Best Time to Travel
Hobart’s summers aren’t as hot as other Australian cities, and experience mostly balmy and sunny days at temperatures that you’ll be easily able to walk around in. The city’s summer months roughly range from December to March. In winter, it can get a bit chilly, so don’t expect year-round heat. If you're visiting in the summer, you may have to brace yourself for crowds of tourists, but it's well worth coming for MONA FOMA - Tasmania’s largest contemporary music festival.
Not to Miss
The Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery is the city’s key historic and cultural sight, displaying colonial decorative art and fine painting, and fascinating zoology, science, and geology exhibits. Meanwhile, contemporary art appreciators will be challenged and inspired with the selection of work at the MONA gallery. Lovers of live performance must see the grand old Theatre Royal, while shoppers shouldn’t miss the mammoth Salamanca Street Market, which - held on Saturdays - has over 300 stalls.
Getting around
You can fly in to Hobart International Airport, based 15 kilometres from the city centre. The airport serves mostly domestic services to and from top Australian cities like Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. If flying internationally, catch a connecting flight from any of these to Hobart, Melbourne being the shortest at a 1 hour 15 minute flight. Once here, getting around via rental car is convenient, but the centre can get very busy - particularly on weekends. Alternatively, Hobart has an extensive and affordable public bus system.
Cuisine
Due to its proximity to the ocean, Hobart’s culinary pride and joy is its wealth of freshly caught seafood. Try some succulent Tasmanian lobster for a flavour-explosion, or get your hands on some hearty scallop pie. You can also expect international classics like deep-fried calamari. Restaurants range from cheap and cheerful takeaways to high-end fine dining establishments, catering to whatever suits your taste - and budget. There’s also a thriving vegetarian cuisine-scene for non-meat eaters.
Customs and etiquette
Remember, don’t try to drive around the Salamanca area on Saturdays - the market is so big and popular that you’re bound to get jammed down a one-way street or swarmed by a sea of pedestrians. In general, Hobart is very welcoming of foreign cultures and customs, and there’s not much difference in etiquette to any other Western city. Just keep in mind that high-end establishments will expect you to be well-dressed, and that tipping a small amount - while not absolutely expected - can be very appreciated in restaurants.Fast Facts
• Population: 218000
• Spoken languages: English
• Electrical: Australia runs on 220-240V, 50 Hz current
• Phone Calling Code: +61 3000
