Semaphore is the beach suburb directly north of Port Adelaide, connected by a heritage tram that runs between the two on weekends. The beach is long, flat, and sandy — typical of Adelaide's Gulf St Vincent coast — with calm water and modest surf. The Semaphore Road esplanade is lined with old-fashioned amusement venues, a heritage carousel, fish-and-chip shops, and a 1920s-era jetty that has been recently restored.
The suburb has a faded holiday atmosphere that hasn't quite been gentrified out of existence, which gives it more character than Adelaide's more polished beach suburbs. The Sunday market on Semaphore Road is popular with local families. The jetty is good for fishing and sunset walks, and the beach is quiet on weekday mornings.