Adelaide has a distinctly European flair, with locals who are passionate about their food, wine, art and music. The city has long been a destination for immigrants. Today, Adelaide has a population of just over 1.2 million people. The surrounding regions are among Australia’s finest producers of food and wine, and the city is the home of many international arts and sporting events.
Adelaide’s climate is similar to the Mediterranean, so it’s no wonder that there are a bounty of outdoor activities. Lush gardens and parkland surround the city grid. Enjoy a picnic at the Adelaide Botanic Gardens or jump on a tram to one of Adelaide’s city beaches. Take a trip down a water slide at The Beachhouse or swim with the dolphins in Glenelg, one of Adelaide’s must-see neighbourhoods.
The small German settlement villages of Hahndorf and Lobethal are nestled in the Adelaide Hills, just a short drive from the city. Many German immigrants still live in the hills, and the architecture, customs and food reflect their influence. Head to the region to sample offerings from some of Australia’s finest wine producers. McLaren Vale and the Barossa Valley are among the areas that have led South Australia to be recognised as an internationally renowned wine region.
Watch one of Adelaide’s two Australian Football League teams compete, a must for any sports fan. In the summer, take in the first race of the international cycling season at the Tour Down Under. If visiting during February and March check out the Adelaide Fringe Festival and WOMADelaide, Australia’s biggest festival of world music. Loved by musicians around the world, the city has been the subject of songs by Australian favourite, Paul Kelly, and American piano-rocker Ben Folds, both of whom have called Adelaide home.
Get some retail therapy at Rundle Mall, Adelaide’s main shopping precinct. From here the city of Adelaide is easy to navigate; most major tourist attractions are within walking distance. North Terrace is just blocks away and houses the Art Gallery of South Australia, the Migration Museum and the Museum of South Australia. Public transport is affordable and will allow you to reach all of Adelaide’s neighbourhoods within 20 minutes.
