Free Things to Do in Adelaide CBD

Our year-round favourite places to visit in the CBD for free. 

Ponder the Adelaide Kaurna Trail 

Adelaide’s parklands are rich with natural beauty and history. By following the Adelaide Kaurna Trail, you’ll learn about the traditional owners and custodians of the Adelaide Plains. 

Book mark the map in your device here: https://www.experienceadelaide.com.au/blog/kaurna-walking-trail/ 

We recommend starting at the Festival Plaza (Location 1) and then following the trail down to Adelaide Gaol (includes locations 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 10 & 9). That way after visiting the intriguing Adelaide Gaol, your route will take you right by MOD. as you travel to the final locations. 

 

Spend an hour exploring the latest exhibition at MOD. 

BEGINNINGS, the 2026 exhibition has eight galleries of interactive, research informed exhibits. Through the exhibition, you will journey to better understand how and why we are here, where we belong in the world, and how we can act in the present to shape the future. 

On your way out, don’t forget to grab a coffee at the MOD. shop + café.  Their barista coffee is brewed with a specialty blend from local Adelaide roaster Artisan’s Blend, this stop over will fuel you up for the afternoon.

 

Pop across Morphett Road to check out some contemporary arts

Directly opposite MOD. are some must see art museums amongst beautiful street art.

• JamFactory: Discover and shop the very best in craft and design, view the latest exhibitions in the gallery and see artists in action with live glass blowing in the Glass Studio. 

• Adelaide Contemporary Experimental (ACE): explore, reflect on and connect with contemporary and experimental art in their exhibitions. 

• Nexus Arts: delve into artworks by emerging and established artists from diverse cultural backgrounds working across a range of mediums in a contemporary context. 

Got a bit more time up your sleeve? Catch a local or international movie at the Mercury Cinema. 

 

Catch the tram and choose between the indoors and outdoors 

• Indoors: Be enveloped in quiet as you enjoy the State Library of South Australia’s contemporary library and the splendour of The Mortlock Chamber. This unique wing of the library will take you back in time and introduce you to nearly 1,000 items from the library’s collection highlighting South Australian history.
   

• Outdoors: Enter a nature oasis in the heart of the buzzing city by slipping through the gates of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens. This 50 hectare garden is the home to plants from across Australia and around the world, making it the perfect place to reflect on all you’ve learned and discovered over the day.