20 Adelaide Famous Landmarks, Australia
With 1.3 million people, the capital of South Australia is smaller than Sydney or Melbourne. Unlike other Australian big cities, you won’t find huge skyscrapers in Adelaide, but many green spaces and a peaceful atmosphere. This is certainly what gives this city its charm!
Adelaide is a dynamic and cultural city: the artistic and musical scene is highly developed and there’s always a festival or an event to attend there. So you won’t be bored if you have decided to visit Adelaide during your trip to Australia!
Do you know what are the best landmarks in Adelaide?
Here is the list of the top 20 Adelaide famous landmarks!
Full List of the 20 Most Famous Landmarks in Adelaide
You’ll find both man made and natural landmarks in Adelaide. But as it’s a city, you’ll find obviously much more man made landmarks. Find below the full list of Adelaide landmarks 👇
Man made landmarks:
- Elder Park
- Victoria Square
- Adelaide Town Hall
- Adelaide Central Market
- Adelaide Botanic Garden
- Adelaide Zoo
- Adelaide Oval
- St Peter’s Cathedral
- South Australian Museum
- State Library of South Australia
- Art Gallery of South Australia
- Port Adelaide
- Cleland Conservation & Wildlife Park
- Carrick Hill
Natural landmarks:
- Adelaide Hills
- Mount Lofty Botanic Garden
- Glenelg Beach
- Semaphore Beach
- Fleurieu Peninsula
- Barossa Valley
So here is the complete my list of the most famous landmarks in Adelaide. Keep reading to get more info & details about each of them!
Man Made Landmarks in Adelaide
You’ll find lots of man made landmarks in the capital of South Australia, from recreation parks to first class museums.
Discover 14 of them below!
1. Elder Park
Located in the heart of Adelaide, Elder Park is the city’s most famous park. Laid out on the banks of the Torrens River in 1882, locals and tourists love this place to picnic and relax close to the river’s fountain and the rotunda.
Elder Park hosts several festivals and events every year, such as he Symphony under the Stars, Carols by Candlelight, the Festival of Arts and New Year’s Eve and more.
If you want to experience Adelaide in a different way, you can take the famous boat Popeye from for Elder Park.
2. Victoria Square
In the heart of downtown Adelaide, this large square has some of the state’s most important buildings, including many historic sites.
Formerly called Tarndanyangga by the Aborigines, the place was renamed in honor of Queen Victoria in 1837. A statue of the Queen also sits in the square.
From the square, you can see the Supreme Court of South Australia, the Federal Court of Australia and the Prime Minister’s Office. On the west side, you’ll find Adelaide Central Market.
3. Adelaide Town Hall
Located on King William Street a few steps away from Victoria Square, the Adelaide Town Hall is a huge building built in 1866. Its beautiful architecture and delicate interiors give an insight into the cultural heritage of South Australia.
The Adelaide Town Hall hosts various kinds of events such as receptions, private and corporate events, diners, conferences and concerts. Concerts take place in the Auditorium that is world famous for its acoustics.
4. Adelaide Central Market
Located in the heart of downtown Adelaide, this covered market is one of the most important markets in Australia, alongside with Sydney, Melbourne and Hobart markets.
Besides the warm atmosphere there, you’ll find many stalls offering a wide variety of products: fruits, vegetables, meat, coffee, but also pastries and takeaways. The Central Market is one of the city’s major tourist attractions.
If you’re looking for something to do in Adelaide to start your visit, spending half a day here is a good idea. The market is open every day except Sunday.
5. Adelaide Botanic Gardens
The botanical park is the green lung of the city. This park in the heart of Adelaide’s downtown is a place where people can relax for a few moments, take some time out or have a cafe in the amid the vegetation.
Covering over 50 hectares, the Adelaide Botanic Gardens is the biggest greenhouse in the southern hemisphere. The park host many events such as festivals and concerts all year long.
It’s also a popular place for wedding photos, which gives you an idea of its charm.
6. Adelaide Zoo
Located close to Adelaide Botanic Gardens in the city center, the Adelaide Zoo is home to more than 2,500 animals and stretches over 8 hectares. The zoo dates back to 1883, making it one of the oldest in Australia.
The zoo was designed to offer a unique experience to visitors and make them feel strolling around the jungle and wildlife, among pandas and tigers.
Kids will love feeding and cuddling the giant pandas, kangaroos, wallabies etc…
7. Adelaide Oval
Located in the city center close to the zoo, the Adelaide Oval is a stadium established in 1871 and renovated in 2014, which hosts cricket, Australian soccer, rugby matches as well as concerts.
If you have time during your stay, run to a game to support one of the Adelaide teams. It’s the best way to meet the locals and soak up the local culture.
The Adelaide Oval also offers guided tours allowing visitors to discover the backstage of the stadium, or the climbing of the Oval and a walk on its roof.
8. St Peter’s Cathedral
Located in the heart of the city close to the Adelaide Oval, St Peter’s Cathedral is an impressive church in a neo-Gothic style that you can’t miss if you’re around. The south front of the church is inspired by the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.
Founded in 1869, this Anglican church is an important part of the city’s heritage. Beautiful both inside and outside, the church has magnificient stained glass windows that are definitely worth a visit!
9. South Australian Museum
The South Australian Museum is located near North Terrace Avenue, downtown. Founded in 1856, it’s one of the oldest museum in the state.
The museum houses dozens of paintings and objects of Australian, European and Asian art, but is mainly famous for tis rooms dedicated to ancient Egypt, and to the Australian explorer Douglas Mawson.
It’s also known as one of the museums that collects the largest collection of works of art in Australia with more than 35 000 works.
10. State Library of South Australia
Located right next to the South Australian Museum, the State Library of South Australia impresses visitors with its mixed ancient and contemporary architecture.
The Spence Wing, with its clean lines and glass entrance, offers modern facilities and a contemporary decor. Mortlock Wing, the original library is in a French Renaissance style and dates back 1884.
With galleries lined with wrought iron balustrades and ladders to reach up to the books, this library offers a little trip back in time.
11. Art Gallery of South Australia
Also located next to the South Australian Museum, the Art Gallery of South Australia exhibits mainly Aboriginal and Australian artworks. But you can also find European and Asian artists. You can enjoy a free guided tour to not miss anything.
With a collection of more than 45,000 pieces and nearly 800 000 visitors every year, it’s the 2nd biggest state art collection in Australia.
12. Port Adelaide
Port Adelaide is located in the northwest of the city. If you want to get off the beaten path, this is the area for you: you’ll discover an old industrial area with its docks and halls, which is now getting back to life.
The area has been reinvested recently as lots of independent stores, art galleries and cafés have opened, giving the port an underground atmosphere. It’s also the place for street-art. Here, you can find colorful works that you’ll enjoy discovering.
From Port Adelaide, you can go for a kayak trip to the dolphin sanctuary and the ship’s graveyard, a must-do when visiting Adelaide!
13. Cleland Conservation & Wildlife Park
Located 25min drive from the CBD in Adelaide Hills, the Cleland Conservation & Wildlife Park hosts more than 130 species of Australian wildlife.
Covering 35 hectares, the park offers a full immersion into the Australian wildlife as you can get very close to the animals moving freely. In addition, the park offers night tours, when some marsupials are most active.
Many activities are also open to visitors, such as having breakfast with the birds, feeding Fred, the park’s famous wombat, or petting and holding reptiles and koalas.
14. Carrick Hill
Located at the foot of the Adelaide Hills about 15min drive from the city center, Carrick Hill is a historic property that belonged to Sir Edward Hayward, a famous Australian businessman and owner of John Martin’s department stores in Adelaide.
Built in 1939, the manor is well known for and its large collection of sculptures, paintings, drawings and antiques. The beautiful gardens are also a great place to enjoy a cup of tea and take in the view while kids run around.
Natural Landmarks in Adelaide
Although Adelaide is a city, has several natural landmarks nearby that are well worth a visit and make the city one of the best to stay in Australia.
Let’s discover 6 of them now!
15. Adelaide Hills
The hills around Adelaide overlook the city center and give charm to the city.
Located 30 minutes away and easily accessible by public transport, the hills are famous among locals in the summer because the temperature is often cooler than in the city.
Here, you can go for a walk, do sports or discover the wine culture. The first vines were planted on the Adelaide Hills in the 19th century. It’s also a great place to meet local animals such as kangaroos, which live in large numbers.
16. Mount Lofty Botanic Garden
Mount Lofty Botanic Garden is a 97-hectare garden located in the Adelaide Hills, overlooking Piccadilly Valley. The park is mostly appreciated because it completely changes depending on the season.
Beside the incredible plants and flowers you can observe, there are lots of wildlife and a beautiful lake. The park also offers a wide range of walks, from steep gradients to stroll.
Locals love this place to picnic with family and escape the city crowds.
17. Glenelg Beach
Located only 20min drive from downtown Adelaide, Glenelg is a seaside village which beach is one of the city’s most popular. The perfect place to escape the heat!
In addition to the fine sand and ocean, you can find many shops, restaurants and cafes on the Marina. In summer, you can enjoy an outdoor movie, a walk along the sea, or a beach volleyball game. Kids can also have fun at The Beachouse amusement park.
18. Semaphore Beach
Located 20min drive from Adelaide city center, Semaphore Beach is a wide and long, bordered by low white sand dunes. The setting is beautiful and make you feel like you’re away from it all!
Besides being a perfect spot for holidays and water sports such as kite-surf, Semaphore has also great nightlife with lots of events, live music and food options.
If you don’t have to much time, you can still grab an ice-cream and go on a walk on the beautiful jetty to watch the sunset!
19. Fleurieu Peninsula
Located 1 hour drive from Adelaide, the Fleurieu Peninsula is one of the best day trips from Adelaide. There, you’ll find lots of white sand beaches, vineyards, farms, cute coastal towns giving the area a Mediterranean vibe.
The town of Victor Harbor has turned into a small tourist resort town. From there, you can take a cruise to go watch the whales when it’s the season. You can also watch penguins at dawn and dusk in Granite Island.
20. Barossa Valley
Located about 1-hour drive from Adelaide, Barossa Valley is a true paradise for any foodie and a must-see if you are in the area. Barossa Valley is a world-renowned wine region and produces some of the best wines in the world.
If you have more time than a day trip, you can follow the scenic drives to enjoy the views from different lookouts and stop at some villages around such as Tanunda, Bethany or Nuriootpas.
Don’t hesitate to taste the artisanal products and try the gourmet restaurants!
Map of Adelaide Landmarks
Here is a map of Adelaide with all the listed landmarks in this post. To get it, click on the image below to open it in Google Maps. Then click on the “star” icon to save it to your own maps.
More Landmarks in Australia
Want to discover more famous Australia landmarks? Well, I have other posts that you might like!
Here is the main guide of all famous Australia landmarks 👉 The Very Best Landmarks in Australia.
Find the best landmarks in Australia by state:
- Famous landmarks in New South Wales
- Famous landmarks in Queensland
- Famous landmarks in South Australia
- Famous landmarks in Northern Territory
- Famous landmarks in Victoria
- Famous landmarks in Tasmania
Find the best landmarks in Australia by city:
- Famous landmarks in Sydney
- Famous landmarks in Brisbane
- Famous landmarks in Darwin
- Famous landmarks in Cairns
- Famous landmarks in Wollongong
- Famous landmarks in Hobart
I hope you could’ve made your list of the must-see places in Australia thanks to these guides. Don’t hesitate to comment below if this is the case, I would be very pleased to read your feedback!
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