Adelaide is South Australia’s cosmopolitan capital, brimming with inimitable cultural appeal, stunning natural attributes, diverse offerings and an enviable laidback lifestyle for a holiday hotspot with the lot. Dubbed the “20-minute city” for its compact layout, everything from attractions to activities is easily accessible.
Fringed by the Mount Lofty Ranges to the east, coastline to the south and world-famous wineries to the north, Adelaide is blessed with the Adelaide Hills, expansive parklands and beautiful beaches that are complemented by many urban attractions, making it a destination in its own right.
As the gateway to South Australia’s Barossa, McLaren Vale and Clare Valley wine regions, Adelaide brings plenty to the tourism table with a top-shelf dining and small-bar scene, world-renowned annual festivals and sporting events and arts and history.
Whether you're into wine tours, gallery visits, or eating your way through this tiny-but-mighty city, we'll help you discover the best things to do in Adelaide.
This guide covers Adelaide's iconic attractions, the top cultural landmarks and unique activities and experience to make sure you have the ultimate get away in South Australia’s capital.
Table of contents
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Top 10 attractions in Adelaide
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Top 10 activities in Adelaide
- Go wine tasting
- Take a food tour of Adelaide Central Market
- Watch the sunset from Glenelg Jetty
- Hike Waterfall Gully to Mount Lofty
- Visit Kangaroo Island
- Explore the history of the State Library
- Kayak on the River Torrens
- Eat at as many restaurants and cafes as possible
- Go on a day trip to Hahndorf
- Join an Aboriginal cultural tour
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More of the best things to do in Adelaide
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FAQs about visiting Adelaide
Pack your stretchy pants, they’ll get a workout at Adelaide Central Market – one of the largest undercover culinary marketplaces in the Southern Hemisphere. The historic landmark opened in 1869 with expansion plans underway to double its footprint.
Featuring more than 70 traders under one roof, stalls span produce and providores to cafes and eateries and across global and diverse cuisines. It’s the kind of place where you can sit down and dine on sushi, falafel or pizza and scoop up baked goods, gourmet fare and essential ingredients to take home.
In addition, the space hosts free events, such as rotating pop-ups, cooking demonstrations and themed dining evenings, with entertainment on select nights. Download the Adelaide Central Market Audio Tour on your fave podcast app for a 50-minute self-guided exploration.
2. RoofClimb Adelaide Oval
Experience Adelaide from a sky-high vantage point atop the city’s iconic stadium. RoofClimb offers an all-inclusive experience with day, twilight and night climbs, providing a different perspective with panoramic views of the cityscape stretching to the Adelaide Hills and coastline.
Clip into your RoofClimb suit to traverse the world-first stadium rooftop seats and check out the turf below, while listening to stories about the city during the two-hour guided experience. You can even catch a full quarter of an Adelaide Crows or Port Adelaide home game at 50m aboveground with select Game On! Climb bookings.
RoofClimb Adelaide Oval night climbs operate on Fridays and Saturdays with the last climb at 8pm, including party tunes and a post-climb drink.
Book a Roof Climb experience at Adelaide Oval
3. Adelaide Botanic Garden
Spanning 50ha of manicured gardens, maintained waterways, tree-lined avenues and historic buildings, Adelaide Botanic Garden is the lush green lungs in the city centre. It features plants from Australia and worldwide, attracting an array of birds and wildlife, and with gift shops and cafes on site, you can make it a full day out.
Highlights include the State Herbarium, a hub for plant, fungi and algae science housed in the old Tram Barn; Museum of Economic Botany, one of the last of its kind showcasing historic plant uses; and an Amazon Waterlily Pavilion.
Enjoy the First Creek Wetlands and Australian Forest for native flora and fauna, conservation collections, inspiring kitchen and health gardens and the International Rose Garden, in bloom from April to October.
4. Adelaide Zoo
Adelaide Zoo is a not-for-profit conservation centre in the heart of the city and home to more than 2,400 animals from around the globe within an expansive 8ha green jungle. Famous residents include newly arrived giant pandas Xing Qiu and Yi Lan as well as an array of native animals.
Visitors can enjoy free keeper talks for insights into the likes of penguins, Komodo dragons and South-East Asian birds, plus daily animal experiences for a fee, ranging from early morning panda hangs to Sumatran tiger and orangutan encounters.
Or simply free-range it with DIY exploration of the grounds, which include African safari animals, nocturnal creatures, Australian native critters, immersive trails, a Reptile House and a Rainforest & Wetlands Aviary.
5. Art Gallery of South Australia
In a city known for arts and culture, the Art Gallery of South Australia (AGSA) is suitably renowned for its diversity, including an extensive collection of Australian art and significant Indigenous works as well as Asian and European pieces.
The 19th-century gallery building in the city centre is a masterpiece itself and houses almost 47,000 items of visual art. Major events include the annual Tarnanthi Festival, spotlighting contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists from across Australia, and the Adelaide Biennial of Australia Art – Australia’s longest-running survey.
Glean even more from your visit with a free 50-minute guided tour, offered twice daily, focusing on select pieces within the collection and temporary exhibitions, or attend a free open late session for talks, workshops and more on the first Friday of every month.
6. South Australian Museum
Located next to AGSA and the State Library in Adelaide’s education and cultural precinct, the South Australian Museum is the state’s natural history repository with Aboriginal cultural and scientific artefacts displayed across five floors.
Permanent collections span Australian polar exploration; biological science items from tiny parasites to giant squids; plus, fossils and megafauna and minerals, rocks and meteorites from around the world. In addition, SA Museum has the world’s largest and most comprehensive collection of Australian Aboriginal cultural material.
Recent temporary exhibitions have uncovered some of the wonders of the natural and cultural world, such as Viking treasures of the UK, while visitors can dig deeper with STEM activities at the interactive Discovery Centre, open on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
7. Rundle Mall
Adelaide CBD’s open-air pedestrian mall is the city’s fave shopping, dining and entertainment precinct, featuring global brands and homegrown favourites. Located close to museums and galleries, it also has some signature artworks, including The Spheres (dubbed “Mall’s Balls” by locals), bronze pigs and a giant pigeon sculpture.
Connecting the city’s east and west ends, Rundle Mall is the epicentre of Adelaide’s downtown and also hosts major events and activations throughout the year. Visitors – a whopping 54 million every year – can browse more than 700 retail outlets, including three department stores and 15 historic arcades and shopping centres.
There are also landmark buildings and laneways, including Beehive Corner and the 19th-century Rundle Mall Fountain, which can be explored on guided tours such as Haunted Horizon’s after-dark Adelaide Arcade Ghost Tour – if you dare!
8. Adelaide Himeji Garden
Located in the vast green parklands that ring the city centre, Adelaide Himeji Garden is a traditional Japanese ornamental garden and a gift from its namesake sister city, a castle town 480km away in Japan.
Located within Peppermint Park/Wita Wirra (Park 18), step beyond the ornate gateway to discover the serene green getaway with hidden nooks revealing water features, stone statues, waterlily-strewn lakes with ducks, goldfish and tortoises, a Zen rock garden and plants adapted for the Adelaide climate.
It’s an ideal space for contemplation and meditation as an urban escape just south of the city centre and is imbued with a tranquil beauty that changes with the seasons.
9. Adelaide Gaol
Test your mettle and rattle your Adelaide itinerary with a visit to the former state prison within the northwest parklands. One of the longest continuously running prisons in one of the city’s oldest colonial public buildings, Adelaide Gaol closed up shop in 1988 and is now a museum.
With the dubious distinction of being one of Australia’s most haunted sites, Adelaide Gaol boasts a grisly history, including 45 executions. Unsurprisingly, quite a few spectral skeletons are still around, best uncovered on an after-dark guided ghost tour or overnight paranormal investigations.
Adelaide Gaol also offers Ghost Tours and Murder & Mayhem guided tours that delve into the tales of notorious criminals, along with more family-friendly Twilight Tours for a lighter look at the building’s history and residents. Access to Adelaide Gaol is currently available via guided tour only.
Book an experience at Adelaide Gaol
10. National Wine Centre of Australia
With the state’s storied viticulture heritage, it’s only fitting for Australia’s national wine centre to reside in Adelaide. No need to travel to cellar doors, the National Wine Centre curates a one-of-a-kind wine experience right in the CBD.
Situated within Adelaide Botanic Garden, the centre’s state-of-the-art Wine Discovery Journey provides an immersive experience with sensory tastings, sommelier-guided tours, interactive exhibits and impressive national collections of wine and winemaking memorabilia. The Wined Bar also has 120 wines dispensed from Enomatic servers.
Make the most of your visit on a guided tour, book a hosted wine flight, go behind the scenes with a cellar reserve tasting and expand your viticulture knowledge even more with a sommelier experience or food and wine pairing.
With so many established vineyards on its doorstep, sampling the local drop is one of the most popular activities for an Adelaide trip, and a guided tour offers the ideal way to soak up all the beauty of South Australia’s top bucolic wine regions.
Let someone else take the wheel on a curated tour of cellar doors and wineries. Adelaide Hills is the closest wine region to the city centre, while the Barossa, McLaren Vale and Clare Valley are all within two hours’ drive of Adelaide, the perfect day trip distance away.
Adelaide Hills and Clare Valley have 50-plus cellar doors apiece for cool-climate wine tastings, which you can pair with gourmet food and scenic experiences on a full-day tour. McLaren Vale features more than 90 cellar doors, including the popular D’Arenberg Wine Blending Experience in the eye-catching cube, while Barossa Valley has over 150 wineries, from heritage to contemporary drops, best sampled on an expertly guided tasting tour.
Popular locations for wine tasting:
- Adelaide Hills Wine Region (approx. 20-30 minutes from Adelaide city) – Google Maps
- Barossa Valley Wine Region (approx 1-2 hours from Adelaide city) – Google Maps
- Clare Valley Wine Region (approx 1-1.5 hours from Adelaide city) – Google Maps
- McLaren Vale Wine Region (approx 35-45 minutes from Adelaide city) – Google Maps
Book a wine tasting experience from Adelaide:
- Barossa Valley Winery Tour from Adelaide
- D'Arenberg Wine Blending Experience in McLaren Vale
- Adelaide Hills Wineries and Hahndorf Small Group Tour including Lunch
2. Take a food tour of Adelaide Central Market
Bursting with vibrancy, Adelaide Central Market offers a tempting cornucopia of fresh produce and artisan treats within historic surrounds. Foodies can browse more than 70 stalls at leisure or join a guided tour for a behind-the-scenes experience.
A small-group tour will take you into the heart of day-to-day market operations with the opportunity to meet some of the passionate providores, suppliers and makers, discover the history, uncover new gourmet finds and shop like a local.
Choose from a 1.5- to three-hour breakfast, morning or lunch walking tour of Adelaide Central Market, and be sure to pack your appetite for generous taste testings and a market cafe dining experience.
Book a food tour experience at Adelaide Central Markets:
- The F Factor Food Tour
- Adelaide Market Breakfast Tour - 1.5 Hours
- Adelaide Central Market Morning Tour
- Adelaide Central Market Lunch Tour
3. Watch the sunset from Glenelg Jetty
Popular inner-city beach spot Glenelg offers a prime sunset-viewing platform from its wide and walkable 215m jetty that juts out into Gulf St Vincent.
Adelaide’s most famous beach, Glenelg, has soft, sandy flats and a buzzing 1km-long main street that’s just a 20-minute tram ride or 25-minute drive from the city centre. Glenelg Jetty is also only five minutes from Adelaide Airport, so you can easily touch down after an afternoon flight and jet across to catch the stunning sunsets.
The classic seaside spot also features restaurants, bars and shops on Jetty Road for the full beach experience. Watch the sunset with a gelato or sundowner or hop on the 35m-high Ferris wheel in summer for top day-to-twilight views as you gaze over Holdfast Bay.
4. Hike Waterfall Gully to Mount Lofty
Offering sweeping views of the city to the coast from the summit, the 7.8km return hike from Waterfall Gully to Mount Lofty is steep, but short and sweet, with the panoramic outlook at the 710m peak and a cafe at each end as your reward.
At the foothills of the Mount Lofty Ranges, the eastern suburb of Waterfall Gully – around a 20-minute car or bus ride from the city – is your start and end point for the moderate out-and-back loop, which takes around three hours. The popular bushwalk on the paved path attracts a range of hikers and walkers with limited parking on weekends.
While the Waterfall Gully to Mount Lofty summit walk is considered a challenging climb, it’s a local rite of passage and there’s plenty of seating along the way to relax and enjoy the Adelaide Hills surrounds.
5. Visit Kangaroo Island
Located a hop, skip and a 45-minute ferry crossing from Cape Jervis (90 minutes’ drive from Adelaide), Kangaroo Island is a breathtaking natural respite from the city. Famed for its rugged beauty, eco stays and abundant wildlife, Kangaroo Island is a drawcard for outdoor enthusiasts.
Standout highlights include exploring epic rocky formations, spotting Australian wildlife such as koalas, wallabies and penguins in nature reserves, whale-watching in season, hiking through bushland scrub and sunning on beaches.
Visitors can opt for a full-day Kangaroo Island tour from Adelaide to explore the national park and conservation areas, or choose a three-day tour and indulge in swimming, snorkelling and other outdoor recreational activities at your leisure.
Book an experience in Kangaroo island:
- Kangaroo Island Full Day Tour from Adelaide including Lunch
- 3 Day Kangaroo Island Adventure Tour from Adelaide
6. Explore the history of the State Library
Checking out books might not seem like an obvious activity for an Adelaide city escape, but you haven’t seen the State Library of South Australia. Situated next to the Art Gallery of South Australia in the city centre, the State Library has the Hogwarts seal of approval with the Mortlock Chamber regularly voted one of the world’s most beautiful libraries.
The Victorian-era beauty features a glass-domed lantern roof, wrought iron balcony balustrades and a giant hand-wound clock in an orderly dark-wood bibliothèque stacked with more than 40,000 books. It has a fascinating backstory as well – once a taxidermy workshop, among other uses.
Join a free ambassador-led tour at 11am or 2pm on weekdays to learn more about the State Library of South Australia’s history, exhibitions and people.
7. Kayak on the River Torrens
Adelaide has a deserved reputation as a diverse dining destination for the discerning gourmand with several notable areas for a deep dive into the city’s culinary offerings. If you travel for the food, this is the place to be.
The city centre features fine dining establishments and casual restaurants and everything in between, spanning global cuisines. Perennially popular Adelaide CBD spots, such as the African-flavoured Africola, Fugazzi for New York-inspired Italian, Golden Boy Thai and Shobosho for Japanese yakatori, showcase the enticing range.
Centred around O’Connell and Melbourne streets, upscale North Adelaide is the spot for Italian restaurants, heritage gastropubs, Asian hotspots and Mexican diners. Visit Adelaide Hills for modern Australian cuisine paired with top drops and scenic views at cellar doors and winery estate restaurants.
Adelaide also has a creative small-bar scene, located in CBD laneways and hidden nooks such as Peel and Leigh streets, bringing an eclectic after-hours energy to the city. Check out the likes of Bank Street Social, Leigh Street Luggage and Pink Moon Saloon for an intriguing night out.
Popular locations for restaurants:
- Adelaide CBD – Google Maps
- Adelaide Hills – Google Maps
- North Adelaide – Google Maps
9. Embark on a day trip to Hahndorf
Established by 19th-century Lutheran immigrants, Hahndorf weaves its German influence into the cultural fabric of South Australia’s heritage, offering a contrasting small-town experience to the cosmopolitan city.
Located 25 minutes from the city centre in the Adelaide Hills, Hahndorf is easily accessible from Adelaide. Steeped in German architecture and cuisine traditions as Australia’s oldest surviving German settlement, Hahndorf is often combined with the Adelaide Hills area for a full-day tour that naturally pairs fine food and wine.
Arts aficionados will appreciate the sculpture trail and many galleries and artisan boutiques on the European-style High Street. There are also many delicious ways to explore the rolling countryside, from a guided e-bike tour of cellar doors to farm-to-table experiences, gin tasting and cheese-making class in a craft brewery.
Book an experience in Hahndorf:
- Adelaide Hills Wineries and Hahndorf Small Group Tour including Lunch
- Hahndorf Guided Food and Wine E-Bike Tour - Full Day
- Grunthal Gin Tasting Experience
- Hahndorf Cheese Making Class
10. Join an Aboriginal cultural tour
Adelaide/Tarntanya is located on the traditional home of the Kaurna people. Joining an immersive cultural tour led by a First Nations guide offers an authentic insight into the history, culture and stories, sharing the ongoing connection to Country.
Southern Cultural Immersion runs several cultural tours in Adelaide, making First Nations experiences easily accessible to visitors at significant sites, including the Living Kaurna Cultural Centre in Bedford Park, which houses an art gallery and shop with artworks by Aboriginal artists.
Embark on a cultural and heritage tour of the Warriparinga grounds and wetlands, a nature reserve in Adelaide’s southwest. In Adelaide CBD, learn about native plants and their traditional uses in Adelaide Botanic Garden or join a city cultural tour to uncover the SA capital’s tragic colonial past.
You can also hop on a Kauwi Cultural Cruise from Glenelg with a First Nations guide and marine biologist on board to share the heritage and tales of Kauna Yerta from the water.
Popular locations to visit during an Aboriginal culture tour:
- Adelaide Botanic Garden – Google Maps
- Adelaide CBD – Google Maps
- Living Kaurna Cultural Centre – Google Maps
- Warriparinga Wetlands – Google Maps
10 more things to do in Adelaide
- Make a date for Adelaide Fringe – Australia’s biggest arts festival
- Spot the fur seals on a Victor Harbor adventure cruise
- Harvest and shuck your own oysters on the Yorke Peninsula
- Take The Ghan luxury train journey to Alice Springs
- Hop aboard the iconic Murray Princess paddlewheeler
- Chase waterfalls on the Three Falls Grand Hike
- Snap a selfie at Lake Bumbunga pink salt lake in Lochiel
- See the bright lights, big city at Illuminate Adelaide festival
- Take a brew tour of the family-owned Coopers Brewery
- Be immersed in performance arts at WOMADelaide
Best things to do in Adelaide for free
Keep your wallet in your pocket – these top Adelaide activities offer maximum experiences at zero cost.
Top five activities for free
- Map out a DIY public art walk in Adelaide CBD and North Adelaide
- Treat yourself to a free Haigh’s Chocolate Experience tour
- Enjoy a salty swim at Adelaide’s best beaches
- See native flora and fauna at Mount Lofty Botanic Garden
- Capture a glorious Glenelg sunset
Most unique things to do in Adelaide
Do something unexpected in Adelaide with these quirky suggestions for your next trip to the SA capital.
Top five unique activities
- Head to the Adelaide Hills for the Big Rocking Horse – the world’s tallest at 18m high – and clamber up to nab your horse climb certificate
- Visit David Roche Gallery in North Adelaide and explore the 3,500-strong collection of European art and dog show memorabilia
- Spot the lifesize Alice in Wonderland sculpture in Rymill Park/Murlawirrapurka (Park 14) and uncover its novel connection to the city
- Why settle for wine sampling when you can try Tasting in the Dark? Get your blindfold on at Hardys Wine in McLaren Vale
- Enjoy a wild luxury stay at Monarto Safari Resort with views of the African wildlife at Monarto Safari Park in Murraylands
Best things to do in Adelaide with kids
Spark wonder for the littlies on an Adelaide holiday with these kid-friendly ideas for tots to teens.
Top 5 activities for families
- Let them go mad for art and science at MOD. The future-focused city museum will ignite ideas through interactive play
- Gorge Wildlife Park in the Adelaide Hills is a firm family favourite for Aussie critters, including feeding the free-range wallabies and kangaroos
- Beerenberg Farm is famous throughout Australia, but you can only pick your own fresh strawberries at its Hahndorf home
- Get a head for heights at TreeClimb Adelaide the CBD with three courses, including a kid-size option for 100cm and above
- Take the crew to the Australian Space Agency-led Discovery Centre and propel their interest in aerospace at mission control and the cosmic gallery
Fun things to do in Adelaide for adults
Whether you’re flying solo or travelling in a group, Adelaide has plenty of ways to cater for all tastes in the city and surrounds.
Top 5 activities for adults
- Kayak with your mates and wild dolphins on an eco-tour of the dedicated dolphin sanctuary and mangroves around Port Adelaide’s Garden Island
- The full 70km Adelaide Coastal Walk may be a stretch, so hop on a city-to-sea Adelaide to Glenelg Cycling Tour with a morning tea pit stop
- Gather the gang together for a group hang at beloved South Australian chef Maggie Beer’s Farm Shop for a cooking demo and delicious lunch
- Survey the night sky: Connect the dots at a guided stargazing astronomy session at the River Murray Dark Sky Reserve
- Get along to a major sporting event: From AFL and cricket at Adelaide Oval to netball at the Entertainment Centre and soccer at Hindmarsh Stadium, it’s always game on
Fun things to do in Adelaide for couples
Enjoy a city rendezvous for two with these day-to-night date ideas for a holiday or weekend away in Adelaide.
Top 5 activities for couples
- Visit Adelaide Central Market for gourmet goodies and stake out a serene spot in one of Adelaide’s lush parks for a picnic
- Sleep in a silo: Barossa Valley’s Barns of Freeling features custom, self-contained silo studios for a suite stay for two
- Soak up a Coorong sunset in a double kayak. Hop aboard this guided tour for a stroll on the dunes and a twilight picnic
- Enjoy a fragrant escape on a Jurlique Farm Tour in the Adelaide Hills for a deep-dive into the botanicals behind the skincare
- Bar-hop Adelaide’s small-bar scene, searching the city streets for hidden doors and laneways that reveal tempting libations
FAQs about visiting Adelaide
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What is Adelaide most famous for?
Adelaide is renowned for its year-round major event calendar, particularly the annual world-class arts and cultural festivals, such as Adelaide Fringe and WOMADelaide, and its proximity to some of Australia’s most famous and popular wine regions, such as the Barossa, McLaren Vale, Clare Valley and Adelaide Hills.
The South Australian capital touts a relaxed coastal and city lifestyle with stunning parklands, a vibrant dining scene and exciting sporting events. Dubbed the “20-minute city”, Adelaide is also easy to get around with top attractions and things to do located close together, plus stunning natural surrounds and towns within a two-hour drive.
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What are the best wine regions to visit in Adelaide?
Adelaide is also the gateway to 18 wine regions in South Australia, the best of which include the Barossa, Clare Valley, Adelaide Hills McLaren Vale and Coonawarra.
For the best wine region in Adelaide that's closeby, head to Adelaide Hills. The Adelaide Hills wine region in the Mount Lofty Ranges is closest to Adelaide and produces cool-climate drops, such as pinot noir, sparkling wines and chardonnay with 60 wineries and around 50 cellar doors to explore, just 15 minutes’ drive away.
However, the National Wine Centre of Australia is located right in the city centre, curating more than 120 different wines from 55 regions to sample in one convenient location as well as boasting the largest wine cellar in the Southern Hemisphere.
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What are the best day trips from Adelaide?
If you want to broaden your horizons for a day trip or longer stay, Adelaide is an ideal launchpad for adventure with several stunning spots to visit within cooee of the city. Here are some inspiring destinations located within two hours of Adelaide.
Hahndorf – Just 30 minutes from the Adelaide CBD by car, Hahndorf has a distinctly European flavour, expressing its strong German heritage through art and crafts, traditional architecture, charming shops and hearty eats.
McLaren Vale – Renowned as a haven for foodies and vino lovers, McLaren Vale is a zippy 45-minute drive south from Adelaide. Tour more than 90 cellar doors, explore D’Arenburg Cube and cycle the 9km Shiraz Trail for scenic vistas.
Murray River, Lakes and Coorong – It may be only 75km from Adelaide, but a world away in terms of terrain, which varies from lazy backwaters to eucalypt bushland and towering ochre cliffs to safari savannah experiences.
Barossa Valley – One of Australia’s most famous wine regions, the Barossa is an easy day trip at one hour’s drive from Adelaide, but with more than 150 wineries on tap and gourmet restaurants, you will want to linger longer.
Victor Harbor – This relaxed coastal town on the Fleurieu Peninsula is the spot for marine life, from little penguins to seasonal migrating whales, pristine beaches and even wineries, all just 75 minutes from the SA capital.
Port Elliott – Located 75 minutes south of Adelaide, visit Port Elliott on the Fleurieu Peninsula for a classic seaside experience of picture-perfect beaches, chic boutiques and more than 83 coastal walks and trails.
Clare Valley – For a historic, laidback wine region, you can’t go past Clare Valley – 142km north of the CBD. Riesling is the drop of choice here or cycle the 35km rail trail to soak up the bucolic vibes instead.
Kangaroo Island – Leave your cares in the city on the 90-minute drive and 45-minute ferry crossing to Kangaroo Island to enjoy an epic adventure filled with rugged bushland, abundant wildlife and pristine beaches.
Burra – Drive two hours north of Adelaide to step back in time at this National Heritage Listed former copper mining township. Burra is a historic gem with Victorian-era architecture, a classic main street and oodles of charm.
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What are the best festivals and events in Adelaide?
With a year-round calendar that includes some of the world’s best festivals, visitors are spoilt for choice with plenty of globally renowned and major arts, entertainment, sporting and culinary events staged annually in Adelaide.
Some of the most popular events and annual festivals to build your Adelaide itinerary around are Adelaide Fringe, WOMADelaide, AFL Gather Round, Tasting Australia and Illuminate Adelaide, for starters. Check what’s on before you book your Adelaide flight.
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Is Adelaide worth visiting over a weekend?
Yes, Adelaide is definitely worth visiting over a weekend.
If you only have a weekend to visit Adelaide, you can absolutely pack a lot into two or three days, from the main attractions to inspiring activities - although you will definitely want plan a longer stay longer in the South Australian capital to explore its true magic.
For a long weekend, you can easily fill your time in Adelaide CBD, which includes several cultural institutions on North Terrace, shopping on Rundle Mall and plenty of parklands ringing the city centre. Wander Adelaide Botanic Garden, tour Adelaide Gaol and eat your fill at Adelaide Central Market and the upscale restaurants.
On subsequent days, you can see more of the city at your leisure, venture to the Adelaide Hills wine region, explore the German heritage of Hahndorf and go on a wine tasting tour of McLaren Vale, all within 45 minutes of the city centre.
Spending more than three days in Adelaide will allow you to extend your itinerary to include some overnights in the surrounding wine regions, enjoy outdoor adventure and eco stays on Kangaroo Island and visit the pristine beaches on the Fleurieu Peninsula.
Flights to Adelaide
Virgin Australia offers direct flights to Adelaide from major Australian cities, including:
