Best time to visit · Adelaide · Australia
The best time to visit Adelaide
Weather, crowds, prices and events for every month, so you can pick the trip that suits you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Pangalau, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
The best times to visit Adelaide are March to April and October to November, when days are warm but not hot and the wine regions are at their most pleasant. February and March bring the Fringe and Festival but also the year's highest hotel prices; winter is cool and quiet, good value for wine and museums.
Key facts
- Best months
- March–April and October–November
- Shoulder season
- February, May, September and December
- Warmest month
- January (avg high 29°C (84°F))
- Coldest month
- July (avg high 15°C (59°F))
- Rainiest month
- July (~12 rainy days)
- Lowest hotel prices
- May–August
Seasons
Adelaide has a Mediterranean climate: hot, dry summers with heatwaves above 40°C possible, mild and pleasant autumns and springs, and cool, wetter winters. It is one of Australia's driest capital cities.
December–February
Summer
Hot, dry and sunny with beach days and cricket; heatwaves above 40°C are possible, and the Fringe begins in February.
March–May
Autumn
Festival season in March, then mild, settled weather, vintage in the wine regions and autumn colour in the Hills.
June–August
Winter
Cool and showery with highs around 15–16°C; quiet, lower prices, fires in winery restaurants and AFL football.
September–November
Spring
Warming, sunny days, wildflowers and green vineyards; one of the most comfortable seasons for outdoor plans.
Month by month
Long-term averages (rounded). Crowds and prices are relative, 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest). Daylight is sunrise to sunset on the 15th.
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Sea | Daylight | Crowds | Prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 29°C | 17°C | 3 | 21°C | 14.3 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| February | 29°C | 17°C | 3 | 22°C | 13.4 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| March | 26°C | 15°C | 4 | 21°C | 12.4 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| April | 23°C | 12°C | 6 | 19°C | 11.3 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| May | 19°C | 10°C | 9 | 17°C | 10.3 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| June | 16°C | 8°C | 11 | 15°C | 9.8 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| July | 15°C | 8°C | 12 | 14°C | 10 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| August | 16°C | 8°C | 12 | 13°C | 10.8 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| September | 19°C | 10°C | 9 | 14°C | 11.9 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| October | 22°C | 11°C | 7 | 16°C | 13 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| November | 25°C | 14°C | 5 | 18°C | 14 h | 3/5 | 4/5 |
| December | 27°C | 15°C | 5 | 20°C | 14.5 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
Yearly events
Recurring dates shift from year to year; confirm with the organiser before you book.
| Month | Events |
|---|---|
| January | Tour Down Under cycling race (usually January); Australia Day celebrations (26 January) |
| February | Adelaide Fringe (usually mid-February to mid-March) |
| March | Adelaide Festival (usually late February to mid-March); WOMADelaide world-music festival in Botanic Park (usually the March long weekend) |
| April | Barossa Vintage Festival (biennial, usually April in odd-numbered years) |
| May | Tasting Australia food festival (usually late April or early May) |
| August | SALA Festival — South Australian Living Artists (usually August) |
| September | Royal Adelaide Show (usually early September); AFL finals at Adelaide Oval when local teams qualify |
| October | OzAsia Festival (usually September to October) |
| November | Adelaide Christmas Pageant (usually a Saturday in November); Adelaide 500 Supercars race (usually late November or early December) |
| December | Test cricket at Adelaide Oval (most summers, often December) |
Cheapest and quietest times
Hotel prices are usually lowest in May–August, and the sights are quietest in May–August.
What to pack
| Season | Pack |
|---|---|
| Summer | Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Autumn | Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Winter | Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Spring | Layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best month to visit Adelaide?
The best times to visit Adelaide are March to April and October to November, when days are warm but not hot and the wine regions are at their most pleasant. February and March bring the Fringe and Festival but also the year's highest hotel prices; winter is cool and quiet, good value for wine and museums.
+When are hotel prices lowest in Adelaide?
Usually in May–August. Cooler and calm, with autumn colour in the Adelaide Hills around Stirling and Hahndorf.
+What is the rainiest month in Adelaide?
July, with about 12 days of rain on average.
+How hot does Adelaide get?
The warmest month, January, averages highs of 29°C (84°F) and lows of 17°C (63°F).