Free things to do in Brisbane
17 spots, costed and mapped.
Brisbane is one of the easiest cities in Australia to have a good day out without spending a cent. Every spot below is free to get into, and most are a 50c public transport fare from the CBD.
We've picked spots a mate would actually take you to, not a list padded out with every park in town. Each one shows how long you'll need, how to get there, and what you might spend if you grab a coffee or lunch along the way.
Inner-city sunsets, swimming spots, galleries and markets are near the top, and the free day trips are at the bottom. All but Surfers Paradise need a car.
Quick picks
Views and sunsets
FreeKangaroo Point Cliffs at Sunset
Panoramic skyline views as the sun drops behind the city
FreeMt Coot-tha Lookout + Botanic Gardens
Brisbane's highest point with panoramic city-to-coast views and 52 hectares of gardens
FreeMowbray Park Fig Tree Lights
Five riverside figs lit up after dark, with the Story Bridge behind them
Parks and swimming
FreeStreets Beach + South Bank Parklands
Australia's only inner-city man-made beach, surrounded by gardens and galleries
FreeEnoggera Reservoir
A swimming beach inside a national park, fifteen minutes from the CBD
FreeRedcliffe + Suttons Beach
A bayside village with a long jetty, calm swimming, and the best fish and chips in Brisbane's north
FreeNew Farm Park + Powerhouse
Jacaranda-lined riverside parkland and a heritage power station turned arts venue
FreeRoma Street Parklands
The world's largest subtropical garden in a city centre, hidden on the edge of Brisbane's CBD
Art, culture and wandering
FreeGallery of Modern Art (GOMA)
Australia's largest modern art gallery, free to wander on the riverfront
FreeBrisbane Street Art + Laneways
Wander through open-air galleries of world-class murals hidden in Brisbane's laneways
FreePaddington Antiques + Latrobe Terrace
Heritage Queenslander houses, vintage shops, and hilltop cafes in Brisbane's most charming suburb
FreeWest End Markets
150+ stalls under giant fig trees on the river every Saturday
Free day trips
FreeGlass House Mountains
Ancient volcanic peaks rising from the plains, an hour north of Brisbane
FreeSpringbrook National Park
World Heritage rainforest with waterfalls, trails, and glow worms
FreeD'Aguilar National Park + Walkabout Creek
Bushwalking and native wildlife in a national park just 15 minutes from Brisbane's CBD
FreeMount Barney
South East Queensland's hardest day hike, under two hours from Brisbane
FreeSurfers Paradise
Iconic golden sand, surf breaks, and beachfront dining on Australia's most famous stretch of coastline
How to keep it free
Most spots here are on routes covered by Queensland's 50c public transport fares.
Pack a picnic. The parks, beaches and lookouts all have shady spots to eat.
Questions people ask
What are the best free things to do in Brisbane this weekend? +
Watching the sunset from Kangaroo Point Cliffs, swimming at Streets Beach, browsing West End Markets on a Saturday and wandering GOMA are all free and easy to reach by public transport.
Where can you swim for free in Brisbane? +
Streets Beach at South Bank, Enoggera Reservoir in D'Aguilar National Park and Suttons Beach at Redcliffe are all free.
Are Brisbane's art galleries free? +
General entry to the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) is free. Some special exhibitions are ticketed.
What can you do in Brisbane for free with no car? +
Almost everything on this page except the day trips. Look for the PT friendly tag on each card.
Last updated November 2026