3 days in Adelaide

Day by day

1. Day 1: Adelaide Central Market and Art Gallery of South Australia

   Adelaide Central Market, Art Gallery of South Australia and Adelaide Oval, then River Torrens and Elder Park in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Adelaide Central Market

      Trading since 1869, the market fills a covered hall between Grote and Gouger Streets with around 70 stalls of fruit, cheese, smallgoods, seafood and bread, plus cafés and food counters.

   2. Late morning

      Art Gallery of South Australia

      Start with the Elder Wing of Australian art, then cross the courtyard to the South Australian Museum next door.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Pie floater

      Pie carts and bakeries; the Adelaide pie-cart tradition dates back to the late 1800s.

   4. Afternoon

      Adelaide Oval

      Often called one of the world's most picturesque cricket grounds, the oval keeps its heritage scoreboard and Moreton Bay figs alongside modern stands.

   5. Evening

      River Torrens and Elder Park

      Hire a paddle boat or walk the riverbank at dusk, when the Festival Centre and Adelaide Oval are lit up.

2. Day 2: Glenelg Beach and Jetty and South Australian Museum

   Glenelg Beach and Jetty, South Australian Museum and State Library of South Australia, then Peel Street and Leigh Street in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Glenelg Beach and Jetty

      Take the tram from Victoria Square, which takes about 30 minutes, and stay for sunset at the end of the jetty.

   2. Late morning

      South Australian Museum

      The museum's Australian Aboriginal Cultures Gallery holds one of the world's largest collections of Aboriginal cultural material, and other galleries cover Pacific cultures, opalised fossils, minerals and Antarctic explorer Douglas Mawson.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Frog cake

      Bakeries and cafés around the city and Central Market.

   4. Afternoon

      State Library of South Australia

      Climb to the upper balcony of the Mortlock Wing for the classic view down the length of the hall.

   5. Evening

      Peel Street and Leigh Street

      West End laneways packed with small bars, wine bars and late restaurants.

3. Day 3: Adelaide Botanic Garden and Adelaide Zoo

   Adelaide Botanic Garden, Adelaide Zoo and Mount Lofty Summit, then Rundle Street and East End in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Adelaide Botanic Garden

      Founded in 1855, the garden includes the 1877 Palm House, a German-made Victorian glasshouse, the Bicentennial Conservatory with tropical rainforest plants, and the Amazon Waterlily Pavilion.

   2. Late morning

      Adelaide Zoo

      Walk there through the Botanic Garden and Botanic Park, or arrive by the riverboat from Elder Park in warmer months.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Farmers Union Iced Coffee

      Every service station, deli and supermarket in South Australia.

   4. Afternoon

      Mount Lofty Summit

      At 710 metres, the summit gives a sweeping view over the Adelaide Plains to the gulf, with the Flinders Column marker and a café.

   5. Evening

      Rundle Street and East End

      Pubs and cocktail bars near the Fringe hubs, busiest from February to March.

Before you go

• Adelaide Oval: RoofClimb and match tickets for Test cricket and AFL finals sell out; book ahead.

If it rains

• Swap in South Australian Maritime Museum (Port Adelaide): Combine it with a Port River dolphin cruise and lunch in the old pubs on Lipson Street.
• Swap in Haigh's Chocolates Visitor Centre (Parkside): Book a free factory tour in advance and try the frog-shaped chocolates, an Adelaide favourite.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 3 nights, East End keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, West End and Gouger Street ($$) suits food lovers, nightlife, budget and solo travellers. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 17–22 hours of visiting over 3 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 9.8 hours in June to 14.5 hours in December, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

More or fewer days

• One day in Adelaide
• 2 days in Adelaide
• 5 days in Adelaide

Questions travellers ask