Adelaide is Australia's most laid-back big city: short distances, a city beach reached by tram, a huge market hall and wine regions right on the doorstep — with harvest jobs at vintage time. Here you'll find all the checked spots from our map with tips.
From Adelaide Airport, buses take about 20 minutes into the centre. The tram connects the city with the beach at Glenelg. Adelaide is a good base for Kangaroo Island, the Barossa Valley and the Explorer's Way into the Outback.
Adelaide has hot, dry summers and mild winters. February and March are festival season with the Adelaide Fringe. The Barossa vintage runs roughly from February to April — that's when there are lots of harvest jobs.
A cheap hostel in the centre near Hindley Street, a good base for your first nights.
A big, clean hostel in the middle of the city, within walking distance of the market, the tram and Rundle Mall.
The city beach with its pier is a direct tram ride from the city centre. Best for swimming from November to March. From the pier you watch the sun set over the sea.
A reef with an underwater trail right off the beach, reached from the jetty. Only snorkel in calm seas. Best from December to March.
The highest point of the Adelaide Hills, with views over the city and the gulf. Most beautiful at sunset. The Waterfall Gully hike climbs up from below — steep, but worth it.
A botanic garden with a Victorian palm house, free entry, right next to Rundle Mall. Quiet and shady in the afternoon.
One of the biggest covered markets in the Southern Hemisphere, with delis, fruit and takeaways. Prices drop just before closing — ideal for the hostel kitchen. Closed on Sundays and Mondays.
Australia's oldest surviving German settlement, founded in 1839 by Prussian emigrants. Half-timbered houses, bakeries and bratwurst — for German travellers a strangely familiar trip into the Adelaide Hills.
One of Australia's best-known wine regions, settled by Germans, an hour north of Adelaide. Many wineries offer tastings, and at vintage time in late summer there are harvest jobs.
The East End's going-out street with restaurants, bars and pubs. February and March are festival season with the Adelaide Fringe — then something's on every night.
Chinatown and a restaurant strip next to the Central Market, with cheap Asian eateries.
The vintage runs roughly from February to April, followed by pruning. Ask at hostels and directly at wineries, and only work with payslips and a valid employer ABN.
Take the tram from the city centre straight to Glenelg.
Roughly from February to April; after that there's pruning work.
Australia's oldest surviving German settlement, in the Adelaide Hills, founded in 1839.
All spots on the Adelaide map. Nearby: Kangaroo Island, and into the Outback to Coober Pedy. North on the Explorer's Way road trip, west on the Nullarbor.
Updated September 2026. Checked against official sources and operator websites. Prices, opening hours and seasons change — check before you go.