A day out in Brisbane for free, for $50 or for $100

YHA Local Lowdown: Brisbane makes it easy to see lots without spending much. The major galleries are free, the river connects you to almost everything, and every trip on public transport costs 50 cents. Base yourself at YHA Brisbane City and follow our guide, from morning coffee to lights out, for an epic day out. We've planned a full day for you & your budget, with free, $50 and $100 itineraries.

What's your budget?

Day 1 (FREE): Exploring the river city on foot

At a glance: About 11km on foot · $0 on activities and transport · Best for first timers

Before you go: Fuel up in the guest kitchen

• Pick up groceries at Coles in The Barracks, right across the road, then make breakfast in the YHA Brisbane City guest kitchen on Level 5. Pack a picnic lunch and fill your water bottle before you head out.

Morning: A garden stroll, then free galleries and museums

• Start with a slow loop of Roma Street Parkland, about 15 minutes on foot from YHA Brisbane City. Discover lake paths, shady lawns and the colourful Spectacle Garden.
• From here, walk around 20 minutes across the river to Brisbane’s cultural precinct at South Bank. Entry to the Queensland Art Gallery and the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) is free, and plan to spend an hour or two exploring.
• Next door, the State Library of Queensland is also free, with exhibitions, river views and free wifi. Stop in at kuril dhagun, a space for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge and culture.
• Finish your morning at Queensland Museum Kurilpa, five minutes away. Entry is also free, and you'll find dinosaur fossils, a giant squid and native wildlife displays.

Lunchtime: Picnic by the river and a swim at the city’s urban beach

• Walk a few minutes along the river into South Bank Parklands and find a shady spot on the lawn for your picnic.
• After lunch, cool off at Streets Beach, a free lagoon beach with white sand and lifeguards, right in the heart of the city.
• Then take your time to walk along the Grand Arbour, a path covered in bright pink bougainvillea that runs through the parklands.

Afternoon and evening: Sunset at the Kangaroo Point Cliffs

• Follow the riverside path east from South Bank to the Kangaroo Point Cliffs, around 25 minutes on foot. The clifftop park looks straight across the river to the city skyline and the Story Bridge. It's one of the best sunset spots in Brisbane, so get there early to find a place on the lawn.
• After dark, the cliffs light up and the city glows across the water. Walk back over the Goodwill Bridge and through the city to YHA Brisbane City. This will take around 50 minutes on foot.
• End the day with a night swim in the rooftop pool at YHA Brisbane City, or wind down in the library quiet zone on Level 5. Check the YHA Explorer app for tonight's free activities at the property.

Day 2 (under $50): City stories and the free ferry

At a glance: About 8 km on foot · Around $50 including food and transport · Best for a slow afternoon by the river

Before you go: Breakfast and coffee to start your day

• Head downstairs to Trails Cafe at YHA Brisbane City for breakfast (around $12) or a Blackstar Coffee Roasters takeaway coffee (around $5). It opens at 7am.

Morning: Exploring Brisbane’s history with city view to match

• Walk around 20 minutes into the city to Brisbane City Hall on King George Square. The Museum of Brisbane on Level 3 is free and tells the city's story through art, history and local voices.
• Book the free Clock Tower Tour online before you go. Tours leave every 15 minutes from the museum between 10.15am and 4.45pm, and you'll ride one of Brisbane's oldest working cage lifts. Step behind the giant clock faces and look out over the city from the observation platform.
• Prefer a local's point of view? Brisbane Greeters run free walks led by volunteer locals, starting from outside City Hall, but we’d recommend booking ahead. 

Lunchtime: A quick bite and a walk through Brisbane’s Botanic Gardens

• Grab lunch from the food courts around the Queen Street Mall, where you’ll find noodles, sushi and rice dishes starting from around $10.
• Walk 10 minutes down to the City Botanic Gardens, Brisbane's oldest public garden, and eat under the fig trees by the river. 

Afternoon: A free ferry ride, Brisbane’s arty neighbourhood, and barefoot bowls

• From the gardens, walk to the Riverside ferry terminal on Eagle Street and jump on the CityHopper to New Farm, one of Brisbane’s arty neighborhoods. Grab a seat outside as you pass under the Story Bridge.
• From Sydney Street, follow the river path to New Farm Park, a big riverside park with lawns, fig trees and, in late spring, purple jacarandas.
• Right next door, the Brisbane Powerhouse is a former power station turned arts centre and it's free to wander around inside.
• Kick off your shoes at Merthyr Bowls Club on the riverbank for a game of barefoot bowls ($10 for a two hour session, including bowls and coaching). Sessions run from Wednesday to Sunday, and we suggest booking in advance.

Evening: A long riverwalk followed by dinner on the YHA rooftop

• Head back towards the city along the Brisbane Riverwalk, a path that sits right on the water. It's around 30 minutes to Howard Smith Wharves, under the Story Bridge, where the city lights come on across the river.
• Hop back on the free CityHopper from Howard Smith Wharves to North Quay, and then walk 15 minutes to YHA Brisbane City.
• Finish with dinner at the rooftop bar at YHA Brisbane City, where specials start from $10. Try a 27° South Latitude Lager, only available at YHA Brisbane City. 

Day 3 (under $100): Lookouts, stars and a night market

At a glance: About 6 km on foot · Around $90 including food and transport · Best for getting out of the city centre

Before you go: A jam-packed brekky, right at home base 

• Load up at the continental breakfast at YHA Brisbane City, served from 7am to 10am. It costs $14 at the property, or $12 when you add it during your initial booking.

Morning: A mountain lookout, a bush walk and a trip to the stars

• Catch the 471 bus from Adelaide Street in the city to the top of Mt Coot-tha (50 cents). The summit looks out across the whole city, and you’ll also see Moreton Bay on a clear day.
• Walk down to the gardens on the bush tracks from the summit, around 50 minutes with some steep steps. Look out for bush turkeys and lizards along the way.
• The Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha are free to explore, with a Japanese garden, a bamboo grove and a tropical dome full of rainforest plants. Free guided walks run at 11am.
• Inside the gardens, the Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium is free to walk through. For the full experience, book a show in the Cosmic Skydome ($17.50), where the night sky fills the ceiling above you. It's open Tuesday to Sunday, so check show times before you go.

Afternoon: Laneway lunch, then wandering through op shops and street art

• Catch the 471 bus back to the city (50 cents) and walk across the Victoria Bridge to Fish Lane in South Brisbane. It's a laneway of street art and small restaurants, and a good lunch costs around $20.
• Spend the afternoon wandering West End, 10 minutes south on foot. Boundary Street is lined with op shops, record stores, street art and small cafes. It's free to browse.

Evening: A sunset ferry ride with a night market to finish

• Walk to the West End CityCat terminal and ride the CityCat to Northshore Hamilton (50 cents). The trip takes you past the city towers and under the Story Bridge, so time it for sunset and sit outside.
• Eat Street Northshore is a night market built from shipping containers, just a few minutes' walk from the ferry. Entry is $6, and inside there are more than 70 food stalls, live music and bars. Most mains cost between $15 and $20. It's open Friday to Sunday from 4pm, and the bars are card only.
• Check the time of the last CityCat before you settle in, then ride back to North Quay (50 cents) and walk 15 minutes to YHA Brisbane City.
• Want to splash a bit more for a scenic paddle? Book a Riverlife day kayak on the Brisbane River at Kangaroo Point (from $75). YHA members save 10% on Experience Oz bookings, but this will take you over the $100 total.

Words: Troy Nankervis