We’ve curated a list of absolute must-do’s for your next WA vacay.

While you’re in Perth, you’re of course going to enjoy some of the city’s best beaches, but what you may not know is there is more to Perth than just its pristine white sand and glistening turquoise water. From world-class wineries to hopping over to Rottnest, here are 22 things you need to do when visiting Perth.

1. Hire a car

Best for: Anyone with a driver’s licence.

If you really want to maximise your time in sunny Perth, the first thing you should do is hire a car. Being a smaller city than its eastern counterparts means Perth’s public transport – while decent – isn’t as well-connected as the likes of Sydney or Melbourne. Plus, Perth is really sprawling-ly long. Fun (but really inconvenient) fact – from top to bottom, Perth is longer than the entire country of Ireland. So if you’d rather spend your holiday enjoying the sunshine rather than sitting on a bus or waiting for an Uber, do yourself a favour and hire a car.

2. Hit the wineries in the Swan Valley

Best for: Wine lovers

Speaking of cars, the oldest winemaking region in WA is only a 30-minute drive from the city (just make sure you have a designated driver.) The Swan Valley has some of the best wineries near Perth, including Mandoon, Lancaster and Nikola Estate.

3. Go camping

Best for: Nature-lovers

Thanks to Perth being the most isolated capital city in the world, it’s filled with some of the country’s most bountiful landscapes – many of which are accessible a short drive from the city centre.

There are many free and low-cost camping spots near Perth to unwind, unplug and get amongst the great outdoors.

4. Spend a day (or three) in Fremantle

Best for: Couples, families and solo travellers

The vibrant city of Fremantle is a truly unique WA destination, where cosmopolitan bars, pubs,  restaurants, and cafes meet laid-back vibes and salty beach culture. Add to that the colourful tapestry of colonial, convict and Indigenous history, heritage buildings and vibrant street art, and you’ve easily filled a few days.

Check out our guide on all the things to do in Fremantle including everything you need to know about visiting the fascinating Fremantle Prison.

5. Get a coffee (that you won’t find anywhere else in Australia)

Best for: Coffee-drinkers

Head to one of Perth’s best cafes and order a ‘long mac topped up’. For reasons unbeknown to anyone, this has become a unique coffee style evidently found only in Perth.

Essentially, it’s a traditional long mac served in a 6oz cup – but instead of just ‘staining’ the coffee with the milk, the barista just keeps pouring it to the rim, giving you a coffee-to-milk ratio of about 1:4.

Does that really just make it an extra strong latte? Yes. Could we just say extra strong latte? Yes. Do we just like saying ‘long mac topped up’? Maybe.

6. Get the ferry to Rottnest

Best for: Snorkelling and bay-hopping

Those quokkas aren’t going to take selfies of themselves, are they? The Rottnest Ferry conveniently leaves from the heart of Perth at the Barrack Street Jetty in Elizabeth Quay.

It’s a 90-minute ferry ride (but if you’re prone to seasickness, consider leaving from Fremantle which is only a 30-minute trip.) Spend the night at one of the luxe accommodation options or just do a day trip.

7. Explore Elizabeth Quay

Best for: Families and city-based exploring

Elizabeth Quay is Perth city’s glistening waterfront precinct, home to beautiful bars, restaurants and even a brewery perched on an island.

Take a stroll around the pedestrian-friendly zone, cross the Elizabeth Quay footbridge for a great view back over the city and admire the various sculptures and public art scattered across the quay.

8. Visit Kings Park

Best for: Families and wildflower-enthusiasts

Perth’s iconic Kings Park is one of the largest inner-city parks in the world, spanning over 400 hectares (for context, New York’s Central Park is 340.)

It offers stunning views of the Swan River and Perth skyline, and has many bush walking trails, nature playgrounds for kids, cafes and restaurants and one of the biggest collections of wildflowers in the country.

9. Head for the hills

Best for: Nature-lovers and wine-enthusiasts

Perth Hills is an often overlooked area, but it’s home to some stunning natural scenery, beautiful trails and some of the best wineries near Perth – Myattsfield and Mandoon Estate are stand-outs. Go for a morning hike and then unwind with a winery lunch.

10. Get sunset fish and chips

Best for: Seafood and sunset lovers

You simply cannot visit Perth and not enjoy the spectacle of the sun setting over the Indian Ocean. Anywhere along the coast will give you a great view, but a particularly nice way to do it is to get fish and chips down at Cottesloe Beach and park up on the grassy foreshore – it’s terraced, so nobody can obstruct your view.

11. Get cultured at Perth Cultural Centre

Best for: Art lovers and culture vultures

Perth Cultural Centre lies in the heart of vibrant Northbridge, and features the State Library of WA, The Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts (and its adjoining bar, PICA bar) The State Theatre, Blue Room Theatre, and the Art Gallery of Western Australia – which is also home to one of Perth’s best rooftop bars, AGWA Rooftop.

12. Visit WA Museum Boola Bardip

Best for: Families and culture vultures

The recently rebuilt WA Museum Boola Bardip is also within the Perth Cultural Centre, but deserves its own special mention. The $400-million state-of-the-art museum seamlessly integrates heritage buildings with contemporary structures, and showcases the rich history, culture, and biodiversity of Western Australia.

The name “Boola Bardip" means “many stories" in the local Noongar language, reflecting the museum’s mission to tell the diverse stories of the region. It has a mix of permanent exhibitions as well as special exhibits, plus interactive displays, educational programs, events and talks.

13. Catch a game at Optus Stadium

Best for: Sports fans

Optus Stadium has been recognised as Australia’s best stadium multiple times, and has been named the Most Beautiful Sports Facility in the World and was 2022’s International Venue of the Year.

The state-of-the-art stadium was built with a ‘fans first’ approach – as such, every seat has an exceptional view and there are more than 1,000 TV screens throughout the venue ensuring you never miss any of the action – including two of the largest super screens in Australia, each measuring 340 square metres.

14. Watch an outdoor movie

Best for: Families and couples

When you’re in one of the sunniest spots in the country, it makes sense to watch films outside. Perth is home to several great outdoor cinemas, but the best ones are the Northbridge Rooftop Movies, Somerville Auditorium on the lush University of WA grounds, and the Telethon Community Cinemas in Burswood.

15. Visit Chinatown

Best for: Asian food lovers

In the heart of Northbridge is Perth’s small but vibrant Chinatown, an iconic precinct for locals looking for a good feed at a great price. Look for the red and green pagoda archway on Roe Street with the lion statues on either side.

Red plastic lanterns dangle from above and the laneways are littered with plastic chairs and tables filled with locals enjoying ramen, stir fries and bao. Highlights are Billy Lees, Uncle Billy’s and Izakaya Grill.

16. Do a foodie walking tour

Best for: Energetic explorers

Walking tours are a great way to acquaint yourself with a city, and walking tours featuring food and drinks are even better. There are plenty of options in Perth, including Foodloose Tours, Two Feet and a Heartbeat and Eat the Street.

17. Explore the city in a rickshaw

Best for: Tired travellers

If you’re not a walker, Peddle Perth offers a unique and fun way to explore the city from the comfort of the back of a rickshaw.

Your ‘driver’ will take you through Perth’s hidden gems and landmarks, all while giving you a lively and informed description. It’s a fantastic way to see the city.

18. Stand-up-paddle-board in Matilda Bay

Best for: Water-lovers

Any visit to a Perth waterway would make you think every West Australian owns a SUP board, and a great place to give it a whirl is Matilda Bay. The picturesque spot along the Swan River is known for its serene waters and stunning views of the city skyline. SUP Central offer hire boards and lessons. And when you’re done, reward yourself with a picnic on the grassy foreshore or lunch at Bayside Kitchen.

19. Ride the bridges

Best for: Fitness enthusiasts

‘The bridges’ route in Perth is a 10km pedestrian and cycle-friendly loop that runs between the Narrows Bridge and the Causeway Bridge, offering beautiful views of the Swan River, city and lush South Perth.

If you’re in the CBD, jump on the ferry and cross the river to South Perth, hire a bike from South Perth Cycles, and get peddling.

20. Get amazing Asian eats in Vic Park

Best for: Foodies

The inner city suburb of Victoria Park has a vibrant immigrant community, resulting in sensational cuisine. The strip of Albany Highway that runs through the suburb is jam-packed with so many incredible Japanese, Vietnamese, Chinese and Lebanese restaurants, that you’ll think you’ve been teleported to a different continent. KUZU Japanese, Qin’s Lanzhou Beef Noodle and The Prophet Lebanese are stand-outs.

21. Make a day trip to Guildford

Best for: History buffs

Guildford is one of WA’s oldest towns, established in 1829. It boasts beautifully preserved 19th and 20th-century architecture. The James Street strip is lined with antique shops, boutiques and galleries, as well as a handful of historic pubs like the Rose & Crown and the newly renovated Guildford Hotel.

The quaint suburb is also home to Alfred’s Kitchen – a beloved local institution – known for serving the best burgers in Perth since way back in 1946.

22. Take yourself on a bar crawl

Best for: Drink-enthusiasts

There’s nothing like some warm weather to make you keen for a bar crawl, and luckily Perth has plenty to choose from.

From rooftop terraces, martini bars and whiskey saloons, to cocktail basements and sophisticated wine and cheese bistros, you won’t struggle to find a bevy of great Perth bars.

Discover the top things to do on Rottnest Island.