3 days in Perth

Day by day

1. Day 1: Kings Park and Botanic Garden and Fremantle Prison

   Kings Park and Botanic Garden, Fremantle Prison and Cottesloe Beach, then Elizabeth Quay and the Bell Tower in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Kings Park and Botanic Garden

      About 400 hectares of bushland, lawns and botanic garden on Mount Eliza overlook the CBD and the Swan River.

   2. Late morning

      Fremantle Prison

      Book the Tunnels Tour ahead; it is the most memorable option and runs in small groups.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Western rock lobster

      Seafood restaurants in Fremantle and Hillarys, and seafood markets selling cooked lobster.

   4. Afternoon

      Cottesloe Beach

      Perth's signature beach has clear, usually calm water in the summer mornings, snorkelling around the reef near Peter's Pool and the groyne, Norfolk Island pines on grassy terraces and the white Indiana pavilion.

   5. Evening

      Elizabeth Quay and the Bell Tower

      Climb the Bell Tower for river views, then catch the ferry across to South Perth for the skyline from the other side.

2. Day 2: WA Museum Boola Bardip and Art Gallery of Western Australia

   WA Museum Boola Bardip, Art Gallery of Western Australia and Fremantle Markets, then Matagarup Bridge and Optus Stadium in the evening.

   1. Morning

      WA Museum Boola Bardip

      Start in the Ngalang Koort Boodja gallery on First Nations stories before moving to the natural-history halls.

   2. Late morning

      Art Gallery of Western Australia

      The state gallery in the Perth Cultural Centre holds Australian, Aboriginal and international art, with a strong focus on Western Australian artists.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Chilli mussels

      Pubs and seafood restaurants around Fremantle's Fishing Boat Harbour and South Terrace.

   4. Afternoon

      Fremantle Markets

      Combine it with coffee on the Cappuccino Strip next door and a walk to the Fishing Boat Harbour.

   5. Evening

      Matagarup Bridge and Optus Stadium

      Walk across at sunset, or catch an AFL match at the stadium between March and September.

3. Day 3: WA Maritime Museum and Round House

   WA Maritime Museum, Round House and Perth Zoo, then Northbridge in the evening.

   1. Morning

      WA Maritime Museum

      Shaped like an upturned boat on Victoria Quay, the museum displays Australia II, the yacht that won the America's Cup in 1983, alongside galleries on the Indian Ocean, pearling and naval history.

   2. Late morning

      Round House

      Visit around 1pm, when the time ball and a cannon are traditionally fired on the hilltop.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Fish and chips at Fremantle

      Fish-and-chip shops on the Fishing Boat Harbour boardwalk in Fremantle.

   4. Afternoon

      Perth Zoo

      A short ferry ride across the river from Elizabeth Quay, the zoo has an Australian bushwalk with kangaroos and wallabies walking freely, a nocturnal house, and Asian and African animal areas, all in established gardens.

   5. Evening

      Northbridge

      Clubs, bars and late-night eateries around William Street, James Street and the Perth Cultural Centre.

Before you go

• Fremantle Prison: Tunnels and night tours are limited and often sell out; reserve online.

If it rains

• Swap in AQWA – Aquarium of Western Australia (Hillarys): Spend the rest of the afternoon on the calm, protected beach inside Hillarys Boat Harbour.
• Swap in The Perth Mint (Perth CBD): Time your visit around a scheduled gold pour demonstration.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 3 nights, Perth CBD and Elizabeth Quay keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Northbridge ($$) suits nightlife, budget, food lovers and solo travellers. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 20–25 hours of visiting over 3 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 10.1 hours in June to 14.2 hours in December, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

More or fewer days

• One day in Perth
• 2 days in Perth
• 5 days in Perth

Questions travellers ask