Despite being one of the most isolated cities in the world, there are lots of cool things to do in Perth in Western Australia no matter what your travel budget might be. I knew Australia was going to be an expensive trip for me so I did my best to save money in Perth while still having a great time – here’s my pick for the best free things to do in Perth, plus some activities you really shouldn’t miss!
How to Have an Epic (and Cheap) Trip to Perth
I love finding free things to do wherever I travel, and you can have an amazing time with a very limited budget. However, there are some things that might be worth paying for if you have the budget to do it. Perhaps by compromising and saving money on some things, you can afford to splurge on something you really want to do.
For example, you could save money by staying in cheap accommodation and doing lots of free activities in Perth, and then treat yourself to a Wine Tasting Tour or a unique experience like a Pinnacles Desert Sunset Stargazing Tour.
I’ve picked out some of the best free Perth attractions, plus a bunch of cheap places to stay in Perth WA so you can do just that – and if you have the budget to treat yourself a little bit, these are some of the most popular paid activities and tours in Perth that you might be interested in:
- The Perth Mint Gold Tour
- Dolphin, Penguin and Sea Lion Cruise
- Fremantle Lunch Cruise
- Perth Swan River Dinner Cruise
- Rottnest Island Round-Trip Ferry from Perth or Fremantle
Or you can browse more activities and tours in Perth here. That said, no matter what budget you have, there is no need to pay for things to do in Perth if you don’t want to. You can still have an amazing Perth vacation without spending a lot of money, and have some unique free experiences you will remember forever!
Cheap & Free Things to do in Perth
Join a Free Walking Tour
Perth Tourism operates free walking tours from the tourist office on Forrest Place. Different tours run on different days so check the website for information and up-to-date times or ask at the tourist office if you’re passing by.
If your preferred tour isn’t available on the day(s) you are in Perth, you can download the Perth Trails Map and do a self-guided tour on your own. The trails are around various themes, including culture, art and taking in the best of less-visited neighbourhoods in Perth like Crawley and Claisebrook Cove.
Even if you don’t join a tour, Perth is a nice place to wander, and you can find pretty streets and shopping arcades like London Court and striking architectural styles all around the city.
The Twilight Hawkers Market
On Fridays in Spring and Summer head down to Forrest Place in Perth CBD (Central Business District) to find this street food market, with stalls selling tasty food from around the world. There’s a disco for kids and a central waste station where you drop your empty food trays and any waste for recycling.
This is a fabulous thing to do in Perth at night, and then once you’ve eaten head over to the bars in Northbridge to have a great night out on the town.
See Kangaroos on Heirisson Island
I didn’t expect to see roos so close to the city, but Heirisson Island in the middle of the Swan River is a sanctuary for these fabulous animals. They are more active around dawn and dusk so bear that in mind when you head out – I was there around 1pm and just spotted one kangaroo resting in the shade of a tree.
Even without the kangaroos it’s a pleasant walk out of the city and one of the best free things to do in Perth to get away from the hustle and bustle of the CBD.
There is a busy main road that slices through the middle of the park, the kangaroo sanctuary is on the right hand side if you’re walking from the centre of Perth (on the opposite side of the road to the car park). If you come by car you’ll need to use the underpass to cross the road from the carpark.
King’s Park and Botanic Garden
This was my favourite free activity in Perth, and educational too. As Perth was the first stop while backpacking Australia, everything was new to me. All of the plants and birds I saw while strolling around the park were like nothing I’d seen before and I loved it!
Another one of the best things about King’s Park is the fabulous view of Perth and the Swan River. The park is high up on a hill (so I’d advise taking the free CAT bus instead of walking there), so you get to see Perth from a new perspective, and a beautiful one at that.
There are information boards to help identify native species of plants and animals, and sharing details of how Aboriginal people made use of the area here. You can also book an Aboriginal Tour around the park if you’d like to learn more about Nyoongar culture, with Nyungar Tours or Go Cultural Aboriginal Tours. See their websites for details and prices.
Walk Around Elizabeth Quay
Elizabeth Quay is a pleasant port area where you can walk around, check out some sculptures and take a ferry to the South side of Perth. This is also where some day trips and boat tours leave from.
There are some bars and restaurants around the Quay as well as art installations including the First Contact sculpture, designed by Laurel Nannup, a Noongar artist, in the shape of a large bird with its wings spread – something that she says the Noongar people who saw the first Europeans landing here would have though the arriving boats looked like.
Spot Street Art in Perth
Speaking of sculptures, there are plenty more around Sydney to spot as you explore the city. You can take a street art tour to learn more about the public artwork in Perth, or download the Perth Trails app and follow their art trail to discover it for yourself.
Northbridge is a good place to look out for murals, as well as alleyways in the CBD, with colourful artwork adorning the wall. Wolf Lane in the CBD is a good place to start, and don’t miss a tasty toasty at Toastface Grillah for one of the best cheap eats in Perth.
Stroll Along the Riverbank
Perth sits on the Swan River, and both sides of the river are pleasant for a stroll if it isn’t too hot. South Perth is on the opposite bank from Elizabeth Quay, and you can reach it by car or on foot crossing the Narrows Bridge, or hop on a ferry. Here you can see the Old Mill, visit Perth Zoo or walk through the gardens which border the water.
You can follow the river all the way up the Swan Valley if you’re feeling energetic, or cross over the bridge to Heirisson Island and make your way back from there.
Cricket fans may want to head along Riverside Drive on the CBD side of the river, and make a detour to the Western Australia Cricket Ground – the WACA Museum is currently closed though. The Optus Stadium lies across the Matagarup Bridge, and you can arrange a visit to see inside the Stadium.
If that all sounds like too much affort you might prefer a segway tour along the riverfront.
Watch a Traditional Dance Performance
Every Saturday at 11am, head to the Boola Bardip Museum for a free demonstration from a different Nyoongar performance group each week who share their rich culture and history. The display I went to included a smoke ceremony and an explanation of the meanings of different dances the group showed us.
It also got interactive, so be prepared to join in if you are invited. The last dance showed the beauty and unity of people from all over the world dancing together – it was a powerful message. While the Boola Bardip Museum is no longer free I highly recommend a visit there too (more on that later).
Hit the Beach
Perth is not quite on the coast, settled slightly inland in the Swan River estuary, but there are beautiful beaches less than an hour away from Perth CBD – the only thing you need to pay for is transport. Fremantle has a beach, and further south the beaches at Rockingham are great too, although not that easy to get to on public transport.
Cottesloe Beach is one of the best beaches in Perth, and is a short train ride from Perth on the Fremantle line. You can then walk for 20 mins to reach the beach from the station or hop on a bus (that runs every 30 minutes or so).
Take a picnic and enjoy the wide sandy beach or take a seat under the shade of the trees if it gets too hot. There is a shark net at Cottesloe and the water here is lovely for a swim. If you get hungry there are several restaurants along the seafront, or bring a picnic for a more budget trip.
Snap a Photo at The Blue Boat House
This cute boat house is popular with Instagrammers, but there isn’t much to say about it – it is just a pretty boat house on the lake. If you’re in King’s Park you could walk down here but I wouldn’t go out of your way to see it!
Bonus Perth Budget Travel Tip: Take the CAT Bus
Perth CBD (Central Business District) has a free bus service that will take you most of the places in Perth that you want to go, completely free! There are 4 lines in Perth, as well as a separate line in Fremantle. Maps and timetables are available on the Transperth website, or you can scan the QR code at any CAT bus stop (identified with a picture of a cat) to get up to date timings.
Buses run roughly every 15 minutes or so during the day, and you flag the driver down and hop on and off at any CAT bus stop. It’s a good way to get the layout of the city and a great way to hit up the main sites (or get to and from the bus and train stations).
If you want to go further afield, the Transperth bus, train and ferry system all run off the same tickets, which are capped at $5 per journey, so it is still a really cheap way of getting around. There is now an airport train which opened in 2022 which will take you into the city for just $5!
Other Fun Things to Do in Perth That Are Worth Paying For
While you’re in Western Australia there are some unique things to do in Perth that are totally worth paying for. You can also check out some of the fabulous day trips from Perth, including a trip to Rottnest Island/Wadjemup, wine tasting in the Swan Valley and much more besides.
Ring the Swan Bells
Perth Bell Tower is one of the only places in the world where you can try your hand at bell ringing without being a member of the church where the bells are. Because it is a secular building, anyone can have a go at ringing the bells, subject to a small fee of course.
Standard entry to the tower is $10 AUD for adults, but for another $8 you can join the bell-ringing session and ring one of the bells in the tower. It was a short experience (around 30 minutes) but I really enjoyed it and it has to be one of the best unique things to do in Perth! >>>Learn more and book tickets here
Watch a Gold Pour at Perth Mint
If you’ve ever wanted to learn about gold, the Perth Mint is the place to do it. Perth Mint opened in 1899 to refine local gold found in Western Australia and turn it into coins.
It is now a museum, and you can see the largest gold coin in the world which weighs one tonne (which is actually legal tender worth $10,000,000 AUD) and some of the largest gold and silver nuggets you’ll ever see!
There is also a gold pouring demonstration, where a gold bar is poured out and cooled in front of your eyes (although behind protective glass!). Sadly you can’t touch it, although another exhibit allows you to try and pick up a gold bar, kept safely behind bars so you can’t run off with it.
The WA Museum Bula Bardip
This excellent museum used to be one of the best free things to do in Perth, but since October 2022 they have started to charge an entry fee of $15 AUD per adult. The good news is that a one-time entry ticket costs exactly the same as a yearly membership, so if there is any chance you might go back to the museum then make sure you get the yearly ticket.
The Bula Bardip is all about Western Australia, and includes exhibitions about aboriginal culture, the natural world, and has a detailed permanent exhibition about aboriginal culture here, sharing information about the way of life of the different aboriginal groups who lived in this area way before English colonisers – or invaders – arrived.
Take a couple of hours to explore the museum, which can be a welcome relief from the heat of the day, or if the weather is poor then it’s one of the best things to do in Perth in the rain too!
Take a Fabulous Day Trip from Perth
There are lots of things to do near Perth that I haven’t included here as they’re best done on a day trip from Perth, including a visit to Rottnest Island for snorkelling, a quokka selfie and to learn about the Aboriginal history there, or a trip to Fremantle for the weekend markets and a look around the UNESCO listed prison, or wine tasting in the Swan Valley, as well as many more.
For more information about day trips and weekend getaways from Perth check out this post!
Things to do in Perth at Night
There aren’t too many free things to do in Perth at night, but that’s not to say you should have an early night! The Twilight Hawkers Market on a Friday evening (in summer) is a great way to start the evening, with some cheap eats in Perth.
Then a walk around Elizabeth Quay to see the city lights or head up to King’s Park which is open 24 hours a day, where you get those lovely views of Perth for sunset and as darkness falls.
If you’re keen to get out of the city for the evening and have the budget, a sunset and star gazing trip to the Pinnacles Desert is a popular night time activity in Perth. This tour includes transport, sand boarding in the desert, dinner at the Pinnacles and the use of Astro binoculars and a telescope to view the night sky.
Where to Stay in Perth on a Budget
If you’re looking for a cheap trip to Perth then I’ve picked out some highly rated but great-value accommodation options for you.
Cheap Hotels in Perth
Pensione Hotel Perth
After flying for 16 hours plus, I wanted a good nights sleep and time to get over my jet lag, so booked this lovely cheap hotel in Perth. Pensione Hotel Perth is great value and gets great reviews too for the staff, with reception open 24 hours a day.
It’s in the CBD, a couple of minutes walk from the main shopping street in Perth, 5 minutes from the station and about 10 minutes from Elizabeth Quay. The hotel is clean and comfortable, and they are currently renovating the rooms floor by floor to make them even smarter.
There’s no breakfast available but with a fridge in every room you can buy snacks to keep cool for breakfast or other food on the go. >>>CHECK PRICES AND AVAILABILITY
Hostels in Perth
Hostels are the cheapest places to stay in Perth, and some get excellent reviews too.
Spinners Hostel
I spent a couple of nights at Spinners Hostel Perth and loved the vibe here. I had booked a mixed room but the guy on reception moved me into a 4 bed female dorm which was lovely. The room was clean with comfy beds, and 2 pillows per bed was pure luxury!
On Friday night the hostel arranged a BBQ night which was a great way to meet people and another bonus free food, so I had a great time here. It is about 10 minutes walk into the centre of Northbridge and another 5 to the CBD. >>>CHECK PRICES AND AVAILABILITY
I hope this article has helped you to plan your trip to Perth on a budget! If you’re looking for more information about Western Australia, you can also check out this post about driving from Perth to Broome on an epic road trip!