Adelaide, South Australia’s capital, grew along a planned street grid enclosed on four sides by terraces, creating a most attractive city. Once a sleepy place, the city is now a destination for locals and overseas visitors who flock to the restaurants, Rundle Mall shopping, and cultural centers.
Museums: The Art Gallery of South Australia introduces visitors to the local art scene with paintings by early white settlers illustrating their new life Down Under as well as indigenous art by Aboriginal Australians. The separate South Australian Museum has exhibits on the state’s natural history, Aboriginal Australian tools and weapons, and settlement history.
Glenelg Tram: Leaving from the city center via South Terrace, the tram passes through inner suburbs to seaside Glenelg with its promenade and wide sandy beaches. Stop for an outdoor lunch if the day is fine or dive into a pub on non-beach-weather days.
Wine Country: The state has the finest vineyards in the country, beginning not far from the city at the pretty hill town of Hahndorf and further inland in the Barossa and Clare valleys. Rent a car and explore.
North Terrace: Walk the wide, tree-lined street from end to end and take in the city’s most impressive architecture, including the central railway station (part of which houses a casino), Parliament House, the National War Memorial, the State Library of South Australia, and the University of Adelaide.
Families: Kids will love the beaches, as well as the zoo with only-in-Australia animals like a Victorian koala and mainland tammar wallabies.
Adventurous Palates: Adelaide's food scene has exploded in recent years, with young chefs opening new restaurants serving everything from French-Vietnamese fusion to Korean dishes created with Aussie flair.
Friendly to the Extreme: It's almost off-putting how welcoming Australians can be. They are not out to fleece you — they are just being themselves.