Overview

Despite being filled with modern cafés and the like, Adelaide has worked hard to retain its heritage and several of the city's prominent historical sites can be visited. Tour the Old Adelaide Gaol for a glimpse at what life was like in this now defunct prison or watch the assembly in session at Parliament House. More cultural offerings can be soaked up at the acclaimed National Aboriginal Cultural Institute and the acclaimed Art Gallery of South Australia.

Art Gallery of South Australia

More than half a million art lovers visit this gallery each year to see the 35,000 piece collection, which is divided into four categories: Asian and European decorative arts, Australian decorative arts, paintings and sculpture, and drawings and prints. Many visitors come here just for the 18th century South Australian artworks while the 16th century European art on display is also popular.

Adelaide Botanic Gardens

Spanning 125 acres and dating to the mid-19th century, these pretty gardens provide a welcome respite from the bustle of the city centre. Visitors can stroll around the well-kept lawns and take in hard-to-find plants and shrubbery. The oldest glasshouse to be found in an Australian botanic garden is onsite here, as is a modern rainforest conservatory known as the Bicentennial Conservatory.

Adelaide Gaol

Step back in time to experience what it was like to be a prisoner at this jail during its years of operation from 1841 to 1988. As you tour the facility, designed by George Strickland Kingston in the colonial style, you will see graffiti by inmates on the walls and displays educating visitors about daily activities in the gaol. In total, 45 people were executed here.

Migration Museum

Learn more about the history of South Australia and the diverse cultures who have helped to shape the city at this interesting museum. There are both permanent exhibitions on the settlement of the region as well as frequent changing exhibitions. Immigration and settlement is explored in depth through documents, artworks and other media.

Parliament House

This striking building was constructed over the course of 65 years in two stages using West Island granite and Kapunda marble and is ranked as one of Australia's grandest parliamentary buildings. Today guests to the facility can sit in on assembly sessions, watching events from the public galleries - a fantastic insight into South Australian politics.

Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute

Blending workshop and performance areas with galleries, this unique cultural institute provides visitors with a fun and educational insight into aboriginal traditions. Taking its name after the aboriginal word for Adelaide, Tandanya is one of the best places in the country to get acquainted with the indigenous art traditions of Australia's aboriginals.

Adelaide Zoo

Those travelling with little ones should not miss a visit to this superb zoo, where Australian favourites such as kangaroos and koalas can be seen up close. Altogether there are more than 1,000 species of animal resident here, including a variety of exotic and native mammals, birds and reptiles. A ferry runs within the zoo or you can tour the facility on foot.

South Australian Museum

Touring this renowned museum is a must during any visit to the city for its excellent Egyptian and aboriginal collections as well its huge Huckitta meteorite. Spanning more than just artworks, the museum features exhibits on cultural history and more. The onsite information centre is excellent while the shop makes a nice spot to pick up souvenirs.

Overview

Outdoor enthusiasts will be spoilt for choice when it comes to deciding which adrenalin-fuelled activity to take part in next in Adelaide, yet there are plenty of laid-back sports to participate in as well. Hot air balloon rides over wine country are a favourite pastime among those who don't want to break out into a sweat while the coast and its related water sports are on the doorstep. Those into nature will not want to miss excursions to the nearby national parks.

National parks

There are four nature parks within easy daytrip distance of Adelaide. Belair National Park is just 11kms from the city centre and a great place to enjoy bushwalking while Cleland National Park, a 20-minute drive from Adelaide, offers aboriginal cultural tours and native wildlife. Ten kilometres from the city is Morialta Conservation Park, where trails take you past beautiful waterfalls. Alternatively, soak up more domestic wildlife at Warrawong Wildlife Sanctuary.

Water sports

Adelaide's beaches are ideal for swimming, even for young children. There are popular sandy stretches all along the coast, less than 15 minutes by car from the city, with some favourite spots being Glenelg, Brighton, Grange, Seacliff, Henley, Semaphore and West beaches, all of which are easily accessible from the city centre. If you prefer not to get wet, try hiring a sail, peddle or power boat for a trip out on the water.

Hot air ballooning

One of the best ways to appreciate the beautiful countryside around Adelaide is to take to the sky in a hot air balloon. Most rides take place in the early morning weather window and finish off with a champagne breakfast. The area's vineyards make for great sightseeing from a bird's eye view and passengers get to participate in preparing the balloon for flight before takeoff.

Cycling

There is no need to bring your bike with you to Adelaide as the city has a number of reputable outlets that rent everything from mountain to tandem bikes. For an easy-going ride, try the path along the River Torrens which takes bikers all the way to the coast. Get in touch with Adelaide Cycling Club for more ideas on where to cycle in the city.

River cruises

There are a number of operators offering relaxing cruises along the River Torrens, with boats departing from Elder Park wharf. Journeys from here to the city's zoo take around 30 minutes. Longer cruises are also available, departing from Adelaide city and then transferring to the Murray River by bus for a wildlife boat tour of the river. If you prefer to navigate yourself, try hiring a paddle boat and cruise under your own power.

Fishing

Anglers can throw a line at the piers and jetties found at Adelaide's beaches, with Grange, Brighton, Semaphore, Glenelg, Henley and Seacliff all being popular fishing spots. Freshwater fishing is possible inland along the Hindmarsh River while crabs can be caught along the coast using nets.

Dining and shopping

Adelaide is a frontrunner on the Australian circuit for fine dining and visitors are guaranteed to find a delightful array of eating options during their stay. In addition to plenty of ethnic options including Thai, Indian and Vietnamese, there are European choices to tickle your taste buds. Just outside the city is wine country, where boutique restaurants can be discovered.

Like elsewhere in the country, Adelaide has a thriving café culture and you will find trendy coffee shops in all districts of the city. Wine bars are another popular feature and allow you to sample local varieties of wine. Try Gouger and Hutt streets or Melbourne and O'Connell streets for the best in Adelaide's wine and coffee bars.

For inexpensive dining, visitors are recommended to check out Central Market and the affordable eateries around it. Fresh fish is a speciality here while there are also a number of tasty Asian restaurants along Gouger and Grote streets and at Hawker's Corner and the International Food Market. Further dining choices can be found at Rundle Mall in the centre, North Adelaide and the suburbs.

While many of the city's restaurants specialise in certain cuisines you will also find plenty of international restaurants serving a wide variety of favourites such as pizza, pasta and steak. Grilled and barbequed meats are ever popular and found on most menus, as are salads and local wine. Look for restaurants with ‘BYO' signs, which indicate you can ‘bring your own' wine and have it opened for a corkage fee; this generally works out cheaper than buying wine in-house.

While the shopping scenes in Adelaide don't quite compare with those of Sydney and Melbourne, visitors will have no trouble in getting spend-happy in this bustling city. Rundle Mall is the epicentre of the city's shopping core and home to 500-plus outlets spread across 13 arcades. Here you will find everything from souvenirs and electronics to wine and designer clothing.

Other major shopping centres include Tea Tree Plaza, where department stores and around 250 other outlets reside, and Westfield Marion Shopping Centre, a 400-plus store complex. Harbour Town on the outskirts of town also has a good selection of stores.

If you enjoy alternative shopping, the city's markets provide a less mainstream shopping experience. Central Market is the best known but focuses mostly on fresh produce. Grote Street is the best place for antiques and other collectibles, with some rare South Australian household items and furnishings available here.

Craft items and books are popular buys in the city while opal, which is mined in nearby desert towns, is also widely available. For even better deals on opal make a trip out to Andamooka, Coober Pedy or Mintabie and buy direct.

Adelaide has a glut of mouth-watering restaurants that span the whole spectrum of world cuisines from Indian to Thai. There are upmarket options with stunning views as well as down-to-earth, affordable casual venues. For one of the heartiest meals in the city, head for Gaucho's Argentinean Restaurant for what could turn out to be the best steak of your life.

Overview

Most visitors arrive in Adelaide by air from another Australian hub like Sydney or Melbourne though the city's airport does receive a limited selection of international flights. Cheaper alternatives for getting here include rail and bus travel, both of which connect Adelaide with the likes of Alice Springs and Perth. Getting around within the city is best achieved by public bus, tram or bicycle.

Airports

The best way to reach Adelaide is through Adelaide Airportto Amsterdam is complete without a boat tour of the city's canals. Viewing the city from the water is a relaxing way to soak up the city's centuries-old architecture without having to negotiate cyclists and trams. The four primary canals are: Singel, Herengracht, Keizergracht and Prinsengracht, and these form rings around the old town. Don't miss the city's narrowest house at just one metre wide along Singel or the nearby flower market which is colourfully spread across houseboats.