How many days · Perth · Australia
How many days do you need in Perth?
A straight answer, then what each trip length really gets you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Gnan garra, CC BY 2.5 au
Quick answer
5 days is the sweet spot for Perth, and 3 days is the minimum to see the main sights. Three days covers the city and Kings Park, a day in Fremantle and a day on Rottnest Island. Five days adds the Swan Valley, a beach afternoon at Cottesloe and a trip to the Pinnacles or Penguin Island; Margaret River deserves its own overnight stay.
Key facts
- Ideal
- 5 days
- Minimum
- 3 days
- Day trips available
- 5
- Daylight
- 10.1 h (Jun) to 14.2 h (Dec)
What each trip length gets you
| Trip | Pace | What you can see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | Rushed | Kings Park and Botanic Garden, Fremantle Prison, Cottesloe Beach and Elizabeth Quay and the Bell Tower |
| 2 days | Rushed | Elizabeth Quay and the Bell Tower, WA Museum Boola Bardip and Art Gallery of Western Australia |
| 3 days | Good | Fremantle Markets, WA Maritime Museum and Round House |
| 5 days | Ideal | The highlights plus a day trip to Rottnest Island |
| 7 days | Relaxed | A slow trip with day trips such as Rottnest Island and The Pinnacles, Nambung National Park |
How long the top sights take
The 12 best-known sights in Perth add up to roughly 24–30 hours of visiting time — about 3–4 days at seven sightseeing hours a day, before travel between them and meals. The biggest time commitments are Kings Park and Botanic Garden (Half a day), Cottesloe Beach (Half a day) and Swan Valley (Half to full day).
| Sight | Time needed | Area |
|---|---|---|
| Kings Park and Botanic Garden | Half a day | Kings Park |
| Fremantle Prison | 1.5–2.5 hours | Fremantle |
| Cottesloe Beach | Half a day | Cottesloe |
| Elizabeth Quay and the Bell Tower | 1–2 hours | Perth CBD |
| WA Museum Boola Bardip | 2–3 hours | Northbridge |
| Art Gallery of Western Australia | 1.5 hours | Northbridge |
| Fremantle Markets | 1–1.5 hours | Fremantle |
| WA Maritime Museum | 2 hours | Fremantle |
| Round House | 30 minutes | Fremantle |
| Perth Zoo | 3 hours | South Perth |
| AQWA – Aquarium of Western Australia | 2 hours | Hillarys |
| Swan Valley | Half to full day | Swan Valley |
By type of trip
| Trip | Days | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First visit | 5 days | The main sights at a comfortable pace |
| Short break / repeat visit | 3 days | Focus on Kings Park and Botanic Garden and Fremantle Prison |
| With children | 6 days | Slower days and time for Kings Park and Botanic Garden |
| With day trips | 7 days | Add Rottnest Island and The Pinnacles, Nambung National Park |
Daylight changes the maths
Sightseeing days are much shorter in June (about 10.1 hours of daylight) than in December (about 14.2 hours). In winter, allow an extra day or plan museum-heavy afternoons.
Ready-made itineraries
Combining Perth with other destinations
Questions travellers ask
+Is 3 days enough in Perth?
It covers the main sights at a brisk pace; 5 days is more comfortable. Three days covers the city and Kings Park, a day in Fremantle and a day on Rottnest Island. Five days adds the Swan Valley, a beach afternoon at Cottesloe and a trip to the Pinnacles or Penguin Island; Margaret River deserves its own overnight stay.
+Is a week too long in Perth?
No — a week leaves time for day trips such as Rottnest Island and The Pinnacles, Nambung National Park.