South Australia

Budget accommodation in Adelaide for a culture-rich getaway

The City of Churches might be rich in culture, but a getaway here doesn’t have to break the bank.

Rock up to the coastal capital and you’ll discover the great range of budget accommodation Adelaide hosts to help keep costs down. Consistently ranked among the world’s most liveable cities, Adelaide has countless museums and art galleries, colonial-style architecture and a thriving foodie scene.

And as for the hotels, you can test out everything from quirky art homes to hipster-style renovated pub stays. Splash into a bubbling Jacuzzi, or sip on an icy bev from a rooftop terrace with a view worth bragging about. You’ll even find a heated pool with portholes looking into the hotel lobby!

Whether you’re here for the fringe film festivals or live music, the bustling central market or those famous church spires, you’ll enjoy your days under the Adelaide sun knowing you’ve got a comfy (but not costly) place to lay your head.

Artsy vibes at a cheap Adelaide hotel with custom rooms

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The team at Majestic Minima Hotel have proven that great things can come in small packages. Each room might measure just 14 square metres, but it bursts with personality having been individually decorated by a local artist. You’ll be pulling out your phone to snap images of the bright geometric patterns, quirky cartoons, minimalist portraits and vast city or seascapes.

King beds, mosaic-tiled bathrooms and reverse cycle air-conditioning are all part of the deal, and some rooms come with sun-filled balconies. If you’re after even more sunshine, head up to the roof terrace overlooking café-lined Melbourne Street. Should the view inspire you, you can explore the neighbourhood using the bikes available to hire from reception or wander down to bustling O’Connell Street for English-style pubs, cafés and homeware stores.

For a spot of sightseeing, jump on a bus and reach the city centre in 15 minutes to visit the Adelaide Botanic Gardens, Art Gallery or Festival Centre. Grab some food while you’re out, or come back to the hotel and select from a range of in-room dining options. In the morning you can pop across the road to The Store for a set-price breakfast arranged by the hotel.

Majestic Minima Hotel

Adelaide
8.4 Very good (2061 reviews)

A stylish and budget accommodation in Adelaide with a porthole pool

On Waymouth Street in the heart of the Central Business District (CBD), Peppers Waymouth Hotel gets you a contemporary guest room and fantastic facilities without the need to crack open your piggy bank. Cannonball into the heated indoor swimming pool and look out on nearby heritage buildings through tall glass panes – you can even peek through the pool’s portholes into the foyer below. Swim a few laps, or just unwind in the sauna or Jacuzzi-style spa. If you want to keep on top of your fitness routine, you can break a sweat on the elliptical or tone your arms with the weight machines.

In your room or suite – far more lush than you’d expect from a budget-friendly spot – sleek marble bathrooms with premium fittings and European décor will welcome post-drive freshen-ups. Take in the city skyline through floor-to-ceiling windows, and if you’ve booked a Deluxe Room you can sit out on your private balcony with a cool glass of local wine.

You’ll likely be hungry if you’ve journeyed from afar, so you’ll be glad for the on-site restaurant Essay Kitchen. Here you can taste some of South Australia’s best produce with a fixed price menu – browse mouthwatering dishes like rich confit duck leg rillette with caramelised fig jam, or tender pan-seared barramundi with smoked parsnip purée and Goolwa cockles. For something lighter, try a taste of Spain from the extensive pintxos menu at Barketta. You’ll sample bites like house-made empanadas with potato and chorizo or spicy Spanish meatballs with mojo rojo sauce.

Peppers Waymouth Hotel

Top rated
Adelaide
9.0 Excellent (2212 reviews)

A futuristic and cheap Adelaide hotel in the city centre

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Just next door to Rundle Mall, ibis Adelaide Hotel is the ideal jumping off point for taking on the City of Churches by foot – the Adelaide Oval, Central Market and Convention Centre are all within walking distance. Alternatively, you can hang out on the balcony overlooking lively Grenfell Street with a pre-dinner cocktail at the hotel’s own Aperitif Bar to soak up the city’s vibe.

The futuristic building is a mix of steel and glass, with a multi-coloured staircase lit up by LED lights winding up from the lobby to the mezzanine floor. Guest rooms showcase works by street graffiti artist Ghostpatrol and include Samsung Smart Hub 690 Series for streaming movies or scrolling through Instagram. Sleep comfortably in your Sweet Bed, and wake up to views of the Adelaide Hills through full-wall windows.

ibis Kitchen is open daily for breakfast and dinner, so you can snack on crunchy Korean fried chicken with spicy gochujang dipping sauce and fresh Baja-inspired fish tacos at any time of day. In the evening, try the grain-fed beef sirloin from the nearby Naracoorte region, or share a free-range chicken with zesty salsa verde and Paris mash.

Ibis Adelaide

Top rated
Adelaide
8.8 Excellent (2126 reviews)

Hipster flair at a budget Adelaide accommodation near Kangaroo Island

Opposite the main coach centre with easy access to Kangaroo Island, The Franklin Hotel first appears as a classic pub experience but you’ll soon detect a modern, youthful twist. Think craft beers, exposed brick walls and reclaimed wood used for bar tables. Even the courtyard has a Hills Hoist washing line now in a new role as a prop for hanging plants.

Upstairs, the seven rooms are hipster havens with charcoal-painted walls, local artworks, antique furniture and industrial lighting. Book a Superior Room and take advantage of the deep soaking tub or admire the stained-glass windows from your comfy sofa. Practical touches like Nespresso coffee machines and bar fridges will help keep your trip costs down – and who needs a club when you’ve got wall-mounted flatscreen TVs and iPod dock radios?

For a delicious meal, you don’t even need to leave the property. Get stuck into some classic pub grub like fish and chips. Or try a gourmet hot dog like the Canadian supreme – a Barossa Valley weiner loaded up with onion, feta, maple-roasted pork belly and mustard. As a lucky guest at one of the best beer pubs in the city, you will have plenty of ales to choose from to wash it all down.

The Franklin Hotel

Top rated
Adelaide
9.2 Excellent (754 reviews)

A touch of the deluxe at a cheap Adelaide hotel on Rundle Mall

Holding the mantle as the only hotel on the Rundle Mall, Hotel Richmond is set within a 19th-century building surrounded by shops and cafés. The stylish FIRST lounge, bar and restaurant has an exclusive balcony overlooking the mall and is a top choice for functions and weddings. With its arched windows and high ceilings, you’ll find a calming retreat in this sophisticated venue from the vibrant street below.

For dinner, grab a table and nibble on small plates like honey sriracha crispy chicken bites with ranch sauce and arancini flavoured with pea and saffron. Or watch your Aperol Spritz expertly mixed at the white marble bar before sinking into a brocade armchair. Larger plates of pub classics – think Coopers beer-battered orange roughy with citrus aioli and hand-cut chips – are also available if you’re after something a bit more filling.

Open-plan rooms and suites come with sleek marble bathrooms and contemporary Scandinavian-style furniture. You’re in for a sound night’s sleep on luxurious Bianca mattress toppers, especially if you jump under the sheets straight from your soaking tub. And if you’re a night owl? Drink in that glittering night view from your private balcony or courtyard.

Hotel Richmond

Top rated
Adelaide
8.8 Excellent (2046 reviews)

Home perks at a budget accommodation in an Adelaide heritage-listed building

For a touch of old-world charm on a budget, look no further than Adabco Boutique Hotel, a few blocks east of Adelaide’s city centre. Housed in a Venetian Gothic building on a leafy street, the hotel is walking distance from all major attractions, as well as the airport.

Step back in time as you enter the front door, and discover a world of studded leather sofas and plush carpets. You’ll find a number of lounge areas dotted around the property, as well as small nooks ideal for catching up on the next chapter of a gripping novel. Guest rooms feature large desks for those who need to work and flatscreen TVs if you’re in the mood to chill out. An on-site guest laundry is also a bonus for those who have been travelling for a while and want to freshen up the contents of their suitcase.

With access to a communal kitchen and dining area, you can whip up a delicious meal to save a few extra dollars. If you don’t feel like cooking, order one of the hotel’s charcuterie or cheese boards filled with local delicacies perfectly matched with a glass of regional wine.

Adabco Boutique Hotel

Top rated
Adelaide
9.2 Excellent (2130 reviews)

A refined, yet budget, accommodation in Adelaide

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Adelaide Inn is a refined four-star hotel on lively O’Connell Street in the heart of North Adelaide. Studio rooms and suites feature new ‘cloud beds’ custom-made with Posturepedic mattresses, so you’ll be setting the clocks ahead just to get into those luxurious sheets sooner. Some suites even come with a spa bath for a bit of added romance or relaxation.

Downstairs, the Fox Restaurant is reminiscent of an old gentleman’s club with exposed brick, wood-panelled walls and plush red carpet. Grab a leather booth table to dine on contemporary Modern Australian dishes like slow-cooked beef brisket with creamy potato mash or pan-fried Atlantic salmon with herb butter and polenta. You might just find yourself lured back for The Fox’s High Tea, which includes an espresso martini, as well as the usual sweet and savoury bites.

Step into the back courtyard for a tranquil place to enjoy a morning cup of coffee, and in summer months you can take a cooling dip in the pool. Slot in a morning soak in the open-air Jacuzzi spa before heading back to The Fox for a full hot buffet breakfast.

Sofitel Adelaide

Adelaide
8.0 Very good (2047 reviews)

A local favourite among budget accommodations in Australia

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A local’s favourite among cheap hotels in Adelaide City, The Finsbury Hotel in Woodville North is 10 kilometres north of the CBD and a 15-minute drive from Port Adelaide. If you arrive with a rumble in your belly, the hotel’s restaurant serves hearty pub classics like Grazier’s beef pie with creamy mash. Send your kids to romp in the play area with PlayStation and retro arcade games, while you tuck into smoking BBQ pork ribs with char-grilled corn.

In your newly-renovated studio room, let in the coastal breeze through expansive windows dressed in gauzy fabrics. Get settled after a quick shower in your en-suite (with complimentary toiletries) while the rosé you picked up at the on-site bottle shop chills in your own bar fridge. Pop the cork, pour yourself a healthy glass and stretch out on your King Koil bed to flick through Netflix.

When you’re keen to explore the next day, free parking will take the hassle out of driving. Hotel staff will also prepare a pre-packed breakfast box for you to keep you going during your sightseeing. You’ll want to visit the home of the mighty Port Adelaide Power, then wander over the sandy stretch of Semaphore Beach. You can even set sail onto the river to spot bottlenose dolphins and make it back to the hotel in time to watch the sunset from your bedroom window.

Nightcap at Finsbury Hotel

Top rated
Adelaide
8.6 Excellent (228 reviews)