When is the best time of year to fly to Adelaide?

The best time to visit Adelaide is during Spring and Autumn, when daytime temperatures are comfortable, skies are blue, rainfall is rare, and there’s generally less crowds.

However it’s the iconic festivals, running over the summer months through to March, is what draws the travellers in droves to Adelaide. You’ll experience the wonder of Adelaide Fringe, Adelaide Festival, and WOMAdelaide during this time.

Summer

Summer (December to February) days in Adelaide are dry and generally hot, with temperatures often above 35 degrees. A prime time to visit Adelaide, when the city is alive with festivals and events.

Autumn

Autumn (March to May) is a great time to visit Adelaide, with temperatures in the low-mid 20s, sunny days, and the city ablaze with the stunning autumn colours. A great time to plan your holiday to South Australia to experience the 5-day Barossa Vintage Festival

Winter

Winter (June to August) in Adelaide is prone to rainfall, with temperatures sitting around 16 degrees, a little cooler in Adelaide Hills. The perfect time to visit the phenomenal museums and try a cheeky red at the world-famous nearby vineyards.

Spring

Spring (September to November) is a stunning time to visit Adelaide, with the average temperature sitting at 22 degrees, the city abloom with flowers, and jacarandas showering the streets in purple.

What are Adelaide's top attractions?

Adelaide is the ultimate destination, combining world-class events and festivals, immersive wildlife experiences, world-class arts scene, and outstanding food and wine.

Adelaide Central Market

A thriving hub of culture and food, a locals’ favourite, is bustling Adelaide Central Market. Featuring produce from all over South Australia, from cheeses to crusty bread. Grab some breakfast, take a guided tour, and immerse yourself in to the rich history and characters.

Adelaide Oval

One of Australia’s most iconic sports stadiums, here you can catch an Aussie rules game, watch a concert, reach new heights (and catch a birds-eye city view) on a Roof Climb at night, or join a behind-the-scenes tour to learn the hidden secrets and celebrated moments at the Stadium.

Adelaide Zoo

Smack bang in the city heart lies Adelaide Zoo, a lush oasis home to more than 2,500 animals and 250 different species from all over the globe. Boasting the only pair of Giant Pandas in the Southern Hemisphere, Wang Wang and Fu Ni, Adelaide Zoo is a conservation charity – so your ticket also helps their important work to protect species.

Art Galleries and Museums

Gallery-hopping in Adelaide is a national pastime, with North Terrace home to Australia’s most impressive museums and galleries.

Start at the Art Gallery of South Australia (AGSA), showcasing the country’s very best exhibitions and 45,000 works of art, a fantastic gallery store and restaurant.

Just next door is South Australian Museum, home to permanent collections – Biological, Cultural and Earth Sciences - plus museum experiences such as The Shadow Initiation, and changing events.

Don’t miss a visit to the eclectic University of South Australia’s MOD – a futuristic museum of discovery - featuring quirky, changing, science and technology exhibitions.

Adelaide Botanic Gardens

Step straight from the streets into a true city oasis. Adelaide Botanic Gardens spans 50 hectares of ancient trees, lush lawns, blooming roses, and the famous wisteria arbour. Once you’ve explored the magical gardens have a bite to eat at the multi award-winning Botanic Gardens Restaurant.

And if all this walking around has made you thirsty, head next door to the National Wine Centre of Australia. Not great for the indecisive – there’s a whopping 120 wines to choose from.

Coopers Brewery

Get stuck into samples of stouts, ales and lagers at Coopers Brewery. Catch a tour that takes you through the brewhouse, history museum and bottling hall.

Cellar Day Trips

With 18 internationally renowned wine regions and 200 cellar doors on its doorstep, Adelaide truly is the wine capital of Australia.

Just 20 minutes from central Adelaide explore the award-winning wineries in Adelaide Hills, one of Australia’s best cool-climate wine regions, with more than 60 wineries.

Top producer of premium red wines is the Coonawarra region on the Limestone Coast. You’ll also indulge in the local produce that includes lobsters, wagyu beef, and native preserves.

Boasting over 40 cellar doors, and an easy 90-minute drive from Adelaide, is the heart of Australian Riesling, Clare Valley. Experience the Riesling and Rattler Trail, a 35km cycle through the countryside.

For an opulent experience venture to the Barossa, exploring one (or two, or three) of the 80 cellar doors. Enjoy sumptuous food, stay overnight in 5-star luxury, and lap up the signature Barossa Cabernets and Shiraz.

No trip to Adelaide is complete without a visit to McLaren Vale, a short 40-minute drive from Adelaide CBD, boasting 70 cellar doors to explore. This area produces a range of varietals, including shiraz, grenache, and chardonnay; and to lesser extent tempranillo and sangiovese. A stand-out must-visit vineyard is d’Arenberg. Home to the Instagram hot-spot, d’Arenberg Cube, experience the blending bench and d’Arry’s Verandah degustation - and visit the contemporary, quirky, art museum.

Where to find the best beaches in Adelaide?

Glenelg Beach

Undoubtedly the most popular of Adelaide’s beaches, this nearby suburb combines the best of the city’s cosmopolitan lifestyle with all the beauty of the Limestone Coast. Grab breakfast at a seaside café, like local favourite Zest Café Gallery, then get down to the foreshore early to secure your spot in the sand.

Henley Beach

Known as one of Adelaide’s posher beach ‘burbs, Henley Beach has more to offer visitors than just surf and sand. From cold-press juice bars like Goodpress to international fashion retailers like FCUK, Henley Beach has well and truly stolen the hearts of trendsetters in search of some sun.

Grange Beach

Sharing the strand occupied by Henley Beach, Adelaide’s Grange Beach sets itself apart from the former with its picturesque jetty, which sees local fisherman line the sides in search for the catch of the day. A sight to behold when the sun disappears beyond the horizon, this scenic stretch of sand is the best beach in Adelaide for catching a sunset by the sea.

Brighton Beach

On the southern end of Adelaide’s string of beaches, Brighton Beach boasts the same convenient city access and beautiful seaside views of nearby Glenelg with a little bit less hustle and bustle. To enjoy both beaches at once, make the most of the adjoining promenade and appreciate the scenery on a leisurely, four-kilometre coastal walk.

Victor Harbour

If you’re willing to travel further afield, head to Victor Harbor for a day of fun in the sun. Perched on the eastern tip of the scenic Fleurieu Peninsula, this sleepy seaside town is worlds away from Adelaide’s inner-city beaches, with plenty of secluded coves and little-known inlets to call your own.

Where to eat in Adelaide?

Adelaide is a melting pot of outstanding cafes, restaurants and bars. From Rundle Street, to inner-city Peel Street, the buzzing bar scene in Gouger Street, and the nearby beaches and cellar doors - Adelaide has long worn her deserved crown as a foodie destination.

Where to find the best Cafes?

Coffee is serious business in Adelaide, with some cafes now making the move from expresso, toward the batch-brew renaissance. All over the city, new cafes are popping up and pushing the envelope.

Sample the “barista’s breakfast” at the new Leisurely Coffee on Gilbert Street - a single-origin expresso, a flat-white and a hint of batch brew, served with sparkling water. Creative brunches include a croissant filled with softshell crab and chili scramble, and chicken and mushroom dumplings – how delish!

For a tasty takeaway pick up a fresh bagel at Frankly Bagels in Prospect, or for a cereal-size bowl of coffee venture to La Buvette and Matinal. In the hip area of Thebarton, full of art deco and industrial buildings, you’ll love the new Bloom – their all-day menu savoured with views of River Torrens. At the old Adelaide Railway Station, you’ll discover the triple threat at The Guardsman, an all-day dining hall serving as a café, bar and restaurant.

Where to find the best dining?

Adelaide’s city streets are lined with award-winning restaurants, from Napoli-style pizzerias, to fine-dining in cellar doors. Merrily eat and drink your way through Adelaide on a gastronomic safari, a few recommendations are below.

Skip the standard sushi place and make tracks to Shobosho in the CBD, open for both lunch and dinner, to experience their Japanese yakitori and dumplings.

From the same team at McLaren Vale’s Pizzateca, is Madre – with a menu just serving eight minimally-topped traditional Napoli-style pizzas.

Seafood lovers will find food heaven at Fishbank – with no less than 30 different kinds of seafood on the menu, they also make killer cocktails such as ‘Now you Sashimi’, made from vodka, mandarin, pickled ginger, yuzu and wasabi.

Fino Mino, the urban interpretation of their Barossa based Fino at Seppeltsfield, brings their fresh seasonal produce menu to the city slickers, set in rustic interiors.

On the hunt for more classic Italian fare? Visit the intimate and boutique Nido on King William Road; Osteria Oggi, also in the CBD, famous for its hand-crafted pasta made fresh daily; or the retro-kitsch inspired Sunny’s Pizza.

For breathtaking views over the Penfolds vineyards and Adelaide City, a must is a visit to the legendary Penfolds Magill Estate Restaurant for fine-dining, or Magill Estate Kitchen for more casual dining.

Where to find the best food markets?

For locals, buying fresh produce at a farmers’ market is a way of life. Below is just a sample of the food markets in and around Adelaide to not miss. Adelaide Farmers’ Market

A Sunday ritual, where locals buy their weekly fresh fruit and vegetables, organic meats, and bread; plus attend cooking demonstrations and grab a coffee. Adelaide Hills Farmers’ Market

A thriving market, alongside Mount Pleasant Farmers’ Market, both held on Saturdays, is abundant with fruit, olives, smoked meats and chutneys. Barossa Farmers’ Market

Set up in a huge tin shed, every Saturday morning you’ll find the very best of the Barossa. Local artisan producers will charm and spoil you with an array of seasonal fruit and vegetables, specialty meats and breads, delectable cheeses, famous smallgoods and much, much more.

Where to find the best cheap eats?

It will be of no surprise that you’ll easily find tasty value meals in Adelaide.

For coffee and cake make tracks to Café Bang Bang, Mandoo for delicious dumplings, Sit Lo for sensational Asian, and Lucia’s Spaghetti and Pizza bar for true Italian.

Where to shop in Adelaide?

Adelaide’s first port of call and most popular shopping destination is Rundle Mall, with over 700 retailers, followed by other hot spots – Rundle Street, the more upmarket King William Road, Norwood Parade and Burnside Village.

For local art, craft, clothing and accessories, make your way to Adelaide Hills.

For the lovers of local design

Adelaide is a melting pot for design and creative work. You’ll find unique design pieces and furniture at stores and markets all over the city.

Admire the beautiful jewellery, glass and furniture at JamFactory – a unique hub for craft and design in the Barossa Valley. Meet the artisans and explore the diverse range of exhibitions and workshops held here.

Lovers of creativity should visit Urban Cow Studio, where the work of 150 South Australian artists and designers is on display.

For the lovers of vintage

Adelaide is a happy hunting ground for vintage and antiques.

Some top picks are the monthly Gilles at the Grounds Street Market for unique vintage collector items, Push Pin on Compton Street for 50s and 60s dresses, and for affordable (say what) furniture and homewares visit Vintage Carousel in Bowden.

Other unique finds are Vintage Vulture - specialising in high-end audio equipment and Fox on the Run Vintage on Rundle Street for all your vintage clothing and accessories.