If Austin, Napa Valley, and the Mediterranean had a baby, it would be Adelaide. The Southern Australian city boasts a thriving arts and culture scene, along with plenty of endearing quirks. The setting, wedged between hills on one side and the Indian Ocean on the other, is also stunning, and the location provides easy access to three world-class wine regions nearby and the outback a few hours north. Plus, nowhere else in Australia can you get produce from farm, sea, and outback to table as fast as Adelaide — and it shows. The food scene is a celebration of place and people, paying homage to Indigenous heritage, British history, and Asian and European influences. It’s inventive, unpretentious, and incomparable.

Adelaide has been overlooked for its size, long passed over by tourists for Sydney or Melbourne to the east. But Adelaide’s size also makes it conveniently manageable in scale. At four square miles, you can walk and eat your way around everything the city has to offer, and easily launch into day trips into the surrounding countryside. The city hasn’t been sitting still either; in recent years, Adelaide has shaken off its conservative roots and reputation as a “city of churches,” to become a place that’s undeniably cool and uniquely its own — and yours to experience too.

When to visit: “Mad March” is the busiest time of year, drawing visitors for Adelaide’s long-adored Fringe Festival, the biggest annual arts festival in the southern hemisphere. The city basically becomes one large carnival for four weeks, making it a special — if expensive — time to visit. Other times of year are much quieter and cheaper. Visit anytime between November and April for good weather and vibes.

Area to stay: Look for hotels on the centrally located North Terrace. You can walk everywhere in the city from there.

Getting around: Even for a short stay in Adelaide, it’s handy to have a car. Rent one at the airport, so you can easily take day trips to nearby wineries.

8 a.m. Morning coffee: Start your day with a stroll to one of Adelaide’s finest cafes, Elementary Coffee. Nestled between busy Waymouth Street and Franklin Street, it feels like a hideaway for rich, velvety, speciality-batch coffee.

9 a.m. Superior pastries: From Elementary, take a walk up Waymouth to Abbots and Kinney, a trendy Adelaide bakery that puts other pastry shops to shame. The menu features surprising spins on classic pastries, such as an Earl Grey and candied blood orange Danish or a mushroom ragu and kale toastie (what Aussies call a toasted sandwich).

10 a.m. Explore the streets: After licking your fingers for every last crumb, walk up to Rundle Street, Adelaide’s East End. The beloved dining and shopping district is full of colonial-era buildings, old cinemas, pubs, high-end boutiques, bars, and beer gardens. Drop into Gorman for a bold printed dress, Oroton for a nice handbag, or Zimmermann for something flowy and fashionable. If you need a second pick-me-up to fight off jetlag (or if you just want to enjoy as many Aussie cafes as possible), meander down Union Street to Penny University Cafe.

1 p.m. Graze through lunch: Circle back toward Part Time Lover for lunch. On a laneway, aptly named Paul Kelly Lane in honor of the hometown music legend, you’ll find this modern Australia restaurant with massive windows, lots of foliage, and an elevated, breezy bistro vibe. The lunch menu features items like popcorn broccoli, sopressa toast, and salt and pepper bug rolls (an Australian classic similar to a lobster roll). Or you can pick the Feed Me option to let the kitchen decide. Linger for a while. The staff won’t rush you out.

3 p.m. City views: Adelaide’s CBD is surrounded by parklands and green spaces on all sides, doubling as inviting pockets for post-meal outdoor hangs. Slowly make your way up King William Street and onto the Adelaide Riverbank Lawns to relax. It’s a quaint spot to sprawl out and take in the best view of the city and theater district. Make sure you walk along the Riverbank Pedestrian Bridge.

6 p.m. Something fun for dinner: Head to one of the city’s most popular laneways, Peel Street, for a Southeast Asian feast at Gondola Gondola. Drawing on their Vietnamese and Chinese heritages, husband-and-wife team Tuoi and Annie Tran put together a pan-Asian menu featuring items like yellow wontons, red piggy ribs, chargrilled wagyu rump, and salt and pepper eggplant, all designed to be shared. The wine list includes local, seasonal bottlings; let the waiters guide your pairings, but look out for the spicy marg with lemongrass and Vietnamese mint, the Barossa Wine Cartel grenache, or the lychee-infused oolong teapot with rum and sake. Make sure you have a booking because this place is as busy as an intersection in Ho Chi Minh City.

8.30 p.m. Grab a nightcap: To end the night, make a quick commute 400 feet to Leigh Street laneway and cozy in at Pink Moon Saloon. You can’t miss it — it looks like an A-frame Swiss chalet. Inside, it’s dark, moody, and outright sexy. You have to try an espresso martini, and the rest of the menu celebrates local distillers, winemakers, and South Aussie ingredients.

8 a.m. Aussie breakfast: Some of Adelaide’s best brunch spots are on the outskirts of the city, like the homey Mister Sunshine’s, which you can reach via a quick tram ride from Adelaide Railway Station to Thebarton. The cafe — which is part grandma’s house, part LA hipster — gives the Aussie breakfast the respect it deserves, with dishes like the towering avo smash, Turkish eggs, breakfast gnocchi, saffron poached pear French toast with pistachio and ricotta, and a haloumi, tomato, and pesto sandwich.

10.00 a.m. Check out the wildlife: Head back to your hotel, hop in the car, and head up to the Hills to meet some of Australia’s friendliest — and wildest — locals at Cleland Wildlife Park. A sanctuary since 1967, Cleland lets you hug koalas, listen to Australian birdsong, and spot kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, dingoes, echidnas, snakes, and spiders.

12.30 p.m. Take in the view: After you’ve had your fill of wildlife, take the short scenic drive to Mount Lofty Summit for the famous panoramic view of the city, sea, and rolling hills. If you’re feeling up for it, you can follow one of the guided trails that peel off the summit, such as the historic Heysen Trail, which runs 750 miles across the state.

1.30 p.m. Go low-key at lunch: Once you’ve worked up an appetite, head five minutes down the road and make a pitstop at Crafers Hotel for a parmy: the famous chicken Parmigiana, which has become a staple at Australian pubs. Adelaide Hills boasts some of the best pub meals in the state and the rendition here is top-notch.

3.30 p.m. Freshen up: Head back “down the hill” as locals say and stop back at your hotel. You’ll need to relax after your adventure and put on your best for dinner.

6 p.m. Dressy dinner: Dinner is at Arkhé on the Parade. Adelaide’s first open-flame restaurant comes from Jake Kellie, former head chef of Burnt Ends, a Michelin-starred Australian barbecue spot in Singapore. Located in a heritage-listed sandstone building, Arkhé feels like Australia when you walk in: part of a gum tree acts as a table centerpiece, there are soft colors everywhere, and there’s a simple elegance throughout. Look out for Southern Australian ingredients, such as Eyre Peninsula prawns, Gazander Pacific oysters, Mayura Station wagyu, wattleseed-infused Ambleside gin, Adelaide Hills riesling, and Barossa Valley shiraz. Make sure you have a booking.

Day 3: Day trip on the Fleurieu Peninsula

8 a.m. Caffeinate: The famous McLaren Vale wine region is about 50 minutes from the city on the Fleurieu Peninsula. Make a pit stop for coffee at Summertown Studio, a dreamy space that showcases South Australia’s arts and style. Grab a coffee; browse books, homewares, skincare, and goodies from local artists; discover new music among the record collection; and chill in the backyard.

9.30 a.m. Bakery visit: No trip to the Fleurieu is complete without a visit to an Aussie bakery. If you’re feeling adventurous, the best on the Fleurieu is Port Elliot Bakery, but you can hit Home Grain Bakery a little closer if the hour’s drive to Port Elliot feels overly ambitious. Whichever bakery you choose, pick a sweet option (say, a vanilla slice, custard Berliner, or doughnut) and a savory option (a sausage roll or meat pie).

11.00 a.m. First glass: Now you’re fueled and ready for frolicking at some wineries. Drive along the Main Road to take in all the charm and sweeping views of this historic coastal wine region as you head toward Alpha Box & Dice, a barn converted into a cellar door. Order the premium tasting and look out for the Tarot prosecco — it’s a fun one.

1 p.m. Lunch among the vines: Then it’s onto the Currant Shed just down the road, which serves a multicourse lunch with vineyard views. Enjoy a seasonal menu with dishes such as kangaroo with wattleseed, prawns in bisque, blow-torched salmon, and smoked pork hock. The drink menu is just as expansive, with local wine, beer, cider, and cocktails. The McLaren Vale grenache is a must-try, as is the Parawa pinot noir (a cooler vintage with ripe plum, raspberry, and strawberry). After your meal, follow the path to the Shottesbrooke Wines cellar door on the property to try the sparkling shiraz.

4.00 p.m. Golden hour: Now that you’re decadently full, head over to Down the Rabbit Hole, one of the most whimsical wineries you’ll ever visit. This is a popular spot to sprawl out on the lawn and sip wine, listen to live music, and watch the sun go down. Or you can settle in with another wine tasting for a spread of unique varieties, craft methods, and surprising spins on local classics, like the Secret Garden grenache, which tastes of ripe red fruits, herbes de Provence, and Christmas spices.

7 p.m. Dinner: Head back toward the beach for dinner with a view at the famous Star of Greece in Port Willunga. Book ahead because this is a popular spot, with its front-row seat to the sea and rugged cliffs. On the menu, there’s lots to try with Kangaroo Island King George whiting, Sichuan squid, mushroom risotto, braised lamb shoulder, wagyu striploin, or fried quail — but don’t overlook the fish and chips, a beachside Aussie classic that’s an ideal way to end your weekend.