city buildings near body of water during daytime

Perth

Perth is the capital of Western Australia. Go for Kings Park above the Swan River, the historic port of Fremantle, and a ferry to Rottnest Island to see quokkas.

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Perth is the capital of Western Australia, on the Swan River a short way inland from the Indian Ocean coast. Kings Park sits on a bluff above the river, a short walk from the city centre, with lookouts over the water and the skyline. Fremantle, at the mouth of the Swan River, is a port town with historic buildings and Fremantle Prison, a former convict prison that offers guided tours. Rottnest Island lies offshore and is known for its quokkas, small marsupials that live on the island.

Three days suits Perth: a morning in Kings Park, an afternoon in Fremantle and a day trip to Rottnest by ferry. Cottesloe Beach is a short train ride from the centre for a swim or a sunset walk. Spring (September to November) and autumn (March to May) are the most comfortable months. Summer is hot and dry, and winter is cooler and wetter.

Perth in five

Ride free inside the city zoneTransperth runs a Free Transit Zone for buses and a SmartRider zone for trains, and CAT buses in central Perth are free. Start and finish inside the zone or you pay for the whole journey.Transperth free travel
Plan Fremantle for a SundayTransperth says travel is free on all bus, train and ferry trips on Sundays for SmartRider and contactless payers. Late-night services after midnight on Saturday are excluded.Where to stay in Perth
Use the free 292 shuttle from T3 and T4Terminals 3 and 4 have no direct rail link. Route 292 is a free shuttle to Redcliffe Station on the Airport Line, which Transperth puts 15 minutes from the center.
Book the latest Rottnest returnThree operators run ferries from Hillarys, Perth and Fremantle, and the island's own guide tells day visitors to book the last sailing back. A bike or bus pass sorts out the distances.Rottnest Island day trip
Take a guided tour to see inside Fremantle PrisonThe gatehouse is free, but the cells are open on guided tours only. Tours can sell out in school holidays, and day tickets are sold at the ticket office, not online.Perth in 3 days

Things to do in Perth

See all attractions in Perth

Park · PerthSerpentine FallsArrive near the 8:30 am opening time, as the park can fill up, especially on busy days.

Museum · PerthThe Rockingham MuseumBring cash for entry; the museum does not accept other payment methods.

an aerial view of a lake surrounded by trees

Sight · PerthLake Monger Primary School

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to PerthPut the places you like in Perth on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Perth (PER); Airport Line trains run to the city
Getting there: Domestic flights from other capitals; the road east takes days
Getting around: Transperth trains, buses and ferry on one SmartRider
Best base: Perth center for a first stay; Fremantle for a port-town feel
Time needed: 3 days in town, plus 1 for Rottnest

Weather by month

Rainy days

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryClear2 rainy daysHigh29°Low20°Hot, dry
FebruaryClear3 rainy daysHigh29°Low20°Hot, beach
MarchClear5 rainy daysHigh28°Low19°Warm, easy
AprilClear6 rainy daysHigh24°Low16°Mild, clear
MayClear8 rainy daysHigh21°Low14°Cooler, rain
JuneRain13 rainy daysHigh18°Low12°Wet, cool
JulyRain15 rainy daysHigh17°Low12°Wettest
AugustRain13 rainy daysHigh17°Low11°Whales, showers
SeptemberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh19°Low12°Wildflowers
OctoberClear7 rainy daysHigh21°Low13°Blooms, whales
NovemberClear4 rainy daysHigh24°Low16°Warm, long days
DecemberClear2 rainy daysHigh28°Low18°Hot, dry

Average daily high and low in Perth, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Perth

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 16°
Humidity: 88%
Wind: 5 km/h
Chance of rain: 90%

Perth

04:36 AM

Tuesday, November 3

GMT+8

Today22°13°90%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 22°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 90%.
Wed27°12°0%Wednesday: Clear. High 27°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 0%.
Thu30°12°0%Thursday: Cloudy. High 30°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 0%.
Fri33°16°0%Friday: Cloudy. High 33°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 0%.
Sat28°16°2%Saturday: Cloudy. High 28°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 2%.
Sun27°16°2%Sunday: Cloudy. High 27°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 2%.

Updated 01:04 AM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 1.423 AUD

Amount

Converted to

AUD · Australian Dollar

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Perth

Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city

Events calendar

Coming up

Day trips by train

Day trips from Perth, the full guide

Rottnest Islanda ferry from Perth, Fremantle or HillarysQuokkas, bays for snorkeling and a lighthouse, best reached by bike or bus.Read the guide
Fremantlea short train ridePrison tours, markets and the harbor, easy to combine with a free Sunday.
The Coral Coast northa multi-day drivePinnacles, Kalbarri and Shark Bay start the long road to Ningaloo.Read the guide

Before you go to Perth

Hotels in the center or FremantleRail-linked basesCheck availability

Rottnest and day toursFerry seats and guided daysCompare day trips

eSIM for PerthSignal gets thin on the road northRead the guide

Insurance for Western AustraliaLong flights and remote drivingRead the guide

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Rules for Perth, checked

Fremantle Prison: gatehouse entry is free; cells are guided tours only. Convict Prison, Behind Bars or True Crime tour: adult $25 (to 30 June 2027).Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
WA Museum Boola Bardip: open 9:30am to 5pm; standard general admission $15, free for 15 years and under.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
Kings Park: entry is free and the park is open daily; volunteer guides lead free walks at 10am and 1pm.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source

All Perth guides

How toRottnest Island day trip from Perth: ferries, bikes and quokkasChecked Oct 2, 2026

ItineraryPerth in 3 days: Kings Park, Fremantle Prison and a day on the waterChecked Oct 2, 2026

Where to stayWhere to stay in Perth: four bases, from Elizabeth Quay to CottesloeChecked Oct 2, 2026

Plan around Perth

West Coast Australia

Pinnacles, Kalbarri, Shark Bay and Ningaloo north

Read the guide All of Australia

ETA, regions, flights and money basics

Read the guide Flights and car hire

Long distances and one-way rentals

Read the guide ETA and eVisitor explained

Who needs which and where to apply

Read the guide

Perth FAQ

How many days do you need in Perth?

Three days cover Kings Park, the museum, the river and Fremantle at an easy pace. Add a fourth for Rottnest Island. Two days works if you skip the paid venues and keep to the center and one beach.

Is Perth worth visiting?

Yes if you want a sunny city with a big park, beaches and a port town, and you have time for Rottnest or a drive north. It is far from the other capitals, so treat it as a trip of its own rather than a stopover.

Is public transport free in Perth?

Partly. Transperth lists a free zone in the city and free CAT buses, and says every Sunday travel is free on its buses, trains and ferries for SmartRider and contactless payers. Outside those cases you tag on and off and pay a fare.

Can you visit Rottnest Island as a day trip from Perth?

Yes. Ferries leave from Hillarys, Perth and Fremantle, and a day gives time for a bike or bus loop and a swim. Book the latest return, and consider a night if you want the quiet hours after the day boats leave.

What is the best time to visit Perth?

March, April, September, October and November are the easy months: warm, clear and not as hot as January or February. Whales pass Rottnest from August to December, and Kings Park puts on a wildflower festival in spring.