Getting around · Perth · Australia
Getting around Perth
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: The Logical Positivist, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Perth is spread out, but Transperth trains, buses and ferries link the CBD, Fremantle, Cottesloe and the airport on one fare system. Within the CBD, free CAT buses and the Free Transit Zone make short hops free. Not for the city, Fremantle and Cottesloe, which trains reach easily.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Train
- Airports
- PER
- Need a car?
- Sometimes
- Travel pass
- SmartRider
Ways to get around
Train
Transperth trains run from Perth station to Fremantle (via Subiaco and Cottesloe), Joondalup, Mandurah, Midland, Armadale and the airport.
Bus
Free CAT buses circle the Perth CBD and Fremantle, and regular buses serve the beaches and suburbs.
Travel within the CBD's Free Transit Zone is free on buses and between central train stations.
Ferry
Transperth ferries cross the Swan River from Elizabeth Quay to Mends Street in South Perth in about ten minutes; separate private ferries run to Rottnest Island.
Cycling
Flat riverside paths around the Swan River and along the coast make cycling pleasant, and bikes can be hired in the city and on Rottnest Island.
Car
A car is useful for the Swan Valley, the Pinnacles, Yanchep and Margaret River. Driving is on the left; freeways make city driving straightforward outside peak hours.
Tickets and passes
SmartRider
Transperth's reloadable smartcard for trains, buses and ferries, with discounted fares compared with cash tickets.
From the airport
Perth Airport is about 12 km east of the CBD. Airport line trains from Airport Central station, beside Terminals 1 and 2, reach Perth station in about 20 minutes. Taxis and ride-hails take about 20–30 minutes depending on traffic.
Do you need a car?
Not for the city, Fremantle and Cottesloe, which trains reach easily. Rent a car for the Swan Valley, Yanchep, the Pinnacles or a Margaret River trip, or book tours.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Rottnest Island | About 30 minutes by ferry from Fremantle | Ferry from Fremantle, Hillarys or Barrack Street Jetty in Perth |
| The Pinnacles, Nambung National Park | About 2.5 hours each way by car | Car or organised tour |
| Penguin Island | About 50 minutes by car, then a short ferry | Car or train to Rockingham, then ferry |
| Yanchep National Park | About 45 minutes by car | Car |
| Margaret River | About 3 hours each way by car | Car or coach; best as an overnight stay |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Perth?
Not for the city, Fremantle and Cottesloe, which trains reach easily. Rent a car for the Swan Valley, Yanchep, the Pinnacles or a Margaret River trip, or book tours.
+How do you get from the airport to Perth?
Perth Airport is about 12 km east of the CBD. Airport line trains from Airport Central station, beside Terminals 1 and 2, reach Perth station in about 20 minutes. Taxis and ride-hails take about 20–30 minutes depending on traffic.
+What is the best way to get around Perth?
Train: Transperth trains run from Perth station to Fremantle (via Subiaco and Cottesloe), Joondalup, Mandurah, Midland, Armadale and the airport.