The City

The CBD, or just 'the City'...

Is obviously the major commercial and financial centre of Brisbane but, unlike most major cities, it's surprisingly walkable, because it's hemmed in on three sides by the river. To the immediate east is New Farm, to the north Fortitude Valley and to the east, Paddington, Kelvin Grove and Milton. Cross the Victoria Bridge and, in minutes, you're in South Bank and West End.

The City is packed tight...

with skyscrapers, including the impressive Soleil and Aurora Towers, but there are also quite a number of welcoming green spaces, including the beautiful City Botanic Gardens off Alice Street, Roma Street Parklands near The Barracks, and Wickham Park, which separates the huge railway terminus at Roma Street, from the main commercial district. An easy way to navigate the City, is to remember that the streets which run southwest to northeast are named after women (Adelaide St, Elizabeth St, Ann St etc) and those that run northwest to southeast are named after men (William St, George St, Edward St etc).

Shoppers should head to...

the area around Queen Street, where you'll find most famous brand names and some pedestrianised areas, to make spending your money even easier. Adelaide and Elizabeth Streets also have very stylish, high-end stores, and is where you'll spot lots of 'ladies who lunch'. In the City you can visit Queensland's Parliament House, Brisbane City Hall and Post Office Square, which houses plenty of boutique shops around an attractive urban courtyard of lawns and fountains. You can easily spend a day in the City, and every street offers a healthy mix of heritage buildings, boutique hotels, smart cafes, and one of the friendliest big city vibes in Australia.