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City and North Adelaide is the central business district of Adelaide, the capital of South Australia. It's separated from the rest of Adelaide by the Adelaide Park Lands, a green belt forming a figure eight around the River Torrens, with the City to the south and North Adelaide on the other side.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
Adelaide's Anglican Cathedral and one of the most iconic churches in Australia. Features on many postcards of Adelaide, and a popular stop on most city tours.
Adelaide's Roman Catholic cathedral, located in the heart of the City, right next to Victoria Square and within walking distance of Central Market. Much smaller than its Anglican counterpart, but nevertheless still rather impressive to look at, particularly on the inside.
The gardens are quiet and relaxing even though they're in the heart of the city. They contain many large grassed areas ideal for relaxing, and just outside the gardens are the city parklands where ball games and picnics can be held. There is a cafe in the gardens and a conservatory.
This is a worthwhile place to visit, it simulates a tropical rainforest micro-eco system, complete with mist falling from the roof. The space accommodates a number of full size rainforest trees and lowland rainforest plants from northern Australia, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and the nearby Pacific Islands, many of which are at risk or endangered in their natural habitats. Be warned, it is warm and humid inside. All walkways have full wheelchair access.
Provides a spectacular view of the city, especially at night.
Driving east from West Terrace will take you past the new Royal Adelaide Hospital, the University of South Australia's City West campus, the new University of Adelaide's medical school, the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), the Adelaide Convention Centre, the Casino (Railway Station below), Parliament House, Government House, the State Library of South Australia, Migration Museum (free entry), Art Gallery of South Australia (free entry), the University of Adelaide, the University of South Australia's City East campus, the site of the old Royal Adelaide Hospital, and the Botanic Gardens. It is an attractive, tree-lined boulevard in a South Australian colonial tradition.
From dusk to midnight every night with 750 light panels.
The only place in the southern hemisphere to see giant pandas. The zoo also boasts meerkats, lions, tigers, a family of capybaras and some quokkas.
The museums showcases stories of immigrants to South Australia throughout history with photos, stories and items. Closed for renovations until mid-2028.
Great place to see art of all genres. Free cloakroom/baggage store.
Best Australian Aboriginal collection in the world and the largely Victorian Pacific cultures gallery is neat too.
A part of the University of Adelaide, here you can learn more about Australian viticulture, wine and food in general and there's of course also wine bar.
Here you can experience many kinds of Aboriginal art and culture. There are music, dance and theatre performances and exhibitions of visual art.
Adelaide Jail
Historic jail that was built in the 1840s, modelled on jails similar to the ones found in the UK and Ireland.
An Australian Space Agency space discovery centre, opened about the time when Australia joined the space race.
Visitors wishing to visit on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday are required to make a booking.
During the summer months get down to the Adelaide Oval for a cricket match. Australia plays host to a couple of touring nations each summer and they will play a few matches at this beautiful ground which is just minutes from the city centre. Tickets for internationals tend to be snapped up quickly, but domestic matches are frequent and equally exciting.
During the winter months, it hosts matches of the AFL, the top level professional league in Australian rules football. Both Adelaide teams, the Adelaide Crows and Port Adelaide Power play their home games here. Tickets are reasonably priced, and getting tickets shouldn't be a problem - check out the AFL website for more details.
"The Reds" play soccer in A-League, the top tier. Their home ground (capacity 16,500) is sponsored as Cooper's Stadium. In 2023 this staged matches in the Women's World Cup, co-hosted by Australia and NZ.
A two-storey performance space with a permanent zine store. Hosts small art shows, some of the more experimental gigs, discussion panels and performance art. Much of this is concentrated in the yearly Format Festival which is on at the same time as the Fringe Festival and is considered a more experimental alternative, although there are things on all year round. Known for its hipsters, Japanese beer, and nostalgic games of four-square.
Superloop Adelaide 500
During mid-March, the Adelaide 500 supercar racing event is very popular, sporting massive street parties, huge concert line-ups and many fanatic Adelaidians.
During late Feb-March, the Fringe Festival (second largest of its type in the world) and Festival of Arts bring the city alive with music, arts, dance and culture from all over the world. Both are large and very popular events visited by people from all over the world.
World of Music Arts and Dance
A hugely popular music festival now held every year in March. People come here from all over Australia and overseas. It shows Adelaide at its very best.
Haigh's was established in 1915 and is one of the best chocolate makers in Australia, with its quality being on par with some of the best Belgian and Swiss chocolates. 5 minutes from the CBD, the tour will give you a glimpse on how this fine chocolate is made and they give free samples. The tour is free but must be reserved in advance.
Adjoining the Festival and Convention centres. Adelaide Casino is South Australia's only licensed casino, and offers not just great gaming, but also three restaurants, and four bars, including the Oasis bar and Grandstand sports bar. Valet parking is also available.
Italian home-style food, great breakfast, good coffee, value for money, breakfast & lunch only, fresh daily.
Many different Asian cuisines at cheap prices. All you can fit on your plate for varying prices plus made to order food.
This little Italian place just off Rundle St has a loyal following and is usually jam packed. It has an inventive range of pizzas and pastas, with quality a cut above the other Italian cafes filling Rundle St.
This St. Large North Adelaide cafe is packed to the rafters every weekend. The menu is Italian-based pasta, pizza and so on, but what keeps the punters coming back is the large size of the menu and inventiveness of the dishes.
Cosy Japanese restaurant with wonderful food, particularly the fresh sashimi, various sushi rolls and the grilled eggplant. Home-made sesame ice cream and green tea ice cream. Hotaru is off the main Gouger St area.
Excellent and consistent standard Thai menu. The friendly proprietor Chang was a refugee from the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia. Try the oysters in coriander sauce, the red curry chicken, or ask for a whole fish steamed with ginger and shallots. Its sister restaurant at Glenelg, Phuket, is worth checking out as well.
Japanese restaurant with a nice atmosphere in one of Adelaide's premier hotels. Mainly known for its teppanyaki but also serves other Japanese dishes like sushi, sashimi and tempura.
Situated just off Rundle St, this Adelaide institution is often referred to as "The Cranker", or less kindly, the "Crowd of Wankers" attracts those of an alternative bent. Goths, metalheads, punks and hippies all mingle in this multi-roomed venue, sipping beer. But don't worry, piercings and tattoos aren't essential to have a good time. Music playing could be just about anything.
This friendly old-school pub is much frequented by students from nearby Adelaide University and TAFE. At night, it has an alternative feel drawing crowds from all areas. Two back rooms contain a great little restaurant. The curry nights on Wednesday and Thursday are popular. Small music venue, mostly showcasing live alternative bands. M-Su 11AM-late.
Modern, hip feel and a large range of beers on tap. Be aware that it has to close earlier than most places (usually midnight) due to residential noise restrictions.
The Cumby
In a strip of bars and clubs along the southern end of Light Square adjacent to Hindley St. The Cumberland was bought out and refurbished some years ago. Nowadays it's a cozy spot which does a good job of being all things to all people. The front bar areas conceal a dance floor within, where a DJ is invariably playing house, and an outdoor area around the side. The popularity of "The Cumby" is cyclic, but if it's not happening, one of the adjacent places will be.
The Grace has plenty of trinkets behind and around the bar to keep one's eyeballs busy whilst nursing a Coopers or bloody mary. Local, interstate and overseas bands play most nights. Every Monday night Billy Bob's BBQ Jam sees a variety of local bands strut their stuff to impress the crowd with 3 or 4 songs (though perhaps more by popular demand) whilst a sausage sizzle out the beer garden feeds the hordes - a highlight of an otherwise quiet evening in Adelaide.
Rundle St. On the main street for shopping and nightlife in Adelaide, which is really the same long street as Hindley St but with a different name either side of King William Road, and the pedestrian only Rundle Mall in the middle. The Austral is the unofficial backpackers pub of choice.
also known by the original name still on the front facade The Earl of Aberdeen
The only pub to hold the complete range of Coopers beers on tap, including the Vintage Ale. Also serves good food, including schnitzels and pizzas, in the attached Arnou Woodfired at the Earl restaurant.
More up market establishment, with good views of the parklands from the al fresco seating, good range of drinks and weekly live music. The second floor balcony literally overlooked the old Formula 1 street circuit and was always crammed with race fans. With the shortened Clipsal 500 course this is no longer possible, but still a good place to go after the days races.
Good value meals every night including cheap pizza night every Monday. On Friday nights the crazy is dialed up with Generation Pop, a mix of pop music from retro to modern and very popular with the after work crowd (7:30PM-1AM). Saturdays is Get Back, Adelaide's only weekly retro dance club playing music from the 1950s-80s (8PM-1AM). Entry is free to both nights. Crowd is a healthy mix of ages, even after dark.
Below ground cocktail lounge in the heart of Rundle St.
Inconspicuously located off Hindley St (it's a door with a sign above it). Live venue hosting international/interstate and local alternative indie acts. Also home to indie/alternative Modular nights and Abracadabra on Fridays. Open every weekend until late.
300-person capacity mainly live venue that hosts local and interstate rock/alternative/indie acts. Also home to indie/alternative dance club Gosh! on Saturdays after the bands.
Nomads Mad card members receive $2 off per night or their 7th night free.
The Austral is a pub which provides accommodation upstairs from the bar area. Rooms are clean and fairly quiet despite the bar downstairs, although the mattresses aren't great quality. Bathrooms are shared. Close to Adelaide's centre.
Small, quiet, modern, secure & centrally located. Very clean. Free internet.
Very clean, good social vibe, free breakfast & free bus to Glenelg beach. BBQ nights, beach volleyball & soccer organised.
Good compromise between cleanliness and price, this hostel attracts an eclectic mix of long term residents and tour parties leaving early from the nearby bus station. Has a large lounge for socialising and the kitchen is kept surprisingly clean. Will not store passports safely so, if this is a concern, pay a bit more at the YHA a few doors down.
The Paringa is very tired and run down. The front desk is only open 9AM-8PM which is inconvenient but the staff are friendly, the linen clean and the rooms generous size.
There is an arrangement with Wilson parking across the street for $30/24 hr - however take care as the height limit is 2 metres.
Midrange hotel in the heart of the city in a historic building. Great bar.
4-star apartment hotel. 72 studio, 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments, most with private balconies, fully-equipped kitchens and laundry facilities. All have living and dining areas with cableTV and in-house movies.
Short stroll from the Rundle Mall and Rundle Street dining precinct. 179 studios, 1 & 2 bedroom A/C suites with kitchenette, bathroom and laundry facilities. Some suites also offer a private balcony with views across the city.
142 self-contained studio and 2-bedroom apartments in West End. Well-appointed spacious apartments with modern amenities.
Boutique hotel within proximity to the CBD, Central Market and restaurants.
Comfortable, but at the start of the seedy end of Hindley Street.
Quest on King William
Serviced apartments available for short-term or long term rental.
Quest Mansions
Serviced apartments available for short-term or long term rental.
Views to the Adelaide Hills and features 97 rooms with 9 spa suites.
In CBD, This property contains a range of apartments with free Wi-Fi,indoor heated swimming pool access, gymnasium and parking facilities.
A collection of 1 and 2 bedroom apartments with kitchen and laundry facilities, Jacuzzi, an indoor heated pool, spa, and steam room.
formerly Grand Adelaide Treasury
80 studio rooms and 1-2 bedroom apartments in the former State Treasury building. The hotel overlooks Victoria Square and is only minutes to Rundle Mall and Adelaide Central Market.
formerly Rendezvous Grand Hotel Adelaide
formerly Crowne Plaza Adelaide
A heritage shopping arcade which has a fine collection of boutiques and specialist shopping such as numismatics, antiques and chocolatiers in a Victorian (the era, not the state) style building.
A pedestrian-only shopping strip with many arcades and side streets coming off it. The mall is parallel to North Terrace and contains over 800 shops. It is one of Adelaide's biggest malls, and the mall is open all days of the week.
The market was established in 1869 and is one of the largest undercover fresh markets in the southern hemisphere. All your fresh fruit and veggies under one Victorian roof. You can borrow a shopping cart from Coles Supermarket next door to stop your arms being pulled from their sockets by all the goodies you'll buy. It's not just vegetarians that will salivate here since foods and non-foods of every variety compete for the best displays. Cheap multi-storey parking adjacent.
A pedestrian-only area (Moonta St) adjacent to Central Market.
Won best IGA Supermarket in SA for its amazing food range, including Greek, Italian, Chinese and Indian.
This place looks like a small shopping arcade selling fresh food and Italian groceries. Large range of salumi, cheese, seafood, antipasto and pasta. There is also a bar/cafe. The cafe does excellent breakfasts. A great place to visit if you are in North Adelaide
By car
There are no freeways/expressways leading into the city and North Adelaide. Adelaide's freeways only reach the outer suburbs, and you will need to drive to regular roads to get into the city.
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