The centre's shopping precinct, Anzac Square and the Botanic Gardens are all in or beside the CBD, and South Bank's parklands and arts precinct are reachable by bridge or ferry. Spring Hill and Petrie Terrace are also walkable to the centre, though Spring Hill involves an incline.
Where should I stay if I want nightlife?
Fortitude Valley. It is the city's nightlife district, with clubs and bars in the area itself, and it also has Chinatown and a range of apartment and hostel accommodation. Expect noise if you stay in the middle of it.
Where do budget travellers usually base themselves?
Around Petrie Terrace and Upper Roma Street, close to the Roma Street Transit Centre, and in Fortitude Valley. These areas have several hostels, some with pools, and are within walking distance of both the CBD and South Bank. Manly offers a bayside budget option further out.
Should I stay near the airport?
Only if you have an early departure, a late arrival or a car. There are airport and fringe properties at Hamilton, Albion and around the airport itself, some with parking and door-to-door transport access, but you will be relying on transport to reach the centre and the main sights.
Compare live prices for your dates with the booking tools on this page before you decide.