3 Days in Cairns: The Ultimate Itinerary

Do you have a long weekend or quick getaway coming up? Spend three days exploring Cairns, the perfect destination for a short getaway. Cairns is a vibrant and colourful city brimming with restaurants, markets, bars, shops and walking tours. If you're looking for things to do in Cairns, keep reading! We have the perfect long weekend itinerary for you, including some Cairns walking tours.

Day One: Food Sets the Mood

You may want to take it easy on your first day in Cairns. But travelling can work up an appetite, so check out the food on offer immediately! A local favourite is Rusty's Market. Open since 1975 Rusty's Market offers almost everything you can think of over 180 stalls. Fresh produce, meat, flowers, prepared food, and boutique clothing are just a fraction of the things you'll find at Rusty's Market. It's only open Friday to Sunday so make sure you plan and stock up on fresh produce over the weekend.

For any food lover, a walking tour of Rusty's Market is a fantastic plan. Your expert guide will show you around the market. As you stroll and taste you'll learn about the history of the market and the food produced in this tropical region. Cairns Urban Walking Tours helps you get to know Cairns from a locals perspective, are convenient and can fit right into your schedule.

A visit to the Cairns Aquarium is the perfect way to end the day. The aquarium houses species found on the Great Barrier reef. You'll also see amphibians, insects and reptiles. It's the perfect spot for nature lovers. After the market and the aquarium, you might require a cocktail. Cairns has you covered with several options.

After your explorations, why not take a walk along the esplanade and arrive at a Cairns legend, Salt House. Located right on the water it's the perfect place for the sunset and offers fresh seafood and a delightful cocktail list. It's the perfect place to end your day. Other great Cairns bars include Hemingway's Brewery for beer lovers, Rocco for some great rooftop relaxation, or Flamingos Tiki Bar for some tropical fun.

Day Two: A History Walk and Table Talk 

After a good night's sleep, you're ready to dive in and explore Cairns. Now you'll want to start with breakfast! Breakfast in Cairns is serious business so you'll want to choose wisely. Try Caffiend for coffee and tasty breakfast specialties, The Chambers for their relaxed courtyard dining or Cruz Coffee.

Cairns is steeped in history and a professionally guided tour of Cairns is the best way to learn more about it. On the Cairns history tour, you'll learn about the surrounding rainforest and Great Barrier Reef that make Cairns so unique. You'll see examples of architecture and indigenous artwork and dive into topics like colonisation and the gold rush, and the opium trade.

The best thing, this will only be a half-day tour, so you’ve got the afternoon free! If you’ve started the morning early enough, spend the afternoon exploring outside the city. Port Douglas, the Great Barrier Reef and the Barron Gorge National Park are close by. 

Just a 1-hour drive north of Cairns you can venture to Port Douglas. The coastline drive from Cairns to Port Douglas offers spectacular views of the tropical coastline and the splattering of small islands. Along the way, a ‘must-see’ is the Kuranda Scenic Railway and Skyrail. Experience the world’s oldest tropical rainforest and Australia’s wet tropics World Heritage Area. The Kuranda Rail train ride offers views like no other as you take in the natural beauty of the rainforest, and on your return, fly high over the canopy onboard the Skyrail.

Cairns restaurants (link to restaurants blog) are some of the best in Australia. You'll have your choice of Italian, Greek, Japanese and more. Chefs in Cairns take full advantage of locally sourced ingredients with the farm (or boat) to table cooking featured in many restaurants. Don't miss the opportunity to experience these culinary delights. 

Day Three: More Things to Do in Cairns

Let's get an early start with another tour! Street art tours are rising in popularity all over the world. The Hipster & Street Art Tour gives you a unique insight into the diverse culture of Cairns. 

This tour also highlights hip cafes, vintage shops, and other aspects of Cairns' young and vibrant vibe. 

For your last afternoon in Cairns, take the afternoon to explore more around town, take a short walk (link to walking options), or head to Green Island or the Great Barrier Reef. As one of the seven natural wonders of the world, the Great Barrier Reef can't be missed. It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience for SCUBA divers and snorkelers. Even if you'd prefer to stay on the boat there's nothing better than a beautiful day on the water. 

Are you ready to explore this spectacular city and all the things to do in Cairns? Explore more of Cairns by walking the sites with a knowledgeable guide! Soon you'll understand why Cairns is one of the most popular destinations in Australia. And one of the best ways to see it is on foot.