Top Things to do in Adelaide
The 10 Best Sights & Landmarks in Adelaide, South Australia
The capital city of South Australia is simply enchanting, a treasure trove of shopping, fine arts, gastronomy and outdoor activity. Adelaide is the heart of the world's opal industry, selling gorgeous stones from South Australian mines. Be sure to hike the aptly named Mt. Lofty Ranges and catch a wave off the Fleurieu Peninsula. Indulge your adventurous palate and traipse into nearby wine regions like the famed Barossa Valley to pick up a deliciously drinkable souvenir.
Restaurants in Adelaide
1. Skye Lookout
2. Adelaide Oval
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,032 reviews
Adelaide Oval has long been one of Australia’s most recognisable and prestigious venues and hosts cricket, football, concerts, functions and major events at the highest level. Its prominent location as the centrepiece of the Adelaide CBD’s revitalised riverbank precinct makes Adelaide Oval an outstanding destination. Known the world over as a beautiful and historic sporting venue, the Oval attracts visitors in their thousands from within South Australia, interstate and overseas. Along with sports fans, the Oval has enormous appeal to visitors with an interest in history, culture, food and wine, as well as a large contingent of business travellers.
Reviewed By blossie89 - Ocean Grove, Australia
We visited the Oval, on a weekday, it was magnificent. We sat in the stands and admired the great icon. The Don Bradman cricket exhibition is a proud reminder of our excellent sporting history and the talent and hard work that our 'Don ' strove for an achieved. It was free, and we felt very privileged. Well worth seeing.
3. North Terrace
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 589 reviews
This mile-long avenue has a number of historical buildings, including an 1838 church, the colonial-era Ayers House and the Adelaide Casino in a restored 1920s railway station.
Reviewed By CarolDM1900 - Montpelier, United States
If ever there was an antidote to the long plane or train ride needed to get here "from away," it is this beautiful boulevard. Walk a single block from King William Road to Kintore Avenue, along the brick wall protecting the grounds of South Australia's Government House, and you will be treated to a cool, shady, park-like stroll past impressive statuary, historic architecture, and cultural quirks that add human interest to the "story" of this city. Continue another 3 blocks and you'll reach the Botanic Gardens, maybe stopping along the way to visit the South Australia Art Gallery. If that's too much, just turn left at Kintore, and you'll find many points of interest there, to include very impressive war memorials, both old (1931) and new (2016), the lovely Institute Building of the State Library, and the fascinating Migration Museum. Any combination works, especially if you are lucky enough to be visiting on one of those days graced by Adelaide's remarkably blue skies, as we were. We had arrived via the Indian Pacific from Perth, more than 1500 miles away. After 3 nights on a train, we felt ready to stretch our legs. We were immediately impressed by the historic architecture. The Adelaide Club (1864) was a social venue for the city's prominent male politicians and their cronies (Parliament and Government House are immediately nearby). It's built of stone from nearby Dry Creek, with rust-colored brick trimmings to give it a dash of color. We loved the natural stone on so many of Adelaide's old buildings, and the durable materials helped them to survive. This gives the city a more interesting look, both old and new, in very appealing combination. The Institute at the corner of North Terrace and Kintore is another gem, more for its interiors than its exterior. Local people told us that some of the Hogwarts library scenes from the Harry Potter movies were filmed there. I don't know if that's true, but the Mortlock Chamber certainly looks like it COULD have been in those magical films. Of the figures memorialized on North Terrace, we particularly admired Canova's Venus, the city's first public street statue (1892), which put a classical stamp on the terrace's cultural transformation. The relaxed, very approachable pose of Dame Roma Mitchell, a pioneer of women's rights, with a sheaf of Parliamentary correspondence dropping down the pedestal from her lap, was warmly charming. The life story of geographer-explorer Matthew Flinders, who proved Australia was one continent by circumnavigating it, was fascinating in its ups-and-downs, including a 7-year imprisonment on Mauritius during the Napoleonic Wars, which broke his health but did not prevent him from finishing his masterwork "Voyage to Terra Australis" and its accompanying atlas. By far the most impressive thing we saw was Adelaide's 1931 War Memorial, just around the corner on Kintor Avenue. In a beautiful art nouveau style, it conveys the experience of World War I and of all subsequent conflicts by presenting both Prologue and Aftermath. Be sure to walk around the memorial to see the back, and not just the front. And, if you have the time, do continue the detour down Kintor to the brilliant new ANZAC centenary wall, with its 100 characters etched on local black granite to represent both those who served in and those who were affected by war. It is stunning. There is much more that I could write, but the point is to explore this beautiful boulevard on your own, at a leisurely pace, spontaneously to take in what matters to you and to pass by what does not. It's pleasant and refreshing walk in a great urban environment.
4. St Francis Xavier Cathedral
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 118 reviews
Reviewed By 619jeffry - Essendon, Australia
St Francis Xavier Cathedral is the oldest Catholic cathedral church in Australia,It Is named in honor of St Francis Xavier, the Apostle to the East. St Francis was Spanish; he was a member of the Society of Jesus, often called the Jesuits. This magnificent church is well worth seeing, even if you are not Catholic. It is active in its ministry to the people of Adelaide -- "weddings, funerals, everything."
5. Carrick Hill
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 312 reviews
Reviewed By G4304VOnicolas - Greater Adelaide, Australia
Excellent lunch today after a pleasant and interesting stroll through the magnificent home. Lunch menu offers many choices and prices very reasonable. The prune and Armagnac cake is scrumptious. Well done to John and his excellent staff.
6. St Peter's Cathedral
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 288 reviews
Reviewed By RayParks - Adelaide, Australia
On our way back from North Adelaide, we slowly drive in front of the Cathedral. It's a magnificent building, in which my friend's husband officiated a wedding.
7. Rundle Street East
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 136 reviews
Reviewed By Rasa111 - Robina, Australia
Lots of laneways connecting to Rundle Mall to make it more interesting. The usual shops but easily accessible with this Mall access as only pedestrians. Lots of interesting coffee shops in the area too.
8. West Terrace Cemetery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 92 reviews
West Terrace Cemetery has been a feature of Adelaide since Colonel William Light laid out the city in 1837. Now this mini-metropolis of marble and slate reveals much, if not more, of city’s character than some of the more famous city attractions. Discover the many captivating and long-forgotten stories of its inhabitants on a guided tour or by exploring one of the free self-guided walking trails.
Reviewed By Jetlag_Judy - Greater Adelaide, Australia
If you like cemeteries, you'll like this one. Such a lot of local history here. Plenty of explanatory plaques, and a touch screen to find particular graves. Many significant historical persons buried here, and also some lovely old gravestones and epitaphs.
9. National War Memorial, Adelaide
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 228 reviews
Reviewed By daf57 - Adelaide, Australia
The National War Memorial is a significant feature on Adelaide`s North Terrace. It is a poignant reminder and symbolic of the fine balance between war and peace. I recommend visitors enter the memorial to view the information and names of those who lost their lives in the World Wars. A number of modern, smaller monuments surround the memorial representing more recent military actions/events. Please display the highest level of respect. Highly recommended for all.
10. The University of Adelaide
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 44 reviews
Reviewed By JeffK284 - Adelaide, Australia
Please visit the Elder Conservatorium for the amazing lunch hour concert on Fridays. Some of the events such as Chinese Speech competitions for the Anglos in SA, Please do not be shocked that the university also has beautiful eateries.
