Petra Starke

Looking for the best things to do in Adelaide? South Australia's bustling capital city has much to offer both tourists and locals alike. Whether you're visiting for a quick weekend away or an extended stay, we've rounded up all our favourite activities. From amazing places to eat and drink, to family-friendly strawberry picking, via a quick stop at the zoo. Before stepping out in the city, be sure to check out our selection of the best things to do in Adelaide. RECOMMENDED: These are the 37 best things to do in the whole of Australia.

What makes a great hotel? In coming up with this list of the best hotels in Adelaide we considered a mix of factors. Good location? Comfy beds? A sweet as rooftop pool? Within convenient distance to the best things to do? Maybe it's a combo of the three. Luckily Adelaide's practically swimming in great hotels. Whether you're a visitor wanting to stay bang in the centre of town or a local in search of a cheeky staycation under an hour from the city, these are our picks. We've based our selection on an alchemical mix of value for money, a focus on service and access to amenities. Take a peek at the best hotels in Adelaide below. RECOMMENDED: The best restaurants in Adelaide right now.

Looking for the best things to do in Adelaide? South Australia's bustling capital city has much to offer both tourists and locals alike. Whether you're visiting for a quick weekend away or an extended stay, we've rounded up all our favourite activities – from amazing places to eat and drink, to the Adelaide Oval Roof Climb and family-friendly strawberry picking, via a quick stop at the zoo. Before stepping out in the city, be sure to check out our selection of the best things to do in Adelaide. Planning on spending the night? Here are the best hotels in Adelaide, or for something a little more affordable, Adelaide's best cheap hotels.

We’ve all had that moment when we’ve forgotten to pick up a birthday card for our dear aunt (sorry, Janice), or when we’ve run out of reading material for the tram. Luckily, there’s the humble newsagency and bookshop to turn to when you're in a pinch. 

Forget Sydney and Melbourne and take a trip down south to Adelaide instead. The capital city of the state of South Australia is bustling with life and there’s plenty to see, do and eat when you visit.

It might have earned the nickname ‘City of Churches’, but Adelaide is seriously hip these days, home to some of the most exciting restaurants, wine-makers, providores and cultural festivals. In 2017, the city was proclaimed fifth most ‘liveable’ city in the world – for the sixth year in a row – by The Economist. Short of moving there, we’d suggest a holiday. Find more short getaways from Melbourne, plus a how to spend a weekend in Rutherglen, Canberra or Hobart.

It might have earned the nickname ‘City of Churches’, but Adelaide is seriously hip these days, home to some of the most exciting restaurants, wine-makers, providores and cultural festivals. In 2017, the city was proclaimed fifth most ‘liveable’ city in the world – for the sixth year in a row – by The Economist. Short of moving there, we’d suggest a holiday. Find more short getaways from Sydney, plus a how to spend a weekend in the Whitsundays, Port Douglas or Narooma. 

These cheap hotels in Adelaide have plenty of the bells and whistles expected from Adelaide's best hotels, but with half the price tag. Whether you're in town for a wine weekend around the Barossa or here for a longer jaunt exploring the city's best attractions, there's plenty of places to rest your head. Take your pick of schmick art hotels and cosy home-away-from-home apartments below. 

One of Adelaide's first pubs, this historic hotel located just 20 minutes from the CBD was transformed from a gritty-schnitty-and-pint local into a sophisticated boutique establishment. A rustic mix of old and new, the four deluxe and three standard rooms are all individually decorated with high ceilings and traditional features, like flocked wallpaper, chandeliers and leather Chesterfield bedheads. These details are accented by natural materials, such as reclaimed wood, iron, copper and exposed stone, to create a cosy atmosphere with a modern twist. Time Out tip: Wine buffs will find their spiritual home in the hotel's dedicated wine room, featuring a 10,500 bottle collection of rare and classic drops from estates such as Petrus, Mouton Rothschild and Lafite.

This swish, five-star boutique hotel has become the preferred choice of visiting rock stars and celebrities since opening in 2015, and it's not hard to see why: the place just oozes bespoke luxury. The 170 stylish rooms feature custom-made mattresses and Hunter Lab Range toiletries, while the much-lauded Mayflower restaurant and two bars serve up Wedgwood crockery and Riedel and Waterford marque crystal glassware. The hotel even smells luxurious - it has a specially-curated 'signature scent' inspired by Chanel perfume. Located in the centre of the CBD where shopping strip Rundle Mall meets bar and dining strip Hindley Street, and just a short walk from Adelaide's cultural boulevard North Terrace, it's perfectly situated for exploring the city on foot. That's if you ever want to leave. Time Out tip: Head to the Hennessy rooftop bar (named for the original architect of the 1930s heritage-listed building, not the cognac beloved by hip-hop stars) and try a Honey Trap Cocktail – it's made with honey collected from the hotel's own rooftop hives of Ligurian bees.

If you're looking for a true VIP experience at the footy or cricket then forget those fancy corporate boxes you're probably not getting invited to anyway – the most exclusive seats at Adelaide Oval are 50m above the field, on the roof. Strap on a safety harness and make the breathtaking climb to the top of the now iconic stadium, where you can take in stunning panoramic views of the city, from the Hills to the coast. For a bit extra, get the ‘Game On!’ package, where you can get a bird's eye view of every kick, mark and tackle of a live footy match, or every sixer and wicket of a cricket match, from the world's only rooftop stadium seats.

Wander along the edge of the River Torrens in Adelaide's Riverbank precinct and you might spy something strange: a fleet of donut-shaped, floating vessels with smoke emanating from the middle, manned by people waving tongs. Are they boats? Are they barbecues? Actually, they're both, and they're the best idea ever. Yes, the BBQ Buoys (see what they did there?) boats combine the tranquillity of floating along the river with the joy of a sausage sizzle, with each circular boat kitted out with a gas grill in the centre. The boats range from couple-sized right up to a ten-seater, with hourly rentals starting at $190 (for two). BYO food and drink, or choose from a range of local beers, wines and ciders, plus pre-made barbecue, cheese and meats, or dessert platters.

If you've ever eaten breakfast at a fancy hotel or on a Qantas flight you've probably eaten Beerenberg. A South Australian institution, the family-owned company has been making delicious jams at its Adelaide Hills strawberry farm since 1975, and distributing them in cute miniature jars all over the world since the 1980s. Although the brand now makes 75 different preserves, its strawberry jam remains the most famous, made fresh from the fruit picked from the farm's strawberry plants in Hahndorf, just 30 minutes out of Adelaide (Beerenberg actually means “berry hill” in German). Every year from November to April, you can grab a punnet and wander the farm yourself, picking your own fresh berries to take home for just $5 per person and $11.95 per kilo. There's no better way to spend a sunny day than wandering Beerenberg's picturesque strawberry patch, hunting down the perfect luscious berries to eat later.

Every weekend scores of eager Adelaide locals head to the base of Mt Lofty to attempt the heart-pumping two-kilometre hike to the summit. But an easier way to get an enviable Instagram selfie is to check yourself into historic Mt Lofty House, just 20 minutes from the city, where the breathtaking views from your luxuriously appointed suite will have your followers green with envy without you even breaking a sweat. Set amongst 22 acres of immaculately manicured gardens, this 1852 heritage-listed manor house offers a range of modern rooms and suites with king beds and fantastic views across the Piccadilly Valley, an outdoor swimming pool, billiards room, tennis court and day spa set in the home's original 19th-century stables. For a more intimate stay, four free-standing self-contained cottages offer total privacy for a perfect Hills retreat. Time Out tip: Don't miss a chance to dine at award-winning Hardy's Verandah Restaurant. Opened in 2017, it’s easily one of Adelaide's most fine dining restaurants with a 175-year-old cellar and wine list boasting more than 1,300 labels.

The Adelaide Hills are all about good food, wine and tranquility amongst the trees - the third often discovered after indulging in the first two - and you'll find all three at this working winery set in some of the most stunning vineyards in South Australia. Located an hour out of the city in the tiny village of Macclesfield, surrounded by rolling, gum-studded countryside, Longview offers 12 elegant self-contained suites overlooking the winery's 22-year-old pinot noir vines, each with a kitchenette and outside deck. More deluxe is the stylishly renovated historic homestead, which can be rented as a three-bedroom residence sleeping up to 12 or split into two separate 'apartments', and the newly opened lodge that sleeps up to 8. Time Out tip: Don't rush to leave your weekend getaway – stick around and enjoy lunch at Longview's cellar door. Tuck into share platters overloaded with house-cured meats, freshly baked focaccia, cheese with riesling jam and, of course, wine.

Just an hour's drive north of Adelaide is one of the world's top culinary destinations – the Barossa Valley, bursting with internationally renowned wineries and restaurants and boasting stunning vineyard-studded landscapes in every direction. Surrounded by lavender and vines, The Louise is the accommodation to match. Step inside your private suite and it's not hard to see why: the 15 villas at this newly renovated stone lodge feature king beds with luxury linens, walk-in robes, marbled ensuite bathrooms with two-person spa baths, gas log fireplaces and private terraces with their own outdoor rain showers. Time Out tip: Definitely book a table at one of Australia's finest regional dining destinations, Appellation. Dishes sway with the seasons and are paired with the Barossa's finest wines.

Located in the heart of the CBD on busy Hindley Street in Adelaide's west end, this five-storey apartment hotel was once home to Miller Anderson, one of the city's finest department stores. The 1920s heritage-listed building was converted in 2006 and now features 61 one, two and three bedroom apartments perfect for longer city stays – all have fully equipped kitchens featuring Blanco stainless steel appliances and full sized fridges, as well as free unlimited Wi-Fi and Foxtel, while some of the top-tier apartments also featuring in-room laundry facilities and second bathrooms. Hindley Street is where Adelaide comes to party: for wining, dining and small bar hopping, these apartments are your perfect base. The décor – a modern take on 1970s retro – might play havoc with your hangover though: think bright orange and jade green accents and funky patterned carpet and throw cushions. Time Out tip: Get a taste of France with the ‘Bienvenue’ package, which for $159 includes two nights accommodation, plus parking, and a $40 food and drink voucher for hip west end cocktail bar La Buvette, just steps from the front door. C'est bien!

These spacious one, two and three bedroom apartments tucked away on a quiet side street in the centre of Adelaide's CBD make a great base for families, or those seeking a longer city stay. The apartments are comfortable and unfussy, with modern styling and unique touches that make the place feel more like a hotel – like the complimentary toiletries by Australian designer Peter Morrissey. All feature queen beds, full kitchens and in-room laundry facilities, as well as free Wi-Fi and on-site parking. The best part is the location – a short walk from the Adelaide Central Market and Gouger Street dining precinct and the small bars and eateries of Peel and Leigh Street, and just a block from the tram which runs through the city and southwestern suburbs to Glenelg beach. Time Out tip: Yes, you have a kitchen in your apartment, but trust us, you'll want to have brunch at least once at Crack Kitchen, just a few steps around the corner on Franklin Street. The gingerbread pikelets are the stuff of dreams.

Get up close with the dolphins in the cool waters off Glenelg Beach, just 20 minutes from the CBD. Temptation Sailing's 17m catamaran was the first vessel in South Australia to be granted a licence for dolphin swims; as a result the thousand or so common and bottlenose dolphins in the area now actually come to it and are always eager to play. The company even offers a money back guarantee if they don't show up. Cruises last about 3.5 hours, with swimmers potentially getting over an hour of dolphin interaction for $120 or $130 (Dec-Jan). Those who don't want to dip their fins can stay on the boat and watch the action for $68 ($78 Dec-Jan).

This unique marine experience lets you swim with Southern Bluefin tuna – dubbed ‘the Ferraris of the ocean’ – in a specially designed in-sea aquarium on Granite Island, an hour south of Adelaide. Departing from the busy tourist hub of Victor Harbor, a quick catamaran ride delivers you to the aquarium where you're fitted out with a wetsuit, mask, booties and gloves before diving into the clear, clean waters of Encounter Bay to experience tuna up to 2.5 metres long whooshing past your body with impressive speed. Those who prefer to stay dry can feed the tuna from the surface, or view the sights from the glass-sided underwater viewing area.