Best museums in Adelaide: find options near you

️Great place for when the weather isn’t good.

I visited the free exhibitions and was really impressed. I loved the part of aboriginal history, as you can learn a lot through different media’s. Maps, videos, auto, games and of course the classic showcase.

The staff were great as well, helpful, efficient and friendly.

I liked the atmosphere, it was quiet and peaceful. It wasn’t full so it was nice to just take your time with the exhibition.

There are plenty of car parks very close to it or you just take the public transport which is also great!

In the museum there is also a cafe, which was full and very popular.

If you are interested in more specific exhibitions then they offer paid admission as well. 25$ to see (currently) the history of the Vikings. I think that’s a pretty fair price.

All in all great way to spend a few hours.

What a great place! And no admission fee! So much for the kids to see and explore. The cafe is a little pricey but you expect that. Beautifully kept and laid out. The kids especially loved the discovery room where they could touch and explore things.

I didn’t know what to expect.
It will change your life.
I’m now a fan of Paul Kelly and a follower of the East Kimberly school.
Amazing place.
I could go back again and again, every few days … if I didn’t live in the UK.

The Aboriginal portion of the museum is amazing. So much information. Very much enjoyed it.
Overall, well curated across all the floors. You can easily visit multiple times.

Nice experience. The Vikings Hoard exhibition was great, took 90 mins at a very leisurely pace, could be done a lot faster if needed. Coffee and cake were good and decent value, with a wait on the coffee though. I would buy tickets online as the queue was long.

Had a great time exploring the South Australian Museum right in the heart of Adelaide! The exhibits are well-organized and packed with interesting info from ancient fossils and giant squid to Aboriginal culture and South Australia’s rich natural history. It’s perfect for a relaxed afternoon with the family or even solo. Free entry is a bonus, and the staff are super friendly and helpful. Definitely recommend stopping by if you’re in the city!

The museum has a massive taxidermy collection which is absolutely gorgeous. Apart from artifacts from island countries surrounding the Pacific, the Antarctic gallery is my favorite where I got to appreciate Shackleton’s remarkable adventure through pictures, journals, and equipments along with scientific findings throughout the expedition.

The Treasures of the Viking Age is wonderful even though a few exhibits are replica due to preservation reasons. But I love the narration of the exciting archeological discovery consisting of artifacts, videos, and LEGO sets. The unveiling of secrets through traces and analysis is fascinating and I learned so much in this journey!

This is a great space on a cold day. It was cosy and warm. Lovely staff. Lots of interactive exhibitions full of interesting facts, things to learn and creative displays that will expand your mind and grow your imagination. Kat Bell’s exhibition was a highlight with an interactive digital media installation that you could control whilst lounging on comfy pillows.

Visited MOD today with kid and had a great time. First of all, it’s completely free to enter. There’s also a good café nearby for coffee and snacks. The space is spread across multiple levels — the ground floor, one level below, and the first floor.

There were quite a few interactive exhibits and sessions, which the kid absolutely loved (and so did I!). It’s not a very long visit — around 30 to 45 minutes — but it makes for a fun and engaging little getaway for kids. Definitely worth a visit!

A truly meaningful place to reflect on our planet, humanity, and ourselves. The experience is both thought-provoking and futuristic, making it a unique stop if you’re nearby. Entry is free, the staff are friendly, and the exhibits are well presented. I spent around 1.5 hours here and left feeling inspired. Highly recommend a visit!

The interactive games and globe was so much for our short visit. The cafe served good drinks and the dining space is quite nice! Free entry and MOD. staff will guide you in.

Nice cool free museum to visit for an hour and ruminate. Got a few interesting interactive exhibits

Amazing exhibit. Really gets you thinking and reflecting on ones self. I really enjoyed it.

Absolutely amazing place, a must see in your time in Adelaide.
I enjoy MOD. every time I visit. The exhibitions are very well put together and inspire lots of engaging conversations. The exhibits are some of the highest quality that you’ll find in Australia.
The staff are great and happy for a chat to give more depth to the exhibition.
Plus it’s free! Perfect place to spend an hour or two.

Very interesting displays of all kinds of plants, trees, oils, seeds and products made from them. Definitely worth a visit!
Currently, there is an exhibition of the works of late artist, Linda Catchlove. (July 2025)

Really good museum that show the economy value of many plants. The librarian so helpful, she will explain everything we ask. There’s no ticket to entrance so it’s free. Really good place for study in fun way.

Brilliant museum like no other! Heaps to see and learn about our wonderful planet. Spent an hour here.

Absolutely loved visiting! I learnt so much from reading about the various plants and seeds. This section of the Gardens is worth a separate visit all of its own!

Caught in a rain when I was visiting the Botanic garden and surprisingly found this place. Worth stopping by for a while to learn about seeds, fruits and the ecosystem.

If you have enough time spending in botanic garden, then you can come to this botany museum to have a look and will see many different food seeds here

so unexpectedly my mom like seeing the things here haaa, good one

Museum of Economic Botany

rating of mine: 4

Free entry, so worth it! Its not too big but very unique. The permanent exhibition is filled with interesting medicines, tools and resources of many indigenous tribes, including info on the Aboriginal’s use of their own narcotics trade which I never knew!

Definitely pop in if you’re around the gardens!

I reckon that Migration Museum is one of the must go tourism spots. Although the size of it is not as big as other museums, the ambient atmosphere and cleanliness is very good.
The display items and contents are very nice and informative.
Parking at metered street parking spot is convenient.

Great location. Having a couple of the old buildings around is amazing. A lot of good information and my only wish was that it was a little larger because I enjoyed the displays of the personal items and family stories.
Free Entry, but you can make a donation to help support them.

Small museum in historic buildings, telling about colonial settlement and profiling individual immigrants to South Australia. Currently, there is an exhibition, “Face to Face,” of coloured and decorated photos of elderly people: black-and-white photos illustrated by both the elders and the students, who spoke with the subjects about their lives. Outside is an expanse of paving stones bearing the names of immigrants to South Australia. One wall near the entrance has a gathering of plaques in memory of oppressed and exiled peoples from their countries of origin.
Free entry.

Small but very nice and well prepared museum that displays the stories and belongings of the people who migrated to SA and Australia in general during different periods of time, such as the war. There is a lot to learn, as well as pieces of arts showing something of the home country of many of the nationalities or backgrounds that exist nowadays. I quick and nice stop, highly recommended and the tickets are free!

Nice experience and tells the stories of many of the migration events over the history of Australia. It makes you appreciate the country we have and give you pride in its history for both the tall tales and but also doesn’t shy from exposing some of the more sensitive and haunting elements that built us. Would recommend popping into the free venue. Fairly accessible through the Adelaide public transport system and city tram lines

Highly recommend. A wonderful museum in Adelaide to learn about the heritage and cultural diversity of South Australia. The exhibits are great and our daughters even received an activity to immerse them. We especially loved the Haza exhibit – not often you can engage with the display but this one made you think and reflect by doing so. There is no cost to enter, but donation is appreciated.

You have to visit, if you have a progressive bone in your body.
It will restore your faith in humanity.
Take a red neck / gammon with you and it will change them.

Excellent Bruce Nuske exhibition! Also liked the sand carpet. Worth visiting.

Excellent exhibitions. Well curated. I particularly enjoyed the “Carpet Sweeping” and “Teapot” series

This compact gallery space packs a punch, it’s a space that is clean lined that offers the artist scope to occupy the space as they want.

A beautiful place, first time I came and it was really quiet and interesting exhibition.

A fantastic purpose-built space for exhibitions of all media. Helpful, professional staff. Always well curated exhibitions.

Closed until March 1, 2024

Awesome place to go, inside the University of South Australia. Fine Art Gallery, collections and exhibitions. Reproducing the e-brochure: “The Anne & Gordon Samstag Museum of Art is one of the University of South Australia’s leading creative centres; it aims to stimulate, challenge and engage its audiences with a program of diverse and innovative exhibitions, publications and associated public activities.

The Samstag Museum of Art presents a changing exhibitions program of contemporary visual art, and art of the past that has relevance for us today.”

Another review I missed: Visited this historical place during the Easter break. The staff were really friendly and helpful — they gave us a map and a quick explanation of what to see. There’s so much history in one place, with many interesting stories. This is definitely a must-visit if you’re coming to Adelaide for the first time.

Adelaide Gaol locates at 18 Gaol Road where is not difficult to drive to.
Compare with other museums, it doesn’t have air conditioning exhibition halls and beautiful interior decorations. However, its real heritage and historical displays are worth enough for us to spend nearly two hours to walk through it (actually, multiple blocks joined together to form this museum).
After parking outside the prison, we walked to the admission counter to purchase our entry tickets. We started our self-guided tour after having a brief introduction given by the lovely staff

It was certainly an interesting but eerie visit!
At the time we visited there was only a handful of other visitors so we could explore everything in peace which was nice.
The employees were lovely and helpful. At the entrance we got handed a map with a suggested path to follow to ensure you see everything which was very helpful. There was a lot of exhibits with many stories of past inmates to read. Most of the gaol has been well preserved; many graffiti’s from past prisoners are able to be observed within the cell doors.
Some areas were definitely spooky considering a fair few prisoners have been executed here and are buried within the outer wall.
It was interesting to have seen the gaol once and I would recommend it to others however it is not something I would re visit.necessarily.

We took a self-guided tour on a weekday. If you’re into history, this establishment is an important part of Adelaide’s history. The facility is very well-maintained & immaculately kept.

The Old Adelaide Gaol stands as a hauntingly fascinating relic of South Australia’s penal history. Stepping through its imposing gates, visitors are immediately transported to a grim past where the echoes of incarcerated lives seem to linger in every brick. The self-guided tour allows for a deeply personal exploration, winding through narrow cell blocks, the exercise yards, and even the chilling execution room.
While the atmosphere is undeniably somber, the gaol offers a remarkably insightful look into 19th and 20th-century prison life, highlighting the harsh realities faced by both inmates and staff. Information panels provide context, detailing notorious prisoners and significant events. It’s a place that provokes thought about justice, punishment, and the evolution of human rights. Despite its dark history, the Old Adelaide Gaol is an essential visit for anyone interested in Australian social history or seeking a genuinely unique and somewhat unsettling experience. Allow ample time to absorb the weighty ambiance of this incredibly preserved landmark.

We enjoy visit Gaols and historical places and this one is one of the better ones we have seen – great spot and we also enjoyed our lunch here too

Had a great time here on my free 1 year stay a few years back. Meet some nice friendly people there. The only why couldn’t I leave they had guards stopping me when I tried to get out. Also the food is not the best but I guess if its free its worth it. Just maybe make it a bit more friendly and not constrain people to there rooms.

It’s deep in the shadows, was a challenge to find but well worth it ! The kids had a blast searching around the beautiful museum pieces. Puzzles were creative as they were surprisingly challenging yet fair, allowing not only the kids but the whole family to enjoy their stay. Well recommend it, however wish they made it for public and easy to get to.

Great way to engage with the museum in a different way. Fun mix of scavenger hunt elements combined with escape room style puzzles. As someone who has done many escape rooms, this approach felt so fresh and unique. The hidden doors and elements around the museum itself really tie you into the narrative and make you feel a little special. Great to do in a group and I think a fun family activity to do with the kids.

Museum is fun and educational but unfortunately this investigation activity was stopped last year. We still enjoyed our time!

My 8 and 10 year old loved this. Limit what you’re carrying as the cloak room is shut and you’ll be sprinting all over the gallery.
We could not get through everything in the time, which really added to the challenge factor.
A brilliant museum experience..

My partner and I loved the Shadow Initiation. Such a fun way to explore the museum. A good mix of challenging and momentum-building puzzles. Hope there are more games like this at museums in the future! Thank you 🙂

I was a little skeptical but it was great. 7 would def be the youngest I’d suggest do it. Older kids who like the museum (or Percy Jackson) will love it

Such a fun experience, adding a fresh and exciting element to the Museum. So many cool technical tricks and effects that were unexpected too! Thoroughly enjoyable for all ages too!

The Centre of Democracy is a fantastic space that showcases South Australia’s rich political and democratic history in a really engaging way. The exhibitions are thoughtful and well-curated, with interactive displays that make complex ideas easy to understand. I especially enjoyed learning about the state’s pioneering role in women’s suffrage and democratic reform.

No staffs spotted, toilets at basement. The location right on North Terrace makes it easy to drop in while exploring other cultural sites. It’s a great spot for both locals and visitors who want to learn more about how democracy has shaped our community.

This is very small and inside the original State Library building. There was quite a bit to absorb and I love the interactive face wall.

Small exhibition but very well maintained and many activities to learn, keep you well engaged.

Very small exhibit but the volume of the media inside is a bit too loud. I think more could be done of the space inside.

Great to learn about the commitment and system of democracy here and offers a great opportunity to share the principles of local system with children if you brought them here.

I am glad to have made a short visit here after South Australian Museum.

The Centre of Democracy showcases the people and ideas that have shaped democracy in South Australia. Featuring treasures from the state’s collections and the latest in digital technology, the gallery challenges visitors to think again about people and power.

One of the newest attraction on Adelaide’s North Terrace cultural precinct, the Centre of Democracy is a hub for a vibrant program of education, public, and online programs that engage and inform visitors about the ideas behind democracy, political participation, and citizenship.

What a fantastic place! It may be small but the space has been expertly used. Descriptive touch screens and the novel voting system make for a great interactive experience for all ages.

Really underrated small museum in Adelaide. Highly recommend if you’re interested in learning about Adelaide’s history of democracy!

Super friendly place, a true speciality in the city. Highly recommended.

Wonderful experience, Curator is a top bloke.

Absolutely marvellous awesome place

Boaring