Adelaide Tourism Statistics

Page last updated: 1 July 2025

The city of Adelaide is well known for outdoor adventures and exceptional food and wine. Mountain hikes, beachside activities and wildlife conservation have been attracting millions of visitors every year.

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How many people visit Adelaide every year?

Over 3.5 million international tourists visit Adelaide each year.

Over 3.93 million tourists visited Adelaide in the year ending December 2024, comprising 400,000 international and 3.53 million domestic visitors.

This is an approximately 2% decrease in international visitors compared to 410,000 in 2023, but an increase of approximately 17% in domestic visitors from 3.03 million in 2023.

How many people visited Adelaide in 2024?

Over 3.53 million domestic tourists and 400,000 international tourists visited Adelaide in the year ending December 2024.

How many people visited Adelaide in 2023?

Over 3.03 million domestic tourists and 410,000 international tourists visited Adelaide in the year ending December 2023.

How much do visitors spend in Adelaide every year?

Tourists spent a total of $5.12 billion in Adelaide in 2024 (year ending December), with international visitors contributing $1.13 billion and domestic visitors spending $3.99 billion.

This marked a 0.9% increase in spending by international visitors, up from $1.12 billion in 2023, and a 12.7% increase in domestic visitor spending from $3.54 billion in 2023.

How much did visitors spend in Adelaide in 2024?

Domestic tourists spent $3.99 billion and International tourists spent $1.13 billion in Adelaide in 2024 (year ending December).

How much does it cost to visit Adelaide?

A mid-range 3-4 day trip to Adelaide costs approximately $800-1,200 per person for domestic visitors.

Airfare: Domestic round-trip flights from Sydney or Melbourne cost roughly $200-$300 per person (budget airlines from approximately $150). International flights vary significantly, with Los Angeles to Australia averaging $1,600-3,400 depending on season.

Accommodation: Adelaide offers relatively affordable lodging with 3-star hotels averaging $90 per night, 4-star hotels about $180, and 5-star hotels around $260 per night.

Food & Local Transport: Expect to spend $50-$80 per day per person on meals and local transport. Casual meals cost approximately $20-$30, while dinner at nice restaurants is over $50.

Domestically, about 30% of overnight visitors are from within South Australia (intrastate), while 58-64% come from interstate.

How much did visitors spend in Adelaide in 2023?

Domestic tourists spent $3.54 billion and International tourists spent $1.12 billion in Adelaide in 2023 (year ending December).

Where do visitors to Adelaide come from?

Domestically, about 30% of overnight visitors are from within South Australia (intrastate), while 60% come from interstate.

The largest interstate source markets are New South Wales (including Sydney/Canberra), Victoria, and Queensland.

Internationally, Adelaide attracts visitors predominantly from the United Kingdom, India, New Zealand, the United States, and China.

Adelaide Travel Resources

Impact of Coronavirus – Adelaide Tourism Statistics 2020 – 2021

Over 1.65 million tourists visited Adelaide in the year ending December 2020, largely domestic visitors due to international travel restrictions. This marked a significant decrease compared to 3.93 million visitors in 2019, largely due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

In 2021, Adelaide recorded 1.98 million domestic visitors, showing a gradual recovery as travel restrictions eased.

In terms of visitor spending, tourists spent $1.29 billion in 2020 and $1.90 billion in 2021, reflecting the pandemic’s impact on tourism expenditure.

How many days do tourists visit Adelaide?

Tourists spend an average of 6 to 7 days in Adelaide, with significant variation between domestic and international visitors.

Domestic visitors stay for about 3.3 nights on average on overnight trips, with intrastate visitors averaging 2.3 nights and interstate visitors staying 3.8 nights.

International visitors tend to stay much longer, averaging about 30 nights in the Adelaide region.

When is the best time to visit Adelaide?

The ideal time to visit Adelaide is during March through May (autumn) or September through November (spring).

Autumn (March-May) offers mild, pleasant weather and coincides with major events, including “Mad March,” when Adelaide comes alive with world-class festivals like the Adelaide Festival and Fringe.

Spring (September-November) features comfortable temperatures and blooming parklands without the peak crowds of summer.

Winter (June-August) brings cool and rainy weather, while summer (December-February) can be hot (often 30-40°C) but is filled with events like cricket at Adelaide Oval and beach activities at Glenelg.

Why do tourists visit Adelaide?

Adelaide is known as Australia’s “Festival City” and attracts visitors for its vibrant arts, food, and wine scene, and cultural events.

The city boasts a vibrant calendar of arts, music, and cultural events throughout the year.

Visitors come for Adelaide’s renowned food and wine scene and easy access to famous wine regions like the Barossa Valley.

Popular attractions include the Adelaide Central Market (a foodie haven), Adelaide Oval (for cricket and AFL football), the Art Gallery of South Australia, and nearby natural attractions like the Adelaide Hills and Cleland Wildlife Park.

Many tourists use Adelaide as a gateway to Barossa Valley wineries and Kangaroo Island wildlife tours.

How popular is Adelaide as a tourist destination?

Adelaide is currently ranked 5th as the most popular destination for international tourists in Australia.

How long do domestic and international tourists stay in Adelaide?

53% of domestic visitors stay 1-2 nights in Adelaide.
International visitors prefer to stay 4-7 nights.

Top Attractions in Adelaide

Adelaide Central Market: A premier food destination for multicultural cuisine and fresh produce.

Adelaide Botanic Garden: Magnificently maintained gardens and stunning architecture with Australia’s finest plant collections.

Adelaide Zoo: One of Adelaide’s most iconic attractions, home to more than 3,000 animals and 250 species of native and exotic reptiles, mammals, birds, and fish.

South Australian Museum: The most visited museum in Australia. It holds collections of international and national significance which includes the world’s most comprehensive collection of Australian Aboriginal cultural material.