At the invitation of Legacy Hotels & Apartments, we visited the vibrant city of Adelaide in South Australia. A sunny city surrounded by nature, home to around 1.4 million residents. For those who are not yet familiar with this beautiful South Australian gem: Adelaide is a fantastic destination for museum lovers, foodies, festival-goers, and beach lovers. In this blog, I share my favourite spots and must-see attractions in Adelaide.
Tom’s Court Hotel
After a relatively short two-hour flight from Sydney we arrived in beautiful Adelaide. A bus ride from the airport took us to our accommodation, Tom’s Court Hotel, in just 20 minutes. Since it was already 5 PM, we could check in right away and received personalized tips from the friendly receptionist.
Our room was on the twelfth floor, giving us a magnificent view of the city. With a small balcony at the front, we could enjoy our morning coffee even more. But the real spectacle came in the evening when the sun set, offering a beautiful display with plenty to see.
The hotel room was equipped with a minibar, espresso machine, and microwave, and had a nice bathroom with good lighting. The beds were also comfortable, ensuring we had restful nights, an important detail when you’re on a city trip.
One of the advantages of Tom’s Court Hotel is its central location. With the City South tram stop just a 2-minute walk away, you can reach the heart of the city in no time, and even idyllic coastal towns like Glenelg are easily accessible by tram. What’s even better is that tram travel within Adelaide’s city center is completely free. And it’s not just the tram, Adelaide also offers Free City Connector buses that you can use at no cost. Read more about Adelaide’s free public transport here
If you want to learn more about Tom’s Court Hotel in Adelaide, take a look at their website. There, you’ll find more information about the rooms, location, and can book directly.
Adelaide Central Market
One of the most exciting attractions in the city center is the Adelaide Central Market. This beautiful, large market hall, located in the heart of Adelaide, is visited daily by thousands of locals and tourists searching for fresh fruits and vegetables, local delicacies, and other fine treats. It’s truly the place to be for foodies and curious visitors eager to explore new flavors and discover local products from South Australia.
We loved wandering around and exploring the market, and after our first visit, we decided to return in the afternoon for lunch. It turned out to be a great decision!
Adelaide Arcade
In Adelaide’s city center, you’ll find several charming arcades (an arcade is a collection of shops or retail spaces located within a covered area or enclosed walkway). The most famous is the Adelaide Arcade, which has become an iconic landmark, especially due to its striking yellow building. Inside, you’ll find various shops, but even if you’re not a fan of shopping, it’s worth making a photo stop, this building is simply too impressive to pass by unnoticed.
But as I mentioned earlier, there are more of these beautiful covered shopping arcades. Be sure to check them out if you love unique little shops or want to learn more about local products, such as the chocolate from Haigh’s Chocolates, an Australian family business that has been around since 1915.
Adelaide Botanic Garden
The city center exudes a warm, welcoming atmosphere, but Adelaide also offers plenty for those seeking peace and nature. The Adelaide Botanic Garden is the perfect place to leave the hustle and bustle of the city behind and immerse yourself in an oasis of greenery and calm. Like in other Australian cities, these botanical gardens are meticulously maintained, and it’s a pleasure to wander through them. During our visit, there was also an art exhibition, and several beautiful sculptures added that extra touch of color to the gardens.
River Torrens
ChatGPT said: Water also plays an important role in Adelaide, as the Torrens River runs through the city. This is the main river of the Adelaide Plains and was one of the key reasons for the establishment of the city. The river flows for 85 kilometers, from the Adelaide Hills near Mount Pleasant to the Gulf St Vincent between Henley Beach South and West Beach.
The river still plays an important role today. There are regular river cruises where you can enjoy a scenic ride and discover more about the surrounding area. Locals also love coming to the river to relax on the green hills and enjoy the sunshine. It’s a great meeting place for people of all ages, and picnics are frequently held there. The Torrens River is also the perfect spot for water activities, with plenty of rowing taking place. Along the river, you’ll also find the Adelaide Oval, in case you’d like to catch an exciting sports event.
Art Gallery of South Australia
Museum lovers and art enthusiasts can indulge their passion at the Art Gallery of South Australia. In this impressive building, you’ll find various art collections, ranging from Aboriginal and Australian art to international masterpieces. With changing exhibitions and free admission, it’s an inspiring place for art lovers and visitors eager to explore culture.
Chinatown
Adelaide also has its own vibrant Chinatown, a lively district full of restaurants, shops, and rich Chinese culture. Upon entering, you are greeted by a majestic, colorful Chinese gate, leading you into a street adorned with sparkling red lanterns and an authentic atmosphere that is characteristic of Chinatown. Let yourself be surprised by the scents and flavors of Asian cuisines, where you can enjoy authentic Chinese, Vietnamese, and Japanese dishes. Step into one of the specialty shops and discover exotic spices, traditional teas, and unique Asian delicacies.
Adelaide Fringe Festival
During our visit, we were lucky to catch the final weekend of the Adelaide Fringe Festival. The Adelaide Fringe Festival is the largest annual arts festival in Australia and one of the largest fringe festivals in the world. It takes place in February and March, transforming Adelaide into a vibrant creative hub with thousands of performances and events. From street theater to circus acts, from comedy to inspiring music performances… there is something for everyone during the Adelaide Fringe.
Rundle Street
Even the well-known and always vibrant Rundle Street was transformed during the festival into a car-free street filled with terraces and hundreds of lights, where thousands of people enjoyed the hospitality and charm of Adelaide. A lovely vibe, if you ask me!
The Garden of Unearthly Delights
During the Adelaide Fringe Festival, you’ll find various performances scattered throughout the city, but for us, The Garden of Unearthly Delights was the place to be. Late in the evening at 11:00 PM, we had a performance of Massaoke® in The Box. Before we started singing along loudly to all our favorite 80s, 90s, and 00s tunes, we had a drink at the atmospheric festival grounds.
At the festival grounds, you’ll find various performance venues, lots of fun food stalls, including a Poffertjes carousel that actually spins while you order (how fun!). There’s also a large fair and many charming spots with picnic tables where you can have dinner or a drink. I don’t think I’ve ever seen such an atmospheric setting as at The Garden of Unearthly Delights, and that’s saying something since I’ve attended many festivals in my life. Definitely a must-see if you’re going to Adelaide! Read more about the Adelaide Fringe Festival here.
Food tips in Adelaide
We also discovered that Adelaide is a culinary hotspot. In many restaurants and cafés in the city center, we were pleasantly surprised by the food. You can find our favourite spots below:
Cafe Brunelli Adelaide
If you’re looking for a great breakfast or lunch in Adelaide, we recommend Café Brunelli. This Italian restaurant serves some of the best dishes. I personally went for the Egg Benedict for breakfast, and it was absolutely delicious, I’d give it a solid 9.5. What’s great about Café Brunelli is that it’s located in a lovely spot, so during the summer, you have plenty to see from the terrace.
Umai Kitchen Adelaide
If you love the Japanese cuisine, a dinner at Umai Kitchen Adelaide is a must. In this cozy Japanese restaurant, they serve many traditional Japanese dishes. We thought the food was absolutely top-notch, with very high quality. The area where this restaurant is located is also very charming.
Blackebys Old Sweet Shop
Visit also the Blackeby’s Old Sweet Shop, a nostalgic candy store full of traditional treats. From old-fashioned sour candies to English fudge, here you’ll find a delightful sweet time travel! If you’re missing Dutch sweets on the other side of the world, this is the perfect place, as they offer various types of licorice and candies all the way from The Netherlands.
Glenelg
Our final destination during our visit to Adelaide and its surroundings was a very nice way to end the trip. We decided to take the tram to Glenelg, a charming coastal town just 40 minutes from Adelaide CBD. From Rundle Mall, we took the red tram line towards Moseley Square (stop 17). The tram took us all the way to the beach, where we were immediately greeted by a beautiful square with towering palm trees, an impressive monument, and behind it, a giant Ferris wheel spinning. What a stunning coastal town Glenelg is.
We strolled through the streets with shops, pubs, and restaurants, and spotted some interesting buildings and striking street art along the way. We also quickly found a lovely bakery (Banjo’s Bakery Café), where we ended up grabbing lunch.
We didn’t have much time to explore Glenelg, but in the few hours we had, we got a good sense of this wonderful place. The beach vibe here is truly contagious, and I’ll definitely return to spend more time here.
Adelaide is a wonderful destination for city travelers with a love for museums, culinary delights, and fun events, but who also enjoy exploring nature and the coast outside the city. It’s much smaller than Sydney and Melbourne, making it a very manageable city. For me, Adelaide is the hidden gem of Australia, one you shouldn’t miss during your road trip Down Under.
Great tours in Adelaide and surroundings
Discover more of the Adelaide surroundings during a fun tour or activity.
