Sight guide · Adelaide · Australia
Visiting Art Gallery of South Australia
One of Australia's oldest and largest state galleries holds major collections of Australian colonial and Aboriginal art, European old masters and Asian ceramics.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: DaHuzyBru, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Art Gallery of South Australia is a gallery in North Terrace, Adelaide. Allow 2 hours; it is free. Booking ahead is not usually needed.
Key facts
- Type
- Gallery
- Area
- North Terrace
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Book ahead
- Not usually needed
- Good for
- art, free and rainy day
- Best months
- June–August
About Art Gallery of South Australia
One of Australia's oldest and largest state galleries holds major collections of Australian colonial and Aboriginal art, European old masters and Asian ceramics. The Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art is held here in some years, and general entry is free.
Tip: Start with the Elder Wing of Australian art, then cross the courtyard to the South Australian Museum next door.
Plan your visit
- Time needed: 2 hours.
- Cost: Free — no ticket needed for the main area.
- Book ahead: not usually needed; buy on arrival.
- Where: North Terrace, rundle Street cafés, Ebenezer Place and the city's festival quarter.
Best time to visit Art Gallery of South Australia
Art Gallery of South Australia is indoors, which makes it a good plan for the wettest months:
- July: 15°C (59°F) highs, about 12 rainy days, quiet crowds.
- August: 16°C (61°F) highs, about 12 rainy days, quiet crowds.
- June: 16°C (61°F) highs, about 11 rainy days, quiet crowds.
When to visit Adelaide has the full month-by-month picture.
Fit it into your trip
Our 3-day Adelaide itinerary visits Art Gallery of South Australia on day 1, together with Adelaide Central Market, Adelaide Oval and River Torrens and Elder Park.
- No. 2 of the 16 sights in our Adelaide things-to-do list.
- Day 1 of the 1-day plan.
- Day 1 of the 2-day plan.
- Day 1 of the 5-day plan.
- Listed in free things to do in Adelaide.
- One of the picks in adelaide on a rainy day.
Near Art Gallery of South Australia
Also in North Terrace, so you can walk between them:
- South Australian Museum — 2 hours, free
- State Library of South Australia — 45 minutes, free
If you like Art Gallery of South Australia
- Adelaide Central Market — West End and Gouger Street, 1–2 hours
- Haigh's Chocolates Visitor Centre — Parkside, 45 minutes
Staying near Art Gallery of South Australia
Stay in East End ($$$) to walk here: rundle Street cafés, Ebenezer Place and the city's festival quarter. All areas to stay in Adelaide.
Questions travellers ask
+How long do you need at Art Gallery of South Australia?
Plan 2 hours. With South Australian Museum nearby, it fits a half-day in North Terrace.
+Is Art Gallery of South Australia free?
Yes, it is free to visit.
+When is the best time to visit Art Gallery of South Australia?
June–August, the wettest months, when an indoor sight is most welcome. Start with the Elder Wing of Australian art, then cross the courtyard to the South Australian Museum next door.
+Do I need to book Art Gallery of South Australia in advance?
Usually not: you can decide on the day.