To anticipate it right away: Just a few years ago, Adelaide was considered a sleepy nest where not even a kangaroo strayed. That has changed fundamentally. Today, the capital of South Australia with its 1.3 million inhabitants is considered one of the top ten cities in the world. This is not only because it is located on the Gulf of Saint-Vincent, which provides a Mediterranean climate. The coastal city shines as a cultural and festival city.
World stars in the metropolis
One of the highlights of the metropolis is the Adelaide Fringe, the second largest art festival in the world. For more than three weeks, around 7000 artists from all regions of the globe will present themselves. Events take place in disused halls, galleries, theatres, cafes, parks, hotels, pubs, art galleries and side streets. In other words: everywhere. The second popular cultural event is the Adelaide Festival of Art, the largest cultural festival in the Asia-Pacific region. Opera, theatre, dance, classical and contemporary music, literature, cabaret, films and new media. The heart of the event is the futuristic-looking Festival Center in Elder Park on the Torrens River.
40,000 years of art
Adelaide owes its reputation as a city of art and culture not only to these two mega events. But also the Art Gallery of South Australia, which was founded in 1881. With 38,000 works, it is one of the largest art collections in Australia. The exhibits range from Roman antiquity to modern times. Particularly impressive: the art of the Aborigines, which covers a period of 40,000 years.
A park in a circle
The fact that art and nature can hardly be separated from each other is evident in the park ring, which runs as a green belt around the entire historic business district of Adelaide. It was built in the 19th century as a protective wall and today consists of 27 parks. In total, the ring is about 20 square kilometers long and up to 600 meters wide in places. On the ring you will find the Botanical Garden, where the WOMADelaide takes place every year with musicians and dancers from all over the world.
Walking through the city
The city centre, which is laid out as a checkerboard pattern, is very clear and can be explored on foot or by bike. Here you should not miss the Central Market. It is one of the most popular sights and an Eldorado for gourmets. But art, clothing and all kinds of odds and ends also tempt you to browse.
Beer, wine and chocolate
And three more things are an absolute must: a tour of Coopers Brewery, the National Wine Centre of Australia and Haigh’s Chocolates. Coopers is a small family business that started in 1862 and whose beer is now number one in Australia . A guided tour of the brewery at Regency Park is recommended. There you will learn everything about beer production and at the end the cool water will of course be tested. Near the Botanic Gardens is the National Wine Centre of Australia. Even the sight of the building, which looks like part of a wine barrel, is an architectural delight. There are various rows of vines with different grapes on the site. Inside the house, an interactive exhibition provides insights into wine production. At the end of the tour, there will be a wine tasting with wines from the different growing regions of Australia. For those with a sweet tooth, there is still a chocolate tour, in the parkside at Haigh’s Chocolates. Here you will find a lot of information about chocolate production and sweet samples.
Highlights in Adelaide
Take the tram to dolphin watching
In addition to art and cuisine, you shouldn’t forget that Adelaide is located on the water and can score with beautiful beaches. A long white sandy beach with an amusement park, cosy bars and restaurants can be found in Glenelg, a suburb of Adelaide. Boat tours for dolphin watching also take place from there. The journey is particularly charming: with the only still active tram from Adelaide directly to the beach.
The oldest clipper ship in the world
Just north of the capital is the picturesque harbour of Port Adelaide. There are plenty of sights in a small area that lead from water to rail and finally into the air: the Maritime Museum, National Railway Museum and the South Australian Aviation Museum. And then there is the City of Adelaide in all its glory, the largest clipper full-rigged ship in the world, built in England and launched on May 7, 1864.
A car museum in the vineyards
If you let your gaze wander east from the harbour, you will end up in the gentle hilly landscape of the Adelaide Hills. A trip there leads to picturesque villages that are almost hidden in the middle of vineyards. At some point you reach a small village called Birdwood with just 891 inhabitants. And there is actually Australia’s largest car museum with around 400 vehicles from the beginning of the 20th century to the present day. And less than ten minutes away, there is a small winery where Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir and Sparkling Blanc are produced, among other things. Visitors are welcome.
Black Forest cake, sausage and rolls
Another worthwhile destination in the Adelaide Hills is Hahndorf, southeast of Adelaide. As the name suggests, this is a German settlement, founded in 1839. The German heritage cannot be denied, but tasted: German bread, bee sting and Black Forest cake are offered by the bakeries. In the butchers’ shops, an enormous selection of sausage varieties awaits, rather atypical for Australia. But local products from the Adelaide Hills can also be found in small shops and restaurants.
Facts about Adelaide
The Australian city of Adelaide is the fifth largest city Down Under with 1826.9 square kilometers and around 1.3 million inhabitants. Adelaide is also known as the Festival City and the City of Churches and is the capital of South Australia. The South Australian metropolis captivates with its charismatic flair, cultural diversity, wonderful sights and a multifaceted natural landscape.
Only around 17500 people live in the city centre and thus holidaymakers can explore the manageable city centre by bike or on foot. Around the heart of the city are about 250 districts, which make up the total size of this metropolis.
The city of festivals and churches has an interesting history. Adelaide offers numerous wonderful parks that invite you to relax and attracts tourists from all over the world with its miles of coastline. The streets are not crowded like in other metropolises, the residents are casual and the atmosphere is laid back, i.e. atmospheric and cozy.
Adelaide seems much smaller than the fifth largest city on the continent actually is. In recent years, many efforts have been made to make Adelaide an attractive, modern and open-minded metropolis that tourists like to visit.
Nightlife
South Australia’s capital has developed a lively nightclub and pub scene. Hindley Street and North Adelaide are where night owls get their money’s worth. Tourists will find a wide range of national and international restaurants and an interesting live music and art scene has established itself. Night owls appreciate Adelaide because of the many ways to turn night into day.
Multkulti
Adelaide is an open-minded city with a multicultural life. Visitors can, for example, visit Chinatown and get a glimpse of Asian culture.
Glenelg
Sun worshippers, backpackers and surfers are drawn to the popular suburb of Glenelg.
Party metropolis
In no other state in Australia is there more celebration than in South Australia. The Festival State hosts a variety of festivals throughout the year. In addition to sporting events and culinary events, major events and exhibitions invite you to spend hours of fun.
Orientation in Adelaide
The checkerboard-like city center is clearly arranged and thus tourists can easily explore it on foot. In the city centre is the business district, which is bordered by the West, North, South and East Terraces.
The heart of the centre is Victoria Square. This square is the hub of public transport. From here, tourists can take buses or trams to numerous tourist attractions.
The city is bordered by the beautifully landscaped parklands and the Torrens River. This river flows on the northern side of the city centre, separating the centre from the upscale residential area of North Adelaide.
In the north, the botanical garden and zoo attract nature lovers and families. The North Terrace is the cultural district where galleries, museums, the new and old parliaments as well as other sights are lined up.
To the north of the city centre is Rundle Street, which is known for its wide range of cinemas, bookshops, boutiques and restaurants. This street is where the hearts of shopping fans beat faster, as it is home to Adelaide’s main shopping street.
To the west, Rundle Street continues as Hindley Street, which has made a name for itself with its lively nightlife and numerous bars, clubs and strip clubs.
Recommendations for a stay in Adelaide
Shopping
Shopping fans and bargain hunters should not miss the popular and colorful Central Market.
Picnic and relaxation in the countryside
If you prefer a picnic, you can head to the Parklands, which are located on the River Torrens.
Cultural highlights
For those interested in culture, the South Australia Museum is interesting. Culture fans get to know the country’s typical art and culture here.
Nature and animal lovers
Nature lovers can admire the free Botanic Gardens, which are located on the North Terrace. The wonderful Riverbank is ideal for long walks.
Mount Lofty is a worthwhile destination. With a bit of luck, tourists can see koalas living in the wild and, of course, enjoy the fantastic view of Australia’s fifth largest city. In Adelaide, contact with native animals is inevitable, whether in the numerous wildlife parks or swimming with dolphins.
Sun, beach and sea
Water sports enthusiasts and sun worshippers are in the right place in the seaside suburb of Glenelg, while the idyllic Adelaide Hills attract nature lovers and sports enthusiasts. The beautiful beaches of Henley Beach and Brighton Jetty in Grange are well worth a visit.
Layer
Adelaide is picturesquely nestled between the Fleurieu Penisula to the north, the Gulf of St. Vincent to the east and the wooded Adelaide Hills to the north.
Adelaide is the ideal base from which to explore the diverse surrounding countryside and the wonderful natural landscape.
Wine lovers can visit the world-renowned wine regions of McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley and McLaren.
Weather and climate in Adelaide
The weather is quite mixed and can be compared to the weather conditions of the Mediterranean climate zone. The summers are very hot and dry with up to 40 degrees Celsius.
In contrast, the average temperatures in winter are quite cool at around 10 degrees Celsius. It rains frequently in the winter months.
Due to the pleasant climate, even in June and July, i.e. in the Australian winter, beach walks are possible at up to 18 degrees Celsius.
Best time to visit
The most beautiful seasons are the Australian autumn from March to May as well as the Australian spring in the months of September, October and November.
Journey
The fastest flight connections bring tourists from Germany to the Festival City in just 21 hours with just one stopover. The best connections are currently offered by the airlines Emirates, Qatar Airways and Qantas.
Spend the night
In the centre of Adelaide, there are accommodations in every price range.
Accommodation on North Terrace or within the CBS is recommended, as all important sights and places can be reached in just a few minutes on foot.
