Overview

Widely known as Australia's Festival City, Adelaide is the capital of South Australia, set between Gulf St. Vincent and the Mount Lofty Ranges. It lies in the traditional Country of the Kaurna people of the Adelaide Plains, who know the city centre as Tarntanya. Adelaide was founded in 1836 as the planned capital of a British colony and named after Queen Adelaide. The colony itself was proclaimed under a gum tree at Glenelg, where the first settlers came ashore. Known today as the Old Gum Tree, the site is still marked in Glenelg.
The name, Festival City, comes from a calendar packed with arts events. The biggest is the Adelaide Fringe, the largest arts festival in Australia. Beyond festival season, visitors can also swim with wild dolphins off Glenelg, climb the roof of Adelaide Oval and see giant pandas at Adelaide Zoo. Autumn and spring bring mild weather and are the most comfortable times to visit. Summer is hot, with days of around 30°C.
Adelaide is also a base for day trips to the Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale and Hahndorf. Adelaide Airport (ADL) is around 6km west of the city centre, with international and domestic flights in one terminal. Trams are free within the city centre, making it easy to move between the main sights, and the same line continues to the beach at Glenelg for a standard fare.

Adelaide Cruise Experiences

Sightseeing Cruises

Iconic landmarks from the water

2 Cruises

From $92

Famous Adelaide Attractions

Adelaide Central Market

Adelaide Botanic Garden

Precincts & Neighbourhoods

Adelaide CBD

Adelaide CBD

The city centre, home to Rundle Mall, North Terrace and Adelaide Central Market.
Best for: First-time visitors and shopping
North Adelaide

North Adelaide

A heritage suburb north of the river, with dining on O'Connell and Melbourne Streets.
Best for: Dining and the Oval
Glenelg

Glenelg

A beachside suburb with a jetty, the Jetty Road shopping strip and tram lines.
Best for: Beach stays and dolphin cruises
Port Adelaide

Port Adelaide

The first State Heritage Area in SA, with the Maritime Museum and dolphins in the Port River.
Best for: History and wildlife
Norwood

Norwood

An inner-east suburb centred on The Parade, lined with shops, cinemas and restaurants.
Best for: Dining and local shopping
Semaphore

Semaphore

A seaside suburb with a 1928 carousel, a long jetty and the 1875 Time Ball Tower.
Best for: Families and a relaxed beach day

Things To Do In Adelaide

On The Water & Coast

Take a cruise to swim with dolphins (recommended)
Swim at Henley Beach 
Swim at Glenelg Beach
Watch sunset at Semaphore Jetty 

Food & Wine

Browse Adelaide Central Market (recommended)
Taste Haigh's chocolates
Dine on Jetty Road
Eat on O'Connell Street
Brunch on The Parade

Culture & Heritage

Explore North Terrace galleries (recommended)
See the Mortlock Wing
Visit the Maritime Museum
Catch the Adelaide Fringe (Feb-Mar)
Lookout from Light's Vision

Nature & Family Fun

See pandas at Adelaide Zoo (recommended)
Climb the Adelaide Oval roof
Explore the Bicentennial Conservatory
Ride the carousel at Semaphore
Look out from Mount Lofty

Popular Day Trips From Adelaide

Barossa Valley

(≈75km | 1 hour)

A wine region north-east of Adelaide, with more than 150 wineries and 80 cellar doors. It is home to some of the oldest continuously producing Shiraz, Grenache and Semillon vines in the world. Don't miss a cellar door tasting of Barossa Shiraz.

Hahndorf

(≈26km | 35 minutes)

A village in the Adelaide Hills, founded by Prussian Lutheran settlers who arrived on the ship Zebra under Captain Hahn in late 1838. It is the oldest surviving German settlement in Australia.

McLaren Vale

(≈40km | 50 minutes)

A wine region south of Adelaide, between the hills and the coast, with more than 80 wineries. Don't miss a tasting of McLaren Vale Grenache.

Victor Harbor

(≈85km | 1 hour 15 minutes)

A coastal town on the Fleurieu Peninsula, where whales visit from June to September. A 632m causeway, reopened in 2021, links the town with Granite Island. Don't miss the horse-drawn tram to Granite Island, which first ran as a freight tram in 1894.

Suggested Adelaide Itineraries

Day 1: Wild Dolphins, Glenelg & Rundle Mall

  • Morning: Swim with wild dolphins on a cruise from Glenelg
  • Afternoon: Glenelg Jetty & Jetty Road
  • Evening: Rundle Mall & dinner in the CBD

Day 2: Central Market, North Terrace & Norwood

  • Morning: Adelaide Central Market
  • Afternoon: Art Gallery & South Australian Museum on North Terrace
  • Evening: Dinner on The Parade in Norwood

Day 3: Adelaide Oval, Botanic Garden & Adelaide Zoo

  • Morning: RoofClimb at Adelaide Oval
  • Afternoon: Adelaide Botanic Garden & giant pandas at Adelaide Zoo
  • Evening: Sunset at Light’s Vision & dinner in North Adelaide

* You can mix and match these itineraries according to your time, interests and convenience to create your own Adelaide experience.

How To Get To Adelaide

International travellers

Adelaide Airport has direct international flights from Singapore, Doha, Dubai, Kuala Lumpur, Auckland, Bali and Guangzhou, along with seasonal flights from Hong Kong. Travellers from other countries can connect through a major Australian airport, such as Sydney or Melbourne, then take a domestic flight to Adelaide. Compare fares from different airlines and travel sites when booking flights

Domestic travellers

Direct flights run to Adelaide from cities including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Canberra, Darwin and Alice Springs. Flight schedules can change, so for the latest routes, visit the official Adelaide Airport website.

Know Before You Go

Best Time to Visit

The ideal time to visit Adelaide is during the shoulder months of autumn (March to May) and spring (September to November)

These seasons offer warm days that are great for outdoor activities and sightseeing.
The ideal time to visit Adelaide is during the shoulder months of autumn (March to May) and spring (September to November)

These seasons offer warm days that are great for outdoor activities and sightseeing.
Australia-wide holidays 2026:
1 Jan (Thu) – New Year’s Day
26 Jan (Mon) – Australia Day
3 Apr (Fri) – Good Friday
6 Apr (Mon) – Easter Monday
25 Apr (Sat) – Anzac Day
8 Jun (Mon) – King’s Birthday
25 Dec (Fri) – Christmas Day
26 Dec (Sat) – Boxing Day
28 Dec (Mon) – Boxing Day Holiday

South Australia observed holidays:
9 Mar (Mon) – Adelaide Cup Day
8 Jun (Mon) – King’s Birthday*
5 Oct (Mon) – Labour Day
28 Dec (Mon) – Proclamation Day 

Adelaide regional holidays:
24 Dec (Thu) – Christmas Eve (part day from 7 pm)
31 Dec (Thu) – New Year’s Eve (part day from 7 pm)
SOUTH AUSTRALIA SCHOOL HOLIDAYS 2026

Term 1: 11 April to 26 April 
Term 2: 4 July to 19 July
Term 3: 26 September to 11 October 
Term 4: 12 December to 27 January 2027
Adelaide Fringe (Feb - March)
This is Australia’s biggest arts festival and is the second-largest annual arts festival held in South Australia. The festival features more than 7,000 artists from around Australia and the world.

WOMADelaide (March)
The World of Music Arts and Dance festival is an annual event that takes place in Adelaide every March. The festival is spread over four days, bringing artists from around the world.

AFL Gather Round (April)
AFL Gather Round is a four-day celebration of Australian football held annually in South Australia, where all 18 AFL clubs play their home-and-away matches in one state. The event blends sport with food, wine, music, and community fun—transforming South Australia into a lively “Festival of Footy.”
The Adelaide CBD is an excellent choice for first-time visitors, offering a central location with easy access to public transport and major attractions. For those seeking a more food-focused experience, the West End is known for its lively nightlife, eateries, and budget-friendly stays. Travellers wanting a seaside escape can find a range of accommodation near Glenelg, from beachfront hotels to relaxed caravan parks.
The dining scene in Adelaide showcases how vibrant the city is, with a mix of high-class dining and good-value eateries – all bursting with the best local ingredients and fabulous wine! 

Being a member of the Great Wine Capitals, Adelaide proudly boasts a beautiful selection of wines that are cultivated in the ridges and valleys of the Adelaide Hills. 
Adelaide has an extensive network of public transport consisting of buses, trains and trams. To use them, it is recommended to purchase a MetroCard. This can be purchased at the Adelaide Airport or any retailers in the city. 

Taxis and rideshare facilities are also available in the city.

Adelaide Tourist Information

Adelaide Central Market is the largest undercover fresh produce market in the Southern Hemisphere. The market offers a variety of food along with cafes, restaurants and international street food.
Boutiques, malls and other shops generally open by 9 am and close in the late afternoon.