50 Of The Best Things To Do In Perth

We know we’re biased, and not at all humble, but Perth has to be one of the best cities to holiday and live in.

Ridiculous beaches, amazing eateries and scenery that will blow your mind—deciding what to do in Perth can sometimes be a bit much.

If you're not sure where to start, this list of the top 50 things to do in Perth will have you covered.

Book Your Stay: First things first, if you're planning a holiday to Perth or want to feel like you're on your holiday in your own city, you'll wanna book into one of these cracking Perth hotels. COMO The Treasury promises the most elegant stay, Alex Hotel is super cool and smack bang in the middle of the cultural centre and Warder's Hotel is our pick for exploring Fremantle.

Soak Up Some Rays By The Beach: It’s no secret that Perth has some of the best beaches going around. Coastal hubs like Cottesloe and Scarborough are the most obvious options and are awesome if you love the bustling vibe with plenty of cafes and bars nearby. We're also big fans of dog beaches like South Beach and Leighton down in Fremantle and kid-friendly beaches like Floreat and Mettams Pool up north.

Spend A Day (Or Two) In Fremantle: There are so many things to do in Fremantle we could write about it all day. Spend your day walking through the laid-back streets of Freo or head into the iconic markets to grab some local produce and quirky gifts. You’ll then want to take yourself on a food tour through this epic part of Perth and see how many of these Fremantle restaurants you can conquer for lunch. Then get sipping through all of Fremantle's best bars, including Patio Bar, Strange Company, Jungle Bird, Ronnie Nights and Republic Of Fremantle. 

Experience A Cultural Tour: Perth’s rich Noongar culture is awe-inspiring and something every West Aussie should experience. Bindi Bindi Dreaming showcases the unique Aboriginal culture of Perth and its traditional people as well as their continuation of cultural traditions. 

Pack A Picnic For The Swan River: Take in the iconic sites of Perth from the Swan River upon your very own dog-friendly, BYO Nauti boat. The best part? You don’t need a boat license. 

Work Your Way Through Perth’s Best Restaurants: While we’ve certainly got our favourite Perth restaurants, you can’t go wrong with a swanky dinner anywhere inside the State Buildings. If you’re craving something a little more casual, go for Mexican at La Cholita or pizza with a side of lo-fi disco at Si Paradiso. Then go ahead and tick these newbies off your list too.

Hop On A Ferry Bound For Rottnest: Home to some of the prettiest beaches in the world, you’ll want to pack your snorkel and bike (or you can hire them there) and explore the island. There are so many things to do on Rottnest Island like a visit to the famous bakery, snorkelling the crystal clear bays, Pinky’s Beach Club for cocktails and a luxe four-hour seafood cruise. 

See Perth On A Walking Tour: Jump on a tour with Oh Hey WA and take in some of Perth’s best bits while you soak up the knowledge of your local guide. You can pair a boozy walking tour with a bit of street art, or be a bit fancier with a history, architecture and art tour of the city. 

Head Out To The Swan Valley: Just 30 minutes out of the city, you’ll feel a world away as you make your way through the Swan Valley’s best wineries, restaurants and providores. You could even arrive in the valley in style on a wine cruise. 

Go On A Road Trip: Sometimes you just gotta get out of town for the day, so we’ve rounded up the best road trips within two hours from Perth. Grab your lover or your bestie, pack some snacks and get out and explore the Perth Hills for some scenic relaxation or head up to the gorgeous lagoon at Yanchep Beach.

Bar Hop Through The City: We like to kick things off with cocktails at Wildflower's swanky rooftop or The Royal for some breezy balcony bevs. Once the sun falls, we prefer to drink in Northbridge bars like the The Bird, Mechanics and Picabar before accidentally ending up on the dance floor at Connections.

Go Sky High For A Cocktail: If you're heading out for some day drinks in the sun shine, you’re in luck because Perth has an awesome selection of rooftop bars to choose from. We’ve listed our top picks here. 

Hop In A Helicopter: There really is no better way to take in the views of Perth’s skyline and coast than from up in the air. Jump on a chopper and gasp over the sights of Elizabeth Quay and Kings Park as you make your way down to City Beach through to Cottesloe and Fremantle. 

Spend The Day At King’s Park: Set up a picnic and soak up the sweeping views of Perth and the Swan River or get your heart racing with some of the park’s best walks and hikes. Our top pick is the DNA tower showing off the park, river and Rotto from 15 metres above the ground.

Watch The World’s Best Sunset: The sun setting over the ocean never ceases to amaze us, and we reckon we’ve got some of the best views going around. Pack a picnic and head out to one of these spots and be blown away by the colours in the sky. 

Tackle Perth’s Best Breweries: Gage Roads in Freo is a must-visit, but there are heaps of newbies and classics you and your mates need to add to your list, including Mayland’s Seasonal Brewing Co and Little Creatures. 

Visit WA Museum Boola Bardip: Boola Bardip means many stories in the Noongar language, and this is exactly that—a place to share Western Australia’s many stories. Before you step inside, take a moment to appreciate the stunning architecture then head on in to explore the State’s history and culture. For more inspo, check out other fantastic Perth museums here. 

Lace Up For A Walk: Dust off your sneakers and lap up some of Perth’s scenery all while you exercise with our favourite walks and hikes. Take in the coastline before finishing up with a coffee or head out to the Swan Valley to take on Bells Rapid. We really are spoilt for choice.

Get Caffeinated: Get up early, get out and about, and sip your way through the best coffee shops around town. 

Grab A Scoop At Elizabeth Quay: Try a scoop (or three) from gelato legends Gusto, and then spend the afternoon meandering through the walkways of Elizabeth Quay and basking in the Perth sunshine. 

Loosen Your Pants For Bottomless Brunch: Bottomless may be one of our favourite words and there’s no shortage of options to choose from. From mimosas and cocktails to biscoff waffles, you’re going to want to get out the stretchy pants. 

Puzzle Out Of An Escape Room: Escape rooms are the ultimate bonding experience for the Pink Panthers among us. There are plenty of adventures to be had—from hunting down serial killers to stopping a viral outbreak. Here’s our pick of the toughest escape rooms in Perth. 

Shop Up A Storm At A Market: Whether you’re after a gift for a friend, a bite to eat or just a casual stroll and a browse, you’re bound to find what you’re looking for at one of Perth's local markets. 

Get Competitive With A Game Of Mini Golf: Smash a hole in one at Glowing Rooms, Perth's first 3D and glow in the dark mini golf joint, or hit up Holey Moley for a hit of nostalgia with a side of burgers and sugary cocktails.  

Get Behind The Wheel Of A Go-Kart: Calling all adrenaline junkies, revheads and Mario wannabes, ‘cause there are some cool go-karting spots around Perth. Here’s a list of the best to hit up. 

Make Your Own Gin At A Fremantle Distillery: The 2.5-hour session at the Republic of Fremantle will teach you all about the history of distilling before you get hands-on and craft your own bottle of gin (which yes, you'll take home at the end).

Feel Like Picasso At A Paint And Sip: Get your creative juices flowing with the help of a glass of vino and create a masterpiece that you can take home and pop on the wall. We’ve rounded up the best ones here. 

Hit Up An Arcade Bar: Head to Palace Arcade in Northbridge, Vic Park and Freo for retro arcade games with a side of boss-level cocktails and NYC-style pizzas or Planet Royale in Northbridge for pinball machines galore, boozy shakes and epic burgers. 

Venture Into A Sea Of Purple On A Jacaranda Walk: The jacaranda season in Perth normally runs from mid-October and peaks in mid-November as summer really starts to roll in, so go for a stroll and admire this spectacle.

Go Book Shopping: Favourite stores include Crow Books in Vic Park, the iconic Planet Books on Beaufort and Northside Books in Northbridge, but there are so many more amazing bookstores in Perth to scout out. 

Hire Your Own Waterbike And Glide Across The River: See the Swan River from a new angle and hire from Perth Waterbike Co, leaving from the South Perth Foreshore. 

Get Up Close With Aussie Animals: See a koala up close at Cohunu Koala Park or venture to Caversham Wildlife Park to see cute kangaroos, koalas, wallabies and wombats. 

Check Out This Vintage-Style Dart Bar: Perth scored the first-ever Aussie outlet of the popular UK social dart experience, Flight Club, so you can throw a few darts and down a few cocktails in style. 

Take A Dip In A Stunning Natural Pool: Venture inland and you’ll be surprised at just how many natural pools there are to discover. Here's where to find the best natural pools near Perth, as well as a few that are a little further afield. 

Climb And Zipline At Matagarup Bridge: Calling all adrenaline junkies, on this bridge you can climb to an open-air viewing platform, then zip back at a whopping speed of 75km an hour. 

Tuck Into Fish And Chips On The Beach: Is there anything that beats picking up a truckload of fried goodness from your favourite and heading to the beach and watching the sunset? Here’s where to get the best fish and chips in Perth. 

Swim With Wild Dolphins: Always wanted to swim alongside a dolphin? At Perth wildlife Encounters you can glide alongside wild dolphins and live out your childhood (or adult) dreams. 

Buy A Cinnamon Scroll At North Street Store: North Street Store in Cottesloe is a Perth institution, and their cinny rolls are the best of the best. After a dip at Swanbourne or Cottesloe Beach, line up and dig into this sweet goodness. 

Go For A Snorkel: We’ve established that Perth has epic beaches, so why not stay a while and snorkel around? Coogee’s Omeo Shipwreck is a fave, but there are plenty of other ideal spots around. 

Book In For Beachside Brunch: We can’t get enough of brunch, so why not pair it with sweeping ocean views? Our top picks would be Bib & Tucker and The Shorehouse, but check out this list for other superb beachside spots. 

Pair Art With A Rooftop Drink: Wander around the Art Gallery of Western Australia and afterwards head upstairs to their new rooftop bar, fit with city views and cocktails on tap. 

Plunge Into The Ocean At Sunrise: Cold Nips is a group that meets weekly for the ultimate wakeup—a 6am dip in the ocean. Warm up afterwards with a coffee in hand at a local cafe. 

Go 10-Pin Bowling: Head to Perth’s oldest Tenpin Bowl, Rosemount Bowl, or go a bit further afield to Melville’s Super Bowl or Zone Bowling in Morley. A must-do is Strike Bowling, located in Carousel, Fremantle, Karrinyup and the CBD. 

Kickback At An Outdoor Cinema: One of the best things you can do on a warm summer night is head to one of Perth’s outdoor cinemas for a dose of nostalgia, a blockbuster or an artsy foreign film. You can BYO drinks at Moonlight Cinema in Kings Park, relax on a rooftop at Rooftop Movies or picnic under the pines at Somerville.

Feel Sophisticated At A Jazz Club: Head to Jazz Cellar for pizza, BYO vino and the most intimate, lively jazz you’ll experience in Perth. There’s also Ellington Jazz Club, Pooles Temple and Duke of George in Freo. 

Scout The Best Banh Mi: The perfect combo of crunchy French baguette and coriander-y Vietnamese goodness, banh mi is the ultimate lunchtime treat. Suss this list and find a yummy loaded roll near you. 

Catch Some Sports: We're pretty serious about sports here in Perth, so you'd be mad not to get amongst the action. Perth's massive and award-winning Optus Stadium is a good place to start. Head there in summer along with every other cricket fan to see the Scorchers smash sixes. While in winter, it's all about footy—just make sure you know whether you're going for the Fremantle Dockers or West Coast Eagles. If you're more of a basketball fan, the Perth Wildcats always put on a good show at RAC Arena over spring-summer.

Stroll Around Hyde Park with A Coffee: Hit up Chu Bakery for a takeaway coffee and a sweet treat before walking across the road to Hyde Park, home to ancient towering trees and a pretty lake. 

Bite Into A Continental Roll: Stuffed with the finest Italian meats and plenty of cheese, all loaded up with plenty of antipasti—there’s nothing not to love about a conti roll. The Re Store usually gets named as the source of Perth’s best conti roll, but there are other epic choices to look at too. Our fave at the moment is Deli's Continental.

End The Weekend With Sunday Music At Fremantle Arts Centre: From October to March each year, the Fremantle Arts Centre plays host to a wholesome afternoon of live music on its lush lawns. Just BYO picnic and blanket and rally up a group of friends. While you can’t BYO booze, there’s beer and wine available to purchase.

Looking for more ideas? Here's what's on in Perth this week, this month and beyond. 

Image credit: Nancy Hanna, Tourism WA