20 Best Suburbs in Adelaide to Live

Consistently ranked as one of the most liveable cities in Australia and the world, Adelaide offers a fantastic lifestyle with its cosmopolitan city centre, beautiful beaches, scenic hills villages and family-friendly suburban neighbourhoods. With affordable housing, top education options, and easy access to arts, culture and outdoor recreation, it’s no surprise Adelaide draws people from all walks of life.

But with so many suburbs to choose from across the Adelaide metropolitan area, deciding on the ideal place to put down roots can be a tough choice. Do you prioritise being close to the CBD? Are beachside vibes more your style? Or would you prefer the peace and quiet of the leafy eastern suburbs?

To help home buyers and renters navigate the market, we’ve compiled this comprehensive guide to Adelaide’s 20 best suburbs based on factors like amenities, community feel, accessibility, school options and housing prices. From coastal havens to city-fringe character hotspots and semi-rural escapes, this list has something for every taste and budget.

Whether you’re a young family, professional couple, student or looking to downsize, Adelaide has a suburb tailored to your needs. Our in-depth overviews delve into the pros and cons of each area, so you can get a true sense of the vibe and make an informed decision on where to make your next move.

So take a look at our top 20 picks and get ready to discover your new dream neighbourhood in the beautiful city of Adelaide.

Norwood

Norwood is an inner-city suburb known for its cosmopolitan vibe along The Parade. This tree-lined street is full of boutique shops, cafes, restaurants and historic buildings. Housing includes renovated character cottages and modern apartments. Despite being close to the CBD, Norwood has a strong local community feel.

Unley

Unley is a popular family-friendly suburb with leafy streets and a village atmosphere. It offers parks like Unley Oval, quality schools, local shops and easy public transport into the city. The mix of housing includes renovated bungalows and traditional villas on generous blocks.  

Burnside

Located in Adelaide’s leafy eastern suburbs, Burnside is an affluent area with large character homes set on spacious blocks. It’s close to the Adelaide Hills villages and nature reserves like Waterfall Gully. Prestigious schools like Pembroke and Seymour College draw many families to the area despite the high property prices.

Glenelg

For those wanting a coastal lifestyle, Glenelg offers a laid-back beachside vibe. This popular suburb features Glenelg Beach itself as well as the vibrant Jetty Road entertainment precinct full of shops, restaurants and bars. Housing ranges from modern apartments to traditional beach houses.

Prospect

Prospect provides historic charm and relatively affordable housing compared to the eastern suburbs. It has many heritage buildings, leafy streets lined with jacarandas and good amenities along Churchill and Prospect Roads. The area has a strong sense of community and is an easy commute into Adelaide.

Stirling

Up in the Adelaide Hills, the township of Stirling offers a picturesque semi-rural lifestyle yet is only a 20-minute drive from the city. It has a village atmosphere with shops, cafes, acclaimed restaurants and wineries nearby. Housing includes renovated cottages and premium homes on acres of land.

Walkerville

One of Adelaide’s most prestigious suburbs, Walkerville is known for its grand, historic mansions along tree-lined streets. The area has a mix of stately residential properties and upscale boutique shopping and dining strips. It’s extremely close to the CBD and the beautiful Torrens River Linear Park.

North Adelaide

This historic and cultural precinct adjacent to Adelaide’s city centre has a distinct village-like charm. It features impressive stone villas, boutique shopping, renowned restaurants and beautiful parks and gardens. Iconic streets like Melbourne Street and O’Connell Street are bustling hubs.

Henley Beach

A more laid-back coastal option compared to Glenelg, Henley Beach has a strong local community vibe. It boasts the long sandy Henley Beach itself as well as boutique shopping and dining precincts. Housing includes traditional beach cottages, modern apartments and grander homes overlooking the ocean.

Torrens Park

Torrens Park offers a peaceful, leafy environment in Adelaide’s inner south-west suburbs. It provides easy access to both the city and the scenic Adelaide Hills. The area has a community feel with local village shops, parks and quality schools like Scotch College and Mercedes College nearby. Housing ranges from renovated bungalows to newly built family homes.

St Peters

St Peters is an attractive inner-city suburb known for its heritage homes, leafy streets and parks. It has a charming village atmosphere with local cafes and boutique shopping strips, yet is very close to Adelaide’s city centre. Housing includes renovated villas, bungalows and some modern infill developments.

Parkside

Parkside is an upmarket suburb in Adelaide’s inner east, highly sought-after for its grand character homes, tree-lined streets and proximity to both the city and the Adelaide Hills. It has a peaceful, family-friendly vibe and easy access to nearby shops, schools and parks.

Mitcham

Located in the foothills itself, Mitcham provides a taste of semi-rural living while still being very accessible to Adelaide. It features reserves like Brownhill Creek and is surrounded by the wineries and villages of the Adelaide Hills region. Housing is relatively affordable compared to other hill suburbs.

Somerton Park

Somerton Park offers beachside living with all the amenities and coastal vibe of nearby Glenelg but in a slightly quieter neighbourhood setting. It’s a short walk or drive from beautiful beaches and also has easy access to cafes, shops and public transport into the city.

Maylands

An up-and-coming inner western suburb, Maylands is popular for its affordable housing options from renovated cottages to modern townhouses. It has a growing cafe and restaurant scene along Ninth Avenue and Oaklands Road, plus good public transport links into the CBD.

Marden

Marden is a convenient inner northwestern suburb with good shopping facilities, parks and public transport. It has a multicultural demographic and a mix of housing styles from traditional cottages to newer developments. The neighbouring Marden Shopping Centre provides retail and entertainment amenities.

Seacliff

Seacliff is another relaxed coastal suburb south of Adelaide, offering classic seaside charm and a beach culture lifestyle. It features stretches of white sandy beaches, coastal reserves, cafes and the historic Seacliff Beach Hotel. Housing options include older beach shacks and modern beachfront homes.

Hove

The beachside suburb of Hove combines coastal living with parks, reserves and esplanades. It has a quieter, community vibe compared to livelier Glenelg with housing ranging from renovated cottages to modern beachfront properties. Hove is also close to the restaurants and shops of Brighton Road precinct. 

Hyde Park

Hyde Park is a prestigious inner-city pocket known for its beautiful tree-lined streets and classic period homes, from stately mansions to renovated cottages. It’s adjacent to the scenic Adelaide Parklands and has easy access to the CBD while maintaining a peaceful, leafy atmosphere.

Dulwich

Dulwich is an affluent and sought-after eastern suburb featuring elegant streetscapes and homes on generous blocks of land. It has a peaceful, family-friendly environment with quality local schools, parks, bike trails and the eateries along Dulwich Avenue village precinct nearby.

This diverse list covers inner-city living, coastal beach retreats, semi-rural hills areas and family-friendly leafy suburbs across Adelaide to suit different budgets and lifestyle preferences.