Perth—the capital of Western Australia—might not be as famous as its Australian counterparts i.e. Melbourne and Sydney but is definitely still a lovely city worth visiting. With its flourishing dining scene and laid-back beaches, we reckon the world’s sunniest capital city is a perfect holiday destination. In fact, Perth is only a 5.5-hour direct flight away from Singapore!
From the must-see attractions, restaurant recommendations, popular nightlife spots to getting around, here is our comprehensive guide to Perth and everything else you should know.
WHAT TO SEE AND WHAT TO DO IN PERTH
Admittedly, Perth’s city life is nowhere as vibrant as its neighbouring global cities; but that doesn’t warrant it an awful online 2015 title of being the worst destinations on earth. Perth is home to several historical monuments and an exciting wine region called the Swan Valley—and there is so much to see and do at these attractions.
PERTH’S ICONIC BLUE BOATHOUSE
By now, you must have come across endless stunning shots of Perth’s iconic Blue Boathouse on your Instagram feed. It is believed that the historic Crawley Boat Shed was constructed in the 1930s and restored to its splendour in early 2000s. This photogenic boathouse is a must-visit for all photography enthusiasts.
COTTESLOE BEACH – THE MOST POPULAR BEACH IN PERTH
There are countless beaches in Perth for one to get his/her tan on (just keep in mind that summer season brings with it the constant buzz of houseflies) – one of the better suntanning spots would be the inviting Cottesloe Beach.
Fremantle can be easily reached in half an hour via car. Immerse yourself in history at the Fremantle Prison, a maximum-security-jail-turned-tourist-attraction or check out the weekend-only Fremantle Market which is known for hawking a wide array of indigenous and indie products, local organic produce and natural good.
Read our guide on day trip to Fremantle in Perth.
KING’S PARK
Attracting over six million visitors annually is King’s Park, one of the world’s largest inner city parks. The scenic park spans across 400.6 hectares and contains the The State War Memorial. Take a leisure stroll, have a picnic under the iconic 750-year-old tree and/or pay your respects on the dawn of ANZAC Day.
There is really no reason why visitors should miss out on the gorgeous Swan Valley, especially when it can be reached within a short 30-minute car journey from Perth’s CBD. Boasting animal farms, beautiful vineyards, chocolate factories, honey farms and more—you are guaranteed to have a fun-filled day exploring these places!
Read our guide on 12 reasons why you must visit Swan Valley in Perth.
MARGARET RIVER
Known for its popular craft breweries, award-winning restaurants, world-class wineries and beautiful beaches, Margaret River—a 3-hour drive from Perth—is a must-visit.
Start your day with a hearty breakfast at the famous White Elephant Cafe which comes with a stunning view of the Gnarabup beach in Prevelly. You can easily spend a day exploring the numerous wineries in the region. Some of our favourite wineries include Vasse Felix Winery, Voyager Estate and Wills Domain.
We will suggest to allocate at least 2 nights in Margaret River.
WHERE TO EAT IN PERTH
CHICHO GELATO
ChiCho Gelato is no ordinary ice-cream parlour. Made fresh from scratch daily, the sweet ice-cold treats are free from artificial colourings, flavours and preservatives – hence ensuring patrons only the highest quality possible. Anticipate a plethora of unique flavours such as Lavender & Honeycomb and Pandan & Roast Peanut Brittle.
180 William St, Northbridge WA 6003, Australia
Tel: +61 423 480 520
Sun to Wed: 12pm – 10pm
Thu to Sat: 12pm – 11pm
Chu Bakery is arguably among the top bakeries in Perth. Strategically located opposite Hyde Park, the takeaway-only bakery spots long queues every day.
The display of daily fresh bakes are visually arresting, to say the least. There are Asian nuances on the menu, as well as some French flair. What you must try is its signature Chu Puff—a choux pastry well made, topped with luscious and a surprise jelly in the middle. And if you are lucky, grab yourself a Kaya Coconut Croissant.
498 William St, Highgate, WA 6003, Australia
Tel: +61 893 284 740
Tues to Sun: 7am – 4pm
No reservations are allowed at Ciao Italia but that is clearly not stopping eager crowds from forming every operating night. The Italian trattoria serves awesome seafood pasta and calamari rings in ginormous portions. Complete your meal with a divine tiramisu had us nearly licking the plate clean.
273 Mill Point Rd, South Perth WA 6151, Australia
Tel: +61 8 9368 5500
Sun and Mon: Closed
Tue to Sat: 5pm – 10pm
DUOTONE
DuoTone serves a pretty wicked cuppa and we will certainly return everyday for our caffeine fix if we were based in Perth. Coffee aside, the new cafe also serves excellent breakfast Asian-inspired gourmet brekkie.
Read our guide on 17 best cafes and coffee shops in Perth.
313 Hay St, East Perth WA 6004, Australia
Tel: +61 8 9325 9396
Mon to Fri: 6am – 3pm
Sat and Sun: Closed
Hylin is hands-down our favourite cafe in Perth.
It may be a bit off the grid, but this neighbourhood cafe in West Leederville is totally worth travelling for. Its modern architecture and decor make the cafe a very cosy space to retreat to for breakfast. And we really liked the tables by the windows; perfect for a relaxing brunch session in Summer.
178 Railway Parade, West Leederville WA 6007, Australia
Mon to Sat: 6.30am – 3pm
Tel: +61 401 815 804
Overseeing the boat harbour, award-winning Kaili’s Fish Market Cafe has been a well-loved destination amongst locals and tourists alike since 1928 for its tasty fish and chips and other fresh value-for-money seafood delights.
46 Mews Rd, Fremantle WA 6160, Australia
Tel: +61 8 9335 7755
Mon to Fri: 8am – 8.30pm
Sat and Sun: 8am – 9pm
TOOK BAE KEE 2
Located along Barrack Street in Perth’s CBD, Took Bae Kee 2 is our go-to Korean restaurant for affordable and good Korean food in Perth. Some of the dishes that you can try include Sizzling Hot & Spicy BBQ Pork (A$7), Sizzling Sweet & Spicy BBQ Squid Tubes (A$9) and Hot & Spicy Soy Bean Soup (A$8).
127 Barrack St, Perth WA 6000, Australia
Tel: +61 451 774 260
Thu to Tue: 11.30am – 8pm
Do not leave cafe-cum-roastery Typika Artisan Roasters until you have savoured their insanely delicious Golden French Toast served with Maple Candied Bacon and Sliced Bananas drenched in Salted Caramel Sauce.
331 Stirling Hwy, Claremont WA 6010, Australia
Tel: +61 8 9284 6088
Daily: 6.30am – 3.30pm
WHERE TO DRINK IN PERTH
AIR NIGHTCLUB
Located in the bustling nightlife district of Northbridge, Air Nightclub is a stylish nightclub that opens till 5am on weekends. Kickstart the night with a potent ABC shot – a lethal mixture of Absinthe, Bacardi 151 and Chartreuse.
For something lighter, order Olivia’s cocktail and Death March; the former is a sweet, fruity alcoholic concoction that can only be prepared by bartender Olivia herself, while the latter is a spicy tobasco liqueur shot.
139 James Street, Northbridge WA 6003
Tel: +61 427 933 836
Fri and Sat: 9pm – 5am
Sun to Thu: Closed
LITTLE CREATURES BREWERY
Little Creatures is renowned for their pale ales and fans should make a special visit to their flagship brewery at Fremantle. No prior reservations are required and everyone is welcome to join one of the daily guided tours around the brewery.
40 Mews Rd, Fremantle WA 6160, Australia
Tel: +61 8 6215 1000
Mon to Fri: 10am – 12am
Sat: 9am – 12am
Sun: 9am – 11pm
THE AVIARY
Spanning across two storeys, The Aviary is a fancy bar-cum-restaurant located in the heart of Perth’s city. Head straight to the stunning open-air rooftop bar perched atop Goron Stephenson House and join in the party. The watering hole is packed with corporate workers, university students and literally everyone from all walks of life.
Gordon Stephenson House, 1/140 William St, Perth WA 6000, Australia
Tel: +61 8 9226 0259
Mon to Thu: 11am – 11pm
Fri: 12pm – 1am
Sat: 11am – 1am
Sun: 11am – 10pm
THE BEACH CLUB
We love the spacious space, nautical design and relaxed vibes at The Beach Club. Situated directly across Cottesloe Beach, The Beach Club provides city dwellers a great respite with its extensive menu of alcoholic drinks and bar nosh.
Cottesloe Beach Hotel
104 Marine Parade, Cottesloe, Western Australia 6011
Tel: +61 8 9383 1100
Daily: 12pm – 10pm
THE STANDARD
The Standard Bar Garden and Kitchen is ideal for a chill night out. Grab a drink at their elegant indoors or enjoy the alfresco ambience outdoors. It is also worth mentioning that The Standard serves really impressive Asian-fusion gourmet dishes too.
28 Roe St, Northbridge WA 6003, Australia
Mon to Thu: 4pm – 12am
Fri and Sat: 12pm – 12am
Sun: 12pm – 10pm
Tel: +61 8 9228 1331
TRANSPORTATION IN PERTH
TRANSFER FROM PERTH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
CONNECT Shuttle: Upon arrival at Perth International Airport Terminal 1, board a free terminal-transfer bus (available 24/4 daily) which will take you to Terminal 3. Over there, you can hop on the Perth Airport CONNECT Shuttle at A$15 per person one way.
Tickets can be purchased from the driver and you will be dropped at one of the following five destinations: East Perth Train Station, WA Museum on Beaufort Street, Wellington Street, (opposite the YHA Backpackers Hostel), The Kings Perth Hotel and The Ambassador Hotel.
Taxi: If you are travelling in a group or have multiple luggage, it would be more cost-efficient and time-efficient to get a taxi instead. It costs roughly A$38 from Perth Airport to the CBD.
Public Transport: Board Transperth’s 380, 37 or 40. For information regarding the buses’ frequency and timetable, refer to Transperth’s official website. Each one-way ticket costs A$4.50.
HOW TO GET AROUND PERTH
CAT buses in Perth’s CBD are absolutely free and allow you to cover various places in the city easily. If you are venturing beyond the city, you might have to ride on the Transperth Train. An one-way ticket typically start from A$2.10.tl
Hi, very informative post! can i check where did you apply for the visa to Australia? Thanks!