TOP 4 Areas Where to Stay in Adelaide, Australia + HOTEL GUIDE

Most people think Adelaide, the capital of South Australia is just a business city but it is one of the most underrated places in Australia which offers amazing museums, art galleries, food scene, beaches, and gorgeous vineyards. There is a bit of everything in Adelaide to make every kind of traveler happy and I am sure you will enjoy this journey!

Adelaide, Australia, is a big city offering neighborhoods with different vibes and activities and in order to decide on where to stay in Adelaide, you will need to think if you want to stay by the beach, in nature, or in a lively area. 

But don’t worry I have already done research about the best hotels in each area and I will give you information about the things you can do so when you finish reading this blog post you will have a clear idea of where to stay in Adelaide. I can also recommend you rent a car to make day trips as there are beautiful places to see outside of the city center too! 

Especially in the holiday season, accommodation prices can be expensive in South Australia and I want you to stay in the best hotels so please do not forget to make a reservation in advance to secure your place and get better deals on hotels. Many of the hotels in Adelaide, Australia have free cancellations so don’t worry if you change your mind!

Now if you are ready let’s get started to discover Adelaide city!

If you are in a hurry

Here are the best places to stay in Adelaide with hotels from luxury to budget. They all have great reviews and great locations! 

Here is a map about where to stay in Adelaide with the best 4 areas I will be talking about in this travel guide so you can easily visualize them:

1. Adelaide CBD – where to stay in Adelaide for the first time

Adelaide CBD (central business district) is the city centre of Adelaide and where you will find the main attractions, historic landmarks, museums, art galleries, and great restaurants. That’s why my pick for where to stay in Adelaide is definitely Adelaide CBD. 

Start your day walking through perfectly organized roads, check out the amazing museums and art galleries, and rest on the lush green parks. At night you should pick a nice rooftop bar and enjoy the city view while having a cocktail. How does that sound?

Although Adelaide is the all important capital city of South Australia, the CBD is like the cool, laid back cousin of Melbourne with it’s open spaces, fun cultural festivals and relaxed vibe. 

Thanks to being the business center of the city and the most popular place to stay in Adelaide, central Adelaide Central Business District offers a great selection of hotels. I’ve already picked the best ones for you and I don’t want you to miss them so I will remind you to make sure you make a booking in advance to guarantee your place and get better deals on hotels. 

Remember those day trips from Adelaide I mentioned earlier? Well one of them is to visit the wineries of the Barossa Valley and starting from the CBD is a great idea!

Let’s check out the best places to stay in Adelaide CBD:

Other accommodation options in Adelaide CBD

Things to do in Adelaide CBD

• See the finest art collections at the Art Gallery of South Australia
• Visit the Ayers House Museum
• Go shopping at Rundle Mall and enjoy the street performers
• Visit Adelaide’s Chinatown and have an authentic Asian meal 
• Chill at Victoria Park
• Check out the shops and cafes at Victoria Square 
• Learn about history at the South Australian Museum
• Have a drink at a rooftop bar and enjoy Adelaide’s view at night 
• Go shopping at Adelaide Central Market and grab some South Australian products

2. North Adelaide – where to stay in Adelaide, SA for families

Located on the north of Adelaide’s city centre and 3 km (1 mile) away from Adelaide CBD, North Adelaide is one of the most perfect places to stay for families with family-friendly accommodation options and attractions. It’s linked to the rest of the city by tram so it’s also super easy to get around!

In North Adelaide, you will be able to find many beautiful parks along the River Torrens where you can enjoy a stroll with your families and attractions such as the Adelaide Oval, the Adelaide Zoo, and the Adelaide Botanical Garden. Do you see why this area is great for where to stay in Adelaide for families?

In North Adelaide, there are also very nice cafes, beautiful shops at O’Connell Street, restaurants and bars as well as a great number of accommodation options. North Adelaide is a famous place to stay in Adelaide city among families with kids, so in order to stay in these best hotels that I picked for you, do not forget to make a reservation in advance.

Other accommodation options in North Adelaide

Things to do in North Adelaide

3. West Beach – for water sports and beaches

Located to the west of Adelaide city and 10 km (6 miles) from the city center, West Beach is a very nice laid back town where you can do so many water sports activities such as jet-skiing, kitesurfing, wakeboarding, and swimming. If you are into golf here you can also find nice golf clubs as well.

West Beach is a very charming town and a great place to stay if you want to be close to the seaside and beaches. Thanks for being outside of the Adelaide city center, here you will find a more chilled and friendly atmosphere.

For those who want to visit Adelaide but want to stay in an area where you can spend time on the beaches, see incredible sunsets and do water sport activities, my answer to where to stay in Adelaide is for sure West Beach. 

Let’s see the best places to stay near the beach:

Other accommodation options in West Beach

Things to do in West Beach

4. Adelaide Hills – where to stay in Adelaide, SA for wineries

Adelaide Hills is a 40 minutes drive to the east of Adelaide CBD. It is a bit far from the city centre but if you are a wine lover and want to stay in a beautiful area surrounded by nature it is definitely worth it to stay in Adelaide Hills. 

Adelaide Hills is one of the most famous wine regions in Australia where you will find many beautiful vineyards with amazing landscapes. Once you arrive in the Adelaide Hills it is impossible not to be impressed by the panoramic lush green scenery. 

Start your day walking along the stunning vineyards, taste amazing Australian wines, and enjoy your time in nature. Here you will be able to find nice accommodation options surrounded by vineyards and I chose the best hotels for all budgets for you to enjoy this beautiful town. 

Here are the best places to stay in Adelaide Hills:

Other accommodation options in Adelaide Hills

Things to do in Adelaide Hills

BONUS: 2 unmissable things to do in Adelaide

If you want to have different experiences during your stay in Adelaide, the greater city area offers many beautiful beaches and vineyards. There are so many amazing day trips from Adelaide that we’ve written a whole post on it but Glenelg and Barossa Valley are the best day trip options that must be on your Adialide travel itinerary.

Glenelg can be easily reached by tram from Adelaide CBD but for Barossa Valley, I recommend renting a car for easy access. 

1. Beach hopping in Glenelg
Located right on the coast and 10 km (7 miles) east of the city, Glenelg is the place where you will find beautiful beaches and the perfect relaxing escape from your city vacation. You can simply take a tram from Adelaide CBD to reach Glenelg. 

The main attractions you should see in Glenelg are the Holdfast Marina area and the Beach House. The amazing beaches in Glenelg are West Beach, Brighton Beach, and of course Glenelg beach. In Glenelg, you will also be able to find many nice cafes and restaurants so the best thing to do is to just take your beach essentials and discover the area while enjoying a beach day. 

2. Barossa Valley 
I have already mentioned Adelaide Hills is a great place to stay in Adelaide to enjoy vineyards but if you do not prefer to stay there you can do a day trip to Barossa Valley to see gorgeous wineries of this famous valley.

It takes about an hour drive from Adelaide city centre to reach Barossa Valley but it is so amazing I recommend doing this 2 day itinerary to visit all the best wineries.

Here you will be able to walk along beautiful vineyards and taste amazing Australian wines. I highly recommend you to visit Barossa Valley during your Adelaide trip because I know you won’t regret it! If you still don’t believe me, check out these 11 fun activities in the Barossa Valley. 

Frequently asked questions about Adelaide

Conclusion

Now we have come to the end of our tour of Adelaide City in South Australia. In this blog post on where to stay in Adelaide I talked about the best places to stay with hotels from luxury to budget as well as Airbnbs for each neighborhood. I also give information about the things you can do in each area so you can pick the most appealing one for you. 

As I’ve already said, Adelaide CBD is the best area where to stay in Adelaide for first-timers due to its proximity to the main attractions. However, if you want to stay by the beach you might choose to stay in West Beach and if you are looking forward to tasting South Australian wines you can enjoy staying in Adelaide Hills. 

As all parts of the city offer different activities you might want to consider what kinds of vibe you want when deciding where to stay in Adelaide. The hotels I talked about are the best ones in each area and as South Australia is an expensive city so do not forget to make a booking in advance to secure your accommodation and get better deals. 

To sum up, here are the best 2 Adelaide hotels with great locations and reviews that I definitely recommend you to stay in for an unforgettable holiday. 

If you have any other suggestions or questions about Adelaide hotels and South Australia, please leave a comment below. I’ll be happy to leave a reply to them!

Have a great holiday in Adelaide Australia, 

Eylul