From sprawling metropolises to charming capitals, Australia has plenty of beautiful & exciting cities to tempt travellers. Most of the best cities in Australia to visit are on the east coast, but travellers will be rewarded for heading a little farther afield to less obvious spots like Hobart, Adelaide and Perth. The best cities to visit in Australia are Melbourne, Sydney, the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Hobart, Fremantle, Adelaide & Perth. I’ve lived in Australia for most of my life – I grew up in Brisbane, spent countless weekends and holidays on the Gold Coast and have lived in Melbourne for six years. After nearly thirty years of living in & travelling around Australia, here are my top picks for travellers, whether you’re coming for your first trip or are a local looking to see more of your own back year. Read on for my take on the best cities in Australia to visit!
Melbourne
Melbourne is the best city in Australia, if you ask me. I moved to Melbourne when I was 22, and have lived here for eight years (with a two-year break in New York City in between!). Considered Australia’s cultural capital, it’s the best city in Australia for enjoying the food, wine, culture, history, sport & shopping all rolled into one delightful package. Spend a long weekend exploring by neighbourhood & enjoying the city’s beautiful architecture, thriving hospitality scene and vibrant cultural life.
The Best Things to do in Melbourne
- Melbourne’s neighbourhoods are full of character – start with Carlton, Fitzroy & St Kilda
- Enjoy the best restaurants & bars in the country
- Experience a leading arts & cultural scene – see what’s on at The Arts Centre or the NGV
Explore more: Melbourne Travel Guide
Sydney
Sydney is Australia’s largest city, and a must-visit destination on a first trip to Australia. It’s home to Aussie icons such as Bondi Beach, the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbor Bridge. I love the beach lifestyle in Sydney, and how you can live in a big city but still be so close to the ocean. It does make me daydream about moving there sometimes! I’ve visited Sydney more times than I can count, but my favourite way to enjoy the city is to rent an Air BnB in Bondi and enjoy the laidback beach lifestyle between Bondi, Bronte and Coogee.
The Best Things to do in Sydney
- See world-famous sights like the Sydney Opera House & Harbour Bridge
- Visit Bondi Beach & hike the stunning Bondi to Bronte coastal walk
- Take the iconic Manly Ferry across Darling Harbour & spend a day at the beach
Explore more: Sydney Travel Guide
Gold Coast
The Gold Coast has a reputation for being all glitz and glam, but in recent years it has leaned into its natural assets and attracted top talent from across the country who appreciate the fresh sea air, gorgeous white sand beaches and laidback lifestyle. I grew up very close to the Gold Coast, and have spent countless holidays there in my thirty years! The Gold Coast is changing all the time, and with every passing year I appreciate the beaches & the surrounding national parks even more. Spend three days on the Gold Coast for your first visit.
The best things to do on the Gold Coast
- Enjoy some of Australia’s most beautiful & iconic beaches – my favourite is Burleigh
- Go whale watching to see majestic humpback whales
- Relax in laidback beach neighbourhoods like Burleigh Heads & Mermaid Beach
Explore more: Gold Coast Travel Guide
Brisbane
Australia’s fastest growing city feels distinctly different to its larger counterparts, Sydney and Melbourne. Brisbane was once regarded as a bit of a backwater, but it’s been growing for decades – and these days, it’s getting cooler by the minute. Southbank is touristy but beautiful, especially for first-time visitors to the city, and developments like Howard Smith Wharves and James Street are the perfect spots to build a weekend around. Three days is the perfect amount of time for your first trip to Brisbane, followed by side trips to the Gold Coast or Sunshine Coast.
The best things to do in Brisbane
- Take in the river city’s best views over dinner & drinks at Howard Smith Wharves
- Explore Brisbane’s lush Southbank Parklands
- Enjoy a warm, sunny subtropical climate & laidback pace
Read more: Brisbane Travel Guide
Hobart
Charming Hobart is the capital of Australia’s pristine island state, Tasmania. This charming harbor town is now regarded as one of the coolest cities in Australia, thanks in no small part to the eccentric Museum of Old and New Art (MONA). I love visiting Hobart as an easy weekend break from Melbourne – it’s just a 45 minute flight!
The best things to do in Hobart
- Taste the difference in local produce – pristine surrounds produce some of the best seafood, spirits & fruit and vegetables in the country
- Visit the most talked-about art gallery in the country, MONA
- Enjoy a charming, compact & walkable capital city
Explore more: Why Visit Hobart? Falling for the Capital of the Apple Isle
Fremantle
Fremantle is Western Australia‘s second city, just a short train ride from Perth. The historic streets of Fremantle are so beautifully preserved that it feels a bit like you’ve stepped back in time, or are walking around a movie set! I’ve visited Fremantle twice, and found it completely magical on both visits. To visit Fremantle, you could stay in town, or as I did, stay in Perth and make a day trip by train (just 20 minutes).
The best things to do in Fremantle
- Explore one of the best preserved historic town centres in the world
- Craft beer & spirits: Visit Gage Roads Brew Co on the waterfront or Republic of Fremantle gin distillery in town
- It’s a perfect place to wander – a beautiful setting & dozens of small cafes, shops, art galleries and restaurants
Adelaide
Adelaide may be small, but it oozes personality. Nicknamed “Radelaide”, the capital of South Australia has made a name for itself in food, wine & the arts. Located just a stone’s throw from some of the premier wine regions in the country, the bars and restaurants along Leigh & Peel Streets give the hospitality scene in much bigger cities a run for their money. Every February, the city comes to life with the Adelaide Fringe Festival, the biggest arts festival in Australia.
The best things to do in Adelaide
- Experience Adelaide’s thriving restaurant & bar scene on Leigh Street & Peel Street
- Eat your way around the Adelaide Central Market
- Take a day trip to world famous wine regions, The Barossa Valley, Adelaide Hills & McLaren Vale
Perth
Perth may be the most remote capital city in the world, but don’t let that deter you! Like Brisbane, Perth has been busy growing up into a cool capital city and learning how to march to the beat of its own drum. I first visited Perth only to apply for my US working visa, and I was blown away by how beautiful the city is. I visited again in early 2023, and loved spending a couple of days enjoying Cottesloe Beach and exploring more of the city. Perth has some of the most beautiful city beaches in the country, including Cottesloe & City Beach.
The best things to do in Perth
- Visit one of the city’s 19 beautiful beaches, including the iconic Cottesloe Beach
- Take a day trip to Rottnest Island, home to the only quokkas in the world
- Explore King’s Park, an 1000-acre parkland in the heart of the city
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