Get to know the city that little bit more on a three-day stay in Adelaide, where you can venture out into suburban areas and soak up the sun at one of our amazing beaches.

DAY ONE: Sticking around the city centre is the way to go. We have a full rundown of the perfect Adelaide day, but we’ll say firstly that any opening day to your Adelaide visit should include a tour with us! For those new to the city, the Welcome To Adelaide tour is a great introduction, or organise a private tour at a time convenient to you.

A visit to the Adelaide Central Market, open Tuesday-Saturday, is easy as the Welcome To Adelaide and standard private tours end there! Checking out Rundle Mall and part of the North Terrace cultural precinct will fill in the rest of the day nicely. You have AGSA (our art gallery) as a great start to exploring what is a proud arts city.

DAY TWO: continue your look at the city’s cultural institutions along North Terrace, our major boulevard. Take your pick from the SA Museum, Space Discovery Centre and the amazing Adelaide Botanic Garden, all in short walking distance. Consider a picnic in the garden for lunch, or head next door to the National Wine Centre for all things vine-related.

Get some insight into Indigenous culture at the Tandanya art gallery before catching a free City Connector bus loop (the 98 buses) from East Terrace up to North Adelaide. The city’s first planned residential area is where you’ll find Adelaide’s finest cottages… you’ll go past Tynte Street with its fire station hotel before hopping off to explore O’Connell Street.

There, Bakery on O’Connell is a 24-hour hotspot for a great feed, but options for coffee are endless. If you’re keen for a drink, the Oxford and Archer are longstanding pubs and worth a visit either before or after dinner at Gin Long Canteen. North Adelaide is a lovely option for an Adelaide stay – we love the options Adelaide Style Accommodation has.

DAY THREE: You have your pick of what to do during the day and at night here. Head on Adelaide’s primary tram line to Glenelg beach, home to the Jetty Road shopping precinct and enticing coastline. Early morning hours are more peaceful, but sunsets are also wonderful. For Glenelg ideas and more beach options, check out the Adelaide Beaches website.

If the beach isn’t your thing, explore Chinatown for lunch options, behind the Central Market. You have food court action in Chinatown Plaza, or for great dumplings visit Star Dumplings nearby.

One more spot for drinks you can’t miss is the West End precinct. A fresh alternative to the East End, Peel Street and Leigh Street are places to be on Friday/Saturday nights in Adelaide, with quirky bars around the corner from the city’s nightlife strip, Hindley Street. Pink Moon Saloon is a great starting point.

If you prefer different thrills, check out Adelaide Gaol at night with a ghost tour. Lantern Ghost Tours do an excellent job of those! It’s also open during the day if you’d rather do a self-guided exploration.

Think you’ll need a week in Adelaide? You probably will. Read our thoughts here!