Kaplan City Guide: Adelaide

Jason Larosa

17 February, 2017

Known as the education capital of Australia because of its world-class universities and a large student population, Adelaide is a lively, sophisticated and cultured city with an eclectic food, arts and entertainment scene. It’s no wonder it made Lonely Planet’s top 10 Places to Visit in 2014.

We talked to some of our students from Kaplan Adelaide, and here are their favorite activities in this fun and beautiful city.

Soak up the seaside charm

“Adelaide is a relaxing, calm city where you can escape the chaos of a big city, especially at places like Glenelg Beach.”

Tip provided by:

Hidetoshi Otani, Japan

A short tram ride from Adelaide city will get you out to the beautiful Glenelg beach where the sun sets over the ocean and you can watch dolphins swim along the marina. Get yourself on a dolphin cruise and you might even be lucky enough to swim with them.

If snorkelling isn’t your thing, maybe you’d like to wander the buzzing dining and shopping strip of Jetty Road, filled with boutique shops, fantastic food, and ice-cream parlours.

Adelaide beach — Who wouldn't want to spend the day at the beach?

The Festival Capital… No, really, there’s a lot!

“The Fringe Festival is incredible”

Tip provided by:

Camilo Barrogan, Colombia

Wander the streets of Adelaide at any time of the year and you’re bound to find yourself in the middle of a festival. Events such as Fringe, Womadelaide, Dreambig Children’s Festival, Sala, OZASIA, and Feast Festival, to name a few, cover familiar areas like comedy, food, music, art, film, science and humanities, with smaller festivals like Adelaide Cabaret sprinkled throughout the busy schedule.

Adelaide festival — No matter what sort of entertainment you're looking for, you're sure to find it in Adelaide

Immerse yourself in Art

"I love the Art Gallery of South Australia, the Adelaide Botanic Garden, and the beaches, especially Glenelg Beach. "

Tip provided by:

Brisa Oliveira, Brazil

You can find a number of art galleries around the city. If you’re looking for something out of the ordinary, visit Indigenu, a local indigenous art gallery hosted in somebody’s actual home (where you’ll be greeted with fresh baked Kangaroo balls). Or maybe you prefer the more traditional Art Gallery of South Australia. There are no baked goods here, but there is a full calendar of exhibitions in addition to the 38,000-work collection.

art Adelaide — You can spend the day checking out all the local museums

Unwind in the Serene Parklands

"Adelaide is a wonderful city which can offer tourists spectacular views. It is full of parks and other places to visit. "

Tip provided by:

Raffaele Federico, Italy

If you’re into the outdoors, step outside of the city boundaries into the lush parklands. Enjoy a mindful yoga session, ride the many bike trails, or simply enjoy a relaxing stroll in peaceful nature. There are areas of the park available for bookings but it’s always open to grab a couple of friends and a picnic blanket to unwind and enjoy some wine and cheese.

Parklands Adelaide — Capture stunning views of Waterfall Gully

There’s always something new to discover

“The city is interesting: It's clean and there are so many activities! The night life is very very fun!”

Tip provided by:

Alberto Sierra Rizzo, Spain

While relaxing in parklands is a great way to unwind sometimes you just need to let loose, and Adelaide offers a delectable assortment of options to do so. Perhaps the most exciting development is the many pop-up and boutique bars, cafe’s and restaurants scattered throughout the city’s many laneways. Wander down any one of these and you’re bound to find an exciting or interesting venue. You’ll no doubt come across something to entertain, excite, enliven or enrapture.