A 7-Day Perth Itinerary For First Timers (By Locals)

Perth is one of the most remote capitals in the world, but it offers a blend of urban culture and outdoor adventures that is hard to find anywhere else on Earth!

We’ve been lucky to call this place home for over a decade. We’ve been to pretty much every park, surfed and snorkelled every beach, and even went skydiving in the famous Rottnest Island!

So believe us when we say that you should allow for at least 5-7 days in Perth to see the main sights. That’s why this itinerary is 7 days long.

But if you only have 3 or 5 days, that’s okay – just do the first 3 or 5 days of this itinerary and you’ll be good to go.

For each day, we’ll give you the main hotspots to check out, transportation means, and a few add-ons to include if you have time to spare (which we doubt, but it’s nice to have the option!).

This guide will walk you through what we think is the perfect 7-day itinerary for Perth – what to see, where to eat, where to stay, the best ways to get around, and other places to visit if you have more days!

Screenshot this Perth Itinerary

We recognise the traditional owners of this land, the Whadjuk Nyoongar.

This is a summarised version of the itinerary! Screenshot it so you can easily reference it during your trip:

Day 1: Perth CBD (Elizabeth Quay, King’s Park, Heirisson Island)

• Morning: Elizabeth Quay, Perth CBD.

• Afternoon: Kings Park.

• Transportation: CAT bus (free).

• Add-ons: Heirisson Island, museums.

Day 1 of your trip is to explore Perth city centre – the CBD (central business district) and King’s Park.

You can start your day at Elizabeth Quay, a waterfront development offering stunning views of the city and Swan River, with heaps of cafés nearby for a nice breakfast. The iconic Bell Tower is there too.

Next, take a short 15-minute walk towards the Perth Cultural Centre, which houses the Art Gallery of Western Australia and the Western Australian Museum.

You could take the free CAT bus (timetables here), but we recommend walking – the city’s streets are filled with street art and boutiques worth checking out.

There’s also the Perth Mint Museum nearby, which is Australia’s official bullion mint. It offers tours that include gold-pouring demonstrations!

In the afternoon, make your way to Kings Park and Botanic Garden, one of the world’s largest inner-city parks! It’s incredibly beautiful, especially during the wildflower season (September to November).

There’s PLENTY to see and do in King’s Park, so you might want to book a segway tour if you want to save your energy without missing out on anything.

And if you still have some time left, why don’t you visit the local kangaroos? They’re in Heirisson Island, a kangaroo sanctuary that’s free to enter.

Tours for this day:

Day 2: Rottnest Island

• Morning: Exploring, snorkelling

• Afternoon: Lunch, return to Perth by 4:30 pm/6 pm.

• Transportation: Ferry ride, bus and/or bike.

• Add-ons: Skydiving, tours.

A trip to Perth isn’t complete without visiting Rottnest Island (aka Rotto)! We recommend scheduling this visit on the second day to have flexibility with the weather. If it’s not good, you can swap it with Day 3.

Catch the earliest ferry you can from Fremantle (cheapest), Perth, or Hillarys Harbour to maximise your time on the island.

There are no cars in there (other than the Island Explorer bus) so we recommend hiring a bike as soon as you arrive. It gives you lots of freedom to move around and explore!

Rotto is famous for the cute and photogenic quokkas. You’ll see them around the island, so it will be easy for you to snap that iconic selfie with them. Just remember that they’re wild animals – don’t touch or feed them.

You can spend the day snorkelling in the clear waters at The Basin or Little Salmon Bay. For history buffs, a visit to the Rottnest Island Museum and the Oliver Hill Battery is a must.

More things to do in Rottnest Island here!

End your visit by relaxing at one of the island’s beachfront bars or cafes, enjoying a lunch of fresh seafood with a view of the ocean.

Just make sure to catch the last ferry back to the mainland (4:30 pm or 6 pm depending on the operator).

There’s no free accommodation on the island apart, only the campgrounds and hotels that require booking well in advance.

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Tours for this day:

We wrote a detailed guide with our favourite tours in Rotto and our experience with them, but here’s a quick summary:

Day 3: Fremantle

• Morning: Fremantle markets (weekends only), Prison, Roundhouse

• Afternoon: Cappuccino strip, beer-hopping.

• Transportation: Self-drive, bus or train.

• Add-ons: Fremantle Arts Centre, beaches, tours.

Spend Day 3 exploring Fremantle (aka Freo), a famous port city south of Perth with a rich maritime history. It is also know as the quirky, foody place of Perth.

It’s very easy to go to Freo from Perth. It’s a 20-30 minute drive or a 35-40 train ride from Perth Underground station to Fremantle station. The train ride costs around $5 one way.

If you’re visiting between Friday and Sunday, start your visit at the Fremantle Markets! Grab breakfast while exploring the dozens of stalls with local crafts, fresh produce, and street food.

Then take a stroll through the Fremantle Prison, a World Heritage site with fascinating tours that delve into its tumultuous past.

Next, head to the Western Australian Maritime Museum to learn about the state’s seafaring history. The nearby WA Shipwrecks Museum is also worth a visit for its collection of relics from sunken ships.

On your way to the Shipwrecks Museum, stop to check out The Roundhouse, the oldest public building in Western Australia!

After all this walking, go relax at the bustling Cappuccino Strip, lined with cafes, bars, and restaurants. Or go beer-hopping to breweries like Little Creatures or Gage Roads!

Fremantle is also home to some great beaches. South Beach is perfect for a swim and the sunsets at Bathers Beach are not to be missed.

And if you visit between September to November, you might see humpback whales migrating!

Tours for this day:

Day 4: Lancelin and The Pinnacles Desert

• Morning: Lancelin Sand Dunes

• Afternoon: The Pinnacles Desert

• Transportation: Self-drive, full-day tour

• Add-ons: Cervantes, Lake Thetis

The first 3 days are to see the very very minimum of Perth, so now it’s time to expand! Day 4 will be full of unique landscapes and outdoor activities that highlight Western Australia’s natural beauty.

After grabbing breakfast, go to Lancelin, where there’s a massive stretch of sand dunes a 1.5-hour drive north of Perth. It’s a must-visit just to try out sandboarding or take a thrilling 4WD ride across the dunes!

Then there’s The Pinnacles Desert, a desert with hundreds of ancient limestone pillars. It’s a natural marvel unique to this area and it’s a 1-hour drive north of Lancelin.

There’s a scenic drive that takes you through the desert, or you can walk among the Pinnacles on designated trails.

You can either bring your food or drive 15 minutes to grab lunch at Cervantes, a nearby fishing village!

On your way back to Perth, consider a detour to Lake Thetis to see the stromatolites, some of the oldest living organisms on Earth.

However, we 100% recommend booking a tour. Several 5-star providers offer full-day tours to these destinations, some even including visits to the Pinnacles at night for stargazing!

If you choose to do a tour, try scheduling this early in your trip to allow flexibility. Some operators might reschedule if there aren’t enough participants or if the weather isn’t good.

Tours for this day:

Day 5: Swan Valley

• Morning: Wine-tasting, beer-tasting.

• Afternoon: Lunch, chocolate-tasting.

• Transportation: Tour, self-driving (not recommended if you’re drinking).

• Add-ons: Whiteman Park, Caversham Wildlife Park.

After a day in the great outdoors, it’s time to relax and enjoy the luxury of Swan Valley. This region is known for its wineries, breweries, and gourmet food, so get your tastebuds ready!

Start with a visit to a few of the region’s top wineries, such as Sandalford Wines or Nilkola State, where you can enjoy tastings and learn about local wine production. Many vineyards offer beautiful picnic spots and gourmet restaurants as well.

Next, head to one of the valley’s craft breweries for lunch. Venues like Homestead Brewery or Duckstein Brewery offer a variety of locally brewed beers and tastings, as well as delicious food.

For dessert, go straight to the Margaret River Chocolate Company, a specialty chocolate shop.

If you still have energy left and want to keep exploring, why not visit Whiteman Park? It’s a beautiful conservation reserve with heritage trains, museums, and walking trails.

The park is also home to Caversham Wildlife Park, where you can get up close with Australian wildlife, including kangaroos, koalas, and wombats!

Tours for this day:

Day 6: Beaches

• Morning: Cottesloe Beach, Trigg Beach.

• Afternoon: Scarborough Beach, sunset on the hill.

• Transportation: Self-drive, bus.

• Add-ons: Surf lessons.

If you visit anytime between September to April, definitely go beach-hopping! Perth has quite a few iconic beaches to check out:

• Cottesloe Beach is perfect for snorkelling, surfing, and swimming. You can easily spend the whole day here!

• Scarborough Beach is great for surfing and has plenty of cafes and restaurants. There’s a hill where you can watch the sunset from, right here!

• Trigg Beach offers excellent surf breaks and a laid-back atmosphere.

• Omeo Wreak is a beach in the south of Perth that you can swim out and snorkel a shipwreck. Great for families as its very shallow
• City Beach is beautiful at sunset. Our favourite is fish and chips on the beach 🙂

There are many more beaches in Perth and its surroundings, though! Plus there are several surfing and kitesurfing schools in town offering lessons.

Day 7 (if visiting in Spring): Wildflowers

• Morning: Araluen Botanic Garden.

• Afternoon: John Forrest National Park.

• Transportation: Self-drive, tour.

• Add-ons: Serpentine Falls, Avon Valley.

If you visit between September and October, you’ll be in luck – it’s wildflower season!

You’ll see them on your first day, while you’re exploring Kings Park. But we recommend using Day 7 to explore other wildflower hotspots a short drive from the city centre.

After a nice breakfast, head straight to Araluen Botanic Park. It’s a 1-hour drive from town, filled with wildflowers, tulips and other precious flora. It’s open daily from 9 am to 5 pm, allow at least 2-3 hours!

Then, go to John Forrest National Park, a 35-minute drive from the city centre. It’s a beautiful park with lots of walking trails to see the wildflowers and connect with nature.

Another option is taking a full-day trip to places like Serpentine Falls, Avon Valley, Toodyay, and Wongan Hills to see the flowers in bloom.

Whatever you choose, you can’t go wrong!

Tours for this day:

Day 7 (not in spring): Carte Blanche

Use Day 7 to explore more of Perth or its surroundings based on your interests:

• Culture: Visit the WA Museum Boola Bardip or the Art Gallery of Western Australia.

• Outdoors: Take a hike in Bold Park or Lake Monger.

• Beaches: Explore City Beach or Port Beach.

Another option is to take a full-day trip to a nearby town like Mandurah, known for its beautiful canals and dolphin cruises.

It’s also home to Shoalwater Islands Marine Park, a nature reserve with heaps of dolphins, seals, and even penguins!

Tours for this day:

More days? Add these to your itinerary!

If you have more days available, you can:

• Do this itinerary at a more leisurely pace,

• Visit more nearby spots, like Yanchep National Park or Jurien Bay,

• Explore more of Western Australia – go for a full-day trip to Busselton or spend a few days exploring the Margaret River Region, or Kalbarri.

2-3 day tours from Perth to explore WA:

When is the best time to go to Perth?

The best time to visit Perth is during spring, from September to November.

The weather is great for outdoor activities (including swimming on the beaches), it’s wildflower and whale season, plus there aren’t as many tourists!

Each season has its perks, though. We discuss all of that in our guide: when is the best and worst time to visit Perth?

How many days to stay in Perth?

A stay of 5-7 days is great to fully experience Perth and its immediate surroundings. If you’re really strapped for time, 3 days can be enough for just the basics, but it will be very rushed.

Ideally, we recommend allowing 7-10 days. This timeframe allows you to explore the city, take day trips, and enjoy the diverse attractions without feeling rushed.

Best stays in Perth

Perth offers a range of accommodations to suit all budgets!

For budget travellers, hostels like The Hive Hostel and Hostel G are good options.

Mid-range travellers might prefer hotels such as the Great Southern Hotel or Ibis Styles East Perth.

For a luxury experience, consider staying at COMO The Treasury or Doubletree by Hilton.

Where to eat?

There are hundreds of places to eat in Perth, but here are some recommendations:

• Isola Bar e Cibo ($$) serves delicious dishes like crispy-skinned barramundi and rolled pork belly, paired with exceptional service and a warm ambience. Highly recommended!
• Zamia Cafe ($$) offers a relaxed brunch experience with housemade pastries and light meals, set against beautiful parkland. Friendly staff and excellent coffee make it a must-visit.
• Tonic + Ginger ($$) is home to excellent Southeast Asian fusion dishes in a beautifully restored 20th-century synagogue. Enjoy a varied menu with great vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options.
• Offshore Cafe ($) has a variety of sumptuous meals, from grilled chicken burgers to homemade cakes, in a pet-friendly setting. Enjoy great coffee and friendly service in their shaded alfresco area.
• The Coffee Hut ($$) offers amazing service and delicious food, including hearty breakfast options. Enjoy their friendly atmosphere and fantastic coffee.

Top Tips

The public transport system in Perth is called Transperth. It does a great job of connecting the CBD with the airport and surrounding suburbs like Freo and even Mandurah.

Expect to pay $2-$5 one way, depending on your destination. But if you’re travelling Perth on a budget or just want to save some money, consider getting a SmartRider card.

It costs around $10 and gives you 10% discounts for all tickets, access to free transit zones, and the first Sunday of the month is free!

Check our guide on travelling Perth on a budget to know the cheapest time to visit and tips to save money on your visit!

Did you know?

The Swan River, which flows through Perth, has significant cultural and historical importance.

Its Aboriginal name is “Derbal Yaragan“, given by the Noongar people, the traditional custodians of the land. The river is central to many Aboriginal stories and was vital for transportation, food, and water for early settlers.

Perth experienced a major population boom during the late 19th-century gold rush.

The discovery of gold in Kalgoorlie and Coolgardie in the 1890s attracted thousands of prospectors and led to rapid economic growth. This period significantly shaped the development of Perth and Western Australia as a whole.

FAQs

The bottom line

After a few days exploring Perth, you’ll truly understand why we love this city so much!

There are heaps of things to do – Kings Park, Rotto, snorkel and/or surf in one of the many beaches, go wine-tasting in Swan Valley, or day-trip to The Pinnacles and Lancelin…

But regardless of what you do, you’ll end up wishing you had more time to explore.

The stunning Kings Park, the unique wildlife of Rotto, all the beaches with their epic snorkelling and great waves for surfing,

Hopefully, this ultimate Perth itinerary will help you fall in love with this amazing corner of the world!