Although the City Centre is Brisbane's commercial and retail heart, it retains the holiday feel which can be found throughout the State with it's wide open spaces lined with huge Moreton Bay fig trees and pulsing outdoor activity. Attractive historic buildings and churches are dotted among more than 500 shops and department stores as well as many cinemas, theatres, nightspots, and restaurants. Queen Street Mall would make a good place to begin an exploration. Within walking distance at the southern end of the city centre, the picturesque Botanical Gardens are bordered by a loop of Brisbane River and are popular with skaters, joggers, and picnickers.

On the other side of the river via the Victoria Bridge, South Brisbane is home to an impressive cultural complex which contains the Queensland Art Gallery and the Queensland Museum which includes a dinosaur garden. Just to the south of the complex, are Brisbane's South Bank Gardens, the revitalised ex-Expo 88 site. Now a vast landscaped grassy park complete with swimming lagoon, restaurants, cafes, outdoor theatres, wildlife sanctuary, weekend markets and pub.

Also on the other side of the river, but via the Story Bridge is Kangaroo Point, unmistakable for the spectacular cliffs which create the point itself. The upmarket suburb has some nice restaurants and cafes and is well known for it's jazz and rock music venues.

Spring Hill, just north of the CBD, borders on Victoria and Albert Park and has some good budget accommodation.