The Ultimate 5 Day Perth Itinerary for 2025

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Perth is one of those cities that still has the vibes of a small town while offering everything you’re looking for in a city. I fell in love with its skyline and the surrounding areas. The city is bustling and quiet at the same time with a mixture of museums and historic landmarks surrounded by parks and the waterfront. After spending many months in Perth, we put together this ultimate 5 day Perth itinerary to help you make the most of your visit.

Perth is the capital of Western Australia and its welcoming vibe immediately makes you feel right at home. But don’t forget to discover the rest of Western Australia to experience everything it has to offer. One minute you’re walking on a beach enjoying the waves and the next you’re standing in a mining pit in awe of the machinery. Western Australia offers some of the most extreme and raw landscapes of Australia.

With this 5 day Perth itinerary, you’ll see a mix of what Perth and its surrounding area have to offer. However long you have, make sure to make the most of it. Roam the streets, visit a park, hang out at the beach, shop ’til you drop, or learn all about the history of this western Australian capital.

The Ultimate 5 Day Perth Itinerary

Day 1: Discovering Perth City Center

Morning – Orientation walking tour

A great way to start of your itinerary of Perth is by joining the Orientation Walking Tour. Right in the city center of Perth, you find the Perth City Visitor Kiosk. It’s where you’re able to get information about everything there is to see and do in Perth.

Local volunteers take you through the city for a 90-minute walk and share everything you need to know about Perth’s history. Beyond the Perth 101, these volunteers also share local secrets about the free buses running through the city and how to navigate Perth’s trains.

Afternoon – Kings Park

After walking through Perth all morning, escape the city by heading to Kings Park. This is where you’ll find the Botanical Garden and much more. Kings Park is enormous and, for first time visitors to Perth, it can be quite overwhelming. I always recommend you start with the Botanical Garden. I love this garden as you can see and experience all kinds of flora and fauna from across Australia. You’ll also find a number of lookouts with great views over Perth.

Throughout the park, you’ll find monuments which refer back to the history of Perth, like the State War Memorial of the Vietnam Memorial Pavilion. Although the DNA Tower doesn’t relate to the history of Perth, it’s my favorite monument in Kings Park. It offers a great lookout over the surrounding area and is cleverly built like a DNA string.

If you’re feeling a little peckish after walking around all day (who doesn’t love a snack break?), I recommend heading to one of the picnic areas or stop by the cafes and restaurants throughout the park.

Day 2: Exploring Fremantle

There are a lot of towns close to Perth that are worth it to explore while visiting Perth. Fremantle, or Freo as locals call it, is mostly known for its prison. Fremantle’s prison was in use until 1980s without proper plumbing or facilities. You can walk around by yourself or, I always recommend this audio tour which runs you through Freo’s role in the origins of settlement in Australia. Best of all, you can take the audio tour at your own pace.

Next up, I recommend heading to the Fremantle markets to explore local cuisine and Freo’s artist communities. You’ll find all sorts of shops which showcase Australia’s heritage. Part of the joy of Freo is taking your time to explore the town, take photos of the innovative street art and colonial-era heritage architecture. While I recommend saving the Round House for last, you’ll want to make sure you’re there at 1 pm to see the cannons being set off.

Once you feel you’ve had your fill of Freo, spend the afternoon at the beach. The colorful changing booths are free to use and you can rent an umbrella or sun-bed. Before heading back to Perth, take a short stroll along the Esplanade or ride the Ferris wheel.

Day 3: The Best of Perth’s Waterfront

Morning – Elizabeth Quay

Although the city center is worth a visit, I just love Elizabeth Quay and keep finding myself coming back to this area. Start with a morning stroll around and enjoy the beautiful views over the river. Head to the statue First Contact before using the Pedestrian Bridge to cross the river. The boardwalk is shared by pedestrians and bicycles and a lot of people use this area for their morning workout.

Visit the Bell Tower and take a tour to learn about its 18 bells and history. This is one of the largest musical instruments in the world and from Thursday – Sunday you’ll hear the bells ring between 12 pm and 1 pm.

There are plenty of cafes and restaurants here to enjoy lunch when you’re done exploring. Keep in mind that food attracts the seagulls who will try to eat the food out of your hand or your plate. In this neighborhood, my favorite restaurant is easily The Reverley which offers different levels of food with a lovely indoor seating area.

Afternoon – Museums in Perth

Perth has many museums which are perfect for spending the afternoon on hot days. You’ll find museums ranging from history to video games. If museums are your vibe, I’d recommend visiting the Art Gallery of Western Australia to experience contemporary to classical art and don’t forget to enjoy the building itself.

If you’re more of a nature buff the WA Museum Boola Bardip might be more up your alley. You’ll find a selection of skeletons, plants, animals, and other attributes linked to Western Australia in this museum. You’ll get a better understanding of not only Perth, but its surrounding area.

If you’ve fallen in love with Perth and want to know more about the city and its history, the Museum of Perth is the place to be. They focus on the social, cultural, political, and architectural history of Perth. Interestingly, the museum has been updated to show the impact of Covid-19 on Perth.

Day 4: Nature and beaches

Morning – Visit Yanchep National Park

No Perth itinerary is complete without some true Australian wildlife experiences. If you haven’t seen koalas yet in Australia, you’ll want to make your way to Yanchep National Park. Here, you’ll find a natural koala habitat with raised boardwalks for visitors. This means you can spot the koalas up close in the trees. Sometimes they are quite well hidden, so pay attention to the other visitors. My tip is whenever you see someone standing still or looking around, follow their lead and look for a koala!

Besides the koalas you’ll also see some kangaroos hopping around. In the surrounding area, there are a couple of walking routes that will take you through the natural habitat of several bird species. Or visit one of the two limestone caves with a guided tour. End the morning with a break at one of the restaurants or bring a picnic basket and blanket and just sit down under one of the trees.

Afternoon – Perth’s beaches

Take the scenic drive back to Perth and follow the coastline where you’ll find a selection of beaches. Some are quite small, but Mullaloo, Trigg and Cottesloe are all a good choice to spend the afternoon. Clear white sandy dunes, beautiful blue water and a selection of small cafes where you can buy something to munch on.

The beaches are the perfect place to watch a sunset as well. Local people come here after a day’s work to relax, barbecue and cool down after a long hot day. Slowly watching the sun disappear in the ocean is the perfect ending to day 4 of this 5 day Perth itinerary.

Day 5: Dolphins and coastal wonders

Morning – Bunbury and Dolphin Discovery Center

Today is all about dolphins, and the perfect place to start is Bunbury (a small coastal city under 2 hours from Perth). Every morning, wild dolphins arrive at the Dolphin Discovery Center (I’d recommend pre-buying tickets here). Here, you’ll find a special area dedicated to the dolphins, called the Interaction Zone. The dolphins usually show up between 8 am and 12 pm. There is a sign which will let you know what time they showed up the previous day.

After watching the dolphins, check out the Discovery Center itself. They focus on the marine life in Western Australia and have interactive displays. You’re also able to book a dolphin eco-cruise if you want to get up close with the dolphins. Better yet, book yourself in to swim with wild dolphins.

Drive onwards to Turkey Point or Pelican Point to follow the dolphins when they leave the Interaction Zone at the Discovery Center. Then head into the city center for some well-deserved lunch (I’d recommend Sayers Sister or Petition for some great Aussie brunch), before driving onwards to Mandurah.

Afternoon – Mandurah’s Canals and Giants

The center of Mandurah feels a little bit like Venice. There are canals and bridges in the heart of Mandurah, where you can roam without worrying about cars. But what it’s most famous for is the fact that dolphins find their way into these canals. You might just spot them while exploring the city, so keep your eyes open.

Stop by the information center to pick up a map to discover the Giants of Mandurah. This art project was launched in 2022 and is expected to remain until 2026. The Giants are created by Thomas Dambo with recycled wood to share a message of sustainability and recycling. The interactive game is a perfect way to end your 5 day Perth itinerary.

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