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One day to explore all of Perth doesn’t really sound like enough time, does it? That’s why I’m here to help plan your one-day Perth itinerary!
Being born and raised here, I know this city like the back of my hand. So if you only have 24 hours in Perth, I’ll show you the best of the best! See the legendary Kings Park, visit my favorite port city Fremantle, enjoy a sunset dinner cruise on the Swan River, and stop by one of the many craft cocktail bars.
Phew, I’m already tired and we haven’t even started exploring! Don’t stress about trying to see it all, simply follow this itinerary and you get the full Perth experience.
How to Spend One Day in Perth
Breakfast – Mount Street Breakfast Bar
With just one day in Perth, we are going to make the most of your time in the city. This is my hometown, after all, so I have a ton of things lined up for you – starting with breakfast! Mount Street Breakfast Bar is a local favorite, full of fresh and locally sourced ingredients, a great vibe, and it doesn’t break the budget!
Bailey and I have stopped in here dozens of times and tried most menu items between the two of us. They are famous for the Turkish poached eggs, and I can totally see why – they are fantastic. We also loved the chili crab scramble and the Spanish baked eggs… I’m getting hungry just talking about it!
Mount Street Breakfast Bar is located near Kings Park (our next stop) and is open daily for brunch from 7 am to 2 pm. They do accept reservations, if you’re visiting during the week you’re probably okay without but I highly recommend booking a table on the weekends! They are also open for dinner from 3 pm Tuesday through Friday. I love stopping in here for a drink, the atmosphere is even better in the evening!
Morning – Explore Kings Park
If you ate too much at breakfast because it’s so good (we’ve all been there) not to worry, we are going to spend the whole morning walking it off! Kings Park makes you forget you’re even in the city, as it’s right next to the gorgeous Swan River, home to the botanic garden, and is even bigger than Central Park in NYC. I’ve spent countless hours here and while you might not cover every corner of the park in just a few hours, I’ll tell you what the highlights are!
We love exploring the Botanic Garden in Kings Park, it’s such a good look at Western Australia’s unique plant life. There are over 3,000 species of native flora, some can only be found in this part of the country! If you enjoy the outdoors as much as we do, you’ll really appreciate this part of the park.
There is also a unique history represented in the park, and a lot of it is on the Bushland Nature Trail. This 25-minute loop trail has memorials and statues, and also informational boards so you can learn about Perth’s history! You’ll see the State War Memorial, the Flame of Remembrance, and the Whispering Wall – all of which are very interesting.
For some of the best views in the park, head to the top of the DNA Tower! I’m not sure what’s more breathtaking, the city and river views or the 101 stairs to the top. Regardless of the climb, it’s worth the effort and the tower itself is a staple of the park! You’ll understand how it got the name once you see the spiral design.
If you’re traveling with kids, you can stop at one of the six playgrounds in the park. The Rio Tinto Naturescape is a fun natural play structure, designed as if it’s in the Australian Bush! While we don’t have kids, our friends’ kids really love this spot.
To make the most of your time, you can also join this segway tour of the park! You can see so much more when you’re zooming around, and there is a local guide to give the run-down, so you’ll learn even more too. I’ve never done this tour, but I’ve always loved seeing the segways in the park, it looks really fun! The tour takes off at 10:30 am and lasts for 1.5 hours, so it fits into this itinerary perfectly.
It’s well worth the $129 AUD price tag and has over 100 glowing reviews – check them out and book it before you go here!
Lunch – Fraser’s restaurant Kings Park
By the time you hit all of those iconic Kings Park sights, it will be about lunchtime. One of Perth’s top restaurants just so happens to be in the park and is the perfect place to unwind for a bit. Fraser’s restaurant is known for its incredible views from the patio, modern and upscale atmosphere, and incredible food – which is exactly what we want out of a lunch spot!
Since we had a beautiful day in Perth, we sat out on the patio overlooking the park. The menu has small, medium, and large plate offerings, and we thought the medium plates were perfect for lunch. I’ve been here for dinner and the large plate mains are amazing, too! We split the beef carpaccio and the Swiss mushroom risotto, which certainly hit the spot.
They also have a huge wine list! If you’re feeling up for a mid-day drink, there are some really good Western Australian wines to pick from. You can visit Fraser’s for lunch at 11:30 am daily.
Related Read: If can squeeze in one more day around Perth, be sure to take a day trip to Rottnest Island – check out our favorite tours here!
Afternoon – Wander around Fremantle
Now that you’re starting to get a feel for Perth, we are heading to one of the most popular suburbs – Fremantle! We refer to Fremantle as “Freo” and you’ll swoon over this charming port city. It’s full of quaint shops, markets, beaches, and history. You can read my top things to do in Fremantle here but to help narrow it down, I’ll pick out a few of my favorite activities.
First stop by the Fremantle Markets, which is over 100 years old! We love wandering through the stalls, seeing what things we can find. We usually end up getting food, but there are a lot of handmade goods, art, and other random things that are fun to look at. If you’re not too full from lunch, grab something from one of the many international cuisines (like Brazilian or Balinese), a burger at the Smash Grill (my fave), or some gelato at Gelatissimo!
Afterward, wander around High Street, which is Fremantle’s downtown area. There are even more locally-owned shops and art galleries to check out, such as the Japingka Aboriginal Art Gallery. This gallery is created by all Aboriginal artists using traditional art styles, so it’s an important piece of Western Australia’s history!
Speaking of history, if you’re keen on learning more, head to the oldest public building in WA, the Roundhouse! It was built in 1831 and was used as a prison until 1886. Eventually, they needed a bigger building, so they had the convicts build the Fremantle Prison, which you can also explore.
And if you have enough time in your afternoon, be sure to stop by one of Perth’s famous beaches. Bathers Beach is central to downtown Fremantle and they have some fantastic lounge chairs you can rent. I also love South Beach, it’s a bit quieter because it’s a few minutes outside of town, but the blue water and white sand are too good to pass up.
You’ll have plenty to see in Fremantle, even if you just spend some time wandering through the city you’ll find some hidden gems. After your afternoon here, head back to your hotel and get cleaned up, put on your fanciest clothes, and get ready for the evening’s activity!
Dinner – Go on a sunset dinner cruise
We are truly hitting all of the “iconic” sights of Perth today, so, of course, we have to explore the Swan River! I can’t think of a better way to see this gorgeous river than taking this sunset dinner cruise, which shows the best of Perth and is super relaxing.
This sunset cruise boasts city views, of course, but the food and complementary Aussie wine was a huge plus as well. We took off at 7 pm, which was the perfect time to grab a glass of wine and head to the deck to take in the sunset views! There was also a live musician on board, which set the mood just right.
They served a buffet dinner to top all buffet dinners! Usually, I’m not a fan of buffets, but this one was amazing and offered so many choices. We had king prawns, Australian beef, freshly caught barramundi, and a ton of salads and sides. Bailey was a big fan of the dessert, which is a huge compliment because she has quite the sweet tooth!
We could drink as much beer and wine as we’d like, and they also had cocktails for purchase at the bar. The overall experience was luxurious, the staff made us feel so welcome and we thought it was the perfect way to see the city!
The sunset dinner cruise lasts for 2.5 hours and is available on Friday and Saturday evenings. I highly recommend booking it in advance, as this experience is popular and I’d hate to see it fill up! It’s $170 AUD per person and includes dinner, drinks, and the cruise – not a bad price for this incredible experience! They also offer free cancellation 24 hours in advance and buy now/pay later options, so it’s really flexible.
Book this luxurious sunset dinner cruise here before it fills up!
Related Read: Are you a big fan of wine? Be sure to take a day trip to Margaret River from Perth, it’s full of amazing wineries!
Why We Book Tours with Viator
Viator is a trusted online booking system for tours around the world! We almost always book our tours using Viator for a couple of reasons:
- Free cancellation on most tours – Most of the tours on Viator allow you to cancel and get a full refund up to 24 hours in advance. This is handy in case plans change, or if booking an outdoor activity, the weather forecast is looking grim.
- Reserve now and pay later – You can secure your spot on some of the most popular tours well in advance and not pay until closer to the day of the tour.
- Lowest price guarantee – If you happen to find the same tour at a lower price elsewhere, Viator will refund you the price difference.
- Pay in your chosen currency – Avoid costly international transaction fees by choosing to pay in your home currency.
- Peace of mind – When booking with tour operators you find in person on the street or in small booking offices, you are often promised one thing and given another. This online platform holds tour operators accountable with a written description of inclusions as well as the opportunity for customers to leave reviews.
Check out the Viator website here! Or, for more info, read our detailed review about Viator here.
Night – Go for drinks in the city
Even though it’s already been a full day, we are going to squeeze in one more activity! Hopefully, you didn’t drink too much free wine on the sunset dinner cruise because we are heading back into Perth to hit a few of my favorite bars. We love the craft cocktail bar scene in the city, so that’s mainly what we are focusing on tonight. But, if you want a more lively club or dive bar – there are plenty of those too!
All of these bars are within a 5-10 minute walk of each other, so you don’t have to worry about catching an Uber until the end of the night!
The Volstead Lounge is a 1920s-style speakeasy that has a cozy vibe and some of the best cocktails. We are suckers for speakeasies and love the decor here! They also have live music and some great local artists, so it’s always a fun time at Volstead. You can visit Wednesday through Saturday until 12 am.
Here at The Stables, you’ll find iron gates and a cobblestone path that dates back to 1894 when this was Perth’s first horse stable. Today though, it’s a great bar and restaurant and makes killer cocktails. We love that they have charts in their menu to help you pick out the perfect cocktail – they take their spirits seriously! The Stables Bar is open every day except Sunday until 12 am.
Bar Lafayette is another charming cocktail bar in a historic building. They make some really unique cocktails, my favorite is Hops & Dreams made with Scotch whiskey and mosaic hops – so cool right? Finally, Andaluz Bar & Tapas is where we go if we get hungry again because (as you can guess from the name) they make amazing tapas! Best of all, they are open ‘til late, so you can grab a tasty cocktail and a snack no matter the time.
Related Read: For a luxurious stay during your quick trip to Perth, check out our review of the Crown Towers Perth! It has one of the best pools in Perth and is connected to the casino.
Other Things to do While You’re in Perth
If you find yourself with extra time in your itinerary, we have a few more epic Perth sights you can check out. Some of these are full-day activities and others are easy to squeeze in, but all are guaranteed to be a good time!
- Day trip to the Pinnacles – The Pinnacles is one of WA’s most unique geological features, with thousands of limestone pillars standing in the desert! We visited the Pinnacles on this day trip from Perth, which let us learn all about this crazy desert and also stop at other cool spots along the way. The best part though, they take you stargazing surrounded by Pinnacles, and the night sky is breathtaking in the desert!
- Visit some museums – Learn more about Perth by visiting some museums! The WA Museum Boola Bardip is a great natural history museum to learn about the native inhabitants of WA, and even see a massive blue whale skeleton. Or stop by the Perth Mint to learn about the history and production of gold in Perth!
- Check out Elizabeth Quay – This is one of Perth’s most popular areas, so spend an afternoon here! Walk across the pedestrian bridge for impressive river and city views, have lunch at the Lucky Shag, and explore the historic Bell Tower! We took this tour of the Bell Tower to learn more about its history and ring those iconic bells for ourselves – it was really cool!
- Go brewery hopping – Perth is full of great breweries! Check out Little Creatures in Fremantle or Northbridge Brewing Company in Perth CBD. Better yet, read our full guide to Perth’s best breweries here or spend a full day on this guided brewery tour! You’ll get to try lots of unique brews and have a designated driver provided so you can simply enjoy.
- Visit Rottnest Island – Rottnest Island is a quick ferry trip from Perth and a must-visit! With 63 beaches, adorable quokkas, and clear blue water, there is so much to explore. We recommend taking this full-day tour from Perth, which provides ferry tickets, a coach tour of the island, and time to explore on your own. It makes for a super easy (and awesome) experience!
Where to Stay in Perth
Even if you have just one day in Perth, you’ll need the perfect place to stay! Perth’s CBD (Central Business District) is the best place to stay because you’re near everything. There are also a ton of options for a range of budgets. If you need some help narrowing it down, these are our top picks!
The Westin Perth – $$$
A mix of classy and contemporary, The Westin Perth is the place to stay when you’re looking for a touch of luxury. The prime location in the heart of Perth puts you within walking distance of the trendy Elizabeth Quay area as well as lots of restaurants and cafes. You can also use the hotel’s infinity pool or its signature restaurant run by iconic Australian Chef Guy Grossi.
Rooms here start around $400 AUD per night. Check availability on Booking.com.
Pensione Hotel Perth – $$
A nice mid-range option, the Pensione Hotel Perth is a refurbished boutique hotel with 98 rooms. It’s close to Elizabeth Quay, major shopping centers, the Swan River, and Northbridge. You’ll feel like you’re stepping into the 1960s with restored furniture and décor from the time filling the lobby. The staff members are really friendly and the rooms are super comfortable.
Rooms are reasonably priced under $150 AUD per night. Book this stay here on Booking.com.
Hostel G Perth – $
You don’t need to pay big bucks to stay in Perth’s CBD, Hostel G Perth has dorm rooms for around $40 AUD or private rooms for around $100 AUD. You’ll have a huge common area with movies on TV, a kitchen, and a great atmosphere with travelers of all ages.
We really like hostels because they are affordable so you can travel longer and you might even meet some new friends to hang out with! Grab a room using Booking.com or Hostelworld.com.
Renting a Car in Australia
With many must-see destinations in Australia outside city limits, one of the best ways to get around is in a rental car.
Australia is a huge country and traveling between cities or getting to some of the most scenic spots requires driving. While public transit is sometimes an option, it often adds a lot of time and planning. Plus, we love the freedom of a rental car to stop wherever we want and not have to stick to a set schedule.
Car rental in Australia is super affordable, especially if you choose a smaller vehicle. We use the website DiscoverCars.com. It’s a search engine that compares multiple car rental companies for you – saving you from visiting each website individually.
If you plan to be based in a main city like Sydney, Melbourne, or Perth and do a few day trips while returning your car to the same location, we’ve booked rentals for as cheap as $25 AUD a day! Full coverage insurance can be added for around an extra $12 AUD a day too. The price will vary depending on the time of year, type of car, and if you’re able to pick up and drop off at the same location.
Discover Cars also offers handy filters so you can search for cars that offer features like child seats, GPS, or let you have an additional driver. There are also free cancellation options if your trip changes. Read our honest review of Discover Cars here for more details!
Check out the selection and book your car rental online here!
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance!
If you’re looking to save money on travel insurance, we currently use and recommend SafetyWing. We’ve been using their coverage since 2018 and they’ve had our backs when we needed emergency flights and got sick overseas.
SafetyWing is one of the cheapest providers out there and covers everything from medical costs to lost luggage, travel delays, and emergency flights. A huge difference we’ve found between them and other companies is that they let you take out a policy AFTER leaving your home country. We’ve also found it handy that it’s a monthly payment rather than a lump sum, and you can get a refund for unused time.
SafetyWing has helped us out in some scary situations before and their affordable coverage has given us peace of mind. You can read our honest review of SafetyWing for all the pros and cons.
Thanks for reading!
That is one busy day in Perth, but I know you’ll have a blast! As a local, we love crafting itineraries for friends, family, or other travelers passing through. There’s so much to see, and I hope you get the chance to return for a longer vacation, but this one-day itinerary is sure to hit all the highlights.
Thanks for reading our blog! Be sure to check out our other Australia itineraries as you further plan your travels. As a Perth native myself, and both having lived and traveled all over the country, we have a ton of expertise to share. Check out these blogs for some travel inspiration!
12 Best Tours in Perth, Australia – from a Local!
8 Things to Know BEFORE Booking a Swan Valley Wine Tour + The 6 BEST Tours