Where to stay

Stay close to the Brisbane Central Business District (or Brisbane City) to be among local residents and their favorite restaurants, shops and hangouts. Hotels in the CBD are close to lush parklands, specialty coffee shops, award-winning restaurants and more than 1,000 events held here each year. Another alternative for first-timers is South Bank, the city's top cultural destination, with acres of parks, world-class dining, museums and art galleries, great river vistas, cycling and walking trails, swimming spots, festivals and events.

Stay and shop in Paddington, Rosalie or Red Hill, where traditional Queenslander cottages-turned-boutiques line leafy streets. Sustain your shopping with coffee and treats from one of the many independent cafés, then browse for quirky vintage goods, local fashions, retro treasures and artwork. Fortitude Valley (or The Valley) is a favorite place to stay for the shopping and dining in its Chinatown mall, the European ambiance of its Emporium complex and the sophisticated boutiques along James Street. The Valley is also right near the Brisbane Central Business District (CBD), where the bustling Queen Street Mall has international chain stores and luxury brands.

The gentrified West End is the best place to stay to experience the quirkier side of Brisbane. Soak up the eclectic student and artist vibe, eat organic café cuisine, stroll through weekend markets and pop into cozy coffee houses for caffeine and live music. Choose a hotel in Bulimba, alongside gorgeously renovated traditional homes, decades-old cinemas, art galleries, cafés and bookstores that give this bayside neighborhood its charm. Fortitude Valley (or The Valley) is a popular place to stay for its cool factor; find everything from the food stores of Chinatown to an alternative market to smart little cafés and pubs.

Great for those seeking up-and-coming dining, the New Farm neighborhood is the place to stay for the trendy restaurants and cafés that have popped up in this delightful suburb. Look for accommodations in Milton and Rosalie, both close to Park Road, a delightfully European dining strip, complete with replica Eiffel Tower and many Italian eateries. A bit farther afield, gourmet travelers can look for hotels in the riverside neighborhoods of Teneriffe, an original farming area that's now fertile ground for new restaurants and cafés, or Newstead, a family favorite for its varied dining options and green space. Alternatively, choose a hotel in South Bank and stroll to waterfront dining and lively pubs or take the 10-minute walk to the markets and international delights available in West End.

Nightlife, food and, above all, live sports make Caxton Street and The Barracks a choice place to stay for sports fans. This is where you'll find Suncorp Stadium and as many football fans as one can imagine converging on weekends. Kangaroo Point accommodations are perfect for outdoor enthusiasts, who will love its natural beauty and river and mountain views. Woolloongabba is popular with sports lovers attending matches at the Brisbane Cricket Ground. Stay in Ascot or Hamilton for their sophisticated sports ambiance. Racecourse Road in Ascot has elegant restaurants and boutiques and is a favorite of fashionistas on horse racing days. From Northshore Hamilton, you can sightsee from a kayak along the river, a quiet way to spend a morning in Brisbane.