Oceania › Australia › Western Australia › Perth

Perth

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Sun, surf and city style collide

Perth stands as Australia’s western gateway, a city where the Indian Ocean meets modern Australian life. The coastline stretches wide with beaches offering calm waters and golden sands ideal for swimming or walking. Inland, parks provide space to see native plants and animals like kangaroos and emus. Urban areas feature cafes, markets and museums showcasing local art and history. Public transport connects neighborhoods efficiently, while the city’s layout encourages easy access to both sea and land activities without long travel times between attractions.

City in Australia
Climate zone: Mediterranean

Mediterranean: Mid-latitude climates with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters, typical of coastal regions around the Mediterranean Basin.

See climate table
Price level: $$$
$Cheap
$$Medium
$$$Expensive, upscale
$$$+Very expensive, luxury
See price details
Safety: 8.0
General Safety:8
Health & medical:8
Accessibility:8
Tap water:8
Read details
Tourist English: 5/5
English is universally spoken, and all signage, menus, and services are in English. Locals are friendly and helpful, so communication is easy for international visitors.
Last update: 24 Oct 2026
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Perth Summary

These place ratings give you a quick overview of how well a destination matches different types of trips.

‘Best for’ scores:
The specific interest scores show where this place really shines – whether it's ideal for hiking, food & drink experiences, museums or other activities. These highlights help you understand what makes the destination special at a glance.

‘Your personal’ scores:
This reflects how well a place matches your personal preferences. You can adjust the importances of travel topics or other personal requirements categories in your account settings.

‘Suited for’ badges:
These give you a quick overview of how well a destination suits specific types of travellers, to help you find the places that match your lifestyle, preferences or travel situation.

Read how our scores work
Excellent for beaches and outdoor city life. Swim and surf on nearby beaches, relax in riverside parks and explore lively food markets.
Place score
7.0
Best at:
Beaches
9
Gardens & parks
9
Sea
8
Spotless
8
Running
8
Personal score
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Log in to see how this place matches your personal travel interests.
Suited for
👶 9
Families
🧓 8
Seniors
🛡️ 9
Travel Beginners
🥜 9
With food allergies
Australia – Quick facts
Power Grid: 230 V, 50 Hz
Plug: Type I
Type I:
Diagram of a Type I power plug

Read about power adapters
Currency: Australian Dollar (AUD)
£1 ≈ A$1.89
Cashless info: Rating 5/5
Cashless payment is widely accepted, even in rural areas. Digital wallets are commonly used.

Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers: Best value: Saily
Flexibility: Airalo
Read our in-depth comparison
Tipping: Tipping is not mandatory in Australia. Rounding up or 10% is appreciated in high-end restaurants.
Public drinking: Public drinking is regulated and often prohibited, except in designated areas.
Public smoking: Smoking is banned in public indoor spaces and most outdoor public areas.
Australia Day
(January)
Public events and celebrations occur nationwide.
ANZAC Day
(April)
Commemorations and closures happen.
Christmas
(December)
Festive events and closures occur.
Emergency contact: Emergency Number: 000 (Police, Fire, Ambulance)
Taxi apps: Uber, 13cabs, Ola
Other: Australia's vast size requires careful planning for travel between regions. Be aware of wildlife and sun exposure.
Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Perth, Australia
🔥
Jan
🔥
Feb
🔥
Mar
☀️
Apr
☀️
May
🌦️
Jun
🌦️
Jul
🌦️
Aug
☀️
Sep
☀️
Oct
☀️
Nov
🔥
Dec
High season: Jan. - March, Nov. - Dec.
Shoulder season: April, Sep. - Oct.
Crowdedness: 5 (Moderate tourist numbers)
Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info
Wildflower season August to October; humpback whales pass offshore September to November
Bushfire season December to March, total fire bans can close parks and trails on very hot days
Rottnest Island: accommodation and ferries booked out in December, January and Australian school holidays

Why travel to Perth?

Perth is perfect if you love the outdoors but still want city comforts. You’ll find some of Australia’s best beaches just minutes from the center, epic sunsets and a food scene that’s as creative as it is multicultural. Kings Park offers sweeping skyline views and wildflowers, while day trips to Rottnest Island or Swan Valley wineries are just a ferry or short drive away. The city’s street art, small bars and lively markets keep things interesting after dark. Just be aware: Perth is remote by global standards, so flights can be long and expensive and it’s not the cheapest city in Australia. Summers are hot and dry, so bring sun protection and stay hydrated.

🏯Places worth seeing
  • 1 Perth Mint
  • 2 Fremantle Prison
  • 3 Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery
  • 4 Perth Zoo
  • 5 Elizabeth Quay
  • 6 Yagan Square
🎡Places for activities
  • 1 AQWA – The Aquarium of Western Australia
  • 2 The Bell Tower
  • 3 Elizabeth Quay
  • 4 Caversham Wildlife Park
🏞️Natural landmarks
  • 1 Kings Park
  • 2 Hillarys Boat Harbour
  • 3 Cottesloe Beach
  • 4 Scarborough Beach
  • 5 John Forrest National Park
  • 6 Rottnest Island
  • 7 Swan River
  • 8 Matilda Bay
  • 9 Galup
  • 10 Bold Park
🛍️Shopping
  • 1 Westfield Booragoon
  • 2 Fremantle Markets
  • 3 Bed Bath N'Table
  • 4 Hay Street Mall
  • 5 London Court
  • 6 Claremont Quarter
  • 7 Pavilion Fresh Markets
  • 8 Westfield Carousel
🎈Events
  • Perth Festival
  • Sculpture by the Sea
  • Fringe World Festival
  • Perth International Arts Festival
  • City to Surf Marathon
  • Perth Royal Show
  • WA Day Festival
  • Perth Fashion Festival
  • Christmas Pageant
  • Australia Day Skyworks

Knowledge before you go

  • Sunscreen is essential; Perth’s sun feels intense year-round.
  • Stay near the CBD or Elizabeth Quay for easy riverfront walks and transit.
  • Plan beach time late afternoon; sunsets at Cottesloe are a local ritual.
  • Take a half-day trip to Rottnest Island early – ferries sell out and quokka photos are best morning.

How to travel to Perth

Perth Airport (PER) is 12 km from the city, with direct international flights from Europe, Asia and the Middle East and domestic connections from across Australia. Shuttle buses, taxis and rideshares link the airport to downtown. The Indian Pacific train connects Perth to Sydney and Adelaide for the adventurous. Long-distance buses and cruises also reach the city.

Access summary

  • From Perth Airport (PER): airport train or taxi, about 20–30 minutes.
  • From Sydney: multiple daily direct flights, roughly 4.5–5 hours.
  • From Melbourne: frequent direct flights, normally about 3.5–4 hours.

Where to stay in Perth

Perth offers everything from luxury hotels and boutique stays in the city center to beachside resorts and budget hostels. Fremantle is great for a historic vibe, while Scarborough and Cottesloe are perfect for beach lovers. Book ahead for summer and major festivals, as rooms fill fast.

How to get around Perth

Perth is easy to explore by public transport-buses, trains and ferries connect the city and suburbs. The free CAT bus loops are great for sightseeing in the center. Cycling is very popular, with dedicated paths along the river and coast. Taxis, rideshares and car rentals are widely available, but parking can be expensive in the city center.
Budget snapshot
Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

+6 %
Daily expenses in Perth are around 6% higher than the average across United States. That means you'll spend more on meals and getting around.
Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-2 %
Your exchange rate (GBP to AUD) is 2% better than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

Backpacker Mid-range Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation
£61
£136
£376
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person
£23
£54
£118
🍝 Food per day
£30
£73
£227
🚕 Transportation per day
£8
£9
£32
Food & Drink
🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person
£28
🍛 Lunch Set, per person
£12
🍟 Fast food combo
£8.50
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day
£10.50
☕ Cappuccino
£3.30
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l
£6.50
Transportation
🚌 Public transport ticket
£2.10
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi
£18
⛽ Petrol, 1 l
£0.95
Other
🎞️ Cinema ticket
£13
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult
£50
🤧 Cold medication
£7
💇 Basic haircut
£18

Safety information overview

General safety
8
Perth is very safe, with low crime rates in tourist areas. Standard precautions apply — watch your belongings in busy places and avoid walking alone late at night in quiet areas. Sunburn and dehydration are bigger risks than crime.
Health & Medical
8
Medical care is excellent, with modern hospitals and clinics. Pharmacies are easy to find. Heatstroke and sunburn are the main dangers in summer — use sun protection and stay hydrated.
Accessi­bility
8
Most attractions, hotels and public transport are accessible, with good facilities for visitors with mobility needs. Some older buildings and beach areas may have steps or uneven ground — check ahead for specific requirements.
Tap water
8
Tap water is safe and tastes good. Public fountains are available in parks and along the foreshore, so refill your bottle often, especially in summer.

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