Solo travel · Adelaide · Australia
Solo travel in Adelaide
How to enjoy Adelaide at your own pace.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Yu Chu Chin, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Quick answer
Adelaide suits solo travellers who like a calm, easy city: compact streets, free public transport in the centre, friendly small bars and plenty of group tours to the wine regions. Many solo travellers base themselves in West End and Gouger Street.
Key facts
- Base
- West End and Gouger Street
- Getting around
- Tram
- Emergency number
- 000 (police, fire, ambulance)
- Language
- English
Solo travel tips
- Join a small-group winery tour so you can taste without driving.
- Fringe season is the most social time to visit, with shows starting from early evening to late at night.
- The West End has the best choice of hostels near the Central Market.
- Bar seating in small wine bars is an easy way to chat with locals.
Where to stay
$$ · Best for food lovers, nightlife, budget and solo travellers
West End and Gouger Street
The western half of the city mixes small bars in Leigh Street and Peel Street, the student-heavy Hindley Street and the Chinatown and Gouger Street restaurant strip next to Adelaide Central Market. Many of the city's mid-range hotels are here, within easy walking distance of the Festival Centre and the Adelaide Oval footbridge.
- Good
- Market and restaurants on the doorstep; Good-value hotels; Laneway bars
- Watch out
- Hindley Street can be rowdy late at weekends; Some blocks feel dull in the daytime
- Nearby
- Adelaide Central Market, Chinatown, Peel Street, Adelaide Festival Centre
Great on your own
Gallery · North Terrace
Art Gallery of South Australia
Start with the Elder Wing of Australian art, then cross the courtyard to the South Australian Museum next door.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Art
- Free
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Landmark · North Adelaide
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.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Views
- Active
Museum · North Terrace
South Australian Museum
Children enjoy the megafauna and fossil displays; allow extra time for the Aboriginal Cultures Gallery, which is the highlight.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Rainy day
- Kids
- History
Architecture · North Terrace
State Library of South Australia
Climb to the upper balcony of the Mortlock Wing for the classic view down the length of the hall.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Rainy day
- Photo spot
- Off the beaten path
Viewpoint · Adelaide Hills
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.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours with the walk
- Cost
- Free
- Views
- Free
- Active
- Outdoors
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Museum · Port Adelaide
South Australian Maritime Museum
Combine it with a Port River dolphin cruise and lunch in the old pubs on Lipson Street.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- History
- Rainy day
Meeting people
- Central Market grazing — Build a picnic from the cheese, smallgoods and bread stalls at Central Market, then carry it to Victoria Square or the Botanic Garden.
- Cellar door tastings — The Barossa, McLaren Vale and the Adelaide Hills each have dozens of cellar doors; many now require bookings, and a driver or tour lets everyone taste.
- Peel Street and Leigh Street — West End laneways packed with small bars, wine bars and late restaurants.
- Rundle Street and East End — Pubs and cocktail bars near the Fringe hubs, busiest from February to March.
Sensible precautions
Adelaide is a relaxed city for visitors. The main hazards are summer heat, strong sun and occasional bushfire risk in the Hills on hot, windy days; check fire warnings before driving to rural areas. Hindley Street can get rowdy late on weekend nights.
- Emergency number
- 000 (police, fire, ambulance)
- Staying connected
- Free public Wi-Fi is available in parts of the city centre, and mobile coverage is good in the wine regions.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Adelaide good for solo travellers?
Adelaide suits solo travellers who like a calm, easy city: compact streets, free public transport in the centre, friendly small bars and plenty of group tours to the wine regions.
+Where should solo travellers stay in Adelaide?
West End and Gouger Street: Laneway bars, Chinatown and the Central Market.