Where to stay · Adelaide · Australia
Where to stay in Adelaide
7 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Yu Chu Chin, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in East End. Rundle Street cafés, Ebenezer Place and the city's festival quarter. Best alternatives — families: North Adelaide; budget: West End and Gouger Street.
Key facts
- First visit
- East End
- Families
- North Adelaide
- Budget
- West End and Gouger Street
- Nightlife
- East End
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | East End | Rundle Street cafés, Ebenezer Place and the city's festival quarter |
| Families | North Adelaide | Bluestone villas, old pubs and two café strips across the river |
| Couples | East End | Rundle Street cafés, Ebenezer Place and the city's festival quarter |
| Budget | West End and Gouger Street | Laneway bars, Chinatown and the Central Market |
| Nightlife | East End | Rundle Street cafés, Ebenezer Place and the city's festival quarter |
| Food lovers | East End | Rundle Street cafés, Ebenezer Place and the city's festival quarter |
| Solo travellers | West End and Gouger Street | Laneway bars, Chinatown and the Central Market |
| Shopping | Norwood | The Parade's cafés, pubs and shops just east of the parklands |
| Quiet stays | North Adelaide | Bluestone villas, old pubs and two café strips across the river |
| Beach | Glenelg | Beach suburb at the end of the tram line with a jetty and Jetty Road |
Adelaide neighbourhoods in detail
$$$ · Best for first-timers, couples, food lovers and nightlife
East End
The eastern end of the city around Rundle Street, Ebenezer Place and East Terrace is lined with cafés, pubs, cinemas and boutiques. It sits next to the Botanic Garden and North Terrace's museums, and during the Fringe the nearby parklands fill with pop-up venues such as the Garden of Unearthly Delights.
- Good
- Walk to the main museums and gardens; Strong café and restaurant scene; Centre of Fringe activity
- Watch out
- Rooms book out and prices rise in February–March; Noisy during festival season
- Nearby
- Adelaide Botanic Garden, Art Gallery of South Australia, Rundle Mall
$$ · 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
$$$ · Best for couples, quiet stays, families and culture
North Adelaide
Across the River Torrens and the parklands, North Adelaide has stately 19th-century homes, St Peter's Cathedral and two dining streets: O'Connell Street and Melbourne Street. It is a 15–20 minute walk to the city centre via Adelaide Oval and King William Road.
- Good
- Quiet, leafy streets; Walk to Adelaide Oval and the zoo; Good pubs and cafés
- Watch out
- Fewer hotels, mostly boutique and serviced apartments; A walk across the parklands to the centre
- Nearby
- Adelaide Oval, St Peter's Cathedral, Adelaide Zoo
$$$ · Best for beach, families and first-timers
Glenelg
Glenelg is where South Australia's colonists landed in 1836, and it is now Adelaide's busiest beach suburb. Jetty Road runs from the tram stop to Moseley Square, the jetty and a long sandy beach, with hotels, apartments, ice-cream shops and restaurants along the way.
- Good
- Beach and city by tram; Lively in summer evenings; Good for families
- Watch out
- Busy at summer weekends; A 30-minute tram ride from the cultural sights
- Nearby
- Glenelg Jetty, Moseley Square, Holdfast Shores marina
$$$ · Best for beach, quiet stays and couples
Henley Beach
About 10 km west of the city, Henley Beach centres on Henley Square, a pedestrian plaza with restaurants and bars facing the jetty. It is calmer than Glenelg, with a long shared path along the dunes to Grange and Semaphore.
- Good
- Sunset views over the gulf; Quieter than Glenelg; Coastal cycle path
- Watch out
- Few hotels; Buses, not trams, to the city
- Nearby
- Henley Square, Henley Beach Jetty, Grange Jetty
$$ · Best for food lovers, shopping and quiet stays
Norwood
Norwood's main street, The Parade, is lined with cafés, gelato shops, pubs and boutiques, and it is a popular local alternative to the city centre. It is a few minutes by bus from the East End and close to the road up into the Adelaide Hills.
- Good
- Local atmosphere; Easy access to the Adelaide Hills; Good restaurants
- Watch out
- Limited hotel choice; Needs a bus or car to reach the sights
- Nearby
- The Parade, Norwood Oval, Magill Road
$$ · Best for families, culture and budget
Port Adelaide
Port Adelaide's old wharves and stone warehouses hold the South Australian Maritime Museum, the National Railway Museum and the Aviation Museum, and the surrounding streets are known for large murals. Dolphin-spotting cruises run on the Port River, part of the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary.
- Good
- Three museums close together; Dolphin cruises; Lower prices
- Watch out
- Quiet at night; About 30 minutes from the city by train
- Nearby
- South Australian Maritime Museum, National Railway Museum, Port River
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| East End | $$$ | Adelaide Botanic Garden, Art Gallery of South Australia, Rundle Mall |
| West End and Gouger Street | $$ | Adelaide Central Market, Chinatown, Peel Street, Adelaide Festival Centre |
| North Adelaide | $$$ | Adelaide Oval, St Peter's Cathedral, Adelaide Zoo |
| Glenelg | $$$ | Glenelg Jetty, Moseley Square, Holdfast Shores marina |
| Henley Beach | $$$ | Henley Square, Henley Beach Jetty, Grange Jetty |
| Norwood | $$ | The Parade, Norwood Oval, Magill Road |
| Port Adelaide | $$ | South Australian Maritime Museum, National Railway Museum, Port River |
Getting to your hotel
Adelaide Airport is about 7 km west of the city, roughly 15–20 minutes by car. Adelaide Metro buses connect the terminal with the city and Glenelg, and taxis and rideshare are available outside arrivals.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Adelaide for first-time visitors?
East End. The eastern end of the city around Rundle Street, Ebenezer Place and East Terrace is lined with cafés, pubs, cinemas and boutiques.
+Where should families stay in Adelaide?
North Adelaide: Quiet, leafy streets.
+Which area of Adelaide is best for a budget stay?
West End and Gouger Street ($$): Laneway bars, Chinatown and the Central Market.