Quirky and picturesque, Tasmania's capital city is anything but ordinary.

In winter it hosts Dark Mofo, a celebration of the dark where pagan rituals take centre stage. In summer, it becomes the finishing line to one of the most prestigious yacht races in the nation, the Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.

In between there's an eclectic mix of activities to entertain, from symphonies and controversial artwork to carbon-neutral distilleries and historical breweries.

Then, let's not forget about the rugged wilderness that's right on its doorstep.

Whatever your preference, we've handpicked 19 of the best things to get up to when visiting Hobart.

Best art and history museums in Hobart:

MONA

No trip to Hobart is complete without a MONA visit. The Museum of New and Old Art is a short ferry ride from the city centre and is located within the delicious Moorilla Winery (pop in for a tasting afterwards) on the Berriedale Peninsula. The avant-garde museum challenges, delights and enraptures, and for that it is known as the number one must-do in Tasmania’s capital.

To make planning easy, book a Moorilla's Wine Meets MONA Art Day Tour which includes a ferry from Hobart to MONA's doorstep, tickets into the museum, lunch at the attached The Source restaurant and a tour of the Moorilla vineyard. Picture: Tourism Tasmania / Rob Burnett

Book here

Sink into history at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery

Australia’s second-oldest museum, the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery is a combined museum, art gallery and herbarium. Dedicated to protecting and displaying the natural and cultural heritage of Tasmania, TMAG hosts regular exhibitions and events, and is open for free, apart from special exhibits. There’s a restaurant and cafe onsite too. Picture: Tourism Australia

Book here

Get a glimpse of prison life at Cascades Female Factory

In South Hobart, Cascades Female Factory was a workhouse for female convicts. The women provided laundry and needlework services, offsetting some of the penal colony’s costs.

The World Heritage-listed site runs tours telling the story of the women incarcerated with true-to-life depictions of conditions at the time. The site is open seven days and tour fees apply. Picture: Alastair Bett

Buy tickets here

Best food and drink experiences in Hobart:

Cascades Brewery

Established in 1824, Cascades Brewery is Australia’s oldest operating brewery, and Cascade Pale Ale is the country’s longest continuously brewed beer. Visit the brewery for tours, tastings, try some ciders, or settle in for some lunch in the heritage Woodstock Gardens. The brewery is a ten minute drive from the town centre, and entrance fees apply. Picture: Tourism Tasmania / Kathryn Leahy

Book here

Coal River Farm

Head to Coal River Farm for one of the best cheese, chocolate and berry fixes you’ll ever get. Watch cheese being made, chocolate being blended, pick seasonal berries, or enjoy local farm produce at the onsite restaurant.

Tastings are free, and the farm is 20 minutes from Hobart Town centre. Head to nearby Barilla Bay while you’re in the area for freshly shucked Barilla oysters. Picture: Alastair Bett

Book here

Farm Gate Market

If you’re visiting over the weekend, don’t miss the Sunday Farm Gate Market. Hobart transforms into a buzzing bazaar with local farmers selling their wares and tourists and locals lapping up the produce. Think paddock-to-plate style, with the mantra being “if you couldn’t eat it, drink it, grow it, or meet the producer, then you won’t find it at the market”. The market, on Bathurst Street, is open from 8.30am to 1pm. Picture: Brand Tasmania

Lark Distillery

First operational in 1992, Lark Distillery is one of the first licensed distilleries in Tasmania. Double-distilled in locally crafted copper-pot stills and aged in small casks, the single malt whiskey is a labour of love. In 2021 Lark became 100 per cent certified carbon neutral.

Daily tours outline the production process, concluding with a tasting at the cellar door. The Distillery is in central Hobart, on Davey Street. Picture: Tourism Tasmania / Nick Osborne

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North Hobart

Skip Salamanca for dinner and head up to North Hobart instead, where there are plenty of bars and delicious food. Some in particular to keep an eye out for are The Winston, Kalbi, Raincheck Lounge, Pancho Villa and Born in Brunswick. Republic Bar and Room For A Pony are great stops for live music too.

While you’re in these parts, drop in to National Trust Runnymede House, the colonial home of an 1840s whaling captain. Picture: Luke Bowden

Best things to do for couples in Hobart:

Spend the night at Henry Jones Art Hotel

Art and history meet in the iconic Henry Jones Art Hotel in central Hobart. The hotel is located within one of the oldest waterfront warehouses dating back to 1804, and it wasn’t until 2004 that the area was repurposed by award-winning architects.

An art tour exploring the history and art of the area operates each Friday afternoon — free for guests, $20 for visitors. Head to the IXL Long Bar in the hotel afterwards for a cocktail. 

Book here

Cruise the Derwent River

The iconic River Derwent is more than 200km long, and flows through Hobart before emptying into Storm Bay. The area is a bustling maritime hub, with hobby boating, sailing, kayaking, and river cruises active throughout the year.

Hop on a cruise to see beautiful views back onto the Hobart waterfront and city, and see the shore as the first settlers did. Picture: Events Tasmania / Alastair Bett

Book here

Catch a performance at the Theatre Royal

For a touch of drama and flair, head to Australia’s oldest working theatre, the Theatre Royal in Hobart’s town centre, on Campbell Street. Enjoy theatre, ballet, circus, drama, comedy and family fun with local and international talent.

Take a tour of the ornate auditorium, and take a look behind the curtain at backstage life. 

Picture: Tourism Tasmania / Nick Osborne

Book here

Treat your ears to the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra

The Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra at the Hobart Town Hall is a cultural institution of Hobart, and in fact the island. The auditorium seats up to 300 people and has hosted events since 1866. The orchestra also performs free outdoor concerts, gives live sessions, and performs in rural Tasmania as well as in schools and community centres in a drive to spread cultural experiences and education.

Book here

Best things to do for families with kids in Hobart:

Smell the flowers at the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens

For some outdoor beauty, head to the 14ha Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens on the northeast side of Hobart. Choose from around 40 different attractions, including the Herb Garden, Lily Pond, Sub-Antarctic Plant House, Wombat One Bush Pavilion and the Bike Track. Picture: Tourism Australia

Kick back and relax at Street Eats @ Franko

Head to Street Eats @ Franko, from the creators of Farmers Gate Market, for some delicious food in Franklin Square on Friday nights throughout the summer months. With great live music acts and an array of local produce, it’s the best way to kick your weekend off, the local way. Picture: Amy Brown

Meander around Sullivan's Cove

The bustling port of Sullivan’s Cove is abuzz with activities and life. The area has great places to stay, historic museums, and many seafood restaurants to choose from so you can slurp down some fresh oysters or freshly grilled local fish. Walk along the waterfront to take it all in, and pop into the Maritime Museum of Tasmania while you’re there.

Best affordable things to do in Hobart:

Catch the view from the top of Mt Wellington / Kunanyi Summit

Just 20 minutes from Hobart, kunanyi / Mt Wellington has the best lookout views over the island’s capital. The open viewing platform opens up to the overwhelming World Heritage Wilderness  area below, and entry is free.

Picnic facilities, Lost Freight Cafe, barbecues, and bushwalking trails for all fitness levels are available too. And the Mount Wellington Explorer bus makes it easy for visitors to get to the top of the mountain. Picture: Jason Charles Hill

Walk the Battery Point Sculpture Trail

If you’re looking for interesting ways to learn about Hobart’s history, walk the Battery Point Sculpture Trail. The hour-long walk features nine large pieces of art representing weight, measurement, time, quantity, date or distance, with each telling a story of Hobart and Tasmania’s history. Enjoy some waterfront fish and chips and get some fuel in before you set off on your amble. Picture: Mike Rowe / Flickr

Spend Saturdays in Salamanca

The heart of Hobart, Salamanca Place, is the spot for food, culture and history. Cafes, galleries, bars (such as The Den and Institut Polaire), boutiques and theatres dot the cobblestone square in Sullivan’s Cove, on Hobart’s waterfront. Munch on gourmet food at the Salamanca Market each Saturday, enjoy art at the Salamanca Arts Centre, or stay at the stylish Macq01. Picture: City of Hobart / Alastair Bett

Cycle the Meehan Ranges

Get your blood pumping with a mountain bike ride in the Meehan Ranges on the outskirts of Hobart. Beginners through to advanced will have a spot to spin their wheels, and enjoy trails called “Smooth As Butter”, “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Smooth As Butter” or “Bills Back Door”. The Ranges are about a 10-minute drive from the town centre, and have two entry points. Stock up on water and snacks before you get there as shops are scarce at the trail head. Picture: Flow Mountain Bike

Getting to Hobart, Tasmania

Being an island state, there are two ways to travel Tasmania from the mainland: by air or by boat.

By air

Virgin Australia, Qantas and Jetstar all offer direct flights to Hobart from Australia's major cities. Of the capitals, Melbourne is the closest to Hobart with flight times of around an hour. 

Flights from Sydney and Adelaide take approximately 2 hours and flights from Brisbane take approximately 3 hours.

Book now: You can search for cheap flights to Hobart on Expedia.

By boat

The Spirit of Tasmania operates regular ferry rides from Melbourne (Geelong) to Devonport, which is a 3.5-hour drive from Hobart. The cruise is quite long, taking between 9-11 hours, but is a good option if you wish to bring your own vehicle to explore Tasmania as it is able to accommodate up to 500 cars.

Getting around Hobart

Being a small city Hobart is easy to navigate and is well serviced by public transport.

If you'd rather get your bearings early or are short on time, the Hop On Hop Off Sightseeing Bus runs a 90-minute city loop and stops by 20 popular tourist sites, including Battery Point, Salamanca, Cascade Brewery and Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens.

While it doesn't journey past MONA it does stop at Brooke Street Pier where you can catch a fast ferry to the museum.

Hiring a car is another popular way to get around. This can give you the flexibility to see things at your own pace. It also gives you the freedom to explore regions outside of Hobart. Further out you can visit the historic penal settlement Port Arthur, go apple picking in Huon Valley and taste oysters on Bruny Island. 

Is 2 days enough in Hobart?

Two days in Hobart can give you a good lay of the land and introduce you to the highlights. For example, the Hobart City Tour with MONA Ferry & Entry crosses of many tourist attractions, including our number one pick, MONA.

While the city isn't large, many of its activities such as MONA and Mount Wellington take at least half a day so you'll have to pick and plan your activities wisely.

Do I need a car in Hobart?

If your plan is to see Hobart and only Hobart, you can get away without a car as the city is very walkable and public transport is reliable.

However if you wish to see more of Tasmania, it's worth considering renting a car to explore at your leisure.

Is Bruny Island a day trip from Hobart?

Bruny Island is a popular day trip from Hobart and serves up fresh seafood amongst a rugged and craggy wilderness. Day tours ferry you from Hobart to capture its Instagram worthy sandbank - The Neck - before celebrating its local produce with artisanal tastings. More adventurous folk marvel at the land from the water on a wilderness cruise.

See also:

-The best ways to get to and from Hobart Airport

-Hobart's best hotels

-Best family day trips from Hobart