Perth

Perth is a small Scottish city on the River Tay, with Scone Palace nearby and a practical stop between Edinburgh or Glasgow and the Highlands.

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Perth is a small city on the River Tay in Perth and Kinross, central Scotland. It was one of the country's most important royal burghs and, for a time, its capital. Scottish kings were crowned at Scone, about 3 km north of the city center, where the palace stands today.

Perth works well as a stop between Edinburgh or Glasgow and the Highlands, or as a base for trips into Perthshire. Perth Museum and Branklyn Garden, a National Trust for Scotland garden known for its rhododendrons and alpine plants, are both in the city. The city suits travelers who like history, gardens and a quiet river town. Late spring to early autumn suits the gardens and the riverside walks. One night covers the city; two or three nights leave time for trips into the countryside.

Perth in five

See Scone Palace before it closes for winterThe palace and gardens are open daily from 10am to 5.30pm until 31 October 2026, with last entry at 4pm. The palace closes to visitors from 1 November until 24 March 2027.Scone Palace plan your visit
Book Scone Palace tickets in advanceThe palace lists adult palace and grounds tickets at £19.75 in advance against £22.00 at the gate, and £14.00 for gardens only. Pre-booked tickets also bring fast-track access.
Start with Perth Museum, which is freeEntry to the permanent galleries and the Stone of Destiny Experience is free, but the Stone's timed tickets must be booked at the front desk. The museum closes from 1 to 12 January 2027 for maintenance.Perth Museum plan your visit
Use Perth as a rail base for the HighlandsThe Caledonian Sleeper lists Perth, Pitlochry, Blair Atholl and Aviemore among its stops, so one night here sets up the line north. Stirling lies to the south-west on the same main line.Highland Perthshire
Add Branklyn Garden in spring or autumnThe National Trust for Scotland describes a 2-acre hillside garden begun in 1922 on Kinnoull Hill, within walking distance of the center, and lists adult entry at £11.00.

Things to do in Perth

See all attractions in Perth

Museum · PerthThe Black Watch Castle & Museum

Church · PerthSt. John's Kirk

View through a stone bridge arch over a calm river

Castle · PerthScone Palace

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: Edinburgh (EDI) or Glasgow (GLA), then train or road
Getting there: Trains from Stirling and the Highlands; Caledonian Sleeper stops
Getting around: Walk the center and the Tay; bus or car for Scone Palace
Best base: City center near the station and the museum
Time needed: 1 to 2 days; 3 with Highland Perthshire

Weather by month

Rainy days
Snowy days

Best
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryPartly cloudy12 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh5°Low0°Museum weather
FebruaryRain14 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh6°Low0°Cold, quiet
MarchRain14 rainy daysHigh8°Low1°Light returns
AprilPartly cloudy11 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh11°Low2°Palace reopens
MayRain13 rainy daysHigh15°Low6°Gardens, long days
JuneRain14 rainy daysHigh17°Low8°Long days
JulyRain16 rainy daysHigh18°Low10°Busy, warm
AugustRain14 rainy daysHigh18°Low10°Busy, warm
SeptemberRain13 rainy daysHigh16°Low8°Autumn light
OctoberRain16 rainy daysHigh12°Low5°Palace season ends
NovemberRain14 rainy daysHigh8°Low2°Palace closed
DecemberRain15 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh6°Low1°Dark, cold

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: 5°
Humidity: 89%
Wind: 5 km/h
Chance of rain: 0%

Perth

08:47 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT+0

Today10°-1°0%Monday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low -1°. Chance of rain 0%.
Tue11°6°2%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 11°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 2%.
Wed9°5°6%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 9°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 6%.
Thu9°7°16%Thursday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 16%.
Fri9°5°20%Friday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 20%.
Sat8°3°22%Saturday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 22%.
Sun8°-1°8%Sunday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low -1°. Chance of rain 8%.

Updated 06:04 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 0.7469 GBP

Amount

Converted to

GBP · British Pound

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

Every year

JulTRNSMTGlasgow, a day trip
AugEdinburgh International Book FestivalEdinburgh, a day trip
AugEdinburgh International FestivalEdinburgh, a day trip

Day trips by train

Scone Palaceshort drive or bus from the centerPalace, gardens and the Moot Hill, open to 31 October in 2026.
Highland Perthshireby rail up the Highland linePitlochry and Blair Atholl are Sleeper stops north of the city.Read the guide
Stirlingby train south-westStirling Castle and the Wallace Monument, on the main line.Read the guide

Before you go to Perth

Car hire for PerthshireCastles and glens sit off the rail lineCompare cars

Perth city center staysStation, museum and river nearbyCheck availability

eSIM for Perth and PerthshireTimed tickets and train times on a phoneRead the guide

Insurance for a Highland routeCover for storm delays and closuresRead the guide

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Rules for Perth, checked

Perth Museum: permanent galleries and the Stone of Destiny Experience are free; Stone timed tickets are booked at the front desk; closed 1 to 12 January 2027.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
Scone Palace and Gardens: daily 10am to 5.30pm, 1 April to 31 October 2026, last entry 4pm; adult £19.75 advance, £22.00 at the gate.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
Scone Palace is closed to visitors 1 November 2026 to 24 March 2027; gardens and coffee shop open Thursday to Saturday on selected winter dates.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source

Plan around Perth

Lowland Perthshire & Kinross

Lochleven, Huntingtower and the Tay valley

Read the guide Highland Perthshire

Pitlochry, Blair Atholl and the glens

Read the guide Stirling

Castle and Wallace Monument, down the line

Read the guide The Cairngorms

The national park beyond Blair Atholl

Read the guide UK ETA explained

Who needs one, £20 and how long it lasts

Read the guide Visa checker

Check entry rules for your passport

Read the guide All of Scotland

Cities, islands and the UK ETA

Read the guide

Perth FAQ

How many days do you need in Perth?

One day covers Perth Museum, the riverfront and Scone Palace. A second suits Branklyn Garden and a half day in Perthshire. Perth works best as a base for two or three nights if you plan to ride the Highland line north.

Is Perth Museum free?

Yes for the permanent galleries and the Stone of Destiny Experience, though Stone timed tickets must be booked at the front desk on the day. It opens 10am to 5pm Monday to Saturday and 11am to 4pm Sunday from October to April.

Is Scone Palace worth visiting?

If you want rooms, art and a link to Scottish coronations, yes. It lists advance adult tickets at £19.75, so pick the £14 gardens-only ticket if you prefer grounds to interiors. The palace shuts from 1 November to 24 March 2027.

Can you visit Scone Palace in winter?

Only the gardens and coffee shop, on Thursdays to Saturdays from 10am to 3pm, 5 November to 5 December 2026 and 4 February to 20 March 2027. Everything is closed between 5 December and 3 February.

Is Perth worth visiting or just a stop on the way north?

It is worth one night if you like museums, gardens and a walkable river city, and a useful junction either way. Skip a long stay if your priorities are mountains or islands, which sit farther north and west.