Travel tips · Adelaide · Australia
Adelaide travel tips: what to know before you go
The etiquette, money and practical details that make the first day easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: File:Adelaide skyline, December 2022.jpg : Ardash Muradian from Australia derivative work:, CC BY-SA 2.0
Quick answer
Adelaide is relaxed and community-minded, known as the 'City of Churches' for its many spires and, more recently, as Australia's festival city. The Kaurna people are the traditional owners of the Adelaide Plains, and Kaurna place names increasingly appear alongside English ones. German, Italian and Greek migration shaped the food and wine culture.
Key facts
- Language
- English
- Currency
- AUD
- Plugs
- Type I sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe to drink, though some visitors notice its mineral taste.
- Emergency
- 000 (police, fire, ambulance)
Things to know
- Greet and thank bus and tram drivers; it is normal across Australia.
- Book cellar-door tastings ahead and pace yourself; drink-driving limits are strictly enforced.
- Swim between the red and yellow flags at patrolled beaches.
- Keep left on footpaths and escalators, and stand aside on the shared paths for cyclists.
- Book Adelaide Oval ahead: RoofClimb and match tickets for Test cricket and AFL finals sell out; book ahead.
- Book Haigh's Chocolates Visitor Centre ahead: Free tours run in small groups and fill up; book on the Haigh's website.
- Trams within the city and the City Connector buses are free.
Tipping
Tipping is not expected in Australia. Leaving about 10% for very good table service or rounding up is appreciated but optional.
Language
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Fritz | South Australian luncheon sausage |
| Stobie pole | Steel-and-concrete power pole invented in Adelaide |
| Arvo | Afternoon |
| Bottle-o | Liquor shop |
What to wear
Casual and practical; bring sun protection in summer and a warm layer for winter evenings and the Adelaide Hills.
Practical details
- Plugs and voltage
- Type I sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Drinking water
- Tap water is safe to drink, though some visitors notice its mineral taste.
- Emergency number
- 000 (police, fire, ambulance)
- Phone and internet
- Free public Wi-Fi is available in parts of the city centre, and mobile coverage is good in the wine regions.
- Time zone
- Australia/Adelaide
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.
Entry requirements
Visa and passport rules depend on your nationality and change often. Check Australia's official government guidance and your own government's travel advice before booking.
Plan the trip
Questions travellers ask
+Do you tip in Adelaide?
Tipping is not expected in Australia. Leaving about 10% for very good table service or rounding up is appreciated but optional.
+Can you drink the tap water in Adelaide?
Tap water is safe to drink, though some visitors notice its mineral taste.
+What plugs are used in Adelaide?
Type I sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
+What language is spoken in Adelaide?
English.