Stand on the sweep of lawn at Kings Park and Botanic Garden and the whole city lays itself out below you: the Swan River curling past the towers of the central business district, the flat coastal plain running west to the Indian Ocean, and the dark line of the Darling Scarp holding the eastern edge. It is the clearest introduction you will get to how Perth is put together, and it costs nothing but the walk up.
Perth suits travellers who are happy to spread out. The metropolitan area stretches a long way, so a day here usually means picking one or two areas rather than trying to tick off everything. It rewards people who like being outdoors, who will happily take a train to the coast or the port city of Fremantle, and who do not mind that getting between the good bits takes time.
This guide covers the sights and experiences the source material vouches for, from the city centre to Fremantle and the day trips beyond, plus a one-day plan that strings the best of them together.
Top things to do in Perth
1. Kings Park and Botanic Garden
Kings Park and Botanic Garden is the most-visited of Perth's parkland areas and one of the world's largest inner-city parks. It sits above the river and the central business district, which makes it the natural first stop for anyone getting their bearings.
Combine it with the city centre sights below, since they are in the same part of town, and go early or late in the day when the light over the river is at its best.
2. WA Museum Boola Bardip
The renovated WA Museum is one of the city's notable cultural sites, and it sits among the central sights alongside the Art Gallery of WA and PICA. Set aside a solid block of time rather than squeezing it in between other stops.
It is in the city centre, so pair it with the Art Gallery of WA and PICA on the same outing.
3. Art Gallery of WA
The Art Gallery of WA is named among the top sights in and around the city, in the same cluster as the museum and PICA. It is an easy addition to a city centre day rather than a separate trip.
Group it with the WA Museum and PICA, all of which are covered in the city centre listings.
4. PICA
PICA, the Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts, is listed with the museum and gallery as a leading city centre sight. If you are already in the centre for the other two, it rounds out the visit.
See it on the same day as the WA Museum and the Art Gallery of WA, since all three sit in the city centre.
5. Perth Mint
The Perth Mint is one of Perth's notable heritage buildings and cultural sites, and it appears among the top sights in the city centre. It is a good counterpoint to the galleries if you want something with more history to it.
It is covered in the city centre listings, so fold it into the same day as the museum and gallery.
6. Fremantle Prison
Fremantle Prison is World Heritage-listed and is named among Perth's notable heritage buildings and cultural sites. It is one of the main reasons to make the trip out to Fremantle rather than staying in the centre.
It is covered on the Fremantle page along with the Maritime Museum and the Shipwrecks gallery, so plan those together.
7. Maritime Museum and Shipwrecks gallery, Fremantle
The Maritime Museum and its Shipwrecks gallery are listed with Fremantle Prison among the top sights in and around the city. They suit anyone with an interest in the coast and the sea that shaped the port.
They are in Fremantle, so combine them with Fremantle Prison and the rest of the port city in a single day out.
8. Rottnest Island
Rottnest Island is a nature reserve off the coast of Fremantle and one of the best day trips from Perth. There is a wide variety of wildlife to see, including the quokka, and depending on the season you may also spot whales, dolphins and fur seals offshore.
It is a full day out, so give it its own slot rather than trying to pair it with the city. Wildlife sightings vary with the season.
9. Cottesloe Beach
Cottesloe Beach is one of Perth's popular natural features, along with Rottnest Island and the parklands. It is the straightforward way to spend time on the Indian Ocean coast without leaving the metropolitan area.
Perth has excellent bike paths and good weather almost all year, and the paths along the Swan River are scenic and mostly flat, so cycling is a reasonable way to build a coastal day.
10. Fremantle Markets
Fremantle Markets are described as a Fremantle institution, popular with both tourists and locals for local crafts, fresh produce, food and entertainment. They open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
They are an easy eight-minute walk from Fremantle train station, which makes them simple to combine with Fremantle Prison and the Maritime Museum.
11. A day in Fremantle
Fremantle is good for a walk around without a specific goal in mind, some light shopping, or a meal and coffee and cake while soaking in the atmosphere. Beyond the markets and prison, the Round House and the statue of AC/DC's Bon Scott are popular attractions.
Do not miss Fremantle Markets while you are there, and note that they only open Friday to Sunday.
12. Swan Valley wine tasting
The Swan Valley in the hills is well regarded among locals and visitors for its wineries and micro-breweries. Its advantage over other wine regions is simply that it is close to the city.
Wine tour transport services are available, which is worth arranging if you plan to taste across several stops.
13. Spectator sport at Perth Stadium
Perth Stadium, known as Optus Stadium, hosts Australian Rules Football between roughly March and August, with either the West Coast Eagles or the Fremantle Dockers playing AFL matches. It has also replaced the WACA Ground as the city's main Test cricket ground, and the Australian national team plays most of its Perth matches there.
All games go on sale two weeks before each match, with most seats pre-sold to club members, though some tickets are always released to opposing club members and then the general public.
14. Cricket at the WACA
The WACA is the home ground of the Western Warriors in Australia's main domestic competitions, including the Sheffield Shield and the Ford Ranger Cup. It previously hosted summer Test matches and at least one One-Day International against a touring side.
Some events have moved to the larger Perth Stadium, so check which ground is hosting before you commit to a day.
15. Weekend markets
Perth's weekend markets are driven by local demand for quality goods, usually with twenty to fifty individual stalls run by owners, producers or farmers. They tend to specialise as farmers markets, hawkers markets, general markets, or a combination.
Opening hours and locations vary regularly, so it is best to search online before you go. Kalamunda Farmer's Markets run every Sunday morning in Central Mall in Kalamunda, with free parking and a large array of local produce.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start at Kings Park and Botanic Garden for the view over the river and the city, then walk down into the city centre for the WA Museum Boola Bardip, the Art Gallery of WA and PICA, adding the Perth Mint if time allows.
Afternoon: Take the train to Fremantle and spend the afternoon at Fremantle Prison and the Maritime Museum and Shipwrecks gallery, then walk to Fremantle Markets if it is Friday, Saturday or Sunday.
Evening: Stay in Fremantle for a meal and coffee and cake while soaking in the atmosphere, or head back into the city centre for a concert or a jazz set.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to see Australian Rules Football in Perth?
AFL matches run roughly from March to August, hosted at Perth Stadium by either the West Coast Eagles or the Fremantle Dockers. Tickets go on sale two weeks before each game, and while most seats are pre-sold to club members, some are always released to opposing club members and then the general public.
Which days do Fremantle Markets open?
They open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and are an easy eight-minute walk from Fremantle train station.
Can I see kangaroos without leaving the metropolitan area?
Yes. There is a designated area in the zoo where kangaroos wander on visitors' paths and are used to people, so you can see them very close. For semi-wild kangaroos, Pinnaroo Valley Memorial Park is within walking distance of Whitfords Transperth Train/Metro Station, and kangaroos also come close to the parking areas in the main visitor areas of Whiteman Park.
Is Rottnest Island worth a full day?
It is one of the best day trips from Perth, a nature reserve off the coast of Fremantle with a huge variety of wildlife including the quokka. Whales, dolphins and fur seals may also be seen offshore, but this always depends on the season.
Pick your season, check what is on at Perth Stadium and which weekend markets are running, and you have everything you need to start planning.