Author: 
Adelaide is South Australia’s capital city and is considered one of the best places in the world to live, work, and visit. It has a host of fascinating cultural sights at its center, gorgeous stretches of urban parkland surrounding it, and some of the world’s best wine regions just a short drive outside the city.
If you’re planning a trip to Adelaide and wondering what you’ll get up to, check out this sightseeing guide to discover which Adelaide attractions you can’t afford to miss.
1. Adelaide Zoo
- Website: adelaidezoo.com.au
- Address: Frome Rd, Adelaide, SA 5000
- Opening hours: 9.30 am – 5 pm daily
The Adelaide Zoo lets you encounter more than 250 native and exotic animal species, including komodo dragons, Sumatran tigers, and the only giant pandas in Australia. A host of free zookeeper talks and shows take place every day so you can learn about specific species, and you even have the chance to meet some animals when you book an Animal Experience.
Plus, since Adelaide Zoo supports animal conservation locally and globally, you can rest assured your visit will positively impact global wildlife.
2. Adelaide Central Market
- Website: adelaidecentralmarket.com.au
- Address: 44/60 Gouger St, Adelaide, SA 5000
- Opening hours: 9 am – 5.30 pm Wednesday & Thursday / 7 am – 9 pm Friday / 7 am – 3 pm Saturday / 7 am – 5.30 pm Sunday
Since 1869, Adelaide Central Market has been a hub for fresh produce and delicious food. It’s one of the Southern Hemisphere’s largest undercover markets, with more than 70 vendors selling fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, and seafood, as well as a variety of baked goods, cheeses, and health foods.
3. Adelaide’s Museums
Adelaide is South Australia’s cultural hub and there’s much to learn about the region’s history here. Check out these three popular museums to learn about all things Adelaide.
Art Gallery of South Australia
- Website: agsa.sa.gov.au
- Address: North Terrace, Adelaide, SA 5000
- Opening hours: 10 am – 5 pm daily
The Art Gallery of South Australia has collected more than 45,000 works of art since its creation in 1881. Australian, European, North American, and Asian artists are represented, and there are important collections for both indigenous art and Islamic art. Wander through the galleries by yourself or take a guided tour with an expert to heighten your artistic knowledge.
South Australian Museum
- Website: samuseum.sa.gov.au
- Address: North Terrace, Adelaide, SA 5000
- Opening hours: 10 am – 5 pm daily
The world-leading natural history and cultural collections at the South Australian Museum include extensive Australian Aboriginal artifacts such as the Yuendumu Doors. Other galleries include South Australian Biodiversity, Pacific Cultures, Opalised Fossils, and an Ancient Egyptian Room.
Migration Museum
- Website: migration.history.sa.gov.au
- Address: 82 Kintore Ave, Adelaide, SA 5000
- Opening hours: 10 am – 5 pm daily
The Migration Museum offers fascinating insights into the diverse individuals and communities that call South Australia home.
Personal stories and artifacts are used to outline the state’s migration history and the government policies that impacted ordinary people throughout the 20th century. Topics include juvenile migration schemes, post-WWII migration, British migration schemes, and migrant hostels.
4. Adelaide Oval
- Website: adelaideoval.com.au
- Address: War Memorial Dr, North Adelaide, SA 5006
Adelaide Oval is one of Australia’s most iconic sporting venues. You can either book tickets to see a game or concert here or join a guided tour for a behind-the-scenes look at the stadium’s most notable moments. For an epic view and a boost of adrenalin, give the RoofClimb a try, or visit the Bradman Collection to learn about Adelaide’s cricketing history.
5. The North Terrace
Adelaide city center is bordered by four terraces, with the North Terrace running east-west just beneath a stretch of parkland. There are lots of things to do here, including these two popular attractions.
National Wine Centre
- Website: nationalwinecentre.com.au
- Address: Corner of Hackney Rd &, Botanic Rd, SA 5000
- Opening hours: 8.30 am – 5 pm Monday to Thursday / 8.30 am – 8 pm Friday / 9 am – 6 pm Saturday / 9 am – 5 pm Sunday
Foodies will love the food and wine-tasting experiences that are on offer at the National Wine Centre. The building is home to Australia’s largest tasting room, where 120 diverse wines from 65 regions are available for sampling.
There are plenty of fantastic wineries and cellar doors to explore in the rolling hills that surround Adelaide, but the National Wine Centre gives you a taste of Adelaide’s wine regions without leaving the city.
Adelaide Botanic Garden
- Website: botanicgardens.sa.gov.au
- Address: North Terrace, Adelaide, SA 5000
- Opening hours: 7.15 am – 7.30 pm daily
Adelaide Botanic Garden boasts more than 120 acres of beautifully designed green space that has been nurtured since 1857.
Highlights include the ornate Palm House that was built in 1887, the sleek Bicentennial Conservatory, and a beautiful rose garden. To benefit from expert knowledge of the gardens, join the free Friends of the Botanic Gardens guided tour departing from the Schomburgk Pavilion at 10.30 am daily.
6. Adelaide City Centre
Adelaide City Centre, also known as the Central Business District (CBD) is the bustling commercial hub where many of the main sights can be found in addition to a host of excellent boutique stores, department stores, eateries, and bars. The area is highly walkable and easy to navigate, so wander around at your own pace or join a walking tour to get insights from a local guide.
7. Press Food and Wine
- Website: pressfoodandwine.com.au
- Address: 40 Waymouth St, Adelaide, SA 5000
- Opening hours: 12 pm – 10 pm Monday to Friday / 5.30 pm – 11 pm Saturday
Adelaide boasts some of the best restaurants in South Australia, and Press Food and Wine is one of them. It’s renowned for its use of fresh, local produce. The fertile land surrounding Adelaide produces high-quality ingredients that Press’s chefs bring together in innovative ways. You can also expect to see plenty of South Australian wines on the drinks menu.
8. Karrawirra Parri (River Torrens)
The River Torrens, known by the indigenous Kaurna people as Karrawirra Parri, cuts through the heart of Adelaide, and it offers plenty of fun activities. Rowing, kayaking, dragon boating, and powerboat racing are popular on the water, or you can check out one of the commercial tour operators for a scenic cruise.
You can also walk or bike along the pedestrian and cycle paths along the river’s north and south banks.
9. State Library of South Australia
- Website: slsa.sa.gov.au/home
- Address: North Terrace, Adelaide, SA 5000
- Opening hours: 10 am – 5 pm Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday / 10 am – 7 pm Tuesday
One of Adelaide’s most beloved historic buildings is the State Library of South Australia, originally built in 1861. Its oldest buildings date back to this era, but the award-winning Spence Wing was added in 2003 to inject a modern edge with an impressive glass foyer. Admire the library from its grounds or head inside to browse its books and exhibitions.
10. Adelaide Festival of Arts
The Adelaide Festival of Arts has taken place every March since 1960. Performances occur throughout the city center and its parklands, including opera, dance, theatre, classical music, contemporary music, and cabaret.
You can also expect to see exhibitions and events relating to literature, visual art, and new media. Several other festivals, including Adelaide Fringe, Adelaide Writers’ Week, WOMADelaide, and the Adelaide 500, run concurrently or just after the Adelaide Festival, which is why this time of year is known by locals as “Mad March.”
11. Barossa Valley
Barossa Valley is one of South Australia’s most famed wine regions, thanks to its long history of winemaking. Some of the family-operated wineries here have entered their seventh generation, having been established in the early 1900s.
Barossa Shiraz is the region’s most unique grape variety, but more than 40 varieties thrive in this area. There are more than 90 cellar doors to choose from, so be sure to set out on a day trip early to squeeze in as many as possible.
12. Rundle Mall
- Website: rundlemall.com
- Address: Glenelg, Adelaide, SA 5000
- Opening hours: 11 am – 5 pm Monday / 9 am – 5.30 pm Tuesday to Thursday / 9 am – 9 pm Friday / 9 am – 6 pm Saturday / 9 am – 5 pm Sunday
The pedestrianized Rundle Mall lies at the heart of the CBD and is where you’ll find a huge variety of independent and chain stores and fantastic restaurants. Victoria Square and Central Market are both within easy walking distance, so you can easily explore all of these popular central sights within the same day.
13. Day Trips to the South Australian Countryside
Adelaide is surrounded by gorgeous South Australian countryside, much of which is home to some of the world’s best vineyards and wineries. Here are four places to visit if you fancy a day trip out of the bustling city:
Kangaroo Island
Kangaroo Island lies off the coast of Adelaide and it boasts incredible undisturbed landscapes. Two-thirds of the island is protected nature reserves and home to the likes of koalas, sea lions, and penguins. Book a day tour from Adelaide to visit via ferry.
Mclaren Vale
McLaren Vale is a region 20 miles south of Adelaide that’s renowned for its exceptional food and wine. Shiraz, Grenache, Fiano, Sangiovese, Tempranillo, and Vermentino are particularly good varieties in this region. Spend a day visiting top-quality wineries and restaurants.
Adelaide Hills
Adelaide Hills is a cool-climate region where rolling hills are home to vineyards, historic villages, and the rugged Mount Lofty Ranges which offer incredible views over the city. Drop into Cleland Wildlife Park to meet koalas, kangaroos, and wombats, then visit Hahndorf, a heritage village established in 1839 by German settlers.
Murray River
The Murray River is the longest in Australia, running 1,558 miles from the Australian Alps to Lake Alexandrina in South Australia. Mannum is a historic town on the Murray River, some 60 miles from Adelaide, and it’s the perfect spot to get gorgeous river views. Take a cruise on the river on the impressive Murray Princess, or visit the Mannum Dock Museum to explore a restored paddle steamer from 1897.
Explore Adelaide at Your Pace
These are some of Adelaide’s most popular tourist attractions, but this beautiful city has even more sights on offer to suit all types of travelers. What will you get up to on your Adelaide adventure?
