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I’ll tell anyone who’ll listen that Hobart is the most underrated capital city in Australia. Every time I visit, I fall even more in love with its weathered sandstone buildings, cobblestone streets, peaceful waterfront, paddock-to-plate food scene and unhurried pace of life. It’s not trying to be Sydney or Melbourne, it’s just living life as it always has. Therefore, I was genuinely baffled to see Hobart named one of the world’s most ‘inauthentic’ cities, alongside Venice and Las Vegas.
First, let’s hear out the researchers. The new study from travel insurance provider InsureandGo analysed more than 1.3 million Google Maps reviews across 144 global cities, tracking how often travellers described experiences as "authentic," "local" or "traditional" versus "tourist trap" or "overpriced". This data then helped the researchers to give each city an authenticity score, highlighting places visitors felt plugged into real local culture versus places they felt were full of tourist traps.
Tourist hotspots Chicago, Venice, Las Vegas and Nashville topped the list of inauthentic cities, followed by Hobart in fifth spot, which was a big surprise. According to the study, reviews suggested that certain attractions and waterfront areas in Hobart feel more geared toward cruise-ship tourists than genuine experiences. Apparently, even historic waterfront spots like Salamanca Place, with its 19th-century Georgian buildings, have been taken over by shops and restaurants that take away from the city’s charm – but I'm calling BS.
One of the first things I always notice when I arrive in Hobart is how humble and hushed it feels compared to other Australian capitals. It isn’t chasing trends or trying to compete with Sydney or Melbourne – it’s comfortable being smaller, quieter and a little bit dated (in the most charming way). Instead of flashy skyscrapers, the city’s character comes alive through its sandstone buildings, cobblestone lanes, working docks and pubs that are older than my great-grandparents. Many of these nod to Hobart’s convict past and colonial scars, which, although complex, are never brushed away. These stories are very much on display in Battery Point, the Cascades Female Factory and Hobart Convict Penitentiary.
Another reason I love Hobart is how it embraces its natural environment, with locals riding to work, plunging into ice-cold waters for fun, and completely disappearing into the bushland on weekends. Being the closest major city to Antarctica, Hobart also leans into its cold status, with floating sauna experiences and the famous winter Nude Solstice Swim. To outsiders, jumping into Antarctic-like waters might seem unhinged – but for locals, it’s a routine thrill.
One of my most memorable trips to Hobart was for Beaker Street Festival, Australia’s quirkiest mash-up of science and arts events. With Tassie’s capital boasting the largest proportion of scientists in Australia, this festival proves just how authentically Hobart does events. The program leans into the city’s strengths: think polar plunges, roving scientist bars, stargazing experiences, glow-in-the-dark wildlife tours and future-forward dinners. Of course, Dark Mofo steals the festival spotlight – and there’s really nothing like it. Where else in Australia can you rave in a former Hillsong Church, swim nude on the shortest day of the year and see an Ogoh-Ogoh burn in the middle of the city?
I can’t end without mentioning Hobart’s food scene, which, alongside Canberra, I’d rank as the most underrated in all of Australia. Many of the city’s top restaurants change their menus daily, featuring seafood fresh from the boat, wine from surrounding cool-climate vineyards and paddock-to-plate produce. One of my most memorable dining experiences to date was at Aløft, a sleek waterfront eatery on the River Derwent. Sure, it’s fine dining, but what really stuck with me wasn’t the white tablecloths or the water views – it was the chef personally plating and serving me every single dish, describing each ingredient and exactly where it came from. If that isn’t authenticity on a plate, I don’t know what is.
In my opinion, Hobart is about as genuine as it gets in Australia. It’s weathered, wild and willing to live life to the fullest in every season. If you want to explore the city authentically, I fully back every recommendation on our list of the best things to do in Hobart. No tourist traps in sight!