5 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

      Go on a weekday morning for space to browse, and on Saturday afternoon look out for end-of-day markdowns on fruit and bread. (1–2 hours, free).

   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. (2 hours, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Pie floater

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

   4. Afternoon

      Adelaide Oval

      Walk there from the city across the Riverbank footbridge, and book a stadium tour on a non-match day to see the museum and players' areas. (2 hours, mid-priced).

   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. (Half a day, free).

   2. Late morning

      South Australian Museum

      Children enjoy the megafauna and fossil displays; allow extra time for the Aboriginal Cultures Gallery, which is the highlight. (2 hours, free).

   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. (45 minutes, free).

   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

      Enter from North Terrace, walk through the Palm House and finish at the National Wine Centre for a tasting. (1.5–2 hours, free).

   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. (2–3 hours, mid-priced).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Farmers Union Iced Coffee

      Every service station, deli and supermarket in South Australia.

   4. Afternoon

      Mount Lofty Summit

      Walk up from Waterfall Gully in the morning before the heat, and have someone collect you at the top or walk back down. (2–3 hours with the walk, free).

   5. Evening

      Rundle Street and East End

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

4. Day 4: Day trip to Barossa Valley

   About 1 hour 15 minutes by car each way. Getting there: Car, winery tour or private driver.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Barossa Valley

      About 1 hour 15 minutes by car (Car, winery tour or private driver); about 70 km.

   2. Day

      Barossa Valley

      Australia's most famous wine region, settled by Prussian and Silesian Lutherans in the 1840s, with more than 150 wineries, old-vine shiraz, German bakeries and towns such as Tanunda and Angaston. Best for food lovers, couples and first-timers.

   3. Evening

      Back in Adelaide

      Dinner: try King George whiting.

5. Day 5: Cleland Wildlife Park and Morialta Conservation Park

   Cleland Wildlife Park, Morialta Conservation Park and South Australian Maritime Museum, then Hindley Street in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Cleland Wildlife Park

      Buy a bag of animal food at the entrance and visit early in the day, when the animals are most active. (2 hours, mid-priced).

   2. Late morning

      Morialta Conservation Park

      Walk the loop to the Second Falls after rain in winter or spring, when the water is flowing. (2–3 hours, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: King George whiting

      Seafood restaurants at Glenelg and Henley Beach, and fish stalls in Central Market.

   4. Afternoon

      South Australian Maritime Museum

      Combine it with a Port River dolphin cruise and lunch in the old pubs on Lipson Street. (2 hours, low cost).

   5. Evening

      Hindley Street

      Clubs and late venues popular with students; lively and loud at weekends.

Before you go

Reserve timed tickets for Adelaide Oval before you travel; the rest of this plan needs no advance booking.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 5 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 23–29 hours of visiting over 5 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
• 3 days in Adelaide

Questions travellers ask