What to do in Brisbane, CA

Activities, attractions and tours

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A coastal residential area with houses on a hillside, overlooking the ocean.
A coastal cityscape with dense housing, a port with ships, and a prominent bridge.
A city skyline with a prominent skyscraper, surrounded by hills and greenery.
A hillside with residential buildings and a distant cityscape.

Brisbane Attractions

Let Expedia help you experience the best that Brisbane has to offer! If you’re looking for fun itinerary ideas, we can provide you with a list of the top sightseeing attractions, as well as helping you to find unmissable activities. Whether you’re travelling with your family, planning a romantic trip with your loved one, or visiting on business, we’ll make it easy to plan an unforgettable holiday that checks all the boxes.

Activities and Tours

Brisbane is crammed with must-see places to visit and things to do. We can help you decide where to stay, and make it a breeze to explore the surrounding areas with our guides on where to go, what to see and when to see it. No matter how long your stay, it’s easy to find places of interest in Brisbane to make sure that you enjoy your experience to the fullest and don’t miss a thing. Leave the local knowledge to us and leave the hassle behind.

If you’re planning a visit, why not check out our handy guides to places of interest in the area? You can browse lists of things to do, learn about the most popular attractions, and get help with planning the details of your trip. Expedia makes it easy for you to check out all the top sights.

Brisbane Attractions

Expedia has something for everyone, so whether you’re planning to get active on a summer holiday, put a spring in your step with a romantic rendezvous, or pamper yourself with a leisurely winter trip, you’ll find plenty of attractions to keep you entertained. In addition to scheduling local tours, booking reservations and scoring advance event tickets, Expedia makes it easy to book your flight, hotel and rental car in advance, all on one consolidated travel itinerary, making for hassle-free travel and freeing you up to explore the sights of Brisbane.

Looking for things to do can be time consuming, but we can take the hassle out of planning your holiday. Whether you’re looking to get active in the great outdoors, sample the cuisine or catch up with the vibrant local culture, our guides to Brisbane attractions ensure that you’ll have a successful trip, whatever the season.

Things to do

California Academy of Sciences General Admission

California Academy of Sciences Daytime Admission

CA $78
per adult
86% of travellers recommend
California Academy of Sciences Daytime Admission
Go City: San Francisco All-Inclusive Pass with 25+ Attractions

Go City: San Francisco All-Inclusive Pass with 30+ Attractions

CA $155
per adult
88% of travellers recommend
Go City: San Francisco All-Inclusive Pass with 30+ Attractions
de Young Museum General Admission Ticket

de Young Museum General Admission Ticket

CA $28
per adult
88% of travellers recommend
de Young Museum General Admission Ticket
San Francisco City Lights Cruise

California Sunset Cruise (2-hours)

CA $82
per adult
94% of travellers recommend
California Sunset Cruise (2-hours)
San Francisco: One day Yosemite and Giant Sequoia Tour

San Francisco: One day Yosemite and Giant Sequoias Tour

CA $293
per adult
90% of travellers recommend
San Francisco: One day Yosemite and Giant Sequoias Tour
Bridge 2 Bridge Tour: Golden Gate Bridge to Bay Bridge

San Francisco Bridge to Bridge Cruise (90-minutes)

CA $68
per adult
94% of travellers recommend
San Francisco Bridge to Bridge Cruise (90-minutes)
Golden Gate Bridge at night

San Francisco Night Tour

CA $75
per adult
78% of travellers recommend
San Francisco Night Tour
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Top places to visit

1. Golden Gate Bridge

Although shrouded in mist for a lot of the time, one of the most photographed bridges in the world is still a stunning sight and something of an event to cross. It inspires awe and fires up the imagination with its size, scale and beauty. This icon of American architecture stretches 1.7 miles (2.7 kilometers) across the "Golden Gate", the opening of San Francisco Bay to the Pacific Ocean.
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The Golden Gate Bridge with its distinctive towers and suspension cables, set against a backdrop of hills and the San Francisco Bay.

2. Oracle Park

Visit Oracle Park for more than simply watching a San Francisco Giants game. Tour this privately financed ballpark, known for its breathtaking views, charm and character. This is the city’s replacement for notoriously windy Candlestick Park.
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A pedestrian bridge over a river with a stadium and a boat dock in the background.

3. Pier 39

Belching, barking and back scratching are hardly the stuff that tourist dreams are made of, unless you’re talking about the colonies of sea lions that bask in the sun and play on their floating docks at Pier 39.
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A flag with 'PIERS 59' on a flagpole by a body of water with a building on a hill in the background.

4. Golden Gate Park

The Golden Gate Park is over three miles (five kilometers) long and about half a mile (800 meters) wide. It was designed in 1871 by park commissioner William Hall, who incorporated winding walking trails that wind through more than 1,000 acres (405 hectares) of beautifully landscaped gardens, woods, and lakes. Golden Gate Park is a lush and laidback refuge from the bustle of San Francisco, stretching all the way from the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood to the Pacific coast.
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A large white greenhouse with a dome roof, surrounded by a garden with colorful flowers and palm trees.

5. Alcatraz Island

For decades (between 1934 and 1963) the name Alcatraz uttered in a courtroom brought up fear, terror and visions of being sent to this austere island fortress. Even from the mainland the rocky island, now a National Park, still evokes powerful images of bleak isolation. It is a foreboding place that once held some of the country’s most dangerous criminals, including Al Capone, George “Machine Gun” Kelly and Alvin “Creepy” Karpis.
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A coastal cityscape with a prominent island fortress, a bridge, and a hilly backdrop.

Recommended things to do in Brisbane

Number of things to do
455
Cheapest thing to do on Expedia
Kid Led Interactive AR Adventure in Presidio National Park: CA $8
Top 5 things to do
Half-day tours
With kids

What to do in Brisbane

Stay near popular Brisbane attractions

San Bruno Mountain

8.2/10 (42 reviews)
Explore the great outdoors at San Bruno Mountain and enjoy the beautiful sunsets during your trip to Brisbane. Amble around this vibrant area's seaside or experience its acclaimed art scene.
See properties

Where to stay in Brisbane

Find the best Brisbane areas and neighborhoods for the activities you enjoy most.

Uptown Brisbane

Though Uptown Brisbane might not have many top sights, you can venture to the surrounding area to see attractions like Cow Palace and San Bruno Point Park.

Downtown Brisbane

While Downtown Brisbane might not have many sights to explore, venturing just a little farther will lead you to top things to see and do like Cow Palace and San Bruno Point Park.

 

Looking for fun things to do nearby? Check things to do near me to find and book the best things to do, fun activities, and top attractions wherever you happen to be.

 

 

Day trip destinations from Brisbane

The Golden Gate Bridge with a clear view of the towers and cables, spanning across the water.

San Francisco

A suspension bridge with illuminated cables, a calm body of water, and a distant city skyline at dusk.

Daly City

An aerial view of San Francisco with the Golden Gate Bridge, hills, and the ocean.

South San Francisco

Frequently asked questions

Is Brisbane worth visiting?
From retail therapy to outdoor activities and history, there are plenty of great things to do in Brisbane. Remember to enjoy the area's blend of awesome attractions, local charm and culture.
How do I spend a day in Brisbane?
Start your day with a visit to Pier 39 and Union Square. Then, tour other parts of Brisbane for local restaurants and some retail therapy.
What is the top tourist attraction in Brisbane?
Pier 39 is one of the top tourist attractions in Brisbane and deserves a spot on every sightseeing itinerary of the area.
Is three days enough to stay in Brisbane?
Three days in Brisbane is more than enough to visit the city's main attractions. Many guests book for two days on average. Twin Peaks, SFO Museum and Candlestick Point State Recreation Area are among the most popular sights. Want to see more? Hang around a while longer to check off nearby hotspots such as San Francisco.
Is Brisbane a walkable city?
Some top attractions in Brisbane, like SFO Museum and John McLaren Park, are within walking distance. You can also experience several of the city's neighbourhoods on foot. Just 3 kilometres from central Brisbane is The East Side and Downtown South San Francisco is 3 kilometres away.
What are some activities to do in Brisbane with kids?
Whether you're travelling with tiny adventurers or hard-to-please teens, a fun-filled itinerary makes a big difference. Check out our ideas for what to do in Brisbane with kids.

What to do in Brisbane for adults?
Whether you're a food lover, culture enthusiast or fan of Mother Nature, there's no shortage of things to do in Brisbane for adults including Winery Collective and Van Ness Avenue.
Are there free things to do in Brisbane?
One of the top ways to learn about free things to do in Brisbane is to ask a local tour guide. You'll get insider recommendations on cool neighbourhoods, parks and other hotspots you can experience without getting your cash out. Twin Peaks is one place that doesn't charge an entrance fee.