FreeAdelaide Central Market
A covered food market with more than 70 traders in the heart of the city, open Tuesday to Saturday with late trading on Fridays. It is free to enter, step-free and a short walk from Victoria Square.
1 to 2 hoursDetails →
South Australia (Australia)
Adelaide & South Australia
Adelaide is the capital of South Australia, a relaxed, walkable city inside a ring of parklands, with a seaside suburb at Glenelg, famous wine country within an hour or so and a wildlife island a ferry ride away.
This guide covers Adelaide and its surroundings: the Central Market, the Botanic Garden, the National Wine Centre, Adelaide Oval and Adelaide Zoo, Glenelg with its wild dolphin cruise, a small-group tour of the Barossa Valley, the d'Arenberg Cube in McLaren Vale, the German village of Hahndorf in the Adelaide Hills and a day trip to Kangaroo Island. Five hotels, from an Art Nouveau splurge on North Terrace to a budget base by the station, and two guides explain what to book ahead and where to stay.
Don't miss
Adelaide Central Market
A covered food market with more than 70 traders in the heart of the city, open Tuesday to Saturday with late trading on Fridays. It is free to enter, step-free and a short walk from Victoria Square.
Barossa Valley Small-Group Wine Tour
A full-day, small-group wine tour from Adelaide into the Barossa Valley, with tastings at several wineries, a regional platter lunch, a hilltop lookout and a chocolate stop. It runs about eight hours and includes hotel pickup.
Kangaroo Island Day Trip from Adelaide
A long but rewarding day trip to Kangaroo Island by coach and ferry, with sea lions at Seal Bay, Admirals Arch, Remarkable Rocks and a wildlife park. It departs Adelaide very early and returns late.
Adelaide Zoo
Australia's second-oldest zoo, set in the parklands just north of the city centre, with a giant panda centre, Sumatran tigers and daily wildlife shows. It opens every day, and a panda and friends encounter is available.
Things to do in Adelaide & South Australia
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
FreeBarossa Valley Small-Group Wine Tour
A full-day, small-group wine tour from Adelaide into the Barossa Valley, with tastings at several wineries, a regional platter lunch, a hilltop lookout and a chocolate stop. It runs about eight hours and includes hotel pickup.
Kangaroo Island Day Trip from Adelaide
A long but rewarding day trip to Kangaroo Island by coach and ferry, with sea lions at Seal Bay, Admirals Arch, Remarkable Rocks and a wildlife park. It departs Adelaide very early and returns late.
Adelaide Oval Stadium Tour and RoofClimb
A behind-the-scenes tour of one of the world's best-loved cricket and football grounds, with a hand-operated scoreboard, the Bradman Collection and an optional climb along the stadium roof. It sits beside the River Torrens, a short walk from the city centre.
Adelaide Zoo
Australia's second-oldest zoo, set in the parklands just north of the city centre, with a giant panda centre, Sumatran tigers and daily wildlife shows. It opens every day, and a panda and friends encounter is available.
FreeAdelaide Botanic Garden
About 50 hectares of free gardens at the east end of the city, with the Bicentennial Conservatory, a free Museum of Economic Botany and daily guided walks. It opens every day, including public holidays.
1 to 2 hoursDetails →
National Wine Centre of Australia
A wine education centre beside the Botanic Garden, with a 30-minute story tour and a longer guided tour with a tasting masterclass. It is the easiest way to learn how Australian wine works before you head into the vineyards.
d'Arenberg Cube, McLaren Vale
A striking, multi-level cellar door in McLaren Vale, with a top-floor tasting room, a contemporary art museum and views over the vines to Gulf St Vincent. It opens daily and is about 45 minutes from Adelaide.
FreeHahndorf, Adelaide Hills
Australia's oldest surviving German settlement, about 25 minutes from Adelaide, with a main street of bakeries, pubs, galleries and shops. It is free to wander and easy to reach by car or bus.
2 to 4 hoursDetails →
Glenelg Wild Dolphin Cruise and Swim
A morning dolphin cruise from Glenelg Marina Pier that includes the chance to swim with wild dolphins, with wetsuits, snorkel gear and hotel pickup. It lasts about four hours and starts at the seaside suburb on the tram line.
Where to stay
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
The Playford Adelaide MGallery
North Terrace, Adelaide CBD
An Art Nouveau-style hotel at 120 North Terrace in the arts precinct, with a heated indoor pool, spa and sauna, a European restaurant and bar and the tram stop two minutes away. It is the splurge pick for a first stay in the city.
Check rates →Stamford Grand Adelaide
Moseley Square, Glenelg
A beachfront hotel on Moseley Square in Glenelg, with 220 rooms and suites, ocean-view balconies, an outdoor heated pool, spa, sauna and gym. The tram stop is at the door, with a direct tram to the city.
Check rates →Oval Hotel at Adelaide Oval
Adelaide Oval, North Adelaide
A 138-room hotel built into Adelaide Oval in North Adelaide, with parkland views, contemporary rooms and a welcome drink on arrival. It puts the stadium tour and RoofClimb on your doorstep and the city a short walk away.
Check rates →Adina Apartment Hotel Adelaide Treasury
Flinders Street, Adelaide CBD
A heritage apartment hotel in the historic Treasury building at 2 Flinders Street, with studios and one- and two-bedroom apartments, a heated indoor pool, sauna and the Treasury 1860 restaurant. It sits in the middle of the city.
Check rates →Holiday Inn Express Adelaide City Centre
Blyth Street, Adelaide CBD
A 245-room, 4-star budget-friendly hotel at 30 Blyth Street with free breakfast on many rates, a gym and a two-minute walk to the railway station, tram stop and casino. It is a practical base for day tours.
Check rates →Adelaide & South Australia guides
First Time in Adelaide: What to Book, How to Get Around and How Many Days
A practical primer for a first trip to Adelaide: what to book ahead, how to get around, how many days to allow and where the Central Market, Glenelg, the Barossa, McLaren Vale, Hahndorf and Kangaroo Island fit.
Where to Stay in Adelaide: North Terrace, North Adelaide or Glenelg
Where to stay in Adelaide: the cultural precinct on North Terrace, the central streets near the station, the Oval in North Adelaide or the beach at Glenelg, with five hotels from a splurge to a budget base.
