Best places to stay in Brisbane
Brisbane is the ideal holiday destination for Aussies. As the gateway to Queensland, Brisbane is perfect for a romantic weekend getaway, family vacation and to catch up on Australian culture. The area is rich in activities, including galleries, museums, the ballet and big capital events like the Brisbane International Tennis and Riverfire festival. If you want to explore South East Queensland, Brisbane is the perfect place to park yourself. Here you are centrally located to explore the local areas, including the Gold Coast Theme Parks and the Sunshine Coast activities.
City Centre
City centre is vibrant, and a great place to stay if you want to be a few steps away from restaurants, shopping and the main attractions. In city centre, you have the Riverside Centre tower and markets along the Pier. You can also explore the colonial architecture of the city, ride along with in-line skaters and soak up the greenery at Brisbane City Gardens. If you want to stay in this part of the city, try the Hotel Grand Chancellor Brisbane or the Royal on the Park Hotel and Suites. Both are situated close to the Brisbane River and City Botanic Gardens, and they are a short walk to Queens Street Mall.
Fortitude Valley
The locals know it as “The Valley.” While it was not considered an appropriate area for tourists, the revival of The Valley has made it home to cool cafes, food stores and even a quaint Chinatown. On the weekends, you can shop at the Valley Markets and in Chinatown malls. Stay at the hip and trendy TRYP Fortitude Valley Hotel, the only art-based hotel in the city centre. For something more upscale, try the contemporary, luxurious Emporium Hotel.
New Farm
New Farm is the perfect spot for the café hopper in you. Merthyr Street on Friday and Saturday nights is a place you want to be, especially if you enjoy unique cocktails, clubs and dancing. Hotels in Brisbane in the New Farm area are just as fashionable as the cafés. Try the art deco-inspired Spicers Balfour Hotel, which is an award-winning boutique hotel with a stylish interior. For something simpler, you can try the Bowen Terrace Guest House, which is unique, traditional and relatively more affordable.
Paddington
Escape the crowds and the pace of the city centre and enjoy the calm and quiet of this hilltop suburb. It is a couple of kilometres northwest of the downtown area and features attractive Queenslander cottages lining the streets. Many of the older homes in the area have transformed into hip cafes and boutiques. The Gambaro Hotel Brisbane offers world-class dining, luxurious suites and privacy.
Milton and Rosalie
Get a taste of the European side of Australia, including Italian cafes, French bistros and alfresco-style restaurants. Here you can find European designer clothing, refined artwork and small boutiques to explore. Stay at the elegant Lucerne on Fernberg in Brisbane that is close to the CBD and offers a cosy bed and breakfast experience.
West End
Back into the inner city and on the western side you have ethnic eateries, cafés and fashion boutiques. Most of what tourists want to see is on Boundary and Vulture Streets. Many of these hotels are along the waters of the Brisbane River or close enough to explore walking. Hotel WestEnd on Browning Street is a small-scale hotel, while The Boundary Hotel is bigger and offers in-house dining, live music and sport activities.
Cheap hotels in Brisbane
While you could find a cheap stay by the airport, what fun would it be if you had to stay further away from the attractions? Cheap hotels in Brisbane do exist, and there are quite a few to consider closer to the water, tourist activities and the CBD. Take the Brisbane Manor Hotel, for example. Located in a heritage building, you can get a quaint, comfortable room within walking distance of local pubs, restaurants and Chinatown. The Ascot Budget Inn is another good option and you are just 9 km from the CBD. The ibis Budget Windsor Brisbane is close to the Ekka Showgrounds and public transportation is only 200m away. For a hostel, try the Nomads Brisbane Hostel with its rooftop terrace, BBQ patios, and central location. Ellie’s Guest House in New Farm is 4 minutes from the ferry and 2.5 km from city centre. It is a quaint, Queenslander style home in a relaxing, quiet environment. Although more expensive than CBD budget hotels, it gives you a quiet relaxing place to stay outside of the bustle of downtown.
