SA Beyond the Regions: Why Adelaide Deserves a Spot on Your Itinerary

Adelaide has a quiet kind of confidence. It doesn’t shout for your attention, yet the more time you spend here, the more it draws you in. And though the city is sometimes treated as a gateway to South Australia’s regions, with visitors making a beeline for its wineries, it’s well worth taking the time and getting to know it. You’ll be won over, we promise.

Adelaide Rewards Those Who Linger

South Australia has long been celebrated for its wine. The Barossa, McLaren Vale, and the Adelaide Hills are names that echo far beyond the state, and the country. But it’s not just about wine here. South Australia attracts visitors for its shark cage experiences in Port Lincoln, its ancient mountain landscapes (like the Flinders Ranges), the magnificent Lake Eyre, and countless world-class sites.

Maybe because of its impressive natural landscapes, visitors often land at the airport only to head straight for the horizon (sometimes making a stop at the Oval for a cricket match on the way). In doing so, they miss the heart of it all.

Adelaide invites those who stay, to see that its magic lies not in boasting, but in how modestly it guards its best secrets. Tree-lined streets and parklands wrap around the centre, markets spill over with fresh produce, a calendar of festivals rival anywhere in the world, and there’s a kind of easy charm that makes you feel at home almost instantly.

Why Adelaide Deserves a Spot on Your Itinerary

Next time you’re in Adelaide, allow the city to tempt you in and see where it takes you. It might lead you to experience one, two, or even all of the following.

1. Wine Tasting Without Leaving the City

Even in the city, wine is never far away. At the National Wine Centre of Australia, on the edge of the Botanic Gardens, visitors can taste more than 120 wines from across 55 regions; a remarkable introduction to the state’s rich viticultural heritage.

And the experience doesn’t end there. Just minutes from the CBD, the historic Penfolds Magill Estate still produces wine on its original 1844 site. Head here for tours, tastings, and incredible fine dining with sweeping views.

In the East End, East End Cellars pours an ever-changing selection from boutique producers, while Mother Vine and Leigh Street Wine Room have also become local favourites for their impressive lists and inviting atmospheres.

South Australia has been associated with wine for 180 years, when European settlers first planted vines in the fertile soils of the Barossa, McLaren Vale, Clare Valley, and the Adelaide Hills. And today, Adelaide collects the legacy of SA wine into its city borders, making it possible for guests to experience world-class wine culture without ever leaving town.

Where to stay for wine tasting

Adelaide Royal Coach is well placed for wine lovers, just minutes from the National Wine Centre, on the correct side of the city for a quick trip to Penfolds Magill Estate, and close to the vibrant East End dining scene.

2. A Food Scene That Punches Above Its Weight

It’s not uncommon for out-of-state guests to be blown away by Adelaide’s food offerings. The city has built a reputation as one of Australia’s true culinary capitals, with a dining scene that’s both diverse and deeply rooted in local produce. From vibrant Asian flavours to modern Australian fine dining, the choice is truly remarkable.

Golden Boy, with its lively Thai share plates, has become a local favourite, while true South Aussie institutions like Africola bring bold, creative energy to the table and regularly feature on national “best restaurant” lists. For something refined, Restaurant Botanic offers a multi-course journey through native ingredients in a stunning garden setting, while Shōbōsho brings Japanese street food to life on Leigh Street.

We’re not finished though. Because café culture thrives in Adelaide too, blending SA charm with serious coffee credentials. Then we’ve got numerous laneway wine bars, and last but not least, the iconic Adelaide Central Market with its 70-plus traders.

It’s easy to see why food is as strong a reason to stay in Adelaide as the wine.

Where to stay for great food

The Mayfair Hotel is perfect for a food-filled weekend in Adelaide, with the Central Market, laneway bars, and top restaurants all just a short stroll away.

3. A Festival City With a Global Reputation

If there’s one thing South Australia knows how to do, it’s put on a festival. Each year Adelaide comes to life with events that bring artists, chefs, musicians, and performers from around the world, earning its well deserved reputation as Australia’s “Festival State.”

Most famously, Adelaide Fringe transforms the city into one of the world’s largest open-access arts festivals, while WOMADelaide fills Botanic Park with music and colour from across the globe. But it’s not only these two which steal the national stage each year.

The prestigious Adelaide Festival brings theatre, dance, and opera to centre stage, and Tasting Australia celebrates the state’s food and wine with masterclasses, markets, and extraordinary dining experiences led by top chefs.

Beyond the renowned, South Aussies pack a calendar with smaller celebrations of film, design, literature and community throughout the year, making sure there is never a dull moment, shaping a cultural calendar unlike anywhere else in the country.

Where to stay for festival access

Econo Lodge East Adelaide is a budget-friendly base within easy reach of the city’s major festival venues, making it a smart choice for event-goers.

4. Beaches Within Easy Reach

South Australia’s coastline is anything but ordinary. One moment you’re wading into calm, glassy shallows, the next you’re watching surfers chase breaks on wild, windswept beaches. It’s a coastline of variety, and that variety is its greatest strength.

Boardwalks and jetties at Glenelg and Henley Beach are where evenings slide seamlessly into sunset. Meanwhile, quiet sweeps of sand at Brighton and Semaphore offer space for unwinding and enjoying time to yourself with a killer backdrop.

Snorkel the reef at Port Noarlunga, where bright corals and schools of fish thrive just beyond the jetty, or follow the underwater trail at Aldinga Reef, a marine sanctuary of caves, swim-throughs, and kelp forests beneath the surface.

Walk, run or ride the Coast Park path that links beach to beach, or claim a lounger at The Moseley Beach Club and let the afternoon drift by. From the rocky headlands of Hallett Cove where dolphins jump, to the wide, family-friendly sands of West Beach, the SA coastline has a taste of everything, changing with every kilometre.

Where to stay for beach lovers

The George Glenelg is a perfect pick for beach lovers, set right on the sand with the jetty, cafés, and seaside sunsets just steps from your door.

5. Nature at the City’s Edge

In Adelaide, nature isn’t something you drive hours to find; it frames the city (actually, it weaves right through the city too). In fact, for those who don’t know already, nature doesn’t wait politely on the outskirts here, it barges right in.

The Hills loom up to the east, close enough that you can swap your morning cafe stop for a quick hike to Mount Lofty and still be back in time for brunch. To the west, the beaches are practically an extension of the suburbs, golden strips of sand where the River Torrens, and its cycling path, eventually winds its way out to sea. Push a little further south and things turn dramatic, with gorges, cliffs, and national parks like Onkaparinga that are shocking to witness so close to the city.

And inside Adelaide CBD? It’s green everywhere. Parklands loop around the centre like a mossy frame and the botanic gardens spill over with bird song and colour. Keep your eyes up when you’re exploring the parks of Adelaide, because you might even catch a koala snoozing above you, right where you’d least expect it.

Where to stay for nature

Mantra Tonsley Adelaide is a sleek, modern stay just outside the city; a handy base for exploring all of Adelaide’s sights by car, especially the southern coast and national parks.

There’s even more to Adelaide, too.

Check out this Ultimate Guide to Adelaide for literally everything you need to know about a visit to the SA capital.