So, you have found yourself in our beautiful city and you’re keen to discover what this place has to offer, its highlights, where to get a drink and good meal and what secrets it has to offer.   There are plenty of tours of Brisbane for tourists whether you are here for a quick stop or a longer stay. Below are the many different and fun ways to explore and tour our wonderful city – Brisbane.  

Tours of Brisbane for Tourists

Walking Tours

Brisbane Botanic Gardens Guided Walks

When visiting Brisbane, make sure you spend some time in one of the three Botanic Gardens that call Brisbane home – City Botanic Gardens, Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha and Sherwood Arboretum. Free guided tours of the gardens are offered on a regular basis, for groups of up to ten people.  Trained volunteers will take you around the gardens, pointing out significant features and sharing a wealth of botanical information with you.

Brisbane Ghost Tours

For those who like to see and hear the darker side of a city, Brisbane Ghost Tours offer visitors the chance to explore and learn about Brisbane’s ghost and crime history.  Not for everyone, but hugely popular, guests can choose between one of their many nightly themed ghost tours, visiting places like Boggo Road Gaol or local cemeteries.

For those who are not as interested in the spiritual side, Brisbane Ghost Tour also offer true crime tours around Brisbane as well as History Tours.  You can find all the information for each type of tour on their website.

Brisbane Greeters

What better way to discover the hidden gems of a new city than with a personalised tour from a local?  Brisbane Greeters is a much-loved service run by local volunteers who are keen to introduce the city they call home to new visitors.

Visitors can choose between a variety of tours including the Greeter’s Choice tour (where the Greeter takes you on a tour showcasing the areas they love and recommend), Brisbane Twilight tour, 21^st Century Brisbane, Best of Brisbane (Precincts) or other tours dedicated to special events such as Anzac Day and International Women’s Day.

All tours run from between two and four hours and usually have a maximum of 6 guests per tour.  It’s wise to book online to secure your place on your preferred tour.

For full details visit www.brisbanegreeters.com.au or phone Brisbane City Council on 3403 8888.

Dark Stories True Crime Tour

Another tour of Brisbane that is best to do sans kids is the Dark Stories True Crime Tour of Brisbane.  For those intrigued by the crimes of the past, you can take a walk on the dark side and revisit the scenes of some of the city’s true crimes.

Tours are for small groups of up to 8 people, allowing a more personal experience and make the most of the time available.  There are four tours to choose between and also the option to create a more personalised experience if you are looking to discover a particular area of interest.

Trixity Brisbane

Trixity is a ‘tour’ with a difference.  One that involves no guide and, instead, has visitors solving different clues around a city and in the process discovering not only more about it but also visiting the famous landmarks on the way.  Things to know: each trail lasts approximately 2-4 hrs and involves solving 15+ clues. The trails are all walkable distances and are not physically challenging.  When you are ready to complete your trail, go to the start point sent to you in the email you receive upon ordering. Log into the website with your smartphone/device and select ‘GET STARTED’.  Once you have solved the first clue, type your answer in the field provided and select ‘SUBMIT ANSWER’. If correct, you will be sent the next clue.  It sounds like a fun way to explore a city, don’t you think?

Tours on Wheels

Brisbane Segway Sightseeing Tours

If your time is limited and you are keen to get around the city at a faster and more exciting pace then the ever-popular Brisbane segway sightseeing tours may just be what you are looking for.

There are a few companies that specialise in Segway tours of Brisbane including Kangaroo Segway Tours and X-Wing Mini Segway Tours.  Kangaroo Segway Tours has a minimum age limit of 12 years, while the X-Wing Mini Segway Tours offer tours for children 6 years and older.  These tours give you the chance to see our beautiful city via the self-balancing, two-wheeled electric scooters, with in-depth commentary from a guide about our city’s history and culture along the way.

Whilst there is an age restriction on who can ride the scooters, the tours are family-friendly and open to beginners, with introductory instructions given along with all safety equipment before the tour commences.  There are also night tours for a chance to see Brisbane under the lights as well.

Green Cabs Brisbane Tour

Green Cabs offers visitors the chance to be ridden around Brisbane in a pedicab viewing places you won’t see from a car or bus. Travelling along the cycle paths and through Brisbane’s lovely parks and gardens guests will get a unique view of our picturesque city.  Each cycle-pulled cab can comfortably fit two adults (two children under 8 are free). Tours include Brisbane’s Highlights (50 mins) or the Brisbane Explorer tour (70 mins).

Tours on the Water

River City Cruises

River City Cruises is the original sightseeing cruise on the Brisbane River offering a variety of day and sunset tours. During the one and a half hour guided tours, you will be entertained by the informative commentary while taking advantage of the fantastic photo opportunities as they cruise past Brisbane’s most iconic sights including the Kangaroo Point Cliffs, City Centre and the Story Bridge. 

Riverlife – Kayak Tours

What better way to see Brisbane, aka ‘the River City’, then by getting aboard a kayak and gliding your way down the river itself as you learn of the city highlights, history and culture?  This is an extremely popular way to see the city from a different vantage point and Riverlife is the only tour company in Brisbane to offer you this opportunity.

Choose between a day tour (8 years and older) or twilight tour or the Mexican inspired Fiesta de Kayak (12 years and older), and spend a blissful 90 minutes paddling your way under the Story Bridge or past South Bank. You’ll be the captain of your own kayak as you cruise down the Brisbane River experiencing the city like never before.

River to Bay

All aboard! Hop on one of the many river cruises River to Bay have to offer locals and tourists. Whether it’s a Brewery Cruise (strictly 18+), Cocktail Cruise or the City Nights Lights tour, guests can view the city from the river, stopping off to visit some venues along the way. River to Bay also offer cruises for special events (Riverfire, New Year’s Eve etc) as well as tours to the nearby islands and Moreton Bay.

Bus and Car Tours

Art Deco Tours

Well if you love all things vintage and architecture than an Art Deco Tour of Brisbane is a must!  Discover Brisbane’s rich art deco history with automobiles straight from the heart of the art deco movement – Bonnie, a 1928 luxury Chrysler vintage sedan or Clyde, a 1937 Dodge convertible sedan. Imagine re-discovering hidden gems in and around Brisbane’s CBD that have been long forgotten but still survive. Visit Westella, Regina Court, Coronet Court, Carmel Court, the secret of China town and more. Tours take approximately 120 minutes, include complimentary DSLR photography and is pure indulgence in time and travel.

Brizabout Private Tours

Brizabout Tours was started by husband and wife duo, John and Diane Robinson, and is based around their love of Brisbane, travel and meeting new people.  Once they know what time you have, and where you want to see they can create your experience and manage everything. Choose one of their set tour experiences or let them know where you want to see, and they can customise a tour, just for you or your small group.

Bums on Seats Tours Queensland

Bums on Seats Tours is a 100% family-owned business that operates a range of Brisbane full day tours.  With over 15 different options to choose from, the company offers both personalised small group tours as well as planned day itineraries.  Some of their more popular tours are the Brisbane City Highlights tour and also the Brisbane Highlights Shore and Lone Pine tour.

Delectable Tours

Brisbane’s food culture has greatly evolved with its quality and vastness of exceptional talent, produce and end-product. A food tour is a unique way to experience the city and its people, and if you are a lover of all things culinary then you may want to partake in one of the Delectable Tours of Brisbane.  Choose between their ‘Signature Must do Tour of Brisbane’ or, if you want to work a bit of that food off, why not try their ‘Brisbane Walking Food Tour’?

Hop On Brewery Tours

Now, this is one that is obviously not for the whole family but definitely one for the adults to enjoy if they have a day free to explore on their own while in BrisVegas.  Hop On Brewery Tours offer visitors who like a pint or two the option to tour the best of Brisbane’s brewery’s while also discovering a little more about Brisbane on the way.  If you are feeling adventurous, you can also join a tour that combines the brewery tour with a river city cruise and another that includes some axe throwing!

Tours in the Sky

Bekaa Air Tours

The owners of Bekaa Air Tours have two main passions – flying and Brisbane.  For this reason, they have decided to combine the two and offer visitors the chance to explore the city from above, taking in all that it has to offer in the most unique of ways.  The company offers a number of city tours as well as scenic flights and adventures outside of the city limits.  They even offer heli pub crawls!

Pterodactyl Helicopters

If you are looking for a way to see Brisbane that is a little out of the ordinary then you may want to consider a tour of our fine city with Pterodactyl Helicopters. 

Pterodactyl Helicopters flies visitors by charter helicopter over stunning Brisbane, Ipswich, Scenic Rim, Sommerset and Lockyer Valley views, delivering them in comfort and style to each of the breweries, vineyards, pubs, restaurants, and cafes on your amazing helicopter tour.

Other resources for visitors to Brisbane

Brisbane Zoo Options Discover all the best places to enjoy Australian animals from koala sanctuaries to aquariums. 

Free activities in Brisbane Save your money and enjoy everything to do in Brisbane for free.

Brisbane Museums and Galleries For those looking for dinosaurs or an art gallery experience.