Plenty of travelers skip Adelaide, but the ones who come tend to fall for it. A central market that has been alive and humming for over 140 years, one of the most beautiful cricket grounds in the world, the Barossa wine valley just 90 minutes from town, and white-sand beaches you can reach by tram straight from the city centre. All of it sits in a city that never rushes and holds onto that easy, old-fashioned Australian feel better than just about anywhere.
#1 Adelaide Central Market
The largest covered market in the Southern Hemisphere and the heart of everyday Adelaide life since 1869. More than 70 stalls sell everything from local artisan cheese, German-style sausages, fresh fish and seafood to organic vegetables, homemade bread and specialty coffee. The mood is lively but not chaotic, and Adelaide's traders keep up their quality and their relationships with regulars in a way that really sticks with you.
- Come Tuesday to Thursday in the morning, 7-9am, when it's quietest, the produce is freshest, and it's easy to browse. Saturday is busiest but extremely packed.
- Don't miss Lucia's Pizza and the Smelly Cheese Shop, both open for decades and landmarks of the market.
- The market is closed on Sunday and Monday, so check opening hours before you go.
#2 Adelaide Oval
A cricket ground widely called the most beautiful in the world, thanks to the views of city and nature all around it. It sits in the centre of town on the River Torrens and has been in use since 1871; today it holds more than 53,000 spectators. Even without a match on, there are stadium tours plus a RoofClimb that gives you a 360-degree panorama of the city — an experience no other ground in Australia offers.
- The Behind the Scenes Tour costs around AUD 25 and runs 75 minutes; you don't need to book far ahead, but the RoofClimb has to be booked in advance.
- If you can, catch an AFL (Australian Football League) match or Big Bash Cricket here — far more memorable than the tour alone.
- RoofClimb Dining is open daily, with great views even if you don't climb.
#3 Barossa Valley
A world-class wine valley with a history stretching back over 180 years. German settlers brought winemaking and food traditions that survive to this day, and Barossa Shiraz is among the best in the world. There are more than 150 wineries, many offering wine tasting for free or a small fee. The countryside is beautiful, with good restaurants and boutique stays set right in the vineyards.
- If you can drive and have a non-drinker along, renting a car is the way to go — the distances between wineries are too far to walk or cycle. Bus tours from Adelaide are also very convenient.
- Leading wineries you shouldn't miss include Penfolds Magill Estate (home of the legendary Grange), Jacob's Creek, and Seppeltsfield, which has wine aged over 100 years.
- Come in March-April (harvest season) for the best atmosphere, when the colour of the vine leaves is gorgeous.
#4 Glenelg Beach
The beach Adelaideans love most and the easiest to reach from town. The sand is fine and white, and the water of Gulf St Vincent is calmer than the Pacific Ocean beaches, so swimming is easy. Along the shore, Jetty Road is full of restaurants, bars, cafes, ice-cream shops and souvenir stores. The mood is relaxed in that classic Australian beach-town way, and the sunsets here are lovely in summer.
- Take the tram from Victoria Square in the city straight to Glenelg — it takes just 30 minutes and is free for everyone, so no need to drive or fuss with parking.
- Watch the sunset from Glenelg Jetty, which reaches out into the sea; the view is beautiful from October to March.
- In summer (December-February) the beach gets very crowded with locals, so come before 9am or in the evening after 5pm.
#5 Adelaide Botanic Garden
A 51-hectare botanic garden open since 1857 on North Terrace in the heart of the city, free to enter every day. The highlight is the Bicentennial Conservatory, the largest glasshouse in the Southern Hemisphere, recreating a tropical rainforest ecosystem; the National Rose Garden in full bloom in spring; and the Victoria waterlily pond, where the lily pads measure over 2 metres across.
- Free guided walks led by volunteers run every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 10.30am, meeting at the main gate — very informative and free.
- The Botanic Gardens Restaurant inside the grounds serves lunch and is one of the prettiest restaurants in the city; booking ahead is recommended.
- In September-October the roses and spring flowers bloom together — the prettiest time of the year.
#6 Adelaide Hills
Green, hilly country east of the city that stays 5-7 degrees cooler than town all year. The highlight is Hahndorf, founded by Germans in 1839, which has held onto its German architecture and culture to a remarkable degree, with restaurants, chocolate, bakeries and craft shops. There's also Cleland Wildlife Park, where you can cuddle a kangaroo and have your photo taken with a koala.
- Cleland Wildlife Park is where you can have your photo taken with a koala (AUD 25) and feed kangaroos roaming free in the grounds — very different from an ordinary zoo.
- Hahndorf is a popular village and gets very crowded on weekends, so a weekday visit is more relaxed; the good shops open daily.
- The German bratwurst and Black Forest cake in Hahndorf are the real thing, from original recipes passed down over generations — worth trying at least once.
Where to stay in Adelaide for this trip
A well-located hotel means less commuting and more sightseeing. Here are real, top-rated stays in Adelaide — compare Agoda · Booking · Trip.com in one click.
The Playford Adelaide - MGallery by Sofitel
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Adelaide Central YHA
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Hotel Grand Chancellor Adelaide
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InterContinental Adelaide
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Tours, tickets & activities in Adelaide
Day tours, attraction tickets and travel essentials for Adelaide — book ahead on Klook with mobile e-tickets.
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Before You Pack
Adelaide is easy to visit all year, but March-May and September-November have the best weather. Avoid January-February, when it gets very hot, possibly up to 40 degrees. Plan 3-4 days for the city, and add 1-2 days if you want to go deeper into Barossa or the McLaren Vale peninsula.