Why you should visit Adelaide, South Australia

Much like Perth, Adelaide gets a bad rap for being one of the more boring capital cities of Australia and is often called the ‘Ohio of Australia’. I may be biased because I did also enjoy my time in the mid-west USA but I found Adelaide to be a really great holiday destination and here is why:

• It is easy to get around and is a very walk-able city. A lot of cities get labeled as being “walk-able” but Adelaide is legitimately flat with wide open pavements and has an easy grid system. The main attractions are also very close to the CBD with Adelaide Oval and the tennis precinct being a simple 10 min walk into North Adelaide, and attractions like the Botanic Gardens and Glenelg having direct and frequent tram services.

• On the topic of close the the city, the airport is also only a 15 minute drive from the city, and cost us about $20 for a taxi. A lot of other airports are at least 30 minutes from the city and you have to cough up over $50 before you even get to your accommodation so this is a huge bonus in making it a smooth and relaxing holiday.

• Having a lower population means that the city feels way less crowded. We were staying in the heart of the CBD and even on a weekday morning it was easy to get a coffee right near the central station and the streets felt much more relaxed than other capital cities. The airport was also a much nicer experience with very quick security checks and plenty of seats and tables for us to relax.

• Accommodation options are also more varied as there doesn’t seem to be as much demand. We were able to stay in a 4 star hotel right near Rundle Mall for half the price we have paid to stay in worse locations other cities. While we do appreciate a good backpackers or motel to save money on accommodation, there is something nice about being able to stay somewhere a little fancy in a great location and knowing it won’t break the bank.

• While the CBD itself has plenty to do, it is also very easy to get out for a short day trip, with a tram direct to Glenelg beach and the Adelaide Hills being an hour out of the city. For the more adventurous folk there are a lot of natural attractions including Shark cage diving

• Even though it is a smaller city, there are still plenty of concerts, sporting events and festivals that take place so it would be easy to tie in a holiday with a special occasion.

• In summer Adelaide observes daylight savings, which means you can adventure all day long and the sun doesn’t set until 9pm. While the weather can get a bit hot (much like all of Australia) Adelaide is one of the least humid cities so you have a much better chance of pleasant weather compared with say Brisbane’s sub-tropical climate.