Is Adelaide a safe city?
Written by: Cameron Ward
Published: 09/25/2019
Reading time: 3 mins
The quaint city of Adelaide has a somewhat notorious reputation, but we’re here to dismantle a few myths.
Australia is an incredibly safe place to visit. Australians are a laid-back population who are generally pretty happy to help a stranger in need. Adelaide is no different and is classified as a safe city by world standards.
The murder capital of Australia?
Adelaide has made a name of itself as the murder capital of Australia. In 2008 a slightly misleading statistic lead to the city garnering this nickname but the reality couldn’t be farther from the truth!
Not only is Adelaide not the murder capital of Australia, its crime statistics are below the country average!
Travelling at night
While it’s always a good idea to be aware when travelling at night, the City of Adelaide helps to take off some of the stress of late-night travel. Public transport stops are well lit, monitored by CCTV and have regular police presence.
On Friday and Saturday nights the city can be quite busy, and you might experience a higher number of intoxicated people coming out from bars and clubs. To help both sober and celebrating people get home safely, the Encounter Youth Hindley Street Project has volunteers known as the Green Team to help provide safety and first aid assistance and assist you in getting home.
Street scams
You’ve probably heard of the street scammers in Europe. From friendship bracelets to fake charities there are several street scams that are commonly seen across the continent. Lucky for you however these are relatively unheard of in Australia.
As one of Australia’s music and festival capitals, walking through Adelaide you will come across buskers in the main streets. Buskers may have cases or containers out in front of them filled with coins and you are encouraged to put your change into them. These local performers have a special permit to perform in the streets, and we encourage you to tip them for their performance if you have stayed to watch a while. Fear not for there is no scam here, just good old street entertainment. There’s no pressure to give over any money, but you’re sure to make one very happy artist if you were to give them a buck or two!
Personal safety
Personal safety is your responsibility and there are some things that are always worth remembering no matter where you’re travelling.
Australians drive on the left-hand side of the road, so be sure you’re checking the right way before crossing the street. That said, always cross a road at a pedestrian crossing, and don’t cross the road while using your phone.
Don’t hitch hike. Adelaide has a great array of public transport, taxis and rideshare services available. There are many places where you can buy your public transport tickets. If there is no public transport to where you are going, do your research and you will find a charter bus heading in the right direction.
Know key contacts. The emergency services number in Australia is 000. If something does happen it is important you know what number to call. It is also good to keep your travel insurance hotline number and details of your accommodation with you.
Adelaide is a beautiful city where you’re very unlikely to come into any trouble. With all the safety precautions Adelaide has in place, and a bit of common sense, you’ll have a fantastic and safe time in Adelaide.
Related article: What’s On Offer in Adelaide’s Victoria Square?
