Stand on North Terrace on a summer evening and you can see the shape of the city in one sweep: the wide boulevard running along the edge of the central business district, the River Torrens just behind it, and the green ring of parklands closing off the horizon. Adelaide is not a city that overwhelms you. It moves at a slower pace than Sydney or Melbourne, and much of what is worth your time sits within a short walk of that one street.
This guide suits travellers who want a city they can cross on foot, who care about architecture, museums and food and wine, and who would rather spend an afternoon in a park or on a beach than in traffic. It covers the city centre, North Adelaide, the beaches and the national parks around the edges.
Everything below is drawn from the Wikivoyage and Wikipedia material on Adelaide. Where a place is named, use that exact name when you look it up.
Top things to do in Adelaide
1. St. Peter's Cathedral
Adelaide is known for its churches, and if you only have time for one, this is the one to choose. It sits in North Adelaide and is described as one of the most iconic churches in Australia. The appeal here is architectural rather than historical or religious.
Pair it with the parklands and the River Torrens nearby, since the parks of the city and North Adelaide are concentrated in that same green patch of land bordering the river.
2. Adelaide Oval
The ground sits between the city and North Adelaide, in the green space near the River Torrens. In the summer months you can watch cricket here, including international matches and Big Bash League games. In the winter months it hosts AFL home games for the Adelaide Crows and Port Adelaide Power.
Tickets for international cricket tend to be snapped up quickly, so if that is your aim, plan around it. Domestic matches are frequent and, in the source's words, equally exciting. AFL tickets are generally reasonably priced and should not be hard to get.
3. South Australian Museum
This is the state museum, in the city, holding historical artifacts from across South Australia and the neighbouring border areas, along with an indigenous collection and several galleries. It is free, as most museums are.
It sits in the same central cluster as the other city institutions, so it makes sense to combine it with the Art Gallery of South Australia or the Migration Museum in a single day.
4. Art Gallery of South Australia
Also in the city, this is the place to go if you are interested in different genres of art. It is one of the particularly important galleries in Adelaide.
Because the city's museums and galleries are centred in the city and North Adelaide, you can move between them on foot rather than planning separate trips.
5. Migration Museum
This city museum tells the stories of immigrants to South Australia across its history. The source notes it may surprise you more than you expect, since South Australia is a more multicultural state than stereotypes suggest.
It is a good companion to the South Australian Museum, and both are in the city centre.
6. National Wine Centre
In the city, this is where you learn about South Australia's wine culture. The source is blunt about it: a trip to South Australia without learning about the state's wine culture is never complete.
Treat it as an introduction early in your trip, then use what you learn when you eat and drink elsewhere in the city.
7. Glenelg Beach
The historic beachside suburb of Glenelg has a jetty, the Grand hotel, and plenty of restaurants and cafés. It is popular with both young and old, and hosts a lot of volleyball competitions.
This is one of the beaches where you can surf, along with the West Beaches, and there are surf schools and board rental in the area, though on a smaller scale than in Sydney. There is also a jetty here if you want to fish.
8. West Beach
West Beach is ideal for family walks and swimming, and it sits reasonably close to both Glenelg and Henley Beach.
At Henley Beach you will find Henley Square, which hosts some fifteen restaurants and makes an excellent dining venue. All the beaches along Adelaide's coastline are white sand, and some have public toilets and cold water showers.
9. Belair National Park
This was the first national park of South Australia. It holds numerous significant buildings, including an old government house, and has many walking trails as well as some waterfalls.
The source describes it as having a smooth transition between urban and rural, which makes it an easy half-day out from the city rather than a full expedition.
10. Morialta Conservation Park
Morialta gives you the feeling that you are out in the bush rather than on the edge of a city. It is one of the parks that shows how quickly Adelaide turns green and quiet.
Set it against the city parks in your planning: the parks in the city and North Adelaide are an obvious sign that you are in a city, while Morialta is the opposite experience.
11. Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary National Park—Winaityinaityi Pangkara
This is the second national park of the Adelaide area, sitting somewhat on the border of Adelaide. It is very much a bird sanctuary, with several white beaches, and it is a particularly good place if you want to see dolphins.
Note that although it has a long coastline, it is protected and not really a beach for swimming. If you want to swim, head to Glenelg or West Beach instead.
12. Glenthorne National Park—Ityamaiitpinna Yarta
The third and newest national park in the area, created in November 2020 and still in the process of being converted from a conservation park.
Because it is new, expect a park in transition rather than a fully developed visitor site.
13. Cleland National Park
Depending on whether you count the Adelaide Hills as part of Adelaide, this is another option, converted from a conservation park to a national park. It includes several mountain bike and hiking trails and Mt. Lofty, the only place in Adelaide where it ever snows, though that is very rare.
Even without snow, it is a nice park to take a stroll, and the trails suit both walking and riding.
14. Format Collective
On 15 Peel St, this is a two-storey performance space with a permanent zine store. It hosts small art shows, some of the more experimental gigs, discussion panels and performance art.
Much of the programming is concentrated in the yearly Format Festival, which runs at the same time as the Fringe Festival and is considered a more experimental alternative, though there are things on all year round.
15. Adelaide United at Hindmarsh Stadium
If you want to see soccer in Adelaide, this is where the local team plays. It is one of the sporting options that fills out the city's calendar alongside cricket and Australian rules football.
Combine it with a look at the wider sporting schedule, since SANFL games run five times a weekend at locations across the city and suburbs, including Norwood Oval on the Parade in Norwood, which has plenty of restaurants, cafés and pubs for after the game.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start on North Terrace in the city and work through the museum cluster while you are fresh. Begin at the South Australian Museum, then cross to the Art Gallery of South Australia and the Migration Museum. If wine interests you, add the National Wine Centre before lunch.
Afternoon: Walk into North Adelaide for St. Peter's Cathedral, then continue to the parklands and the River Torrens. If a match is on, spend the afternoon at Adelaide Oval instead; in summer that means cricket, in winter AFL.
Evening: Head west to the coast. Choose Glenelg Beach for the jetty, the Grand hotel and the restaurants and cafés, or West Beach for a quieter walk and swimming, with dinner at Henley Square at Henley Beach. If you would rather stay in the city, check what is on at Format Collective on 15 Peel St.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Adelaide?
One of the best times of the year to visit is during Mad March, when a multitude of festivals and events are held, including the Adelaide Fringe, the Clipsal 500 Car race, the Adelaide Festival, WOMADdelaide and the Adelaide Cup horseracing carnival.
Do I need a pass to cover Adelaide's attractions?
No. Adelaide does not have a pass covering all the attractions.
Can I swim at Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary National Park—Winaityinaityi Pangkara?
No. Although the park has a long coastline, it is protected and not really a beach for swimming. Use Glenelg Beach or West Beach instead.
Which beach should I pick if I want to surf?
Surfing at one of the many surf beaches, Glenelg and the West Beaches, is the classic Adelaide beach activity. Some beaches have surf schools and places to rent surfboards, though to a much lesser extent than in Sydney.
Decide which of these fits your dates, check what is on during Mad March, and start building your days around the city centre, North Adelaide and the coast.