48 hours in Adelaide: Your guide to the perfect winter holiday in SA

Taylor Swift might be skipping Adelaide when she brings The Eras Tour to Australia next year, but there are plenty of reasons why South Australia’s capital city is a must-visit holiday destination.

Known as the ‘20-minute city’ thanks to its close proximity from the CBD to the airport, beaches and Adelaide Hills, Adelaide is a cultural hub with a lively food and wine scene and a festival calendar that stretches year-round.

If you’re looking to spend a weekend away in Adelaide indulging in delicious food, immersing yourself in cultural experiences, and learning about the city’s rich history, here’s what you need to know.

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Getting there

Flying into the city is made easy with Virgin Australia, which operates 11 domestic routes (7 year-round and 4 seasonal) from Adelaide.

There are an array of luxury boutique hotels in the CBD to make your trip extra special, including the uber-Instagrammable Hotel Indigo.

Located in the heart of the Market Precinct, the hotel features colourful, copper-detailed rooms themed to celebrate the city’s vibrant festival scene. There are also two restaurants - a rustic, home-style Italian eatery and a rooftop bar showcasing the best of South Australian seafood and charcuterie - as well as an infinity pool and gym.

Exploring the city

Rundle Mall is Adelaide’s premier shopping destination, while the picturesque East End is dotted with charming boutiques, vintage stores, galleries, cafés and street art.

If you’re looking for a memorable experience in Adelaide, Bookabee Tours Australia offers a wonderful Aboriginal Cultural Tour featuring a guided walk through the Botanic Gardens and a visit to the Australian Aboriginal Cultures Gallery in the South Australian Museum.

The Adelaide Central Market, known as ‘the jewel in the crown of South Australian Tourism experiences’, is another must-visit location. Established in 1896, the market is one of the largest undercover fresh produce markets in the Southern Hemisphere with over 70 traders selling everything from cheese and seafood to bakery treats and artisan chocolate.

Food Tours Australia offers a variety of tours through the markets where you will connect with local producers, taste a selection of food, and learn about the history of South Australia’s culinary icon - which sees more than 9 million visitors each year.

Foodie's galore

While the Adelaide Central Market contains some of the city’s most popular eateries - including the iconic Lucia’s Pizza & Spaghetti Bar - Adelaide’s West End is popular for its cosmopolitan restaurants and bar scene.

Here you will find Leigh Street Wine Room, a cosy wine bar with a curved ceiling where you can dine on hand-rolled pasta, fresh bread, and house-cured meats paired with their natural wines from South Australia and around the world.

Nearby you’ll also find Kiin, Thai for ‘eat’, which is a recently opened restaurant offering delicious modern Asian dining in a vibrant atmosphere. Make sure you're organised and book ahead of time to secure a table - you'll definitely want to try their roast pumpkin yellow curry.

Osteria Oggi is another popular spot, transporting you to an Italian piazza complete with cobblestone floor, arches, and an ivy-dangling arbour while you enjoy delicious homemade pasta.

For brunch, tram barn-turned-café Bloom features a menu filled with photo-worthy dishes - including the roasted pear with vanilla bean ice cream, spiced orange syrup and macadamia.

Australia's wine capital

South Australia is home to some of the country's most popular wine regions, including McLaren Vale which is just a short drive from the city.

The region is home to more than 60 wineries and 40 cellar doors, including Maxwell Wines where you can experience a guided tour through their sustainable vineyards, explore their 100-year-old cave, taste their Shiraz straight from the barrel, and sample their delicious mead - you'll quickly understand why it's Australia's favourite honey wine.

The d’Arenberg Cube is certainly a not-to-be-missed location in McLaren Vale, featuring five levels that are sure to excite the senses. In addition to checking out their Salvador Dali Exhibition and Alternate Realities Museum, you can take part in a hands-on wine blending experience where you get to take home a bottle of your creation.

Lively festival scene

In addition to being recognised for its world-class wine, Adelaide is known as the festival capital of Australia. Although the Adelaide Cabaret Festival has just wrapped up for the year, Illuminate Adelaide kicks off on June 28 and runs throughout July.

The annual city-wide winter light festival combines art, music, technology and invention, transforming Adelaide’s streets into a kaleidoscope of colour with a variety of free and ticketed events - including an exhibition from celebrated artist and MasterChef alum Poh Ling Yeow

You can book a flight to wonderful Adelaide (and beyond) with Virgin Australia here.

Yahoo Lifestyle was a guest of Virgin Australia and the South Australian Tourism Commission.

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