Top 7 FREE things to do in Adelaide

Adelaide: city of churches, vineyards and funky festivals. There’s a ton to do here, from watching live music and wandering markets to exploring Adelaide Hills on a luxury food and wine tour.
But not every experience has to break the bank! Here are 7 awesome free things to do the next time you’re in Adelaide.

1. Get your culture fix

I CHOOSE SA // a massive thank you to everyone who shops local! As a non-for-profit organisation, we rely heavily on YOU; passionate gallery punters and gift buyers with a love of local craft and design, which we source only from Australian makers. Thank you to all who choose SA! #ichoosesa #southaustralia #supportlocal #jamfactoryau #craft #design #australiandesign #brandsouthaustralia #ichoosesaday

A post shared by JamFactory (@jamfactoryau) on Oct 21, 2017 at 12:51am PDT

Adelaide has heaps of incredible galleries and museums and most are free, so they’re friendly on your wallet! The Art Gallery of South Australia has over 38,000 works, which is more than enough to fill a (free) afternoon, and there’s even a free lunch time talk on Tuesdays presented by curators and artists. For a taste of local art, head to the Jam Factory, located in Adelaide’s West End Arts Precinct. This funky spot gives you the chance to visit artists' studios and watch stunning contemporary art being made.

If you’re a history buff, or art just isn’t your thing, give the South Australian Museum a try. Inside the unique French chateau-style building is the world’s largest collections of Aboriginal artefacts and countless more exhibits from Egypt and the Pacific.

Plus – it’s right next door to the Art Gallery of South Australia, so you can save even more money on transport!

Art Gallery of South Australia
Address: North Terrace, Adelaide
Opening hours: daily, 10am-5pm

Jam Factory
Address: 19 Morphett Street, Adelaide
Opening hours: Mon-Sat, 10am-5pm

South Australian Museum
Address: North Terrace, Adelaide,
Opening hours: daily, 10am-5pm

2. Check out yummy produce at a market

RG: @kristindnichols My farmers market weaknesses: fresh bread, herb cheese, and ALL the olives. #oliveyou #adelaidecentralmarket @cornerdeli71

A post shared by Adelaide Central Market (@adelcentralmarket) on Oct 15, 2017 at 2:48am PDT

With all of its fresh produce, Adelaide knows how to hold a market. The Central Market has been around for over 140 years and is the largest undercover market in the Southern Hemisphere. It has a bustling, crazy atmosphere and is an exciting way to spend a few hours as you wander the stalls. You’ll find everything you're looking for with fresh fruit, artisan cheeses and succulent seafood galore. Keep your eyes out for vendors with free taste testers!

Con's Fine Foods. RG: @janelawsonfood #coldcuts #radelaide #centralmarket #southaustralia

A post shared by Adelaide Central Market (@adelcentralmarket) on Oct 10, 2017 at 11:37pm PDT

Adelaide Central Market
Address: 44/60 Gouger St, Adelaide
Opening hours: Tues 7am-5.30pm, Wed-Thurs 9am-5.30pm, Fri 7am-9pm, Sat 7am-3pm.

3. Try Haigh’s chocolate

Our stores are filled to the brim with all sorts of delicious Easter goodies. @theqvb #Easter #HaighsEaster #EasterIsComing

A post shared by Haigh's Chocolates (@haighschocolates) on Mar 26, 2017 at 4:02pm PDT

You don’t have to spend a fortune to try some of Adelaide’s most famous chocolate. In fact, if you book a free guided walking tour of their factory, you’ll get to taste Haigh’s delicious chocolate for free! You can check out the factory where the magic happens and learn about the chocolate making process while you munch on a free sample… who could say no to that?

Haigh’s Chocolate
Address: 154 Greenhill Road, Parkside, Adelaide
Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 8.30am-5.30pm, Fri-Sat 9:30am-5:00pm

4. Reach new heights

A post shared by Vicki Truscott (@vickitrust) on Oct 20, 2017 at 4:33pm PDT

You can’t visit Adelaide without getting a photo for Instagram at Mount Lofty Peak, so lace up your runners and get climbing. Mount Lofty is Adelaide’s highest peak, and it has spectacular views to enjoy after your work out!

5. Drive the Barossa

Sure, the Barossa’s known for its pricy wine tours and exclusive restaurants, but take a day drive up here and you could see just as much for free! Take your time and explore all of the famous wineries, idyllic vineyards and rolling hills, and better yet, pick up some supplies at the Central Market for a yummy, cheap picnic lunch.

6. Escape into nature

The Adelaide Botanic Garden captured by @_katventures

A post shared by Glam Adelaide (@glamadelaide) on Oct 24, 2017 at 1:25pm PDT

It’s not only the Barossa Valley that has scenery and nature galore! In Adelaide city itself, there’s plenty of chances to escape into some greenery.

The Adelaide Botanical Gardens are a good place to start. Its 19 parks cover 45 percent of the city, so it’s hard to miss! There are lawns, a rose garden, tranquil ponds and a wetland that’s home to over 60,000 plants. Relax here for an hour or two or spend a whole day exploring the mixture of native and exotic plants.

Also in the city is Himeji Gardens. Smaller than the Botanic Gardens, but just as beautiful, this spot was a gift to Adelaide from their Japanese sister city Himeji in the 1980's. It’s a little oasis in the middle of the bustling city, full of Japanese style gardens and leafy ponds. You could easily escape here for a day with a good book and cup of coffee .

Adelaide Botanical Gardens
Address: North Terrace, Adelaide, 5000
Opening hours: Mon-Fri, 7.15am-sunset; Sat, Sun, 9am-sunset

Himeji Gardens
Address: 283 South Terrace, Adelaide
Opening hours: Mon-Sun 8am-5.30pm

7. Check out the churches!

Of course, you can’t miss this – it’s the city of churches after all. There’s St Peter's Cathedral, St Francis Xavier Cathedral, Holy Trinity Anglican Church and Brougham Place Uniting Church… and that's just the start! There are over 500 churches in the city, so visiting them all could take a while, the best way to do it is to hit the streets and take a wander round the city. Not only will you get a sense of Adelaide’s remarkable history as you check out these insane structures, but you’ll get a free city tour as well!

St Peter's Cathedral
Address: 27 King William Rd, North Adelaide

St Francis Xavier Cathedral
Address: 39 Wakefield St, Adelaide

Holy Trinity Anglican Church
Address: 88 North Terrace, Adelaide

Brougham Place Uniting Church
Address: 93 Brougham Pl, North Adelaide

There you have it, exploring Adelaide won't blow your budget! Looking for another city to explore for free? Then check out our blog on 10 FREE ways to experience Melbourne.