What’s Australia’s most beautiful city? Before your brain goes to Sydney by default, an internationally acclaimed magazine has a surprising answer.
Architectural Digest (AD) recently published a story naming the 20 Most Beautiful Cities in the World, and Adelaide made the cut.
For the purpose of the list, AD considered architecture, cultural treasures, historical relevance, as well as natural appeal.
AD said Adelaide’s many examples of Art Deco architecture, its proximity to the beach, Adelaide Hills and wine country made it a natural standout.
Other cities on the list included Singapore, Antigua and Paris. Adelaide on the same list as Paris, well I never.
Short drive
AD has clearly never heard of South Australia being the serial killer capital of Australia either.
So besides the grim death toll, I should be on the board of Tourism SA because I love Adelaide and will happily sing its praises to anyone who’ll listen for the very reasons already mentioned.
In just a short drive you can be at the beach, the bush, the outback, the hills or wine country.
The CBD is an easily negotiable grid surrounded by gardens. The gallery is world class and houses excellent collections of Australian and Aboriginal art, and the largest collections of William Morris items outside of the UK. That last one is for me because I am a nerd for William Morris.
Anyway, here’s a list of things to do in and around Adelaide for the over-50s.
Adelaide Central Market
Have you even been to Adelaide if you haven’t been to the market? With 70-plus stalls ranging from greengrocers to seafood, and everything in between, it’s a gourmand’s delight.
Along with music, cooking demonstrations including wine and food pairings and self-guided tours, it’s easy to spend a day at leisure here.
Buy something from one of the delis, find a quiet corner and eat your way into pleasurable semi-somnolence.
Glenelg
For the locals, it’s probably a bit overrun with tourists these days, but few cities in the world can boast such a quality beach right in the city. Jump on the tram, and in just 20 minutes you can be strolling the beach.
Back in the day it was little more than a low-rise, middle class suburb, but with development has come high-rise apartments, but also beachside bars and restaurants, boutique shops, and it has one of the best sunsets going around.
If you are in the mood to increase the adventure factor, there are also sunset sailing tours or swimming with dolphin adventures.
Wine
Boozers, Adelaide is your city. South Australia is home to some of Australia’s best wine regions including the Barossa Valley, Adelaide Hills, Clare Valley, Coonawarra and McLaren Vale, all within a sensible drive of Adelaide.
It’s good advice to hitch a ride on an organised tour because you are going to want to taste a lot of wines. Even better if you can add a meal or charcuterie board at a cellar door.
My advice for a chill cellar door experience, try McCarthy’s Orchard in McLaren Vale. It’s a little more rustic and laid back than the usual cellar door offerings, but that’s exactly why everyone is mad for it. It’s not just me, it has enthusiastic five-star ratings on every online review site.
If you don’t want to travel out of Adelaide, the National Wine Centre of Australia has you covered. With 120 wines covering 65 wine regions, you may never leave. There’s even delicious food to keep you trapped. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Adelaide Hills
If you fancy a drive the Adelaide Hills are hard to beat. There’s a lot to do, so a bit of research beforehand may whittle down your list. Choose from food and wine, enjoy a walk in the lush scenery or just select a cafe or restaurant and hunker down for a delish meal.
If money is no object, spending a night or two at the historic Mount Lofty House, which offers views as good as any in the area.
Adelaide Botanic Gardens
Fancy a stroll in a fancy garden? Adelaide Botanic Gardens is your green dream. With plantings that make every season spectacular, you may go back again and again. A highlight is the glassed palm house (pictured) and you can break your visit with a meal from the Evergreen Deli or Restaurant Botanic.
Free guided walks leave daily from the Schomburgk Pavilion. They last about 90 minutes or find the self-guided walks here.
Do you like Adelaide? What’s your favourite thing to do in the City of Churches? Why not share your experience in the comments section below?
The notion of Adelaide being “the serial killer capital of Australia” was insulting if not ridiculous. It did nothing to the story as would discourteous remarks about Sydney being “the drive-by shooting capital of Australia” or Brisbane being the “domestic violence capital of Australia” or “Melbourne being the weather freak of Australia’.
You could have mentioned the positive weather, numerous facilities in the CBD for the over 60’s, free public transport, glorious beaches, fishing, walking trails, wildlife in the Hills, vibrant arts scene, craft markets and so on. It is not so much the article being short on content or shallow reporting but more about its disservice.
The European capitals, Paris, Amsterdam etc far outweigh Adelaide as far as beauty goes, apart from a few colonial buildings in the main street and North terrace, the rest of the city comprises boring concrete buildings; the saving grace are the parklands that surround the city especially those that are watered plus a few tourist places. Sure its pleasant and easy to get around compared to Sydney and Melbourne but the most beautiful city- not by a long shot
A bit derogatory. This is why it was rated so highly: –
Architectural Digest said Adelaide’s “many examples of Art Deco architecture, its proximity to the beach, Adelaide Hills and wine country made it a natural standout”.
It is not just about the city itself. Having lived in Sydney and Melbourne also, they look good under lights, but that hides how drab they look in daylight.
Adelaide is much easier to drive around than Mel, Syd or Brisie. I have lived in all those places, and I prefer Adelaide by a long mile. It is also cheaper to live in than the East Coast cities.
Having visited Europe several times, my choice by far is Amsterdam, Prague, Vienna, whereas Adelaide is certainly not my preferred city, although generally it is quite a liveable city.