Written by Callum Taylor, Camille Laurent, Marika Maslanka
21/08/2025
Leïa Roques, Pexels
Adelaide is a city that offers a blend of cultural richness, a renowned food and wine scene, and accessible natural experiences. It is recognized as a UNESCO Creative City for its vibrant arts, music, and culinary offerings, and serves as a gateway to some of Australia's most celebrated wine regions.
For those seeking to connect with other travelers, central Adelaide provides several social hubs. Hostels such as Tequila Sunrise Hostel are known for their lively atmosphere, offering communal spaces and activities like free pancake breakfasts and pasta nights, making them ideal for solo travelers. The city's Central Business District (CBD) features a vibrant selection of small bars in laneways like Leigh and Peel Street, alongside a diverse range of restaurants and cafes on streets such as Rundle, Hutt, Waymouth, and Gouger.
Top 8 Things to do in Adelaide
Adelaide provides visitors with a diverse array of experiences, from exploring vibrant markets and world-class art to indulging in renowned food and wine, enjoying pristine beaches, and encountering native wildlife.
1. Adelaide Central Market
The Adelaide Central Market is a bustling hub for food lovers, showcasing a vast selection of fresh produce, meats, cheeses, seafood, and international culinary delights. It offers a sensory experience and a chance to immerse in local life. Visitors can browse vendor stalls or enjoy a quick bite at one of the many multicultural food stalls and cafes.
Cost: Entry is free. Food and drink purchases vary. Guided tours may be available at an additional cost, though information on specific tour costs was not found in recent reviews.
Transport: Located in the city center, the market is easily accessible by walking from most CBD accommodations. It is also a tram stop for free city center travel.
2. Barossa Valley Wine Region
The Barossa Valley, a globally recognized wine region located an hour from Adelaide, is essential for wine enthusiasts. Visitors can explore numerous cellar doors, sample world-class wines, and enjoy gourmet local produce. Many wineries now charge for tastings, so checking in advance is advisable.
Cost: Hop-on, hop-off wine tours from Adelaide CBD typically cost around A$99.95, excluding tasting fees which vary by winery. Preselected tour experiences including wineries and lunch can cost around A$189.95 per person. Budget A$25-A$35 per person for lunch on tours.
Transport: Tour buses often depart from central Adelaide locations. For self-guided travel, a train from Adelaide Railway Station to Gawler Central followed by a bus into Barossa Valley takes approximately 2 to 2.5 hours and costs around A$4-A$12, depending on stops and connections.
3. Glenelg Beach
Glenelg is Adelaide's most popular metropolitan beach, offering pristine sands and clear waters for relaxation, swimming, or water activities. The area around Moseley Square and Jetty Road is lined with cafes, shops, and a lively atmosphere. Dolphin swimming or watching cruises are also available from Glenelg.
Cost: Access to the beach is free. Dolphin tours and other cruises have separate costs; for instance, Temptation Sailing offers dolphin swimming tours.
Transport: The Glenelg tram is the most useful public transport route from Adelaide city center, taking approximately 25-45 minutes. A single ticket costs A$5.90 during peak times or A$4 off-peak if paying with a Metrocard. The journey is free within the city center zone. Taxis or rideshares from the CBD cost approximately A$26-A$40 and take about 12-20 minutes.
4. Adelaide Botanic Garden
This tranquil oasis in the city center features diverse sections, including dense rainforest, tropical plants, a charming rose garden, and serene wetlands. It is perfect for connecting with nature and boasts impressive colonial architecture like the Palm House. The Museum of Economic Botany is also on-site.
Cost: Entry to Adelaide Botanic Garden is free. Some special events or exhibitions may require a ticket.
Transport: The Botanic Garden is a short walk from the city center. A tram stop, 'Botanic Gardens', is located directly outside its main gate on North Terrace, offering free travel within the city center. The free City Connector bus also stops close to the garden's main entrance. Taxis from central Adelaide cost approximately A$8-A$10 and take around 3 minutes.
5. Art Gallery of South Australia
The Art Gallery of South Australia is the most significant visual arts museum in the state, housing nearly 45,000 works of art. It is particularly renowned for having the world's largest collection of Aboriginal art and cultural artifacts. Visitors can explore various galleries, including exhibits on ancient Egypt and Pacific cultures.
Cost: Admission to the Art Gallery of South Australia is free for general exhibitions. Special exhibitions may have an entrance fee.
Transport: The gallery is centrally located on North Terrace, a five-minute walk from Adelaide Railway Station. Numerous bus routes and trams also run along North Terrace with stops directly outside or nearby. Travel by tram within the city center is free. Taxis from Adelaide Central Market cost approximately A$7-A$9 and take about 2 minutes.
6. Cleland Wildlife Park
Nestled in the Adelaide Hills, Cleland Wildlife Park provides an opportunity to interact closely with native Australian animals. Visitors can walk through large enclosures, hand-feed kangaroos, wallabies, and emus, and even cuddle a koala for an additional fee. It is a government-run conservation park focusing on wildlife.
Cost: An adult entry ticket is approximately A$31. Animal food can be purchased for around A$3 per bag. Koala experiences may incur an additional fee.
Transport: Cleland Wildlife Park is about a 20-minute drive from Adelaide city center. A taxi or Uber costs approximately A$35-A$50 one way. Public transport involves catching a bus (e.g., 864F or T840) from Currie Street to Crafers, then transferring to another bus (823) to Cleland, taking about an hour and costing approximately A$5.90 each way or A$11.20 for a day ticket. Day tours are also available, often including transport and a koala experience.
7. Adelaide Oval Roofclimb and Stadium Tour
Adelaide Oval is an iconic sporting venue offering unique experiences beyond game days. Visitors can take a stadium tour to explore the historic grounds and fabled scoreboard, or embark on a Roofclimb for unparalleled 360-degree views of Adelaide, stretching from the coastline to the hills.
Cost: Specific costs for the Roofclimb and stadium tours vary, but are typically ticketed experiences.
Transport: Adelaide Oval is approximately a 10-minute walk from the city center.
8. Hahndorf
Hahndorf is Australia's oldest surviving German settlement, nestled in the picturesque Adelaide Hills. This charming village offers a step back in time with its historic buildings, craft shops, art galleries, and eateries serving traditional German fare and local produce. It is a relaxing day trip from the city.
Cost: Exploring the village is free; costs apply for shopping, dining, and any specific attractions.
Transport: The Adelaide Metro 864 bus route travels from Currie Street in the Adelaide CBD to Hahndorf, taking approximately 50 minutes with prices ranging from A$4 to A$7, depending on peak or off-peak hours. Taxis or Ubers cost approximately A$46-A$70 and take around 30-35 minutes. Private bus services are also an option, starting around A$16-A$31.
At TFA Travel we believe in travel for all. Our mission is to enable people to explore the world as easily as possible without having to pay a travel agent a huge commission.
Our typical audience are those that want to see something new and get involved with authentic experiences of a country. Whether you are a backpacker, solo traveller, solo female traveller, straight or LGBTQ+ couple, family, you will find local and authentic experiences here.
