Visiting Brisbane for the first time? From iconic attractions to well-known landmarks and everything in between, there’s plenty to keep you occupied day and night in the Queensland capital.
With 300-odd days of sunshine each year, subtropical Brisbane is a top spot for holiday or business travel. The Queensland capital knows how to show visitors a good time, making the most of its sun-drenched natural appeal with alfresco dining and rooftop bars, open-air shopping malls, riverside activities, public art and heaps of green space.
With so much to see and do in Brisbane, you’ll want to make the most of your Brisbane itinerary. Check out our comprehensive guide to getting around Brisbane, including public transport and other practical options, to ensure you don’t miss a thing.
Arriving in Brisbane
Interstate and intrastate visitors flying to Brisbane from Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and Cairns will touch down at Brisbane Domestic Airport.
Getting from Brisbane Airport to Brisbane City
There are several ways to get to the Brisbane CBD from the airport, including train, bus, airport shuttle, taxi or rideshare services.
The cheapest and easiest option to travel to Brisbane City is via the Airtrain – a 20-minute ride with direct access from outside the Domestic or International Terminals to the Airport Domestic or Airport International station platforms.
With trains departing every 15 minutes in peak times and every 30 minutes off-peak, Airtrain offers a convenient connection to eight Brisbane City stations: Central, Roma Street, Fortitude Valley, Bowen Hills, Eagle Junction, Wooloowin, Albion and South Brisbane; and other train lines.
Tickets can be purchased online and at train stations or use a Translink go card smart travel card, contactless credit or debit card or a valid smart device. An online adult or concession ticket is $21.90 one-way plus additional rail ticket costs for peak and off-peak travel to your train station.
If you’re travelling between Brisbane Airport and Brisbane City stations, children aged five to 14 years can travel free when accompanied by an adult with a valid e-ticket or paper station ticket. Kids under five ride for free.
Less convenient, but even cheaper at just 50c, is Translink’s 590 bus route, which runs from the nearby Skygate airport precinct to Toombul Bus Interchange and links to the Queensland Rail network. Take the free Skygate Airport Transfer Bus from the airport to hop aboard.
There is also the Con-x-ion airport shuttle bus service, which will set you back around $32 per adult for a one-way, door-to-door trip to your CBD hotel.
For another direct route to your hotel or accommodation, step out of the Domestic Terminal to the taxi rank or cross over to the rideshare pickup location for the quick 20-minute trip to Brisbane City.
Taxi costs can vary according to traffic, but the average off-peak price from Brisbane Airport to the CBD is around $45-$55. Likewise, the cost of an Uber, DiDi or all-women Shebah ride will fluctuate according to availability and demand.
How to get around Brisbane
Brisbane’s compact CBD and inner-city areas are immensely walkable, but if you’re exploring the suburbs or visiting multiple destinations, here are some of the best ways to get around with ease.
Public transport
Brisbane has a far-reaching, reliable (and currently extremely cheap) Translink public transport network of trains, buses, ferries and the upcoming Cross River Rail system – all conveniently accessible via the go card.
Go Card
South-East Queensland’s smart transport system is the go card, your electronic ticket to get from A to B in greater Brisbane as well as throughout the Ipswich, Moreton Bay, Redlands, Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast regions.
The pre-loaded, reusable smartcard allows you to access all Translink bus, train (including Airtrain) and ferry services in Brisbane.
To use, tap your card on the go card reader each time you start and end your trip.
There is a refundable deposit of $10 for adults and $5 for a child, concession or senior to purchase a go card. Buy online, by phone, at Queensland Rail station ticket offices, select busway stations and interchanges (adult go cards only) and retailers displaying the ‘buy’ go card logo, such as convenience stores and newsagencies.
Likewise, you can top up your go card at more than 1,600 locations across South-East Queensland, including online, by phone, at select retailers with the ‘top-up’ symbol, attended Queensland Rail station ticket offices and certain busway stations and interchanges.
Visitors can also use a credit or debit card or linked device, such as smartphones and smartwatches, for contactless payments and the same benefits and cost as an adult fare with the go card. Use the same card or device to tap on and off during each journey for all trains, ferries and some buses.
If you don’t have a go card or a contactless payment method, you can still purchase a single one-way paper ticket for use on some buses and all trains and ferries from Queensland Rail station ticket offices during opening hours and fare machines at busways and train stations.
Note: Paper tickets are not available to purchase on a bus, train or ferry – you’ll need to buy before you board. Paper tickets also have printed expiration times with a two-hour transfer window or 3.5 hours if travelling more than four zones.
All fares currently cost a flat rate of 50 cents across all Translink zones and modes of public transport. Children under five years ride for free.
Trains
Brisbane’s integrated train system is the most convenient way to get around town. Multiple lines connect City stations to the north, west, south, and bayside suburbs, plus Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast lines.
It’s also your ticket to regional centres on the Queensland Rail network. Roma Street Station is the main rail terminus for all lines as well as regional and intercity trains. All Translink train lines stop at Central, Fortitude Valley and Bowen Hills stations.
If you’re going out at night, select bus, ferry and train lines run regular night services – check Translink to plan your evening. On weekends, Nightlink bus services replace trains and operate between midnight and 5am on Friday and Saturday nights, departing from Fortitude Valley and Brisbane City.
Buses
If you can’t get to where you need to go by train, the bus will take you there with dedicated bus tunnels and busways to avoid congestion on the roads. Brisbane’s bus network has regular routes to popular destinations, such as South Bank Parklands, West End, Kangaroo Point and New Farm, and offers top sightseeing options along the city and suburban streets. It also runs late-night services between 12 midnight and 5am on Friday and Saturday nights.
There are also several free CBD and inner-city bus services for a hop-on, hop-off trip. The purple Brisbane City Loop bus routes 40 and 50 run clockwise and anticlockwise, respectively, every 10 minutes on weekdays, stopping at Central Station, Riverside, Botanic Gardens, QUT, City Hall and Treasury Casino. The Spring Hill Loop Route 30 links Brisbane City and Spring Hill, while the South Brisbane Loop Route 86 makes several popular stops in South Bank and West End.
Ferries
For the most scenic ways to get around Brisbane, take one of the CityCat or KittyCat catamaran ferries to crisscross the Brisbane River. The double-decker CityCats ply the river from Northshore Hamilton to UQ St Lucia, stopping at popular riverside locations, such as Bretts Wharf, Bulimba, New Farm, Howard Smith Wharves, South Bank Parklands, Milton and West End. The CityCats also operate express services during peak times on weekdays.
The smaller KittyCat ferries carry up to 60 passengers and offer Cross River and CityHopper services. The free red CityHopper ferry runs daily between Sydney Street (New Farm) and North Quay in Brisbane City with stops at Eagle Street Pier, Kangaroo Point and South Bank Parklands.
Tip: Look out for the new CityDogs – two ferries wrapped with the Bluey and Bingo characters from the popular Brisbane animated series – which will take visitors to the new Bluey’s World Brisbane attraction at Northshore Hamilton.
Useful Brisbane public transport apps and resources
For navigation on the go, download or bookmark these easy-to-use Brisbane public transport apps and websites for all Translink train, bus and ferry services.
- Translink app (replacing the MyTranslink app): Includes a journey planner, real-time travel alerts, including when services will arrive and disruptions, and the option to personalise your travel with favourite stops.
- Translink website: A useful public transport tool with comprehensive network information. It includes a Journey Planner that factors in walking time, Timetables and a real-time Service Capacity Tracker to check the expected onboard space available.
- Queensland Rail website: A helpful resource for specific train line service status, network maps and trip planning.
Taxis and ridesharing
Taxi and rideshare services are readily available throughout Brisbane for the most direct route to your destination.
Call or use a taxi app, such as 13cabs or Black & White Cabs, to reserve your taxi pickup or queue at one of the designated taxi ranks dotted around Brisbane City and inner-city areas, shopping centres, hotels and major attractions and landmarks.
Another option for getting around Brisbane at your leisure is to use a rideshare app, including Uber, DiDi and the women-only Shebah, to request or reserve a ride.
Car rental and driving in Brisbane
Want to explore further afield or visit the Sunshine Coast or Gold Coast beaches and hinterland during your Brisbane stay? Brisbane Airport has all the major car rental companies with affordable vehicle hire options for cars, electric vehicles (EVs), motorcycles and motorhomes.
Within Brisbane’s expansive road, bridge and tunnel network, including toll roads, some of the main thoroughfares include the AirlinkM7 twin tunnel connecting Brisbane Airport to the City, the Inner City Bypass, the Western Freeway and the north-south Gateway Motorway, linking the Pacific and Bruce highways.
Cycling and scooters
Brisbane has an extensive network of bikeways and shared paths, particularly in inner-city precincts, making cycling an affordable, safe and easy way to get around with e-bikes, bicycles and e-scooters available for hire.
Download the Beam or Lime apps to access and unlock the dockless e-bike and e-scooter sharing programs around Brisbane. Look for the purple Beam mobility devices to get moving. Lime also has green-and-white e-bikes, e-scooters and seated e-scooters across Brisbane.
Note: Riders are required to be 16 years and over to use any of these micromobility schemes in Brisbane.
You can also hire a bicycle or e-bike at Brisbane’s inner-city cycle rental outlets. Don’t forget a helmet when cycling or scooting in public and follow the road rules.
Walking in Brisbane
Brisbane is an extremely walkable city with a compact CBD, pedestrian-only shopping mall and well-planned inner-city precincts, making it easy to get around on foot. There are also shared pathways for runners, walkers and cyclists along the Bicentennial Bikeway, Brisbane Riverwalk floating boardwalk and Kurilpa, Neville Bonner and Goodwill cross-river bridges for waterfront views and sightseeing. The most scenic inner-city walk for visitors is the riverside stroll from South Bank Parklands, crossing the Goodwill Bridge to the City Reach Boardwalk and on to Howard Smith Wharves.
Accessible transport options
Brisbane’s Translink public transport network is accessible for travellers with mobility aids, such as prams and strollers, wheelchairs, walkers and scooters, on new buses as well as all trains and ferries.
Most buses are accessible, particularly the new models with low-floor entry, ramps and allocated spaces for wheelchairs and mobility scooters and priority seating. The new Brisbane Metro electric buses have mobility bays in the first compartment. All busway stations are fully accessible with lifts, ramps and pathways and have tactile indicators on the ground to assist customers with vision impairment.
All train services are accessible for wheelchairs and mobility devices with allocated spaces in the middle carriage. Look for the wheelchair symbol in the middle of the train platform and wait for staff to deploy the ramp before boarding. Additional priority seating is located near the door in every carriage. Not all train stations are accessible – check the Queensland Rail website before your journey.
All CityCat ferries are fully accessible with four spaces for wheelchairs and mobility scooters on each vessel. However, the free CityHopper and Cross River Ferry services are not accessible. Most ferry terminals are accessible with facilities noted on the ferry network map.
Wheelchairs and mobility scooters can also be taken in accessible maxi taxis, which can accommodate one mobility scooter or two wheelchairs per vehicle. Book a maxi taxi via the 13cabs or Black & White Cabs apps.
Brisbane Airport offers accessible facilities and mobility services to assist passengers in getting on and off the plane and around the terminals. Airport staff are also trained to recognise the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower and help travellers who need extra support. Download the Accessibility Journey Planner for more info.
Brisbane transport FAQs
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What is the best way to get around Brisbane?
The best way to move around Brisbane is by public transport. Brisbane has a well-connected, reliable and extensive network of trains, buses and ferries as well as car hire, taxi and rideshare options. Use the Translink app or Journey Planner tool to map your route effectively.
The Translink go card pre-loaded smartcard is the easiest and most convenient way to use the public transport network in Brisbane and Ipswich, Moreton Bay, Redlands, Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast regions.
Public transport maps and information are available at all busways, stations and ferry terminals. You can also visit the Translink website or download the Translink app for trip-planning resources and real-time alerts.
Brisbane City is a compact and walkable city centre with many major attractions, popular destinations and landmarks conveniently located near each other. You can also hire a bike, e-bike or e-scooter to move around with bicycles permitted on roads, bikeways and shared paths (e-scooters are not allowed on major roads or within the city.
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Can you get around Brisbane without a car?
Brisbane has a well-integrated and organised network of trains, buses and ferries, so if you just need to get from A to B, the public transport system has you covered.
However, if you need to visit multiple locations across the greater Brisbane area or want to stay longer and travel at your own pace to explore more of South-East Queensland, it’s a good idea to hire a car. Brisbane covers quite a large region, and locals often find it easier and more efficient to drive.
Brisbane Airport offers all the major car rental companies, so you can go straight from the plane and pick up your car, electric vehicle (EV) or 4WD.
Be aware that street parking and public carparks can be limited and expensive in Brisbane, particularly around Brisbane City, inner-city areas and popular suburban shopping precincts, with some areas restricted to permit holders only or metered.
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How much does public transport cost in Brisbane?
Good news for visitors to Brisbane – South-East Queensland currently has 50-cent flat-rate fares for all Translink public transport services. This applies to trains, buses and ferries in Brisbane. Following a successful trial, the 50c fares can be accessed by visitors and Brisbane residents using go cards, contactless payment options and single paper tickets purchased from station fare machines or offices before boarding.
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Is there free public transport in Brisbane?
Brisbane offers free public transport services on select bus routes and ferries around the CBD and inner-city areas. The purple Brisbane City Loop bus routes 40 and 50 run every 10 minutes on weekdays from 7am to around 6pm, stopping at Central Station, Riverside, Botanic Gardens, QUT, City Hall and Treasury Casino. Look out for the purple bus stop signs to board these services.
The Spring Hill Loop route 30 links Brisbane City and Spring Hill, operating from 6am to 9:15pm on weekdays, 7:56am to 9:15pm on Saturdays and 8am to 6:46pm on Sundays. The South Brisbane Loop Route 86 makes several stops in South Bank and West End and runs every 10 minutes from 7am to 9:09pm on weekdays, 8am to 9:09pm on Saturdays and 8am to 9pm on Sundays.
The free red CityHopper ferry runs daily between Sydney Street (New Farm) and North Quay in Brisbane City with stops at Eagle Street Pier, Kangaroo Point and South Bank Parklands. It runs every 36 minutes between 5:30am and 12 midnight from Sunday to Thursday with later services on Friday and Saturday nights.
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Do you need a go card in Brisbane?
With cash phasing out in favour of contactless payments across the Translink network, it pays to obtain a go card to easily access public transport in Brisbane on the go. Alternatively, if you visit irregularly or are in Brisbane on holiday, you can simply use contactless payments with your debit or credit card or smart devices with Apple Pay, Google Wallet or Samsung Pay to be charged the adult fare on trains, ferries and some buses. Just remember to use the same card or device to tap on and off for each journey.
Flights to Brisbane
Virgin Australia offers direct flights to Brisbane from major Australian cities, including:
