South Australia is often called the ‘Festival State’, and Adelaide itself is a UNESCO City of Music, so you’re guaranteed to encounter some of the city’s vibrant arts and culture scene during your time here.
The best time to experience this is during ‘Mad March’, when a number of festivals run concurrently. The biggest and most well-known is the Adelaide Fringe, the world’s second-largest annual arts festival. The Fringe takes Adelaide by storm, with pop-up theatres, street performers, live music, circus, comedy and magic shows spread across the city. At the same time, you can head to the Adelaide Festival, which celebrates opera, cabaret, classical music and theatre. The WOMADelaide festival brings the world of music, arts and dance to Adelaide’s Botanic Park.
At other points during the year, you’ll also find OzAsia Festival, which showcases the best theatre, dance, music and cultural events from across Asia, complete with a food market and Moon Lantern Parade; Tasting Australia, a festival for all things food; the Royal Adelaide Show, an annual carnival and agricultural show, Tasting Australia, celebrating the best of local wine and food; and AVCon Anime & Video Games Festival, with its incredible cosplay competition.
Adelaide is a hub of arts and culture.
As a UNESCO Creative City, music, culture and creativity are deeply ingrained in Adelaide's DNA. With a world-class arts scene, cultural heritage museums and vibrant city attractions, there’s plenty for you to see and do in Adelaide. Here are a few must-experience Adelaide attractions:
If you'd like to try something different, follow one of the self-guided trails by the City of Adelaide to discover insights to hidden gems and treasured favourites that add to the rich and unique culture of Adelaide.
Image: South Australian Tourism Commission
Adelaide has a lively food and wine scene making the city a ‘foodie’s paradise’.
Adelaide is home to over 900 restaurants, pubs and cafés, and is home to the Adelaide Central Market, one of the largest undercover markets in the Southern Hemisphere. Renowned for its diverse dining scene, the region offers everything from cozy cafes for a quick bite to upscale restaurants perfect for a celebratory meal.
The fertile soil of the Adelaide Plains on which Adelaide sits has always meant an abundance of fresh produce for the Adelaide café and restaurant scene. Not only is the food award winning, our chefs and restaurants are being acclaimed around the world.
No matter your budget and your tastes, you’ll be sure to find food you love in Adelaide. Learn more about the food culture in Adelaide.
