While I have written quite a few posts about Hobart already, including a list of the best things to do in Hobart AND the coolest places to eat and drink in Hobart, I figured it was high time I also shared one of my perfect first-time weekend itineraries! This itinerary guide has been designed for someone who is visiting Hobart for the first time, and only has a weekend but still wants to see all the best attractions in a short time. As someone who lived in Hobart for years and has visited regularly since moving overseas, I’m pretty confident that this is the ideal itinerary for maximising your time and hitting the highlights of Hobart for a weekend trip. Are you ready to have a wonderful weekend in Hobart? Then let’s go!
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Friday Night
Stay: Check in to Wrest Point Hotel and Casino, The Grand Chancellor or MACq 01 Hotel. I’ve previously written about why Wrest Point is my favourite place to stay in Hobart, mostly because it has free parking, but if you won’t have a car and/or just want to be right on the waterfront then the Grand Chancellor is a good alternative and MACq 01 is ideal if you wanna splurge for real luxury!
Eat: Have dinner in North Hobart at Kraken Fish and Chips, Burger Haus, Annapurna, Pancho Villa, Noodle House or one of the MANY other eateries! There are lots of great spots in North Hobart and if you just walk down the main street (Elizabeth St.) you can see what catches your eye.
Do: Catch an arty film at the State Cinema. This is a very beautiful old cinema that usually shows a mix of popular releases and more independent/artsy/documentary-type films, as well as rooftop showings in summer!
Drink: Go out for drinks in North Hobart at Voodoo Bar, Room for a Pony, T-Bone Brewing Co. and/or the Republic Bar. If you’re staying at Wrest Poing make sure to have a nightcap at the Birdcage Bar before you go to bed!
Saturday Morning
Eat: Have breakfast at Jackman and McRoss in Battery Point. If you have time (i.e. got up early enough!) you might like to have a wander around Battery Point before heading to Salamanca – I even have a self-guided walking tour of the area you might like to use!
Do: Visit the Salamanca Markets and the surrounding shops and art galleries. This is one of my all-time favourite parts of Hobart, with most of the businesses located in old sandstone warehouses from when Hobart was a whaling port. The markets are held every Saturday from 8:30am to 3pm and are a great spot to buy beautiful Tasmanian souvenirs, taste lots of different cuisines from stalls or food trucks and just enjoy the atmosphere as there are usually a variety of talented buskers playing music.
Saturday Afternoon
Eat: Have lunch at the markets. As I mentioned, there are lots of different food stalls/food trucks in the markets proper, selling everything from bratwurst to tiny pancakes to Tasmanian truffles. There are also restaurants, cafés and pubs galore in Salamanca, so if you want to have a sit-down meal you can do that too. If you walk across the waterfront there are more eateries and some fish punts if you want fresh seafood.
Do: Hop on the Mona Roma ferry to visit MONA; Museum of Old and New Art. This is one of the most popular attractions in Hobart, a very cool modern art museum that was created from the personal collection of local millionaire David Walsh. If you enjoy modern art that’s sometimes a bit controversial (as well as fine dining or wine as there are restaurants and a winery on the site) then you will probably enjoy this! You can find out more in my complete guide to visiting MONA.
Saturday Night
Eat: Have dinner at Salamanca (including dessert at Honey Badger). If you want seafood you could head to Mures, Fish Frenzy, The Drunken Admiral or one of the fish punts. If you want steak head to the Ball & Chain Grill, for Indian head to Annapurna or Ichimei for Japanese. Of course, you can also choose somewhere else completely if you see somewhere that calls to you!
Drink: Go out for drinks in Salamanca at one of the many great bars. Some of my faves include Jacke Greene, Botanica, Gold Bar, Story Bar and the Evolve Spirits Bar but you can also just wander around to see what tickles your fancy!
Sunday Morning
Eat: Have a lazy breakfast in Sandy Bay at The Duchess or Sisterhood, or head back into Salamanca if you want to try out another spot that you might have seen but not had a chance to try yet!
Do: Drive to the summit of Kunanyi/Mount Wellington for stunning views. In winter there might be snow to play with, and there are also some nice walks at different spots going up the road. Don’t worry if you won’t have a car during your time in Hobart, as you can still visit the mountain via the Explorer Bus!
Sunday Afternoon
Do: A brewery tour and/or visit the Female Factory UNESCO World Heritage Site. Cascade is the oldest operating brewery in Australia and the Female Factory is one of the main sites where female convicts were located back when Tasmania was a penitentiary.
Eat: Have lunch at the Ferntree Tavern or Cascade Brewery. The Ferntree Tavern is a lovely, cosy pub back up the road a little bit before the turn-off for the mountain summit. If you don’t want to drive back you can also get nice pub food in the Cascade Brewery Bar after your tour.
Alternative Hobart Activities for Your Trip
If you don’t want to do any of the activities in this guide there are a few other things you can swap them out for, or if you’ve got a bit of extra time you could add them in too!
- Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery: This free museum and art gallery is right on the waterfront, with interesting displays about Hobart’s history, along with an excellent permanent exhibition on Antarctica and Antarctic exploration.
- Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens: Hobart’s botanic gardens are beautiful with lots of space for picnics, different themed gardens and an on-site restaurant/kiosk for purchasing snacks, drinks or ice cream. The gift shop is also worth checking out for lovely Tasmanian souvenirs.
- Day trips from Hobart: If you have an extra day (or multiple days) then you could do some day trips to other lovely Tasmanian destinations that are close to Hobart. I’ve written a guide to the best day trips from Hobart with all of my personal favourite destinations that make for a nice day trip from the city.
Pin Me!
Have you ever visited Hobart? Let me know if you think I’ve missed any must-dos for a first-time weekend visit in the comments, or pin one of these if you’re planning your own weekend trip!
Disclaimer
All information is true and correct at the time of publishing but I cannot be held responsible for changes in opening times and prices or businesses closing in the meantime. I always endeavour to keep my posts up to date but also encourage you to double-check the official website of an attraction for information on when it is open, how much it costs etc.
Thank you, Kristy, for this wonderfully detailed itinerary! As someone who’s been planning a weekend trip to Hobart, your guide is a godsend. The mix of must-see attractions, local eats, and cultural experiences sounds perfect for a first-time visitor. I’m especially excited to explore Salamanca Markets and take the ferry to MONA—both sound like such unique experiences. Your personal insights, like staying at Wrest Point for the parking convenience, are much appreciated. Looking forward to making the most of my trip with your tips in mind!
Thanks so much for your comment, I hope you have a wonderful trip!