An Amsterdam canal with boats and historic waterfront buildings
Photo: Airam Dato-on / Pexels
TRAVEL NOTES

The details make the difference.

Planning a city break or a day at a famous sight? Find advice on getting around, what to bring and the details worth checking before you go.

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Brighton i360 tower above a busy beach

Brighton i360: when the view is worth booking

The i360 makes most sense when you want an elevated coastal view and have weather flexibility. Build it into a seafront day, then check the exact ticket rather than assuming every option includes the same arrival rules or extras.

People on Brighton Beach near Palace Pier on a sunny day

A Brighton beach day: pebbles, promenade and a shorter plan

Brighton’s beach is a pebble beach, so a comfortable day needs a little more thought than bringing a towel. Choose a shore stop, keep the promenade as an easy alternative and make swimming a separate decision based on current conditions.

Brighton Palace Pier’s boardwalk and seaside buildings

A first weekend in Brighton: Pavilion, lanes and seafront

Start Brighton with its palace and shopping streets, then give the coast a separate day. This plan leaves room for a seafood lunch and a clear-weather viewpoint without making every stop another ticket.

Boats docked at Brighton Marina

Brighton Marina to Rottingdean: a shorter Undercliff outing

The Undercliff Walk gives you a different Brighton coast from the busy central promenade. Start at the Marina and choose a turnaround before setting off; the full path to Saltdean is an extension rather than a requirement.

Brighton Palace Pier above the shore and waves

Brighton’s seafront: Palace Pier to the West Pier

The promenade between Brighton’s two piers makes a straightforward coastal walk with a useful lunch stop. Enjoy Palace Pier from shore or add a paid detour, then finish by the West Pier ruins and the i360.

Brisbane City Hall’s sandstone portico facing King George Square

Brisbane City Hall: clock tower, museum and a tea stop

City Hall gives a central Brisbane morning a clear focus, from the sandstone façade to the museum and a short clock-tower tour. Keep the tower booking as the anchor, with time to browse indoors and sit down afterwards.

Story Bridge’s steel cantilevers spanning the Brisbane River

City Reach to Howard Smith Wharves: Story Bridge from below

Follow the city side of the river towards Story Bridge, using Howard Smith Wharves as a clear destination for a meal and a pause. This is a waterfront outing with an optional Riverwalk extension, so you can stop before it becomes a long walk.

Victoria Bridge in front of Brisbane’s Treasury building and city towers

A first weekend in Brisbane: City Hall, South Bank and the river

Use two days to get to know Brisbane’s civic centre and river bends without turning every bridge into a walking target. Book the clock tower first, then keep galleries, parklands and meal stops together by neighbourhood.

Brisbane’s city towers and river seen from Kangaroo Point

Kangaroo Point cliffs: choose your level and river view

Kangaroo Point gives you two different ways to see Brisbane: the lower riverside path and the park above the cliffs. Choose the level that suits your energy, then make a deliberate decision about stairs, a café stop and the return crossing.

The Wheel of Brisbane and South Bank beside the Neville Bonner Bridge

South Bank: parklands, Fish Lane and a gallery break

South Bank is easiest to enjoy as a sequence of small choices: a riverside view, a parkland pause, a meal in Fish Lane and one gallery. Leave swimming and the observation wheel optional, with room to change course when a shower arrives.