A suburb of Adelaide, Glenelg was the favoured summer retreat for South Australia’s wealthy families in the mid-19th century, and it has retained an easy grandeur even as it was slowly absorbed into Adelaide’s urban sprawl. Here, 1870s sandstone terraced houses stand next to 1960s apartment buildings in the streets lining its famous beach, and grand Victorian mansions are dotted around the neighbourhood.

Glenelg Jetty, which extends beyond the beach into Holdfast Bay, is the focal point from which everything else radiates. From the jetty, the palm trees and tall pines of Moseley Square and the heritage-listed Glenelg Town Hall mark the start of Jetty Road, the main road leading back to the city centre. The beach portion of Jetty Road is packed with hip shops and cafés, with even more hidden away on the side streets near the water. To the north of the jetty there’s a marina and restaurant strip, and to the south you’ll find more lovely beaches at Somerton, Brighton Beach, and Seacliff.

The beachside suburb is a 10-minute drive from Adelaide Airport (ADL) by bus, taxi, or rideshare. From central Adelaide it’s a 20-minute drive, or around 35 minutes by tram. If you’re here for an urban adventure you won’t need a car, as the tram takes you from the beach to the city centre and beyond. But if you’re planning on touring the wine regions of Barossa Valley, Adelaide Hills, or McLaren Vale, you’ll want to rent a car. Glenelg is great for walking and cycling, as the terrain is flat and the beachfront promenade continues around the wide bay. Didn’t pack your bike? You can rent one near the beach.

Adelaide is the driest capital city in the country, and experiences little rain during the city’s hot summers. You’ll have plenty of company on Glenelg Beach from late spring to early autumn. The beach will get super-busy from mid-December, when schools break for summer, until late January. Away from the water, the city has an influx of visitors during festival season, which kicks off in mid-February with Adelaide Fringe. The biggest arts festival in the Southern Hemisphere, due to its policy of letting anyone and everyone register an event, the Fringe runs until mid-March. The Adelaide Festival of performing arts also takes place in March, as does the four-day WOMAdelaide world music festival. When the month-long party is over, Glenelg settles in for bracing autumnal days that are perfect for long walks along the coastal paths around the bay.

Bay Discovery Centre

This fascinating social history museum is housed in Glenelg Town Hall, facing the jetty on Moseley Square. Here you’ll find galleries detailing the stories of the local Kaurna people and celebrating Australian beach culture. Don’t miss the great collection of retro bathing suits dating from the 1950s.

Historic mansions

Many of the impressive summer residences built by local families in the 19th century are still standing around Glenelg. You’ll find most of them along South Esplanade, south of the jetty. There are more mansions in the streets leading away from the beach. Grab a copy of the Mansions of Glenelg guide at Glenelg Town Hall.

Coast Park Path

The promenade along Glenelg Beach is just one part of a long walking and cycling path up and down the bay. From Glenelg the path runs 24 kilometres north along the coastline past Henley Beach to North Haven, and almost 14 kilometres to Port Stanvac to the south.