What to see, where to stay and the best time to visit Perth, Australia.
Photo: David / Pexels
Perth is a coastal city in Australia with 2,141,834 people. It mixes city sights with beaches. Near the centre are Elizabeth Quay, Kings Park and Botanic Garden, and the WA Museum Boola Bardip and the Art Gallery of Western Australia in Northbridge. Fremantle adds history and markets. Cottesloe and Scarborough suit beach lovers and families. The Swan Valley fills a full day out of the city. The best months to go are November, December, January and February.
We have no set recommendation. As a guide, Kings Park, Cottesloe Beach and Perth Zoo each take half a day. The Swan Valley takes a full day. In Fremantle, allow 2–3 hours for the prison and 1–2 hours for the markets.
West Perth
A large park of native bushland and gardens on a hill above the city centre. Go for the views over the Swan River and the city skyline, the treetop walkway and the Western Australian wildflowers in the botanic garden.
Fremantle
A former convict-built prison, now a UNESCO World Heritage site that you can visit on guided tours. It gives a clear, often grim picture of Western Australia's convict past. Combine it with a walk around Fremantle's old port streets.
Fremantle
A historic covered market hall with food stalls, fresh produce and craft stalls. It is a good lunch stop on a day in Fremantle. Check which days it runs before you go.
Cottesloe
Perth's best-known city beach, with clear water, a grassy foreshore and cafés along the road. It faces west, so many people come for the sunset over the Indian Ocean. The sun is strong, so bring shade and sunscreen.
Perth Cultural Centre, Northbridge
The state museum of Western Australia, covering natural history, Aboriginal culture and the history of the state. It is a good choice on a hot or rainy day.
Perth Cultural Centre, Northbridge
The state art gallery, next to the museum. It has a strong collection of Aboriginal art alongside Australian and international works.
Perth CBD
A waterfront area on the Swan River at the edge of the city centre, with walkways, restaurants and a footbridge. Ferries to South Perth leave from here, and it is a pleasant place for an evening walk.
South Perth
The city zoo, with a large section of Australian animals as well as animals from other continents. A ferry ride across the river from Elizabeth Quay is an easy way to get there.
Swan Valley
Perth's closest wine region, on the city's edge, with wineries, breweries and small food producers. You need a car or a tour to get around, so plan for a designated driver or book a tour.
Average weather and our month score, from 10 years of climate data.
| Month | High / low | Rain days | Sunshine | Sea temp | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best month: January | 30°C / 19°C | 1 day (23 mm) | 12.8 h/day | 24°C | 9.8/10 |
| Best month: February | 30°C / 19°C | 2 days (22 mm) | 12.3 h/day | 24°C | 9.7/10 |
| March | 28°C / 18°C | 4 days (40 mm) | 10.9 h/day | 23°C | 9.1/10 |
| April | 25°C / 15°C | 6 days (40 mm) | 10.0 h/day | 21°C | 8.9/10 |
| May | 21°C / 12°C | 8 days (79 mm) | 9.0 h/day | 20°C | 8.4/10 |
| June | 18°C / 11°C | 11 days (104 mm) | 8.5 h/day | 18°C | 7.7/10 |
| July | 17°C / 10°C | 15 days (118 mm) | 8.4 h/day | 17°C | 6.7/10 |
| August | 18°C / 10°C | 13 days (106 mm) | 9.5 h/day | 17°C | 7.2/10 |
| September | 19°C / 11°C | 9 days (44 mm) | 10.8 h/day | 18°C | 8.3/10 |
| October | 22°C / 13°C | 7 days (38 mm) | 11.4 h/day | 20°C | 8.6/10 |
| Best month: November | 25°C / 15°C | 3 days (21 mm) | 13.0 h/day | 21°C | 9.3/10 |
| Best month: December | 29°C / 18°C | 2 days (9 mm) | 13.4 h/day | 24°C | 9.4/10 |
High 30°C, only 1.4 rain days and 12.8 hours of sun. Score 9.8, a best month. The sea at 24.3°C suits swimming.
The hottest month, with a high of 30.2°C and 2.2 rain days. Score 9.7, a best month. The sea stays at 24.3°C.
High 28°C and 4.3 rain days. Score 9.1, a best month. Still warm, with the sea at 23.4°C.
High 24.5°C and 5.7 rain days. Score 8.9, a best month. Days are milder and the sea cools to 21.4°C.
High 21°C, 8 rain days and 79 mm of rain. Score 8.4, still rated best, but bring a jacket for cooler evenings.
High 18.4°C, 11.4 rain days and 104 mm of rain. Score 7.7, just rated best. Wet, so better for city sights than beaches.
The weakest month: high 17.4°C, 15.3 rain days and 118 mm of rain. Score 6.7, rated good. Skip it if you want beach time.
High 17.5°C and 12.8 rain days. Score 7.2, rated good. Still cool and wet, and the sea is only 17.1°C.
High 19.3°C, with rain days dropping to 8.5 and rain to 44 mm. Score 8.3, a best month.
High 21.7°C, 7 rain days and 11.4 hours of sun. Score 8.6, a best month for mild weather.
High 25.3°C, 3.4 rain days and 13 hours of sun. Score 9.3, a best month. The sea warms to 21.3°C.
High 28.5°C, 2.1 rain days and only 9 mm of rain. Score 9.4, a best month, with 13.4 hours of sun.
Climate averages 2015–2024 · Best time to visit Australia →
The best areas to base yourself and who each one suits.
Good for first-timers, short stays, public transport
The city centre sits on the Swan River, with Elizabeth Quay, the main shopping streets and the central train and bus hub close together. It is the easiest base for day trips and airport links. It can feel quiet and empty in the evenings and at weekends once office workers leave.
Good for nightlife, food, younger travellers
Just north of the CBD across the railway line, Northbridge has many bars, clubs and cheap Asian restaurants, plus the Perth Cultural Centre with the state museum and art gallery. You can walk into the city centre easily. It gets loud and rowdy late on Friday and Saturday nights, so light sleepers should look elsewhere.
Good for history, markets, relaxed pace
A port town at the mouth of the Swan River with well-kept old buildings, weekend markets, craft breweries and the ferry to Rottnest Island. It has its own character and works well as a base for a slower trip. It is a train ride away from central Perth, which adds time if most of your plans are in the city.
Good for couples, quiet, riverside walks
A mostly residential area on the eastern edge of the CBD, with apartments along the river and paths for walking and cycling. It is calmer than the centre but still close to it, and near the stadium for sports fans. There is less to do in the evening, and on event days the area gets crowded.
Good for cafés, shopping, quieter stay
An inner suburb west of the CBD with cafés, independent shops and easy access to Kings Park. It is on the train line, so getting into the city is simple. The choice of places to stay is smaller than in the centre, and it is fairly quiet at night.
Good for beach lovers, families, sunsets
These Indian Ocean beach suburbs let you swim in the morning and watch the sun set over the water in the evening. Cottesloe is calmer and more family-friendly, while Scarborough has a livelier foreshore. Both are a long way from the city centre and other sights, and a car makes life much easier.
Locals call it 'cray'. It is caught off the Western Australian coast and served grilled or cold at seafood restaurants, especially around Fremantle.
A classic weekend meal. Locals buy it at the Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour and eat it outside by the water.
Local mussels cooked in a spicy tomato and chilli sauce, usually served with bread. You find them on pub and seafood menus across Perth and Fremantle.
A prized white-fleshed fish from local waters. It appears on better restaurant menus, often pan-fried or grilled, and is a favourite of local anglers.
A large freshwater crayfish native to south-west Western Australia. It has sweet flesh and is served in restaurants, often simply grilled with butter.
The Swan Valley wine region lies on Perth's north-east edge. Locals go there for wine tastings, cheese, chocolate and long lunches, mostly at weekends.
Best: Apr, May, Aug, Sep
Best: Jan, Feb, Mar, Dec
Best: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
The best months are January, February, December and November. They score between 9.3 and 9.8 out of 10. Daytime highs are about 25 to 30°C. There are only 1.4 to 3.4 rain days a month, and you get 12.3 to 13.4 hours of sun a day. The sea is also at its warmest, at 21.3 to 24.3°C.
July is fine for a city break, but it is Perth's weakest month and not a beach month. It scores 6.7 out of 10, the lowest of the year. It is the wettest month, with 15.3 rain days and 118 mm of rain. Highs reach only 17.4°C, and the sea drops to 16.9°C. Museums and galleries work well, but beaches and the Swan Valley are less fun in the rain.
Yes, from about November to April the sea is warm enough for most swimmers. It peaks at 24.3°C in January and February and is still 21.4°C in April. From June to September it falls to between 16.9 and 18.3°C, which most people will find cold. If a swim at Cottesloe Beach matters to you, go in summer.
Yes, April is a good choice if you want milder heat. It scores 8.9 out of 10. Highs average 24.5°C, compared with 30.2°C in February. There are 5.7 rain days and 10 hours of sun a day. At 21.4°C, the sea is still warm enough for a swim. Rain starts to increase in May, with 8 rain days.
Plan for several days. Kings Park, Cottesloe Beach and Perth Zoo each take half a day. The Swan Valley needs a full day. In Fremantle, allow 2–3 hours for the prison and 1–2 hours for the markets. In Northbridge, the WA Museum Boola Bardip takes 2–3 hours and the Art Gallery of Western Australia takes 1–2 hours. Elizabeth Quay needs about 1 hour.
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