Things to Do in Perth: Top Attractions & Insider Tips

The Best Things to Do in Perth

Perth may not have any world-famous landmarks, but there’s seriously plenty to discover — both in the city and the surrounding area. Here’s our rundown of which Perth attractions are genuinely worth your time and which you can skip.

Street Art in Perth

What you need to know: The street art scene in Perth is still relatively young. In the past, artists from Perth used to head to the “cooler” cities on the East Coast or even to the USA and Europe. These days, artists from Europe are actually moving to Perth because of the creative freedom they have here. You’ll find street art throughout the Central Business District and Northbridge, as well as in the suburbs of Leederville and Fremantle.

Is it worth it? Absolutely — the street art was our favorite highlight in all of Perth. The entire city is filled with enormous paintings and murals that sometimes cover entire building facades. We’ve honestly never seen anything like it in terms of scale and sheer volume anywhere else. For us, this is the number one thing to do in Perth.

Our tip: If you want to track down specific artworks, the Urban Art Map is perfect for you — it lists hundreds of pieces across the city: Open the Urban Art Map for Perth. Or join an Art & Cultural Tour with Adie — we had a great time and learned so much about the stories behind the works.

Book the Art & Cultural Tour in Perth

Elizabeth Quay

What you need to know: One of the most beautiful spots in Perth is Elizabeth Quay. The entire waterfront area has been completely redeveloped in recent years. From here, you get one of the best views of the Perth skyline. Also worth seeing are the curved Elizabeth Quay Bridge and the two artworks Spanda and First Contact.

Is it worth it? Definitely! We especially loved Spanda — a 29-meter-tall elliptical structure set against the high-rises of the Central Business District. First Contact is really cool too: a five-meter-tall, shiny sculpture of a bird in a boat.

Northbridge - Perth's Trendy Neighborhood

What you need to know: Northbridge is packed with small bars, trendy restaurants, and independent shops — most of which didn’t exist just a few years ago. Liquor licenses were so expensive for so long that only hotels and a few large restaurants could sell alcohol. Once the cost of licenses for small venues was drastically reduced, tiny pubs and bars started popping up everywhere.

Is it worth it? Yes — we absolutely loved the neighborhood.

Our tip: Friday and Saturday evenings are especially lively on the streets of Northbridge, but it’s a great spot for a cold drink on any evening.

Kings Park

What you need to know: Kings Park is Perth’s green lung and one of the largest inner-city parks in the world. It sits on a small hill with a fantastic panorama over the city. You could easily spend half a day or even a full day here.

Is it worth it? Yes. Perth isn’t an incredibly hectic city, but if you need a moment of peace and quiet, Kings Park is exactly the right place.

Our tip: The State War Memorial and the Botanical Garden are especially worth seeing. There’s really no chance of getting bored here.

London Court

What you need to know: London Court is probably the quirkiest shopping arcade in Perth. It was built in 1937 by a wealthy English businessman so his fellow countrymen could feel more at home in far-away Perth. The result is a wonderfully kitsch arcade in the finest British style — today, it’s mostly home to souvenir shops.

Is it worth it? The souvenir shops aren’t all that exciting, but London Court is still worth a quick look.

More Attractions in Perth

Those are the main highlights in downtown Perth — a single day is more than enough to see them all.

If you want even more, here are a few other lovely spots that are definitely worth a visit:

• Bell Tower – Also known as the Swan Bells Tower, this futuristic structure near Elizabeth Quay houses historic bells from London that you can actually ring yourself.
• Yagan Square is a brand-new area with futuristic architecture. The standout feature is the Wirin statue, dedicated to the Indigenous peoples of Australia.
• State Buildings – Three former government buildings beautifully restored and now home to restaurants, bars, and shops.

Things to Do Around Perth

Once you’ve worked through the city center’s highlights, it’s time to explore the area around Perth.

There’s seriously a lot more to discover out here — these are our personal favorites.

Fremantle - The Hip Harbor Town

What you need to know: Fremantle — affectionately called Freo by the locals — is a small port city south of Perth. Officially it’s its own municipality, but in practice it feels like part of the city. Fremantle has always been considered the hip, alternative side of Perth, even back when Perth itself was still a fairly dull big city.

Is it worth it? Oh yes! Freo has a very special charm — great cafés and restaurants, the fantastic Fremantle Markets, and beautiful historic buildings in the center.

Our tip: We loved Fremantle so much that we’d actually suggest staying in Freo rather than in Perth itself.

How to Get from Perth to Fremantle

Trains run frequently between Perth and Fremantle, comparable to a commuter rail service. The trip takes 30 minutes and costs 3.50 AUD (about 2.10 euros), or you can buy a day pass for 7 AUD (4.20 euros).

You can buy tickets at one of the machines at the train station (or on the bus, if you’re taking the bus to a train station).

Rottnest Island and the Quokkas

What you need to know: Rottnest Island is a small island off the coast of Perth that’s become famous mainly because of its adorable residents: the quokkas. Quokkas are small relatives of the kangaroo and are probably the cutest creatures in Australia. They always seem to be smiling and are super comfortable around humans on Rottnest Island.

Is it worth it? Yes! Taking a selfie with the quokkas is hugely popular, and we absolutely didn’t miss out on that.

Heads up: Cute as they are, quokkas are wild animals and should never be fed or petted. Looking is fine, selfies too — but only without any tricks like using food to lure them!

How to Get from Perth to Rottnest Island

Various ferries serve Rottnest Island. Most depart from Fremantle and from Hillarys, northwest of Perth. You’ll find all the details in our article about Rottnest Island, which we’ve linked above.

Rockingham - Penguins and Dolphins

What you need to know: Keep heading south from Fremantle and you’ll reach Rockingham. The town itself doesn’t have much to offer, but the real draws are on and in the water. Penguin Island is a small island just a few minutes away by boat from the mainland — it’s a breeding ground for little penguins and a resting spot for sea lions. The second highlight in Rockingham is the dolphins: you can even swim with them.

Is it worth it? Yes! It’s one of those experiences you really won’t regret — seeing penguins and sea lions in their natural habitat is something else entirely.

Heads up: No animals are fed or manipulated in any way. These are wild animals living in their natural habitat.

Tickets for the boat trip to the sea lions and penguins

How to Get from Perth to Rockingham

By car, the drive from Perth to Rockingham takes just under an hour. Free parking is available right at the ferry terminal to Penguin Island.

By train, the trip from Perth takes about 35 minutes and requires a ticket for 3.50 AUD (about 2 euros). The train station in Rockingham is still quite a distance from the coast, so you’ll need to take the bus for another 20–25 minutes (lines 551, 552, or 553 to the Penguin & Watts Road stop).

Koalas at Yanchep National Park

What you need to know: Koalas are pretty much a must-see on any trip to Australia. The catch is that they’re not actually native to Western Australia. The good news: you don’t have to go without them. Yanchep National Park, north of Perth, is home to a number of koalas living in a large open enclosure where you can watch them sleep and eat — which is pretty much all they do all day long.

Is it worth it? Yes — we love koalas, and we really recommend Yanchep National Park.

Important note: Please don’t support parks where you can hold a koala for a selfie in exchange for money. It’s not a pleasant experience for the koalas, so we’d ask you to skip it.

How to Get from Perth to Yanchep National Park

The best way to reach Yanchep National Park is by rental car. The drive takes about one hour.

Sand Dunes of Lancelin

What you need to know: North of Perth, you’ll find the sand dunes of Lancelin. A day trip here is worthwhile not just because the dunes are so photogenic, but because there’s a lot of fun to be had. You can rent boards and slide down the slopes — the brave ones do it standing up. But sitting and sledding down is just as much fun.

Is it worth it? Totally. We had an absolute blast at the sand dunes.

Our tip: If you want even more action, rent a quad bike and race across the dunes. Sandboards and quads are available right on-site!

How to Get from Perth to Lancelin

The drive by car from Perth to Lancelin takes about two hours.

The Pinnacles

What you need to know: The Pinnacles are a natural wonder north of Perth. Formed millions of years ago, hundreds of limestone columns of varying sizes still stand scattered across the landscape today.

Is it worth it? Oh yes — the Pinnacles are seriously impressive and make for a stunning photo subject, especially in the late afternoon light.

Our tip: A paved road winds around the Pinnacles, so you can drive right past them. But we’d recommend exploring on foot too — the loop took us about 30 minutes.

How to Get from Perth to the Pinnacles

The Pinnacles are located 190 kilometers north of Perth. By rental car, the drive takes about 2.5 hours.

We visited Yanchep National Park, the sand dunes of Lancelin, and the Pinnacles all in one day. All three are along the same route, so there’s no need for major detours.

If you’re planning this day trip, try to leave Perth as early as possible. We set off around 8:00 AM and were back by around 6:00 PM.

Beaches Around Perth

What you need to know: The great thing about Australian cities is that the beach is never far away — and Perth is no exception. There are some truly beautiful beaches around Perth, whether you’re there to surf, swim, or simply enjoy a beer by the sea.

Is it worth it? Of course, always! One of the best beaches near Perth is Cottesloe Beach. Scarborough Beach is also really lovely.

Our Hotel Recommendations for Perth

Many new, modern hotels have opened in Perth in recent years. We’ve stayed at two different places here, and we can recommend both.

Our Hotels

The Alex Hotel

The Alex Hotel is right in the middle of the Northbridge entertainment district. Bars, restaurants, the train station, and most of the city’s highlights are just a stone’s throw away.

The rooms are on the sparse side but are furnished in a modern style. Breakfast is good, though some rooms can be a bit noisy.

Book the Alex Hotel

The Tribe Hotel

We liked the Tribe Hotel even more, though the location isn’t quite as central. It sits right next to Kings Park, which means it’s about a 30-minute walk to the Central Business District.

That said, the hotel itself is truly excellent — very stylish rooms, comfortable beds, and a really good breakfast. Highly recommended!

Book the Tribe Hotel

Both the Alex Hotel and the Tribe Hotel are in the mid-price range. Of course, Perth has places to stay in every category.

More Hotel Recommendations for Perth

Our Restaurant Recommendations for Perth

Food-wise, Perth has a whole lot to offer. We naturally took full advantage of that and tried out various restaurants for you — purely in the name of research, of course.

Especially on Friday and Saturday evenings, you’re better off always making a reservation. Other nights are quieter, but if you want to be sure you won’t have to wait for a table, book ahead regardless.

Market Grounds

Market Grounds sits on the border between Northbridge and Perth’s Central Business District. The menu features regional produce: fish, meat, and vegetarian options — everything is delicious. Market Grounds was definitely our favorite restaurant in Perth.

The front section is more of a bar. You can eat there too, but it’s very, very loud and busy. Head to the back section for the actual restaurant — a bit quieter, with table service.

Long Chim

Long Chim is a Thai restaurant in the basement of the State Buildings, helmed by David Thompson — considered one of the best Thai chefs in the world.

The food is genuinely very authentic: classic Thai street food with a modern twist. The Larb Gai was honestly the spiciest version of the dish we’ve ever eaten, and we’ve had it many times in Thailand. But there are also milder dishes on the menu, so don’t worry.

Shadow Wine Bar

The Shadow Wine Bar is part of the Alex Hotel. The food is very good and the selection of wines across all price ranges is enormous.

The Standard

The Standard is a bar with a restaurant. The drinks are excellent, and the food is what we’d call regionally experimental — a little too experimental for our taste, but still delicious.

Lot Twenty

Lot Twenty is directly across from the Alex Hotel and also serves solid Australian cuisine. The garden is particularly lovely — a great spot on warm evenings.

Grill’d

Really great burgers can be found at Grill’d. It’s a chain you’ll find all over Australia, but don’t compare it to fast food — these are genuinely excellent burgers in every variation, at very reasonable prices.

In downtown Perth there are two Grill’d locations, and you’ll also find them in suburbs like Fremantle, Cottesloe, and Scarborough.

To Jenny’s delight, Grill’d even offered her the choice between a vegan burger or a regular burger with lactose-free buns — so despite her lactose intolerance, she could still order a proper burger!

Our tip: Don’t leave without trying the zucchini fries!

Getting Around Perth

All the attractions in downtown Perth are within walking distance — you really don’t need a taxi, bus, or train to get around. The farthest point is Kings Park, which is only about a 20-minute walk from the city center.

Buses and Trains in Perth

In downtown Perth, buses will get you from A to B, and for destinations a bit farther out, there’s the train.

Within the city center, there are several bus lines you can ride for free. These are called CAT buses and connect virtually all the tourist hotspots in the city.

Taking a Taxi in Perth

Taxis in Perth are convenient and reasonably priced. Taxi stands can be found all over the city. If you have a taxi called to your hotel, it’ll arrive within a few minutes — though you’ll pay a pick-up surcharge of 1.90 AUD.

A ride within downtown Perth shouldn’t cost much more than 12–15 AUD.

Getting from Perth Airport into the City

The easiest and fastest way into the city is by train (Airport Line). It takes just 20 minutes to reach the center and costs only 3.50 AUD (2.10 euros).

Alternatively, take bus line 940, which runs regularly between Elizabeth Quay and Terminals 1 and 2 of the airport — the journey takes about 40 minutes.

A taxi is also an option. The ride takes about 30 minutes and costs between 30 and 45 AUD (about 20–30 euros), depending on your destination.

Renting a Car at the Airport

Since you’ll eventually want a rental car to explore Western Australia, you can pick one up directly at the airport. All the major providers have a location there, and you can return the car at the end of your trip as well.

Our tip: We always use Discovercars to compare rental car deals and find the best price.