Free things to do in Brisbane

22 places in Brisbane with free entry or no charge, based on guide listings and map data.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first.

Photo: Chris Olszewski, CC BY-SA 4.0 (licence)

SeeLibrary
Queensland Museum
A large museum featuring several exhibitions that generally focus on natural history and Queensland history.
9:30AM to 5PM · Free, except for some special exhibitions · Free entry · Wi-Fi · Wheelchair accessible
SeeAttraction
City Botanic Gardens
Walking and cycling tracks. Exhibits. Free tours are a mix of the history of the gardens and the city whereas the garden tours at Mt Coot-tha are more focused on the wide variety of plants.
24/7. Free 1-hr guided tours Mon–Sat 11AM and 1PM (no need to book) · Free
SeeArt gallery
Gallery of Modern Art
Part of the Queensland Art Gallery and a short walk from the Main Gallery. Opened in 2006 the gallery regularly hosts exhibitions featuring internationally famous artists (such as Warhol and Picasso) as well as many local contemporary artists.
Mo-Su 10:00-17:00 · Free entry · Wheelchair accessible
SeePublic art
Roma Street Parklands
The world's largest subtropical garden in a city centre and home to 1,800 unique species of plants. Experience the theme gardens such as the topiary maze, rain forest walk, lake, celebration law and amphitheatre with many public artworks to admire.
Free
SeeMuseum
Sciencentre
A hands-on, interactive science facility particularly popular with families and children.
Mo-Su 09:30-17:00 · Adult $15.50, concession $13.50, child $12.50 · Free entry · Wheelchair accessible
SeeArt gallery
Queensland Art Gallery
Housed in two buildings in the cultural precinct.
10AM to 5PM · Free, except for some special exhibitions · Wi-Fi · Wheelchair accessible
SeeMuseum
UQ Anthropology Museum
First opened in 1948, this museum houses a display of ethnographic objects, including modern Indigenous Australian and Pacific Island artwork.
Mo-Fr 11:00-15:00 · Free entry · Wheelchair accessible
SeeMuseum
Museum of Brisbane
Hosts a permanent display on the history of Brisbane and rotating exhibits by local artists that touch on Brisbane's lifestyle and culture. Daily tours into the clocktower and observation deck, bookings essential.
Daily 10AM to 5PM, Fri till 7PM · Free · Free entry
See
Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium
Open Tu-Su with free admission to astronomy and space displays and a mini theatre. Admission fees apply to the Cosmic Skydome which features a wide variety of astronomy and space programs. All shows feature a "live" segment recreating the current Brisbane night sky. On weekdays (closed M and public holidays), the doors open at 10AM with school shows at 10:30AM and noon. Members of the public are welcome to attend the earlier school shows when space permits (children must be school age). The 1:30PM and 3PM sessions (Tu-F) are public programs, although the 1:30PM program may be booked for dedicated school programs (check with the Planetarium's Booking Office). During Queensland school holidays there are extra public shows on weekdays. On weekends, the Planetarium opens at 11AM and shows are also presented on Saturday night with "Saturday Night Live" at 6PM being a very popular show. There is a shop with a wide variety of astronomical/science merchandise and souvenirs. There is free parking, an adjacent bus stop and a separate cafe/restaurant.
Hours vary – from 10AM weekdays and 11AM weekends · Adult $16.10, child $9.80, concession $13.20
See
The Cube, Queensland University of Technology (QUT)
The Cube is one of the world's largest digital interactive learning and display spaces dedicated to providing an inspiring, explorative and participatory experience of QUT's Science and Engineering research. Here you will find one of the world's largest digital interactive and learning environments in the Science and Engineering Centre at the QUT Gardens Point campus. You can view research-inspired projects across science, engineering, maths and technology displayed on more than 40 multi-touch screens and 14 high-definition projectors. The Cube is inspiring and engaging the next generation of thinkers and doers with its extensive outreach to schools, including their hands-on and interactive workshops and public programs for high school students and QUT undergraduate and postgraduate students.
Daily 10AM to 4PM · Free
See
Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha
Beautiful subtropical gardens with many walks.
8AM to 5:30PM (Sep to Mar); 8AM to 5PM (Apr to Aug) · Free
SeeArchaeological museum
RD Milns Antiquities Museum
The University of Queensland, Level 2, Building 9
Mo-Tu 09:30-14:00; We-Fr 09:30-16:30 · Free entry · Wheelchair accessible
SeeMuseum
Geology Museum
The UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND, Steele Building
Mo-Fr 09:00-16:00 · Free entry
SeeAttraction
Brisbane Sign
24/7 · Free entry
SeeMuseum
Physics Museum
The University of Queensland, Parnell Building
Mo-Fr 09:45-16:00 · Free entry
SeeArt gallery
Robyn Bauer Art Gallery
54 Latrobe Terrace, Paddington
Sa 09:30-16:00 · Free entry
SeeArt gallery
QUT Art Museum
2 George Street
Free entry
SeeGarden
Barrambin-Spring Hill Green Bridge
Free entry
SeeGarden
Bush Tucker Garden
Free entry
SeeGarden
Growing Forward
Free entry
SeeGarden
Spectacle Garden
Free entry
SeeGarden
The Pocket Community Garden
Free entry

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Brisbane (CC BY-SA 4.0). Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Place data from Overture Maps.