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Adelaide 5 day itinerary – how to enjoy a beautiful midweek!

1 Comment / 5 August 2022

5 days in Adelaide itinerary

Are you planning to visit the most liveable city in Australia, or to enjoy some of the best wine in the country, or maybe to eat in some amazing restaurant? Sure, you will have to read this and make Adelaide the next city where to spend at least a week of your holiday or your road trip stop.

Here is the post for you, to read my 5 day itinerary in Adelaide and around for your perfect holiday trip in this beautiful people-oriented city.

You will get to know my tips to plan the days of your stay, some of the restaurants I enjoyed the most, the different markets, some hiking spots and last but not least a good few of the best vineyards where to try some unforgettable wine. If you read my previous post, you could see I have lived in this city for 3 months and I get to see a lot of it. In my experience, this is a well-organized city, with everything a city needs to have to be liveable for everyone at every age

Something about Adelaide…

Adelaide, the South Australia’s capital city and the fifth’s populous city in Australia. The city is known to welcome many festivals throughout the year, here where food and wine meet and create one of the best encounters and where lots of history and nature, made their way to led this city and become one of the best Australian cities and one of the most liveable cities in the world.

Named after Queen Adelaide, the city was founded in 1836 and was the only freely-settled British province of Australia.

Adelaide’s history and form were dictated by her diversity, religious freedom and the progressive government, its free settles and wealth, contrasting the other cities of Australia. The faiths diversity made become Adelaide the “City of Churches”.

The grid-like city centre is small and compact so you can walk easily to see most of it, either in the morning or in the evening you will always be fascinated by the store, the coffee shops, the little street food or restaurants, the markets and the nightlife bars, pubs and clubs. The city within the Park offers 7,600,000 square metres of Park Lands that circle the whole city centre, so you don’t have to go far if you need sometimes to chill and enjoy the grass for a picnic or a little nap.

But as well, surrounding Adelaide, there is plenty of nature if you need a hike in the green, a day at the beach, or just to watch some wild animals outdoors.

When to visit Adelaide

The Mediterranean climate in Adelaide is very cosy and offers hot summer, warm spring and autumn but rainy and quite cold winter – not much if you come from Europe -.

Even though the best time for me to visit is the end of the summer you can plan your visit during the whole year, maybe just avoiding July and August as they can be the coldest and wettest months.

Day 1 in Adelaide – North Adelaide

Staying in the CBD will give you the chance to take advantage of the free tram ride within the city centre, this can help to move around if you aren’t keen to walk the whole day. Here to read more about the free services Adelaide can offer.

If you happen to arrive in Adelaide by flight don’t worry about the distance from the airport to the city, as will only take 20 minutes by Taxi or Uber, either with public transport. The bus stop is just 3 minutes walking from the exit and will bring you to the CBD quite quickly and in a cheap way. After your check-in or just baggage drop at the accommodation reception, you can start to wander around Adelaide.

The city centre is very small, so walking around will give you the chance to see much more than with any transport, as so you can look up for the restaurant where you want to have dinner or just a drink after your meal at the hostel.

Things to do in the CDB:

The Botanic Garden is a free attraction on the north-east side of the city which extends for 51 hectares, its open every day mostly from 7.15 am till 5 pm (Saturday and Sunday from 9 am till 5 pm). Opened in 1857 the Garden want to show the importance of the different plants in the world. The Botanic Garden in Adelaide is probably the best one in Australia. Spending a couple of hours just walking in this Garden you will meet some rare and endangered plants and several different areas; such as the three glasshouses housing Madagasgar plants, the Australian rainforest and Amazon water lilies, the Rose Garden and the “Santos Museum of Economic Botany”. The Botanic Garden has also coffee and a restaurant if you fancy some refresh for your morning.
The Rundle mall is this long pedestrian mall, the first in Australia where you can get lost to do some shopping, eat your lunch or drink your coffee before your next visit of the day. During the walk keep an eye on the several modern sculptures you will meet.
Just a few minutes walking from the pedestrian mall there is the Art Gallery of South Australia, open every day from 10 am to 5 pm. The entrance is free, except for special art galleries and exhibitions. The Gallery is home to more than 38.000 artworks, every room has a different theme and it will keep your attention to the pieces of art, so you won’t get bored at all. Australia’s largest collection of Aboriginal art is in this museum. The Gallery is a must-visit if you are in Adelaide, as it attracts many tourists of all ages. Plan to spend around a couple of hours here.
As your day might have run quick and the sunset time is coming closer, you can make your way to the accommodation by walking along the river Karrawirra Parri (River Torrens) which cuts North Adelaide. Here you will have a relaxing and chill walk enjoying the lights in the sky changing and getting every minute different and beautiful.
Dinner is just to pick your favourite cuisine and choose between the many, many restaurants Adelaide has. From Italian, Chinese, Vietnamese, Greek, Indian, Korean, Malaysian and German.. you will first get crazy and then, for sure, you will love the restaurant you choose for the night.

Day 2 in Adelaide – Southside and East End

After your first full day in Adelaide, you can slowly start your second day here in the southern Park of the city. Did you know that Adelaide is enclosed by 7,600,000 square metres of Parklands? Well, I didn’t too before visiting the city.

Today you can relax more around the city and see what was left behind from yesterday, you can start your day slowly and chill out for a while in one of my favourite places in Adelaide, the little Himeji Garden.

Things to see in Adelaide:

Relax or even meditate at the Himeji Garden. The Garden is situated South of the city, in one of the Parkland (park number 18, to be precise). Built in 1982, the Japanese-style garden, is to celebrate Adelaide’s sister city, Himeji. My favourite thing to do is to spend at least 5 minutes, sitting in front of the “Zen Garden” and just doing nothing, only enjoying the birds singing, the water falling and the other sweet noises around you, even though you are in the city over here that noises are mostly nature. There are no fees and it’s open from 8 am – 5 pm.
Have a walk in Victoria Square to reach the Central Market where you can grab a coffee, some fresh food or just have a walk. The Market is open from 9 am – 5 pm/ Saturday closes at 3 pm and its closed Sundays and Monday. Over 150 years of history, the Market is the first one to open in Australia and the largest covered market in the southern hemisphere. With over 70 vendors selling fresh seafood, healthy food, fresh produce, cheese, meat and handmade items, the Adelaide Central Market deserves a visit even if you are not going to buy anything.
On the opposite side of the road from Victoria Square, you will see a Gothic-style Roman Catholic cathedral, “St Francis Xavier’s Cathedral”. The first foundation stone was laid in 1856, however, the building was not completed until 1996. Definitely worth a visit from the outside and the inside. The cathedral is open every day 7 am – 7 pm.
Full of vibes, colours, culture, entertainment and happy people, the East End neighbourhood in Adelaide is what you need to end your day and cheer up with an Aperitivo. Street arts, iconic pubs, restaurants, boutiques and small and pleasant bars; will sparkle your eyes. Here you will find for sure the right place for you to have a drink or two, on your own or with the person you are, doesn’t matter as you will not feel alone.

Day 3 around Adelaide – Barossa Valley

Are you ready for the 3rd day in Adelaide, or should I say around Adelaide?

I bet you were waiting for this chill, tasty and different day. Let’s talk about how to reach Barossa Valley, you have a couple of options: if you have your own car is just so simple to reach the valley, as the driving distance from Adelaide is only around 70km, so an hour driving. In case you are moving around by public transport this shouldn’t be difficult as well; just reach the local Adelaide Metro train from Adelaide Railway Station to Gawler Central, once there you can transfer to Barossa via a local bus – make sure you plan the trip ahead -.

Once there you will realize the best way to go around in Barossa Valley is definitely by bike. So what are you waiting for? Go and rent that bike. The Barossa Bike company not only offers a rental service but beautiful tours, such as “wine and cheese” and the “Barista, brewer and Wine” are organized.

Barossa Valley by bike:

The Barossa Trail is a 40 km traffic-free cycling and walking linking Angaston to Gawler via the towns of Nuriootpa, Tanunda and Lyndoch. During the trail, you will enjoy the landscapes and the actual ride, which doesn’t get crazy difficult and indeed caters for all levels of fitness and experience.
If you decide to bike the Barossa Valley, the chance of finding your special cellar will be many. The trail cross many different cellar and winery, so your “wine tasting journey” can begin- just don’t drink and drive -. Not keen on a wine tasting yet? Don’t worry, on the route, there are many beautiful cafes, restaurants, bakeries and food shops to pamper your morning ride.
Lunchtime right? Got you covered tho. Some of my favourites are Seppeltsfield, Calabria Family Wines, Kalleske and Whistler Wines. Most of these wineries offer wine tasting and wine tours through the cellar, make sure to make a reservation, especially during the weekend and public holidays. Don’t hesitate to stop in more than one place both for food and wine.
Are you a cheese lover? You can’t miss Barossa Valley Cheese Company
Even though Barossa Valley is most famous for wine, there are alternatives such as beer tasting at Maggie Beer’s Farm Shop, Rehn Bier and others.
Your day might be over, but you cannot make your way back to Adelaide city without having seen the best Barossa Valley sunset, the Mengler hill is your place to chill and enjoy the beautiful view.

Day 4 in Adelaide – Relax at Glenelg

I usually keep it slow on my fourth day of the holiday, especially after three delightful days whirligig around. The plan for your fourth on 5 days in Adelaide, will be mostly to chill and wondering around, at one of the most popular destinations in South Australia and so in Adelaide.

Just 35 minutes away from Adelaide CBD, Glenelg is one of the best suburbs of the city. Vibes, wide beaches, cafes, restaurants and unforgettable sunsets are all gathered here to treat your needs and feelings. The tram ride with the return will cost you around 8$ but, if you are a bike lover, the bicycle lane will take you straight to Glenelg Beach too.

Things to do in Glenelg:

As soon as you get off the last stop of the tram, exclusively enjoy the pedestrian path, the cute Ferris wheel facing the seafront and the Jetty.
If you haven’t had breakfast yet, consider going for a pastry and coffee at Superette, just a few minutes from the pedestrian walk. The place is super cute, the service is amazing and their croissant with cappuccino even better.
The best thing to do at Glenelg is to have a little walk on the white sandy beach and look for your beach towel’s best spot. As usual in Australia, the beach does not get crazy busy, so anywhere you will feel perfectly at peace.
The main road offers a vast option of restaurants, fast food and others in case your plan is to eat out, otherwise, you can grab a ready-to-eat meal or sandwich at Woolworths and keep chilling at the beach.
Good Italian as I am, I can’t miss my advice for a special Gelato. Here in Glenelg, you have the chance to try one of the best gelatos, in the “Bottega Gelateria” the handcrafted gelato will leave you, of course, cooler in the hottest days but mostly with no words.

Adelaide-5-day-itinerary-bottega-gelateria — Photography: Josie Withers

Get back to your accommodation and get ready for your last dinner in Adelaide. Tonight’s experience is up to you, but I can’t withstand giving you tips about the restaurant choices I experienced.
As a chef, but first food lover, my passion for trying different cuisine are endless, happily, Adelaide is the place to be. Apoteca, Osteria Oggi, Est West, Soi38 Regional Thai, Africola, Sohoboso, 18th street Hot Pot and I can go on forever, but there will be a post about these restaurants for you soon.

Enjoy your dinner and see you tomorrow.

Day 5 in Adelaide – Morialta Park and Koalas

Finally, we get to the walking part of the trip, yes the last bit, not that we haven’t walked enough in these 5 days in Adelaide itinerary, but this time the hiking will be immersed into nature. Surrounded by trees, hills, an enormous amount of Eucalyptus trees, sleepy Koalas and three waterfalls.

So put on your comfy hiking shoes, carry some insulated reusable water bottles, some snacks and a camera. Be delighted by the walk

Morialta Conservation Park is only less than 13km from Adelaide and under an hour by public transport the entry is free and the best time to visit the waterfalls is during spring or winter, even though the Park is open all year from 6.30 am till 7 pm (closed on Christmas day).

If you are a morning person and you are going to leave Adelaide in the morning, going for an early hike will allow you to enjoy the walk and the actual natural beauty around you. The singing birds, the fresh breeze, the flowing water stream and if you are lucky with the times even beautiful dawn.

The Park offers a Rock-climbing Zone, if you are an experienced rock climber, this area is the most famous to be natural climbing area in South Australia.

As simple as the hike can be if your plan is to visit the three waterfalls, be ready to face the 7.3 km trail which can take from 3 and a half hours to 4 hours. The three falls hike offers, in addition to the actual falls, terrific cliff views and two different lookouts, the Morialta Gorge and Kookaburra Rock Lookout. The rocks can be slippery when wet and the surface can be uneven, so put extra care when hiking.

Look out for Koalas and Kookaburra.

After this intense still wonderful hiking day, the time to leave Adelaide is coming closer. The airport is still very close to the city and the way towards it is either by uber or by bus. In case you will need to catch the train, the main train station is at 125 North Terrace,10 minutes walking from the Rundle Mall, so you can walk or as well use the free tram service. If your next stop is connected by “Greyhound” or another bus company, walking 5 minutes west from Victoria Square, you will find in Franklin St the Adelaide Central Bus Station, where coaches depart daily to different directions of the country.

The Adelaide 5 day itinerary is coming to an end, but I am not going to leave you without extra tips on your accommodation and restaurant choices based on budget, mid-range and high-range basis; above all you will find a list of some extra attractions in case you are planning for a longer stay, or if you will consider a different option during your 5 day itinerary of Adelaide.

Where to stay in Adelaide

Australia isn’t a cheap country to visit, not like third-world places but more similar to Europe’s big cities standard.

Luckily Adelaide, as most of the cities here in Australia, is backpackers friendly, so accommodation, for backpackers like me, or people who wants to travel on a low budget, are many. If by chance you are looking for a hostel, a mid-range hotel or you are visiting for a special occasion, so you rather spend the days in a fancy accommodation, don’t worry because you will find the whole range of options.

Budget

The two best-rated hostels in Adelaide are surley the Tequila Sunrise and the Adelaide Central YHA, both on Waymouth Street and on a budget; the hostels have friendly staff, they offer Wi-Fi, and AC and a happy breakfast is included in the price. The fully equipped kitchen and the shared living room will make your stay more fulfilling, and so does the other services such as the laundry and the perfect central location.

Tequila Sunrise offers many dormitory options, from 16 to 4 beds of mixed and female dorms. The price range goes from 28 to 41 $ per bed. The “socializing dinners” delight you with 4 night a week free dinners.
Adelaide Central YHA provides dormitories from 4 to 8 person of mixed, female and male dorm from 30 to 35$ per bed and also a private double bedroom from 85 to 97 $. Another extra point to this hostel goes for the sustainability program they put in place, saving on water, energy and waste; not to forget the support they give trought Hutt St. Centre to help the homeless.

Mid-Range

Colourful and original in North Adelaide, Majestic Minima Hotel offer 46 unique rooms, each of them painted by local South Australian artists. The many facilities make this building my favourite mid-range hotel in Adelaide. The room’s price varies depending on the high season, the sizes of the room and the piece of art you will have all for you. It is on average per night, per room from 90$ to 120$.

High Range

Fancy an unforgettable, with all the comforts accommodation for your 5 day in Adelaide? Maybe a special occasion to share with someone, or maybe just want to spend some time on your own to be waited on hand and foot.

EOS by Skycity is your place, this glamourous boutique hotel is situated a few minutes away from Adelaide train station and next to the river that crosses the city.

Every day in this beautiful hotel you will be cuddling with events, entrainment and the many different restaurants to choose from, beginning with Vietnamese-french cuisine, Italian and of course a South Australia cuisine fine dining.

Even though you are visiting Adelaide, this place will make you so comfortable to chill with no regrets for the time you want, the wavy white terrace overlooking the city is the place to be to get some Vitamine D or to cool down inside the swimming pool. The modern suites are different in size and shape, some of them with large and clear windows, plus you won’t miss a couple of hours at the spa and the 900 original artworks you will find in the Skycity building.

Where to eat in Adelaide

My best part is the eating one. As you might know, I am a chef and trying new food, or finding the best restaurant, is one of my favourite hobbies if we can call it so.

The restaurant I will list are just some of the best ones for me, but the good thing about Adelaide is that you hardly go wrong, if you are going out for food and drinks.

Not only South Australia is the best wine region in Australia, also Adelaide is the perfect destination for the food lover who does not eat only for needs, but for the love of the ingredients, the taste, the sensations, the experience and why not to share a meal with someone or even with your own too.

After Canberra, Adelaide is the city with more restaurants per capita than other cities in the country. So you will love the experience. Choose your cuisine for the next meal and get ready to immerse in the enormous amount of restaurants Adelaide has to offer, European, Asian, Australian, African food and more..

Budget / Mid-Range

For you, my reader, the budget and mid-range section will be sharing the same position, as I believe if you are looking for Fast-Food you will know where to go.

The best Pizza in Adelaide is Etica Pizzeria. This little place will embrace you in the best vibes a pizzeria needs to have. Warm light and wall filled with photos of famous Italian places, vintage Italian advertising and a fascinating wood oven by the entrance door.

Best pizza: Burrata and Vegana.

Do you rather eat some Asian food? Simply start to get lost in China Town and follow your senses, smell and look around you, for sure you will find your place.

My favourite choices are the Hot Pot restaurant, where you can make your own dry noodle or soup noodles, Chinese style by picking the vegs, protein, the kind of noodles you want and the sauce or broth. Some of them are 18th Hot Pot, Dragon Hot Pot and Chao Chow.

High Range

APOTECA is definitely the restaurant to go once in Adelaide. The “Prescrition-style” menu offers the right balance between vegan, vegetarian and non-veg food for your meal in a well-furnished ambience. The tasting menu is also available and the iconic cellar restaurant (Friday and Saturdays only) gives you the chance to have a cosy dinner surrounded by wine bottles.

This was your Adelaide 5 day itinerary to enjoy and use as you please. I believe you will love the city, the food, the wine and the nature around. Leave a comment if you need some more tips or only to share your Adelaide experience with me and the other readers.

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Finally back to Australia… 2 years later!

4 June 2022

Well yes, of course, the pandemic, this historic period that for sure moved the whole world somehow. But here I am now two years later, writing this post in the exact place I wanted to be: Australia. To be precise I am writing from Adelaide, the capital city of Southern Australia, one of the world’s most liveable cities.

Back to Australia

The country of the kangaroos, the wide-open spaces, the desert, the natural wonder in the middle of nowhere, the many deadly animals, the country with one of the world’s longest roads, the beaches and the great barrier reef… We can keep going forever listing all of the particularity of this amazing country, the beauties Australia has to offer are endless and definitely “to be seen”.

Funniest Australian road signs — *Some funny road signals*

Students, backpackers and tourists each year are attracted by this country. Some backpackers move here with the interest of living far from home and pushing themselves to get a life experience, so as to get out of their comfort zone. Others do it as a reward to themselves after the school degree and someone does it as well to start a new chapter, find their own luck with a career and settle their life in a place they always dreamt about.

Each person I meet during my life as a traveller has taught me different ways of seeing life. For sure most of them try to do it as much as they can to really enjoy every little step they take. So am I, indeed.

Why did I come back to Australia after two years?

We all know the pandemic had brought different rules in all the countries, Australia kept their border close – to most of the world – for almost two years. So the answer is simple, I didn’t have any other choices apart then wait. But why I have decided to make my way back here it is a different story.

Experiencing this country on my first working holiday visa, I had more of a normal approach – the same when you are moving to a new “home”, or to a city you are going to live there for years. So at the end of January 2019, I arrived after an endless flight in Sydney and there I stayed for 6 months.

finally back to australia harbour bridge sydney 1 — *Sydney Harbour Bridge – New South Wales*

I was working in a beautiful restaurant overlooking the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House – the most iconic sights of Australia- and living in a 19th-floor apartment with a view. When my visa was half the way to the end, I finally decided to start looking for a farm job, which would have allowed me to renew the same visa for an extra year. So in August, I reached this small village 140km south of Cairns, Tully.

What an experience was for me…

Yes, this was one of the reasons I did come back to this country, not only the little village with one main road, one big supermarket and just over two thousand people who live there. The VIBES.

The vibes that this place had were amazing, the feeling I had were most of the time positive, and the friends I met there made up one of the best groups of people I’ve ever met.

Once in Queensland, I could see what I was missing the most by living in a big city like Sydney and working many hours in the kitchen. I was missing my feeling, the nature’s sounds, the fact I could be happy only to have seen a beautiful butterfly during my day, the chat I could do with my Australian colleagues and the “to be seen” talk done with a Wales’s woman who lives in Australia most of her life.

Just the fact of sharing the happiness – in any form – with someone else for me was gold and still, it is now. So the answer at “why have I made all my way back to Australia after two years?” can be easily explained:

To continue my life experience here and travel as much as I can this stunning and huge country.

Two years between Australia

Let’s go back to the end of January 2020 and quickly do a summary of what happened.

Just after my first year of working holiday visa “down under”, the plan to get back in Italy for the summertime was strong and solid: travel throughout Asia for three months, enjoy my seasonal job as a chef in one of the best resort of Sardinia, and after that spend some months with my family, then leave Italy after Christmas to go back to Australia. Things haven’t really gone that way though, my plan to go to Hong Kong had to be cancelled so I stayed instead in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur for the first two weeks and my trip follow through Thailand and Vietnam almost without any problem.

finally back to australia vietnam — Crazy House Dalat – Vietnam

Almost because the last week in Vietnam was a bit of a nightmare, the cities and villages started to have fewer tourists and the fear of this virus was becoming bigger. Many accommodations during my trip weren’t accepting people with Italian passports as at the beginning of March 2020 my country was having lots of cases.

So when in Hanoi I had been refused to book a room in three different accommodations, I started to question myself: should I keep going with my plan and fly to the Philippines on the 15th of March or should I go back home, where I could at least be sure to have a place to stay?

My answer got built by other updates, mostly from the Philippines government which, on the 13th of March, announced a lock-down in Manila for the day my ticket to enter the country was booked. Meanwhile, Europe had already too many cases to keep the borders open and the many restrictions made most the airline companies take the decision to delete most of the scheduled flights.

Half march I was finally home, in self-isolation, after more than one year away from my family I wasn’t even allowed to see most of them as of the restriction. Looking forward to starting with the plans I had once I left Australia, I had to change most of them.

Nonetheless, my two years were luckily filled with job experience and holidays. I could work for the winter season in a stunning snowing destination as it’s Sankt Moritz in Switzerland and I had the chance to work as a Sous chef in one of the most famous restaurants in London.

… these two years of waiting for Australia to open their border wrote a big chapter of my life, I could get to know more about myself and my interest, I visited some beautiful places in Europe and still, I could spend unforgettable time with my family and friends as I used to do when I was living in Rome.

Looking back now this time was gold for me, as I could plan my way back to Australia in a deeper and more conscious way.

Australia’s plan, two years late…

Travelling through Australia ain’t always been in my dream, or at least not one of the first ones. As a dreamer, my mind goes anywhere around the globe, since a young age I wanted to visit every corner of the world, or so far as possible.

London experience gave me the opportunity to meet many people while working, I could work with Australian people who made me interested in living and travelling to their country. This is how I got to know the chance to obtain a working holiday visa and do it so. After my summer season in Palma de Mallorca, back in January 2019 I bought my one-way ticket to Australia and did my “Aussie experience”. Having worked most of the time I didn’t get the chance to travel all over, so here I am now, doing my second year of visa with a different mindset: to travel as much as I can.

June is known as the winter season’s begging here in Australia, and here in the South of Australia, the climate gets colder than in the north of the country. This is why I decided to start my road trip as soon as possible, in a week’s time I will leave Adelaide and make my way to far north Queensland.

finally back to australia dunk island — *Dunk island* – Queensland

The road trip plan is to drive the outback of Australia, reach first Airlie Beach and Whitsundays and then go up within the Daintree Rainforest. This will be spread over 18 days, more or less. The actual drive inland won’t meet special touristic sites as someone might expect, but I am pretty sure I will be able to make an amazing experience and why not, see some good things as in landscapes, village and others.

How will I travel?

Entering again this country I realized the first thing I had to do was buy a car, not an everyday car, no. Since I was a teenager I always loved big cars, not that I know much about cars, but of course, I have my tastes.

As I have never owned a car in my 28 years, I decided to finally buy something I dreamt about for a long time: a second hand 4 wheel drive car. A 2005 Mitsubishi Pajero. It was challenging to find the one for me, but after 20 days of going around the Adelaide suburbs for the different inspections, suddenly a french couple who just ended their 2 years road trip ended up in this “little city” in South Australia.

finally back to australia my car — *My lovely Pajero*

The car they were selling was just what I was dreaming of for the last few years, set up already for the trips and camping and in fair conditions in terms of kilometres, engine and other important components of the actual car.

If your plan is to come to Australia with a working holiday visa and do a road trip, my advice to you is to check well what you are buying. Give yourself some time before you make your final decision, as you can be lucky and get a very good deal from someone who’s leaving the country. At the same time, do not stress too much to find the perfect car. Australia’s secondhand car market is a big deal so buying a car won’t stop you to own it only for a few months and changing it for a better one.

Why am I here?

But now let me tell you briefly what the actual plan for the following years in this country is.

Having lost myself a bit in the last year, I have made it all the way here to get all the pieces of me together again. To bloom once more and to do that so I will need to do things I always loved: travel, eat, practice mindfulness and live to protect our earth. I am here to experience all these things and I want to share everything with you, so this will be the space where I can write to you my tips and how my life experience will go.

As for travelling, I came back to Australia to visit what I haven’t seen yet and to experience working on the farms, so I can learn more about agriculture and get more connection with the earth.

I am sure this experience will allow me to appreciate more what we call “the little things”. Gestures, actions, looks, natures, flavours, and smiles. In short words: small things that nurture and sustain you in life.

finally back to australia wallaman falls — *Wallaman falls – Queensland*

This, readers, is just the (second) starting point of my Australian path and so expect to read more about how the trip is going. I might have some good tips for you and, if you are a young person who would love to do the same experience, with the opportunity to have a working and holiday visa and travel around this awesome country, wait for the new post so you can get more motivated on visiting here. As well if you are keen to visit Australia as a tourist these articles will help you to plan an unforgettable road trip experience.

Finally back to Australia… 2 years later! Read More »

three weeks in Cuba – Itinerary for a wild and chill travel

21 November 2021

Some good Salsa music, a couple of Mojito gone already, people enjoying the vibes and I’m looking at a blue and white stripes flag with a star in a red triangle. Yes, exactly, the Cuban flag. But wait I’m not yet there… I am just in a very central Casino in London and it’s nearly winter, my shift finished not long ago and I and my friends reach the only open place to have a drink at this time. -Chef life, it’s funny and your working hours are tricky sometimes that the pubs might be all closed for an easy pint with colleagues and friends.-

Having a little chat I can’t think of anything but Cuba, one of the places I would have liked to go since I was a child; so in the middle of a conversation, I interrupt my two friends. -Every time I come here, listening to this music and staring at this flag I see myself in a little village close to the beach dancing Salsa not too far from Havana.-

Apparently, I wasn’t the only one having this feeling, the same night we booked our tickets and so the days after I started to plan the trip. Three weeks in Cuba itinerary was our time to spend on this beautiful Caribbean Island.

As many of us experienced or might think before going to another place to visit, better not to put so many sights to see and cities, especially when is a country where public transport are not the best and you don’t know how moving around can be.

In this post, I will share with you, reader, my unforgettable three weeks experience in this stunning country, where culture and traditions meet happiness and beautiful people.

If you’re planning a three-week visit to Cuba or even less, this is the right place to collect some ideas and read some funny stories about the country I had the pleasure to explore.

Three weeks in Cuba Itinerary and adventure

3 days in Havana

L’Avana, Cuba’s capital city founded by the Spanish in the 16th century. Colourful, vibrant, cheerful and many other ways to describe this beautiful city. With lot of culture, arts and historic sites; squares and neighbourhoods, Old Havana claims to be a UNESCO World Heritage Site for nearly 40 years.

For our three days in Havana, we stayed in an uncle’s friend’s house, who travelled in and out of Cuba for 25 years, and he now lives in Havana for 10years. The sites we visit at first were just a few steps from the house and so luckily the ocean was just clearing my mind from the busy traffic and grey sky from London. Cojimar is a Havana district just 7km far from the old town, you can see “El Castillo de Cojimar” and in a bright blue colour a circular columns structure where is situated an Ernest Hemingway statue. The American novelist was very connected to this city due it’s love for fishing and cocktails and to the ispirations for “the old and the sea” novel.

The rest of the day we spent it into the Habana Vieja and got lost through the colorful and photogenic streets. And WOW, the vibes of this city are just amazing, the Jazz playing from the cocktail Bar, the live band performing Salsa and Mambo music for the happy dancers, and people smoking cigars on the edge of the road. Most of the day has gone in Habana, but before to leave the centre we stopped in a Bar knwon to be the birthplace of the Mojito cocktail (the same I was sipping in London when I booked the ticket to this paradise). La Bodeguita del medio, it’s room with walls covered with writing and signature of the pasts castomers, famous and not, is the setting of this beautiful first day in Cuba.

The next day in Havana we started it quite early (as still, the jetlag can be a sleeping problem) and the plan it is to visit some of the main Cultural Highlights. We reached again the centre and we walked by “Capitolio National” a building reminescent the White House in Washington; got in the “Museo de la Revolucion”, three floors museum where you learn more about the revolutionary period. The are many highlights to be vist or simply to be walked past. As the sun goes down we moved to Malecon, the eight-km esplanade, where we chill with a cold Cristal beer bought from a vendor and beautiful sunsets happening in front of me.

The nice thing about the old town is that can easly take 1 day to see all around, and in my opinion walking was the best way, but you have many spots where to drive around in a typical Chevrolet car from the 60s.

The third morning in Havana was quite funny and tricky as we went to buy a ticket for the next stop in Playa Giron. Viazul is the biggest bus company in Cuba territory, BUT.. for the tourist incresing in the Country I experienced the bus service is not able to support the number of people who wants to move around.

So we reached the Viazul Terminal with a Taxi and once there we crash into this crowded place, as starting to queue for the ticket counter we can see around us two diffrent services offered in the same place. A bus service with a “fixed” schedule daily and a Taxi Colectivo service (share Taxi). The decision was obvious only after having queued under the hot sun for more than an hour – Cuba is famous for its EASY life, the people are very relaxed and chilled, everyone takes their time to do anything, so make sure you’ll go there with the same mind set. – A taxi driver approches us and so we make a deal, the day after he would have pick us up and driven to Playa Giron for only 10CUC (againts the 6CUC for the bus)

So make sure you plan your transport ahead as can be unconforable if there will is no available bus or no taxi that drives you to your next stop.

2 days in Cienaga de Zapata (Playa Giron)

After a two or three hours of journey, sitting at the back of a turquoise 60s Mercury car, we reach our final destination, Playa Giron. The “collectivo” left us on the main road (maybe the only road) and around us an only a couple of restaurant-bar, two museums and a few “Casa Particular”. We looked for one to stay in, we left our luggage and straight to the beach, into the crystal clear turquoise water. -If you decide to spend even one day in this area make sure you try “El cocodrilo” restaurant, the food is fresh and tasty and prices are low. –

The next day we booked a visit to “Cienaga de Zapata National Park”, so we drove with a guide inside the park, on our way to see Flamingos, Cuban tocororo (Cuba’s national bird), parrots, pelicans and other birds in their natural environment.

The activity inside the Cienaga de Zapata National Park are many, from birds watching to snorkling in the sea or just enjoying the beach.

3 days in Cienfuegos

Cubans are really helpful and happy people, you will realise once you’ll meet them. If you need to book your next move or need advice about a nice restaurant in the area they will be giving you tips. This is how we could move to our next destination on day 6th of the three weeks in Cuba.

threeweeksincubaitinerary9 — View from the “casa particolar”

Only one hour drive from Playa Giron (and a little more than 3h from Havana), you can find Cienfuegos. -The city is dubbed La Perla del Sur (Pearl of the South)-. With his French and Caribbean style architecture it will capture you within the first buildings. Leave your luggage and let the vibes take you for a walk. Palacio del Valle, Palacio de Governo, Parque Jose Martí, Teatro Tomás Terry, Berry Moore statue and other more site to see in the city by walking, ferry or even with a Taxi-bike service.

Two days can easly pass like this, eat in one of the many restaurants with terraces on the main road (Paseo el Prado), watch an art gallery and enjoy the many bars with live Jazz and Salsa music.

Day three in Cienfuengos region was planned to visit the stunning waterfall – El Nicho – situated just outside Topes de Collantes National Park. The location can be a day trip from either city, Cienfuegos or Trinidad. The visit to the waterfalls allows you to have a little swim in the cold, but amaizing, natural pool, only after a short hike trail into this peaceful forest that ends with a panoramic landscape.

threeweeksincubaitinerary10 — El Nicho Waterfall – Cienfuegos

3 days in Trinidad

Only in 90 minutes rides from Cienfuegos, you will be in Trinidad. Leaving early the Casa you can have a whole day in the city, getting lost trought the colourful streets, visit the famous historic centre where all the buildings are well preserved trought the years and other main sites, such as Plaza Mayor, Palacio Cantero, Museo Romantico…

Trinidad is another UNESCO World Heritage site and the second oldest city of the island. Very close to the city there are sites in nature to visit for a hiking day; our day 2 was spent in Topes de Collantes, the Salto de Caburni is 7 km round-trip not too easy but not impossible either. But it pays you off, the waterfall is a 60mt high and the natural pool is good to cool off after the walk.

The way back to the Casa was before sunset, so we got ready for dinner and a night out. The restaurant name is “Guitarra Mia”, after a little queue to go in we finnally had our tastefull dinner that I still have it in my mind. The rooms of the restaurant are filled of signatures of the previous customers , pictures of musicians, diffrents guitars and many clocks. So make sure, in Trinidad you’ll go to eat in this restaurant.

The more days you spend in Cuba, the more you will get into their culture and the more you will love this country.

On day three, after the lovely breakfast from the Casa Particular, we reach the bus terminal to book our ticket for the next stop, Santiago de Cuba. Yes exactly, we planned for the following day to travel with the bus during the night, so we could be in the second-largest city in Cuba by the morning on day 13th of the holiday. Plans not often goes well.. On the counter for the Viazul tickets the lady tell us there are no bus the next two days from Trinidad to Santiago and of course, without reason why. So our options was to reach Santa Clara by the same evening and jump on the bus from there wich was leaving at 10.30 pm, or wait some more days in Trinidad and plan for another destination. By the time me and my friends were discussing about it (in italian), a Taxi Collectivo driver got into the conversation saying he could have driven us the morning after, we tought about but we were at that point sure to catch the night bus from Santa Clara, so we could be in Santiago in the morning after. Apparently not many Taxi Collectivo drives after the sunset, so finding one collegue, who could bring us to the city, for him was a struggle too. We start to follow him trought the busy streets of the morning, – crossing bread vendors, people who are just opening their shop and children going to school- and he started to speak with this tall man about our need. Finally after talking with more then ten Taxi driver, we found one person who could drive us at 6.30pm for a two hours journey. So as the day was now shoertened, by only trying to book a bus ticket, we make a deal with the guy to take us for some hours at the beach, just for some nice relax. Playa Ancon is a white sand beach with bright light blue sea, only 15 minutes drive from Trinidad centre. We search for our shade tree and we chill with some food and drink. After sneaking a resort’s outdoor shower (as we wouldn’t have time to do it in Casa before to leave it) our driver was ready to brigh us back to Trinidad to pick up our bags and then GO..

The drive was fun and long, the Taxi was from the early 50s, with a little fan on the dashboard, the noise from the car sometimes let us thought we wouldn’t have reach Santa Clara 🙂 By 9.30pm we were there, at the terminal, full of other Taxis waiting their next customers, some backpackers for the same reason as our and locals sitted in the wainting room. And here we are waiting the bus for Santiago de Cuba, a bus that came with an hour and half delay and took 14 hours to reach the final stop. Aww, Cuba, the country that takes it easy.

3 days in Santiago de Cuba

Nothing but the flight was booked in advance for this trip, we decide it to take it easy and wild, what would have been we just go with the flow, a wise decision? I’m not sure but I loved it how it was. By the way, the trip with the bus was a kind of nightmare, unconfortable seats, close to the toilet and engine, each of the bus stop was way to long and many in the middle of nothing, just like he has to drop someone home or go to take some food in his house and last but no least.. FREEZING COLD. So prefer the Taxi when possibile, or bring a jumper or, anyway dress proprer, not as you were in Cuba with 30°c.

When we reached Santiago we looked for a specific Casa Particular that shows on Lonley Planet guide (who was with us the entire trip) “Casa Yoyi”, the hall was full of plants everywhere and the host offers us a coffee, so we seated on the terrace and enjoy the chat with the family. After having our energies back we walked towards the city. My first impression about Santiago was unexpected, as during the days in Cuba some people told us wasn’t worth the visit, but we liked it so much. It is very similar to Havana but with a sparkle that I’m not able to describe. The main square is Plaza de Dolores, all around you can see colonial and eclectic buildings that makes you fell stuck in time. As the time goes fast the sunset is close to happen we move just two blocks, reaching another famous square. Céspedes Park and from there to the Hotel Casa Granda’s terrace where you can have your Daiquiri overlooking at sunset falling behind the Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción.

The second day was spent between Cementery de Santa Ifigenia, where Fidel Castro and others notable Cubans, who make some how history for their country, the Bacardy Rum Factory and Don Diego Velázquez’ Home (worth the visit and the woman who takes care are so proud to tell you some history background). Walking the streets in Santiago you will be amused by the many bar and restaurants with live music and full dance floor, so make sure you enter one of them and enjoy their contagious happy mood.

On the third day we had a quick visit to the “Castillo del Moro” and some more time to chill in these beautiful city street before our second night bus experience.

Santiago de Cuba is surrounded by other beautiful sites, unfortunately we couldn't visit due the short time there, but if you get the chance hike in Pico Tarquinio National Park and Parque National de la Gran Piedra, visit Bayamo and Guantanamo City.

3 days in Cayo Coco

After 10 hours spent in the night bus, around 7 am we reached Ciego de Avila and we run into a old couple in their house’s terrace preparing food and coffee to sell for breakfast to the early people going to work, and to us. You will find some people who does that, and trust me is a must try to add to the cuban experience, they always been so nice, smiling, good and the prices are perfect (pan con tortilla is just 1CUC). Walking in the little city we could easly come across many “Taxi collectivo”, we had a deal with the driver and for 110CUC he drove us to the resort and return.

“unfortunately” we had to book a resort for this staying as this part of Cuba has no Casa Particular but only Hotels and Resorts. The prices were still affordable as february is low season in Cuba.

The first day in Cayo Coco was spent between the swimming pool and the ocean situated just in front of our room, as the resort was all-inclusive rate we had couple of Cuba libre under the warm sun with some chill cuban Jazz played live before sunset.

The next day we had a fresh breakfast and went to the reception to book our “Hop on Hop off” bus service, basically a bus that stops by all the resorts from Cayo Coco to Cayo Guillermo, the last stop is the best beach of this archipelago – Playa Pillar. Surrended by dunes, this beach is one of the most beautiful beaches of Cuba and Caribbean. The white sand and the turquoise and calm water makes you fell you want to stay there forever. When I was there it wasn’t busy at all, we almost have the whole beach for us. On the way back to the resort we stopped by the mall “La Gaviota” to see what it was like, but honeslty I don’t recommend, for the high prices and it’s a proper turist trap. The night in the resort was fun, we had the chance to see the show and talk with this cuban rock group of very young and talented guys.

Third and last day of the island we spent it between the beaches close to the resort, Playa Larga and Playa las Colorada. In the late evening we took, the last night bus of this unforgettable trip, to Viñales

3 days in Viñales

Day 18th of my three weeks itinerary in Cuba , switched completely landscape. From crystal clear ocean, white sands and only resort area, we arrived in Viñales where you will be surrended by this green nature that almost hugs you and makes you feel loved. – On my experience, even if there are lots of tourists, still there aren’t excuses not to visit this area.- It is not a coincidence that Viñales Valley was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List

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