Adelaide
Australia · Country profile
Adelaide is the capital of South Australia, the elegant, easy-going city of the southern coast that the planners laid out in a grid of the wide avenues, the garden squares and the parklands that still ring the city centre. The city is the festival capital of the country, with the famous arts festivals, the wine country of the Barossa and the Adelaide Hills framing the metropolitan life, and its beaches, its markets, its galleries and its modest, friendly scale make it one of the most liveable cities of Australia. The river of the Torrens runs the recreational heart of the city, the museum and the gallery districts hold the cultural treasures, and the historic pubs and the colonial-era buildings of the centre preserve the charm of the oldest planned city of the continent. Relaxed, cultured and genuinely pleasant, Adelaide is the quiet jewel of the Australian south.
About Adelaide
Adelaide is a city in Australia. The city's documented population is around 1,418,000 people. For visitors from abroad, the local currency is the Australian Dollar (AUD) and English is spoken; the dialling code is +61. It is served by 1 airport in our guide: Adelaide Airport.
The Grid, the Parklands and the Festival Capital of the South
Adelaide is a calm, cultured, easily walkable city built on a grid and ringed by green parklands, a place that rewards a relaxed pace rather than a checklist. The centre holds the fine museums, the state library and the church of the square, while the river, the parks and the beaches give the open-air life. It is the gateway to the great wine regions and the islands and the wildlife of the coast, and the city itself is famously liveable and safe. The festivals of the summer and the markets of the weekends give it a genuine cultural life out of all proportion to its modest size.
The Mediterranean Seasons, the Trams and the Beach Days
The climate is Mediterranean, with the warm, dry summers and the mild winters, and the summer evenings of the festivals and the seaside are the best of the year. The museum, the gallery, the market of the central area and the zoo of the city are the essential stops, and the trip to the Barossa and the Adelaide hills is the classic day out. The Australian dollar is the currency and the cards work everywhere. The city is compact and easy, with the trams, the buses and the bike paths covering the centre, and the beaches of the coast with their lovely sand are only a short ride from the heart of the city.
The Central Market, the Barossa Hills and the River Promenades
The river of the Torrens, with its park and its boathouses, is the green spine of the city, and the rowing, the paddle boats and the riverside walks give the classic relaxed afternoon. The food market of the central area, among the great markets of Australia with its stalls of the producers and the coffee, is the beloved institution of the everyday, and the halls of the town and the old buildings of the colonial era preserve the handsome, modest character of the city. The hill country behind the city, with the wineries and the German villages of the pioneer heritage, and the coast of the south with its beaches frame the perfect day trips, while the evening of the city runs the restaurants and the bars of the laneways.
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- Country
- Australia
- Population
- 1,418,000
- Coordinates
- -34.9450, 138.5306
- Capital
- Canberra
- Region
- Oceania
- Currency
- Australian Dollar (AUD)
- Languages
- English
- Calling code
- +61
- Country code
- AU
Entry requirements for Australia
Visa status for travellers from common origins visiting Australia for tourism.
Getting to Adelaide
Airports we list for Adelaide:
Other airports in the area:
Cities in Australia
Other cities we cover in Australia:
Frequently asked questions
Is Adelaide the capital of Australia?
No — the capital of Australia is Canberra.
What currency do I need in Adelaide?
The local currency is the Australian Dollar (AUD). Languages spoken in Australia include English.
What is the dialling code for Australia?
The international dialling code for Australia is +61.
Which airport should I fly into for Adelaide?
Adelaide Airport (ADL) is the airport we list for Adelaide.
How far is Adelaide from the nearest airport?
Adelaide is about 641 km from Melbourne Airport.
Do I need a visa to visit Australia?
It depends on your passport. For the origins we track, the current tourism visa status is Morocco (visa required), United Kingdom (e-visa) and United States (e-visa). Check the entry requirements tool for your own nationality.
Flying out of Adelaide? Check the entry requirements for your destination in our entry requirements tool before you fly.