Four Days, Few Plans: A Slow Travel Guide to Adelaide

Some trips feel a little like work; alarms, maps, research and a list of places to “do” before you depart. But they don’t have to be. Slow travel is what happens when you stop trying to cover ground and start letting a place sink in, through things like coffee and people-watching, long walks without a purpose, and food and wine that invites grazing. In 2026, slow travel is no longer a niche. And this is exactly where Adelaide finds its time to shine.

Adelaide experienced slowly

As a small, cool little city – one literally surrounded with natural wonders – Adelaide is a slow traveller’s dream. And that’s because during a trip, nothing asks for your unrivalled attention for more than half a day. It doesn’t have the national institutions of Canberra to sprint between, neither does it have Sydney’s tourist checklist or Melbourne’s sprawl. Adelaide’s scale stays nicely navigable.

An afternoon can unfold in all kinds of ways if you let it. At a cafe in East Rundle, on a shaded park bench near the Japanese gardens, under the eucalyptus trees of the Hills or in a CBD restaurant (where nobody is hovering to flip the table).

And don’t forget, that Adelaide is a fabulous coastal destination too. Frankly world-class (and underrated) beaches sit close enough to slide naturally into after a morning of exploring, and the trails of Adelaide Hills offer endless wandering and koala spotting, plus  bushland and lookouts super close to the city. This rare mix, means you can cross the city, hit the beach, and still be back for dinner without even noticing.

A Slow Travel Guide to Adelaide

So, welcome to Adelaide, where four days are best enjoyed slowly and with purpose.

Day one: Adelaide Hills

There’s no better way to get a feel for Adelaide, than with a visit to the vine-threaded and storybook Adelaide Hills.

The drive up takes around thirty minutes from the CBD and immediately trades traffic lights for eucalyptus and narrow roads that curve around steep edges. The obvious choice for first-time guests is Hahndorf, lending itself to aimless wandering with occasional ducking into German bakeries, cafes, cheese counters and small shops.

Following your morning of local delights, let yourself be tempted by lunch, a grazing board or wine tasting at any local winery. Try The Lane, Nepenthe, or Hahndorf Hill.

Otherwise, head to Lot 100 where the best of the hills come together in one laid-back yet bustling craft brewery and small batch distillery, bursting with food options. Stay a while and get to know the feel of the local landscape and people.

If you feel like a real change of pace, visit Jurlique Farm next. Over four decades, Jurlique has grown the plants used in its skincare on a biodynamic farm in the Adelaide Hills, working with herbs, flowers, and soil rather than industrial inputs. A behind-the-scenes tour here walks through the gardens, propagation houses, and compost systems, showing how those plants are grown, handled, and turned into the products sold in the farm shop at the end.

Your evening belongs back in the city tonight, so after a stop back at the hotel, East End Cellars, with shelves of South Australian bottles, is a place you can stay as long as you wish. Next, head to Peel St Restaurant where local produce is served with confidence and flavour in a laneway setting.

Day two: markets and the CBD

The Adelaide Central Market is best enjoyed when you let it take up your whole morning. Start with coffee from La Crema or Cibo, then walk slowly through the food halls, stopping at Smelly Cheese Shop, House of Organics, and Lucia’s Fine Foods to sample and pick up whatever looks good. Let curiosity guide you through the aisles and don’t be afraid to stop at more than one spot to enjoy a pastry.

Lunch fits naturally in Chinatown today, across Gouger Street; Star House for dumplings, Dumpling King for something fast, or BBQ City for roasted meats. But don’t forget to wander here a little too. A number of great shops, cafes and bubble tea spots are waiting to be visited.

A short walk from here brings you to the Adelaide Himeji Garden; a carefully built Japanese garden of bridges, ponds, and pines that gives the city a quiet corner for sitting or wandering. Give yourself some quiet time here, or walk around the parklands before making your way back to the hotel for some downtime.

Tonight, dinner is at Sunny’s Pizza nearby, where wood-fired dough and natural wine keep things casual, considered and a little quirky.

Day three: the coast

Start the morning late at Joe’s Kiosk in Henley Beach, sitting outside with coffee and a simple breakfast while the jetty fills with walkers and people heading out for their first dip. Joe’s feels like a place people use before work or a walk along the coast with a friend.

After that, let the coast draw you south to Brighton, where the crowd tends to thin out a little. Drop your bag somewhere near the jetty and stay put for a while, swimming, reading in the shade and letting the afternoon continue on with no decisions to make. Cafes sit close enough for something sweet, a late coffee or a light lunch.

If your day needs a little more, you could always drive down to Hallett Cove, where a beautiful board walk invites you to walk along clifftops and look down to the ocean.

End your day back where you started, though, in Henley. Dinner at Mia Margarita should be your choice, close to the beach. This spot pours sharp margaritas and serves tacos that suit a tasty but casual dinner after a day spent at the beach.

Day four: bushland and wildlife

Adelaide’s edges dissolve quickly into parkland and forest, and you can’t visit without a real experience of the city’s bushland and trails. Morialta Conservation Park offers waterfalls and rocky gorges less than twenty minutes from the CBD, while Cleland Conservation Park runs along the hills with ridgelines that look back over the city and out to the ocean.

Walks that suit a final day include the Morialta Falls Loop, the Waterfall Gully to Mount Lofty Summit track (probably the most famous walk in South Australia), or the Cleland Long Ridge Trail, each long enough to feel earned without taking over the day.

Those with energy for a little more, a visit to Mount Lofty Botanic Gardens is always beautiful. Take walks along small paths amongst the trees, or sit on a bench and enjoy some quiet moments before driving back to the city. Top tip: a stop at Base Camp Café on the way back down brings smoothies and coffee your way before you return to the city.

Your slow travel adventure to Adelaide trip ends well at SØDA Rooftop in Glenelg tonight, where drinks and small plates come with views across the Adelaide skyline as the light drops. Prefer to stay in the city? The rooftop bar at SkyCity, Sol, is an Adelaide classic with views over the River Torrens and Adelaide Oval.

Looking for a place to stay?

Take a look at these options and see what works for your slow weekend in the city.

Quality Apartments Adelaide Central

Full kitchens and separate living areas make this one work for longer stays, especially when you want space to cook, work, and spread out after a day in the CBD.

Book your stay.

Adabco Hotel

Right by Hutt Street’s cafés and parklands, it suits people who want a quieter pocket of the city while still being able to walk everywhere.

Book your stay.

The George, Glenelg

Steps from Jetty Road and the beach, this is a good base if you want seaside mornings and easy access to bars, restaurants, and trams back into town.

Book your stay.

Mantra Adelaide Tonsley

Next to Flinders University and the Tonsley innovation district, it suits anyone who wants modern serviced apartments with easy parking and quick access to the southern suburbs and city.

Book your stay.

EconoLodge East

Just off the highway and close to the Adelaide Hills, it works well for road trippers who need parking, simple rooms, and quick access in and out of the city.

Book your stay.