Best things to do in Perth, including free and rainy-day options

This page covers Perth, Western Australia, on the Swan River — not the small town of Perth in northern Tasmania. The city centre is compact and walkable, the beaches are a short train ride away, and Fremantle is a half-hour train trip down the river. Three full days covers the essentials; four lets you add Rottnest Island without rushing.

If you only have one day, do Kings Park in the morning, walk or cycle the Swan River foreshore at midday, and finish with sunset at Cottesloe Beach. That combination costs nothing beyond transport.

Prices are 2026 estimates in Australian dollars. Many of Perth's best experiences are free; the paid ones cluster around Rottnest Island and the Swan Valley.

Kings Park sits on a ridge above the city and is one of the largest inner-city parks in the world. The botanic garden section holds Western Australian wildflowers that peak in spring (September to November). The Lotterywest Federation Walkway gives you the tree-canopy view without a long hike. Go early in summer; there is little shade on the main lawns by midday.

The Swan River foreshore runs from Elizabeth Quay through South Perth and on to the University of Western Australia. A shared path follows the water for kilometres, and ferries cross between the city and South Perth. This is the easiest half-day in Perth and it is free.

Cottesloe is the classic beach: calm enough for swimming, with a grassy slope for watching the sunset. Scarborough is bigger, surfier and has a rebuilt foreshore with pools and restaurants. Cottesloe is on the Fremantle train line; Scarborough is not, so reach it by bus or car.

Fremantle is a port city with a preserved Victorian centre, a working harbour and a weekend market. The Fremantle Prison tour is the standout paid attraction here. Allow half a day minimum, more if you want the beach at nearby South Fremantle.

Rottnest Island is the one thing most visitors book ahead. Ferries leave from Fremantle, Hillarys and central Perth; the crossing takes roughly 25–45 minutes depending on the route. Cars are not allowed on the island, so you cycle or take the hop-on bus. Quokkas are everywhere near the settlement. Book ferry and bike together, and check whether the island entry fee is already included in your ticket or charged separately.

The WA Museum Boola Bardip and the Art Gallery of WA sit in the Perth Cultural Centre in Northbridge, both free to enter. They are the reliable rainy-day answer, along with a Fremantle Prison tour. Fremantle Markets are worth a look but are not fully indoor and trade on limited days, so check before you build a wet day around them.

A day in Perth can cost almost nothing: park, foreshore and beach are free, and a Transperth day pass covers the trains and buses between them. The expensive day is Rottnest, where ferry, bike hire and any island fee add up quickly.

Budget roughly A$0–20 for a free-heavy day, A$100–160 for a Rottnest day including ferry, bike and food, and A$80–150 for a Swan Valley tour. Museum entry is free, though special exhibitions may charge.

Perth summers are hot and dry. Do outdoor sights before 11am or after 4pm, carry water, and treat the beach as an afternoon activity. The sea breeze arrives most afternoons and can make the beach cooler than the city.

Public transport is the easy way around: trains run to Fremantle and Cottesloe on the Fremantle line, and buses cover Scarborough and the beaches north of the city. See our Perth public transport page for fares and cards.

Book Rottnest ferries and bike hire in advance during school holidays and long weekends; the island fills up. If the forecast is poor, keep the day flexible and use the museums instead.

For food, Northbridge and Fremantle have the widest choice; see where to eat in Perth for specifics. If you are arriving by air, sort your airport transfer before you land.