What to see, where to stay and the best time to visit Perth, Australia.
Photo: David / Pexels
Perth sits on Australia's west coast, built around the Swan River with beaches close by in Cottesloe and Scarborough. It's a mixed destination: city sights like Elizabeth Quay and Kings Park sit alongside the museums of the Cultural Centre, and Fremantle's history and markets are a short trip away. The best months to visit are January, February, November and December, when warm, dry weather suits the beaches and outdoor areas.
Plan for a few days to cover Perth CBD, Northbridge's museums and Kings Park, plus extra time for Fremantle, Cottesloe Beach and a day out in Swan Valley.
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 |
Peak summer: highs of 30°C, just 1.4 rain days, sea at 24.3°C. Score 9.8, the best month of the year.
Hottest month on paper at 30.2°C high, only 2.2 rain days and warm sea at 24.3°C. Still rated best, score 9.7.
Warm and drier-feeling autumn start: 28.3°C high, 4.3 rain days. Score 9.1, best.
Cooling off to 24.5°C highs with 5.7 rain days as rain picks up. Score 8.9, still best.
Rain increases sharply to 8 days and 79mm as highs drop to 21.2°C. Score 8.4, best.
Winter rain sets in: 11.4 rain days, 104mm, highs down to 18.4°C and only 8.5 sun hours. Score 7.7, best.
The wettest month: 15.3 rain days, 118mm of rain, highs of just 17.4°C and the lowest sun hours at 8.4. Score drops to 6.7, good.
Still wet with 12.8 rain days and 106mm, highs near 17.5°C, the coolest sea at 17.1°C. Score 7.2, good.
Rain eases to 8.5 days as highs climb to 19.3°C. Score 8.3, back to best.
Spring warming continues: 21.7°C high, 7 rain days, sun hours rising to 11.4. Score 8.6, best.
Warm and drier with 25.3°C highs, just 3.4 rain days and 13 sun hours. Score 9.3, best.
Dry summer start: 28.5°C high, only 2.1 rain days and the lowest rainfall of the year at 9mm. Score 9.4, best.
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.
Western Australia's waters produce rock lobster, often simply grilled or served cold with salad. Restaurants along the Fremantle and Swan River waterfronts list it as a premium seafood choice, especially in warmer months when the catch is strongest.
Fremantle's harbour is lined with casual seafood shops selling fresh fish and chips, often eaten outdoors by the water. It's a relaxed, everyday meal rather than a formal dinner, popular with locals on weekends.
This freshwater crayfish, native to southwestern Australia, turns up on menus around Perth, usually grilled or pan-seared with butter. It's considered a local delicacy and often ordered for special occasions.
Just outside the city, the Swan Valley is Western Australia's oldest wine region. Locals spend a day there tasting shiraz and other wines alongside cheese, chocolate and bakery stops.
Kangaroo meat appears on some Perth menus, served as steak or in stir-fries. It's a lean, native protein that visitors often try once as a distinctly Australian option.
Best: Apr, May, Aug, Sep
Best: Jan, Feb, Mar, Dec
Best: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Perth is good but cool in August, with a score of 7.2 out of 10. Highs average 17.5°C and lows 9.8°C, with rain on about 13 days of the month. It's one of the wetter months, but sun hours still average 9.5, so dry spells between showers are common.
The best months are January, February, November and December, all scoring 9.3 or higher. These months bring highs of 25–30°C, very few rain days (1.4 to 3.4), and sea temperatures of 21–24°C, making them good for beaches like Cottesloe.
Plan for at least 2 to 3 days to cover the main sights. Kings Park, Cottesloe Beach and Perth Zoo each take about half a day, while Fremantle Prison, the WA Museum and the Art Gallery take 1–3 hours each. Add a full day if you want to visit Swan Valley.
Yes, July is the wettest month, with rain on about 15.3 days and 118mm of rainfall. June and August are also wet, with 104mm and 106mm respectively. Sun hours drop to around 8.4–8.5 in June and July, the lowest of the year.
Sea temperatures are warmest from December to March, ranging from 23.4°C to 24.3°C. They drop to the lowest point in July at 16.9°C. For comfortable swimming, the months around January and February offer the warmest water alongside the sunniest, driest weather.
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