'Turns out the Aussie city that was low on my travel list is the most underrated holiday destination.'

As a Sydneysider who has only recently begun exploring the rest of Australia, I have a message to spread: Adelaide is totally underrated.

This little city was initially low on my travel priority list, mostly because — like a lot of people — I was more seduced by Melbourne and the Gold Coast. I mean, culture and gorgeous beaches are the two features we often look for when travelling domestically, right? What if I told you Adelaide has both, costs less, and everyone is super nice, too?

I first went to Adelaide on a girls' trip with my besties a few years ago. We stayed for a week and picked a side of town I probably wouldn't book again because we were so far away from everything. In hindsight, I'd either stay near the city centre (which I did the second time) or within walking distance of a beach. Somehow, I ended up close to neither.

The first time I went to Adelaide I stayed near a lake, which had lovely views but was too far from everything. Image: Soaliha Iqbal/supplied.

Still, I found public transport reliable and easy to navigate (some may disagree, but my Sydney Transport trauma says otherwise). I got around without a car and only booked an Uber once. I went in January, when the weather was hot and dry — at times too hot at 38C, but I found that strangely survivable. Maybe because I'm used to Sydney's humidity, so the dry heat didn't feel as oppressive?

Either way, the heat was a great excuse to take a dip in the ocean, and I was totally amazed by the clarity of the water — I actually saw fish darting in and out around my ankles in water that was knee-deep!

Earlier in 2024, I returned to Adelaide for Fringe Fest. This time it was autumn (though still hot and sunny), and instead of the beach, I was looking for some arts and culture. I watched cabaret and musicals, magic performances and comedy shows.

What to do in Adelaide.

Adelaide is lovely all year 'round, so there's always something to do.

In summer, you can enjoy the sparkling and totally underrated beaches. If you stay in the city centre, you can catch a tram to Glenelg, where there's a gorgeous white sand beach, wild dolphins, and heaps of cute boutiques and cafes! And if you keep walking, you can also end up in Brighton — it's all part of the same gorgeous strip.

You can also drive out to Port Noarlunga, Christies Beach and Moana for a day trip, where there are coral reefs to go snorkelling in and those iconic orange and pink sunsets.

The water in Adelaide is so clear! You can see fish! Image: Soaliha Iqbal/supplied.

Autumn is the time of Adelaide Fringe Fest (in 2025 it will run in February and March), so there is heaps to do. Fringe is the biggest arts festival in Australia, and the second-largest annual arts festival in the world. I'm telling you, things are popping off in Adelaide!

The festival goes on for several weeks and there are hundreds of shows, as well as heaps of food trucks, rides/carnival games, and live music/dance floors. It's super fun and vibey, and honestly, I was just taken aback by how friendly everyone was.

Maybe I'm just used to the hustle and bustle of Sydney where no one talks to you unless you're taking their coffee order, but I thought Adelaide's sense of community was really lovely.

I LOVED Adelaide Fringe Fest. Food, shows, vibes — and if you stay in a high rise hotel, gorgeous views too! Image: Soaliha Iqbal/supplied.

Of course, if I'm going to write about what to do in Adelaide, I also have to bring up its iconic vineyards. I haven't actually been myself yet, but they are supposed to be super lush and scenic, and are at their greenest in spring — but going in autumn would also leave you with stunning orange and red leaves!

Adelaide's Botanical Garden is also lovely in spring, and in fact there are plenty of gardens, parks and lakes to picnic at.

Adelaide is very green and lush! Image: Soaliha Iqbal/supplied.

Winter also marks Illuminate Adelaide, the city's lights festival (kinda like Vivid), and it's a good time to check out the Art Gallery of South Australia as it's indoors. So, like I said, there is stuff to do year 'round!

Where to eat in Adelaide.

Adelaide has a great food scene, and it's a foodie's haven. If you go during Fringe Fest, you'll notice that streets are closed off and restaurants will spill out right into the middle of the road — one such example is Africola, a gorgeous and technicolour restaurant that serves southern African cuisine.

I'm vegan and so eating out in new cities makes me anxious, because I don't know if I'll be able to find anything. I can confidently say Adelaide does not have this problem — there is a wide variety of brunch options, and surprisingly for me, heaps of plant-based cafés. Or at the very least, many cafés had a vegan option, which in Sydney is super rare!

Vegan brunch... so rare these days! Image: Soaliha Iqbal/supplied.

I wish I could remember all the names of the restaurants I saw and visited, but the reason I can't is that I would literally just walk in! Honestly, the fact that I went to the randomest places and all of them were excellent just goes to show that you will be in good hands.

Where to go out in Adelaide.

Adelaide has a bustling nightlife: there are heaps of late night dining, live music, dessert bars, pubs and clubs.

Head to Hindley Street, Gouger Street and Rundle Street for late night eating, and (while I didn't try these places because of veganism as mentioned above) there are also 24/7 dessert bars in North Adelaide like Original Pancake Kitchen and the Bakery on O'Connell Street.

I mostly just enjoyed Fringe on the nights that I was there (I'm Muslim, so I don't drink or go clubbing) but on the walk back to my hotel I passed at least a dozen late night rooftop bars and pubs that were absolutely packed with music booming. It really reminds you how dead Sydney's nightlife can be… especially when, the next morning, I realised most shops didn't open until after 10am! A true culture shock.

Where to shop in Adelaide.

Rundle Mall is the main shopping strip in Adelaide, but there's also the Adelaide Arcade, which has more boutique-style shops, and Queen Street in Croydon, which is more artsy. My favourite places to check out were all the bookstores! There are heaps of second-hand bookstores around Adelaide and, if you are like me, be warned because they will swallow up your cash.

Where is your favourite place to visit in Australia? Tell us in the comments section below.

Featured image: Supplied.