Explore buzzing laneways and hidden bars, dance the day away at a world-class music festival, indulge in local culture, sink into sandy beaches, hike in the hills, or sample the very best South Australian wine in Adelaide – the 20-minute city.
INTRODUCTION
Enjoying a relaxed and laidback atmosphere, diverse mix of architecture, expansive green spaces, and vibrant food and wine scene, Adelaide is often described as the ‘20-minute city’ due to its compact size, offering visitors enhanced accessibility alongside plenty of opportunities for authentic local interaction.
Serene sandy beaches, the scenic Adelaide Hills, and a colourful city centre are all within easy reach, complemented by a modern and well-connected public transport network.
Differentiating itself from larger Australian destinations such as Sydney and Melbourne, Adelaide offers a high quality of life for those who have made the city their home, alongside a real sense of community where diversity thrives.
Adelaide has a packed calendar of events and was officially declared Australia’s first and only UNESCO City of Music in 2015, celebrated for its ability to foster sustainable development through culture and creativity.
It hosts the world’s second-largest annual arts festival, Adelaide Fringe, as well as Adelaide Festival and WOMADelaide in February and March, respectively, all of which make for a bustling atmosphere that brings the city to life.
Widely considered the country’s wine capital, Adelaide is surrounded by world-renowned South Australian wine regions such as the Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale – both of which are less than an hour’s drive away.
The city itself has a thriving bar and restaurant scene, with hidden bars and buzzing eateries around the laneways such as Vardon Avenue and Peel Street providing visitors with the thrill of discovery upon uncovering a hip, lesser-known spot.
A place where nature seamlessly blends with cosmopolitan urban living, Adelaide’s city centre is surrounded by a ring of verdant greenery in the form of expansive parklands, with Adelaide Botanic Garden showcasing fragrant endemic plants.
Glenelg and Henley Beach are also just a stone’s throw from the centre and accessible via public transport or the winding Coast Park Path, which passes through beachside suburbs with cafes and shops. Watching the sunset over the sparkling sea after a long day of sightseeing in the city’s buzzing metropolis is the perfect way to end the day.
For those seeking a scenic escape from the crowds, the nearby Adelaide Hills offer a cooler climate, hiking trails, and a strong connection to nature and heritage in charming villages like Hahndorf, whilst its conservation parks house some of the very best native Australian wildlife, including koalas.
Whether you’re seeking a vibrant city break packed with culture, education in world-class wines, beachside getaway, or tranquil natural retreat, Adelaide is the place for you.
Q&A WITH ADELAIDE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGENCY
As South Australia’s coastal capital continues to see growth and evolution, Adelaide Economic Development Agency plays a crucial role in shaping the future. Gemma Nelson, Advisor, Tourism Industry Development, discusses activating the city, attracting investment, and driving measurable economic outcomes.
Firstly, how have you seen Adelaide’s tourism offering evolve in recent years? What challenges or opportunities have you encountered?
Gemma Nelson, Advisor, Tourism Industry Development (GN): When I arrived in Adelaide in 2010, I didn’t know what to expect but fell in love with it immediately and made it home!
It’s a small city that has everything you need, is surrounded by nature, and has the most warm and welcoming people. Since then, I think Adelaide’s tourism offering has evolved a lot.
We’ve shifted from being ‘Australia’s best-kept secret’ to confidently owning our identity as a vibrant, experience-rich destination.
The central business district (CBD) is ‘growing up’, with small laneway bars and many restaurants serving the most amazing food, new international hotels, arts and cultural experiences, and incredible year-round events.
We are globally recognised as Australia’s only UNESCO City of Music and one of only four National Park Cities in the world, which means sustainability, creativity, and culture are embedded into Adelaide’s DNA.
Our opportunity now is depth – more experiences that encourage longer stays and dispersal throughout the city. Adelaide is in a growth phase, and the challenge – which I see as a privilege in my role – is shaping what’s missing.
Through product development and tourism investment work, the Adelaide Economic Development Agency (AEDA) is collaborating with industry partners and government to attract new operators and elevate the city’s offering. The partnership and energy across our industry sector is growing strong.
How do Adelaide’s different districts offer different experiences for visitors?
GN: One of Adelaide’s greatest strengths is its connectedness; you can move easily between totally different areas in minutes.
The city centre is walkable, compact, and safe, from the North Terrace boulevard, where you can spend a whole day exploring arts and cultural institutions, Adelaide Botanic Garden, the National Wine Centre of Australia, and Adelaide Zoo, as well as some of the state’s most beautiful heritage architecture, to burgeoning laneways full of bars and restaurants serving up South Australian wines and artisan produce.
You have shopping and entertainment in Rundle Mall, the longest outdoor pedestrian mall in the Southern Hemisphere, you can watch a game or concert at the iconic Adelaide Oval, or you can ride and walk along the River Torrens all the way along to the hills or the other way to the coast.
Just a short tram ride away, Glenelg is in the middle of a long stretch of pristine sandy coastline with a calm blue ocean and sunsets over the water, ice creams, fishing on the jetty, and catamaran cruises.
Slightly north, you reach Port Adelaide, where heritage meets edge with breweries in restored wool stores, featuring street art, maritime history, and kayaking alongside dolphins.
Every district has its own personality, and the ability to access them with such ease gives visitors a richer, more spontaneous experience.
“Every district has its own personality, and the ability to access them with such ease gives visitors a richer, more spontaneous experience”
Gemma Nelson, Advisor, Tourism industry Development, Adelaide Economic Development Agency
How does Adelaide’s unique character and strategic location set the city apart?
GN: Adelaide is beautifully balanced, being sophisticated yet relaxed, cultured yet unpretentious. Visitors don’t have to choose between world-class wineries or beaches, nature or nightlife. In Adelaide, you can do all of that – often in the same day!
Our strategic location puts us within minutes of pristine beaches and award-winning wineries, and we’re completely surrounded by the world’s only metropolitan parklands.
The scale of the city gives people time back because it has little traffic, no queues or stress, and room to breathe.
It’s a place where visitors can feel connection with locals, operators, and the landscape. Unlike larger destinations, our hospitality feels genuinely personal.
In your opinion, what is Adelaide’s most underrated attraction?
GN: I love Adelaide Central Market! It’s the heart and soul of who we are – multicultural, full of energy and stories, and home to an incredible array of world-class cuisines, all fuelled by fresh produce and wine sourced directly from our surrounding regions.
It’s also located right next to Chinatown, which has an excellent eclectic mix of Asian cuisines to suit any budget and occasion.
Beyond the market, some of the city’s most memorable moments happen in the places you don’t find in a brochure but in hidden laneways such as Vardon Avenue and Peel Street – tiny bars, tucked-away restaurants, and independent galleries and makers.
JamFactory is an excellent example of collaborative workspace bringing together experts in arts and crafts, including glass blowing, which you can watch for free. Those unexpected discoveries are what stay with people long after they leave.
How will the AEDA Strategic Plan 2024/25 – 2028/29 increase foot traffic, spending, and investment?
GN: AEDA’s strategy is focused on activating the city, attracting investment, and driving measurable economic outcomes.
We’re developing tourism products and experiences to encourage longer stays and gain growing recognition as a city not to be missed on any Australian itinerary.
We’re working with industry to attract new businesses to the city, from hospitality and retail through to innovative start-ups and entrepreneurs via our Strategic Partnerships Programme and are also working with Council to achieve its growth target of 50,000 residents by 2036.
We use real-time data on visitation, spend, and pedestrian movement to shape decisions and allocate resources where they have the most impact.
We work closely with Business Events Adelaide as a strategic partner, helping to bring high-yield business events into the city which drive midweek and off-peak visitation and convert business travellers into leisure visitors.
Can you talk about the AUD$10+ billion of city-shaping projects on the horizon?
GN: It’s an incredibly transformative period for Adelaide. The Central Market Arcade redevelopment and expansion will evolve the precinct into a world-class market district, creating new hospitality, retail, residential, hotel, and public spaces whilst protecting what locals love most about the market today.
The Riverbank and Festival Plaza precinct has undergone a major upgrade in the last few years, connecting the cultural, sporting, and entertainment spine of the city with redeveloped, expanded venues such as the Adelaide Convention Centre, Adelaide Oval, and SkyCity Adelaide, with new commercial offices and university buildings further activating these spaces.
Several new international-standard hotels have recently opened or are under development and will attract more diverse visitation and support our growing events calendar.
Beyond these landmark projects, more than AUD$10 billion in city-shaping investment is either underway or on the horizon. Major mixed-use precincts, next-generation biomedical and research facilities, and new commercial towers are redefining Adelaide’s skyline and expanding the city’s innovation footprint.
The Lot Fourteen innovation district continues to accelerate growth in space, defence, cybersecurity and creative industries, drawing global companies and talent into the CBD. Similarly, the BioMed City cluster is strengthening Adelaide’s position as a leader in health, medical research, and advanced manufacturing, with continued investment supporting high-value jobs and commercialisation opportunities.
Large-scale residential developments are also helping reshape the city, accommodating population growth and driving new life into key corridors.
Strategic investment in transport, digital infrastructure, and public realm upgrades is improving connectivity, sustainability, and liveability across the CBD and inner suburbs.
Collectively, these projects are not only changing Adelaide’s physical form but also elevating its economic performance, cultural vibrancy, and global competitiveness – setting the city up for its next era of growth.
Major expansion of Adelaide Airport (ADL) and new direct international routes – including recently announced non-stop flights to San Francisco and Shanghai – mean Adelaide is becoming increasingly globally connected.
“Visitors come for the food, wine, culture, and nature, but they also return because of how Adelaide makes them feel! The future is bright, and we’re only just getting started”
Gemma Nelson, Advisor, Tourism industry Development, Adelaide Economic Development Agency
What impact do major global events have on Adelaide’s visitor economy?
GN: Major international events are huge economic drivers for the city and state. They fill hotels, activate our streets, drive spend into restaurants, shops, and tourism operators, and encourage visitation to our incredible regions.
Adelaide doesn’t just host events – we transform for them! The city comes alive and visitors truly feel immersed. Nowhere does festivals like Adelaide, and you just need to be here to experience something like Adelaide Fringe Festival, WOMADelaide, LIV Golf, Tour Down Under, or the Ashes – to name a few – to understand the buzz and vibrancy of the city.
These types of events draw international media coverage and huge visitor audiences and are case studies on a global stage for how to do events well in the realms of sustainability and accessibility.
Finally, are you optimistic about the future of Adelaide’s tourism industry?
GN: I might be biased because I genuinely love Adelaide, but yes, I am incredibly optimistic!
We have momentum and we’re attracting new experiences, airlines, events, and major private and public investment.
Our industry is highly collaborative, our offering is authentic, and our city is evolving with confidence.
Visitors come for the food, wine, culture, and nature, but they also return because of how Adelaide makes them feel! The future is bright, and we’re only just getting started.
OUTLOOK RECOMMENDS
Eat:
FOR A TASTE OF THE LOCAL LANDSCAPE…
Restaurant Botanic is an award-winning fine dining restaurant known for its multi-course tasting menu that focuses on native Australian ingredients sourced primarily from the surrounding Adelaide Botanic Garden.
With lake views, exceptional service, and a garden-to-plate ethos, diners will marvel at the innovation and sheer creativity of what’s on offer at this high-end establishment.
Each dish presents a multi-sensory experience, with unique flavour combinations and jaw-dropping presentation taking even the most discerning food connoisseur by surprise.
Booking is essential at this sought-after spot and reservations must be made through the official website.
Do:
FOR AN AUSTRALIAN WINE JOURNEY…
Home to Australia’s largest open cellar, the National Wine Centre of Australia is the ultimate destination for wine lovers, showcasing and celebrating the very best of Australian wine culture.
With immersive tastings and events on offer, this prestigious institution provides a memorable experience for wine enthusiasts.
Located in the heart of the CBD and on the doorstep of the stunning Adelaide Botanic Garden, this easily accessible hub is not to be missed.
Sleep:
FOR THE ULTIMATE LUXURY…
Choose Eos by SkyCity, the go-to hotel for discerning travellers seeking the finest in modern hospitality, carefully curated dining options, and 5-star amenities.
Nestled in the heart of Adelaide’s CBD close to the Art Gallery of South Australia, the Adelaide Convention Centre, and overlooking the Adelaide Oval, the hotel is ideally located for those seeking a sanctuary of unrivalled luxury from which to explore the city.
With its name derived from Eos – Greek goddess of the dawn – the hotel’s exterior is adorned with a sleek, polished bronze-hued façade, whose warm copper tones reflect the rising sun each morning.
Boasting some of the largest rooms in the city, a state-of-the art gym and spa, and heated outdoor pool offering scenic views over the River Torrens, Eos by SkyCity is undoubtedly ushering in a new dawn of elegant hospitality for the city, in keeping with its namesake.
ADELAIDE CENTRAL MARKET IN FOCUS
Dating back over 150 years, Adelaide Central Market is a vibrant, thriving hub of the city’s food culture and one of the largest undercover fresh produce markets in the Southern Hemisphere.
With over 70 stalls offering fresh, seasonal produce, local delicacies, and international food options, it provides a lively and authentic experience for both budding foodies and experienced gourmands.
The air is always abuzz with activity as more than 80 traders from over 40 nationalities come together Tuesday through Sunday each week to serve their delicious offerings under one roof.
Visitors can eat their way through this culinary haven, with deep dishes of steaming paella, fragrant laksas and curries, fresh cheeses and cold cuts, and plentiful plant-based and vegetarian options to suit any palate.
Discover restaurants serving organic local produce, wine bars where the finest regional grapes can be sampled, and food stalls proudly combining ingredients that have shaped South Australia’s gastronomic history.
There are also plenty of sweet treats on offer – from cakes and pastries to chocolates and biscuits – alongside local classics such as lamingtons, vanilla slices, and pavlovas, a nod to Australia’s much-loved bakery and café culture.
Today, the area is undergoing a period of significant redevelopment through the Market Square and Market Expansion Project which, at a combined value of AUD$400 million, will evolve the precinct into a world-class attraction and Australia’s first location for the globally recognised lifestyle brand, Treehouse Hotels, securing the future of the market district.
Enlargement of the iconic marketplace on the ground floor will offer visitors even more of what they know and love, with more than 50 new tenancies anticipated to be made available.
LANDMARK ATTRACTIONS
Adelaide Oval
One of Australia’s most historic and scenic sporting venues, the Adelaide Oval dates back to 1871. Whilst the primary focus is on cricket, the venue also hosts Australian rules football, concerts, and major events. Visitors can take a guided stadium tour, explore the museum dedicated to cricket legend Sir Donald Bradman, or take a daring guided walk across the stadium’s rooftop with RoofClimb, where each step delivers soaring panoramic views of the city and a thrilling rush you won’t soon forget.
Adelaide Botanic Garden
Located in the heart of the city on North Terrace, Adelaide Botanic Garden is a peaceful 50-hectare oasis showcasing diverse plants from across Australia and the world. Key features include tranquil lotus ponds, historic architecture like the Palm House, and tree-lined walkways. For an education in plants, seeds, and fruits, take a trip to the Museum of Economic Botany within the grounds.
Art Gallery of South Australia
Established in 1881, the Art Gallery of South Australia houses the second-largest state art collection in the country. Renowned for its collections of Indigenous Australian and colonial art, the gallery is one of several major cultural institutions within Adelaide’s North Terrace and has exhibited the works of world-famous artists including Andy Warhol, Robert Hannaford, Diane Arbus, and Del Kathryn Barton, to name a few.
GETTING THERE AND AROUND
Adelaide is an easy city to access, thanks to its well-connected international airport offering daily direct routes from key global hubs and frequent domestic services from every major Australian city. Travel into the city is seamless, with the airport located just 15 minutes from the CBD.
Adelaide is also the closest major capital to Melbourne, making it an ideal twin-city trip – linked by one of the world’s most iconic coastal journeys, the Great Ocean Road, which offers the perfect overnight, bucket-list stop along the way.
National rail services also connect Adelaide to other major Australian cities like Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Darwin, and Brisbane. Direct routes are available, with train journeys such as Indian Pacific and The Ghan offering sleeper cabins as part of a luxury, all-inclusive travel experience.
Once you have arrived, Adelaide’s manifold public transport options make navigating the city and its surroundings simple.
The J1 and J2 bus services run directly between the airport and Adelaide’s CBD, whilst the J7 and J8 connect the airport to Adelaide’s southwest and northwest suburbs.
Rideshares such as Uber, DiDi, and Ola are also readily available outside the airport terminal, whilst shuttle services like Airport City Shuttle and Adelaide Air Connect provide connections to major city hotels.
Alongside its extensive bus network, Adelaide Metro also operates trains and trams. Within the CBD, travellers can take advantage of free public transport, including a no-fare tram service through designated city zones and the free City Connector bus, which loops through the inner city and links seamlessly to North Adelaide.
