A charming mash-up of contemporary cool and old-world charm, South Australia’s capital wins big with its laid-back vibe, cultural treats and top-notch food and drink. Have 48 hours in Adelaide to spare? Come see this amazing city for yourself…
Think: soaking up historic markets, calming green spaces and free museums during the day; watching jaw-dropping sunsets and sampling the city’s growing bar and foodie scenes after dark.
Here’s How to Spend 48 Hours in Adelaide:
Day One:
Get Acquainted with Adelaide
After checking-in to your serviced apartment at the centrally-located Quest on Franklin, put your best foot forward and stroll down to nearby Victoria Square, the figurative heart of the city. Once you’ve tuned-in to the relaxed vibe and taken a few snaps of the landmark fountain, head down King William St and indulge in a bit of people-watching at the pedestrianised Rundle Mall shopping precinct.
Be sure to drop by Haigh’s Chocolates while you’re here – their delectable chocs are consistently rated the best in Australia!
Check Out the Largest Covered Market in the Southern Hemisphere
Just around the corner is Adelaide’s vast and ever-vibrant Central Market, a bastion of South Australia’s foodie scene for 150 years and now the state’s most-visited attraction. It’s an easy place to enjoy, with a maze of cheese, charcuterie and jam stalls to snoop around, and no end of fresh produce and artisanal food standing by to make your taste buds twitch.
Of course, it’s a top place to stop for a bite: definitely swing by Lucia’s Fine Foods if traditional pizzas and pastas are your thing.
Get your Culture Fix Along North Terrace
Close by is leafy North Terrace, an attractive boulevard lined by classical sandstone buildings housing a glut of fab museums. The Art Gallery of South Australia, the South Australian Museum, the State Library of South Australia and the Migration Museum are all jammed into this rich cultural enclave – some offer free entry.
Make the South Australian Museum your priority if you’re short on time: it boasts the largest collection of Australian Aboriginal cultural artefacts in the world.
Evening in the city…
If you’re looking to devour some outback-style bush meats on this trip then navigate back to Rundle St and grab a table at Africola on East Terrace. Though it’s actually a South African joint, their evocative fire pit whacks out the kind of smokey treats the tourist in you cannot help but associate with this part of the world.
After your feast, hit the area around buzzing Hindley St to check out Adelaide’s modest yet lively bar scene and enjoy a post-dinner drink.
Day Two:
Start the Day With a Guided Garden Stroll
Once you’ve filled up on the hotel’s in-room breakfast, make your way to Adelaide’s ever-so-pretty Botanic Gardens shortly before 10am. Do this and you’ll nab a free guided tour that’ll show you around the gardens and introduce you to a bit of the history of Adelaide and South Australia. A very nice way to start the day.
Head For the Hills
A 20-minute drive from the city are The Adelaide Hills, one of Australia’s best mild-climate wine regions. Along with exploring the area’s many wineries (there are 60 of them), you can cuddle koalas at Cleland Wildlife Park and take in soaring views from the the top of the imaginatively-named Mount Lofty. Needless to say, Insta photo ops abound so be sure to charge your smartphone before you leave.
Watch the Sunset From Glenelg Beach
Once you get back into town, jump on the tram and make the 20-minute ride down to Glenelg. Known locally as ‘the Bay’, this scenic and generally quite laid-back beach suburb is a fine place to enjoy a languid stroll along the sands and kick back at an ocean-facing cafe. Make sure you stick around for dusk – the sunsets here are so glorious they look like screensavers!