15 Fun Things to Do in Perth: A Solo Travel Guide

Perth is the sunniest Australian city with the most extensive city parkland in the world. Thanks to its perfect climate throughout the year, it offers a laid-back lifestyle and fun things to do in Perth day and night. And the ideal place for solo travellers. I have been to Perth several times, and loved it as there is always something new to do. Here I have picked 15 things for solos in Perth, Western Australia.

Where to Stay in Perth, WA

If you want to stay in hotels, here are great hotels I recommend in Perth:

Best Places to Stay:

➡️ The Adnate Art Series Hotel a fab stylish hotel.
➡️ YHA Perth City a great budget stay in Perth.
➡️ The Sebel East Perth serviced apartments overlooking the Swan River.

Check Our Guide To Where To Stay In Perth

15 Things To Do In Perth For The Solo Traveller

If you travel solo to Perth, you must plan at least three full days. Ideally, I would stay a week to make the most of Perth’s great outdoors. Here is my travel guide with my best picks on things to do alone in Perth. If you prefer guided tours, here is a list of day tours of Rottnest Island.

1. Admire Elizabeth Quay’s Architecture

The newly refurbished Elizabeth Quay has re-established the connection between the city and the Swan River and expanded the city centre with new inlets of parklands, promenades, shopping and entertainment areas. It has changed the face of Perth, and it’s a delight to walk through the spectacular Queen Elizabeth Quay Bridge and admire the imposing modern sculptures.

One more significant ongoing project: the Perth City Link will reconnect the CBD with Northbridge while sinking the rail line and undergrounding the bus stations. This way, they will create a new precinct that will revitalise the city further.

2. Visit the inside of the State Buildings

Just a one-minute walk from Elizabeth’s Quay. It’s an entirely refurbished huge palace showing all its splendours through high-end restaurants and top-brand shops. On the ground floor outside, you can also discover food artisan shops like a tea-house and the famous Sue Lewis Chocolaterie. If you like chocolate, here you can take part in chocolate tastings and buy mouth-watering organic chocolate freshly made in front of you.

3. Spend a day in Kings Park

Kings Park, the largest city park in the world, is Perth’s green soul. It’s a beautiful botanical garden and the Banksia Garden features unique Western Australian wildflowers, plants, and trees and offers spectacular views over the city. Park rangers provide free guided tours daily to teach visitors about traditions and the Aboriginal significance of this place.

If you want to do long walks or go cycling across this huge natural bushland, take your food with you and stop at one of the many picnic areas along the famous Fraser Avenue or the Pioneer Women’s Memorial. A great way to spend a day in Perth solo. Here are all things to do in Kings Park Perth.

4. Go on a day trip to Rottnest Island

No visit to Perth is complete without a day-trip to Rotto Island, as the locals call it. Rottnest is a car-free small island off Perth’s coast, a great place for a day out or a holiday. There is a free shuttle bus that takes you around to over 60 beaches.

Book your Round-Trip Ferry to Rottnest from Fremantle
Book the Round-Trip Transfer from Hillarys Boar Harbour
Or check the availability for transfers to Rottnest Island below

Take a two-hour bus tour with excellent commentary to learn about its unique cultural heritage and the funny stories of this island. There are many more tours, from sailing adventure boat trips. Learn more about how to spend a day on Rottnest Island.

If you prefer exploring the island alone, hire a bike and cycle around the island, stopping at the many small bays and beaches. You can also take your bike on the ferry or hire it in Perth. Check the wind and sea conditions before booking your ferry from Fremantle to Rottnest. It will be hard to cycle around the island in strong winds, so it’s best to pick a wind-free day to take a trip from Perth to Rottnest Island.

Book your Bike and Ferry Combo to Rottnest

5. Take a walk in South Perth Foreshore Park

Perth is not only a paradise for walkers and bikers alike. And you don’t need to go to the beach. One of the best places for walking in Perth is the South Perth Foreshore Park, where you can jog, walk and exercise all along the river while enjoying an early sunrise breeze or later afternoon for sunset colours. It’s very busy at weekends, and people flock here for a relaxing day out. It’s a recreational and training area for kayaking, stand-up paddle and more sports too. If you love aerobic workouts, this is an excellent place to spend time alone in Perth.

6. Visit historic Fremantle

Fremantle is only 20 minutes train ride from the city and is a funky coastal town with cultural and historical heritage. Fremantle is genuinely a picturesque place with a distinctive flair.

What to do in Fremantle on a solo trip:

7. Dive into the Fremantle markets vibe

Open from Friday to Sunday, its bustling atmosphere, with over 150 arts and crafts stalls, live buskers, concerts, and art events, is one of the biggest attractions and must-do things when visiting Perth on weekends.

8. Visit the Fremantle Prison

It’s a fascinating story that begins with the convict settlement, prison riots and mysterious tales. I highly recommend going on a guided tour of the Fremantle Prisons.

9. Take a walk to admire Fremantle’s old buildings.

From Fremantle Marina, stroll through its city centre, and you will come across some magnificent old buildings, hotels and pubs. A few examples: Rosie O’Grady’s, the majestic Hotel Esplanade and the iconic National Hotel, which was destroyed by a fire in 2007 and re-opened to the public six years later in all its splendour.

Browse through all Tours and Activities in Fremantle

10. Enjoy Perth beaches from Cottesloe to Ocean Reef

Sun, beach and surf. This is what Perth is famous for. One thing that you undoubtedly do is to go to Cottesloe Beach, the most popular beach among locals. While it is a pretty busy beach on weekends, you don’t need a car to get there, and it’s only 10 10-minute bus or train ride from the city.

11. Go for a bike ride on the Perth north coast.

Perth is a paradise for bike lovers because it’s not as busy as other Australian cities. Excellent cycling paths take you to Cottesloe. You can cycle north to Scarborough Beach, North Beach, and further north to Sorrento.

12. Enjoy the sunset at Ocean Reef

If you are more adventurous and like to get active, you can cycle up the whole way up to Ocean Reef. But if that’s too much, get on the 423 bus to Hillary’s Boat Harbour and from there hire a bike to cycle north through the splendid Mullaloo Beach on the elevated paved cycling path, stop at the various lookouts through the stunning hills to Iluka beach, where you can stop for a coffee. A 5 km bike ride is worth it. And, one of my favourite day-trips from Perth.

13. Get a taste of Perth at the Food Markets

Another thing you can do in Perth alone is to taste its great food and local produce. Starting in November, on Friday Night, you can visit Twilight Hawkers Market, the biggest Street Food Market offering the tastiest street food worldwide. If you are a food lover, Eat Drink Perth, a festival (held in April) dedicated to food tastings, is a must-attend event. However, there are more interesting farmers’ markets and night markets in Perth during the summer, which are worth checking out.

14. Go to Swan Valley for a Food & Wine Tour

If you love food and wine, another thing to add to your list is a food & wine tour to Swan Valley to discover its most delicious local produce. To get to Swan Valley is only a 30-minute drive. From honey, chocolates, and ice cream to local vegetables and fruits to local white and red wines, you can spend a full day touring Swan Valley and having lunch at fine restaurants.

Book your Swan Valley Wine & Food Tour from Perth
or check the availability here below

15. Take a Swan Riverboat Cruise

If you have a couple of hours and don’t fancy hiring a car, the best way to see Perth and around from the water perspective is to go on the Swan Riverboat cruise. I did it on a Sunday morning cruise; it’s a two-hour cruise and very informative about this city’s development over the centuries.

You land in the Swan Valley wineries for lunch. This is a guided tour, and you can return to town by bus. You can view it by clicking the link below.

Book your Swan Valley Cruise with Wine Tastings + Lunch
or check availability here below

Want to spend more time in Perth? Extended Trip Ideas

I suggest you visit the South East Coast and spend 3-5 days in the Margaret River Region with Cape Leeuwin, Dunsborough and Cape Naturaliste, which are part of the beautiful Geographe Bay. And, if you have more time, you should plan to travel further down and explore more of South West Australia, including a trip to Albany. Also ee tours ideas.

Browse through all Tours and Activities to do on Rottnest

How to plan your trip to Perth

Here are my favourite travel resources I use to plan all my trips to Australia. Finding suitable budget accommodation is difficult as hotels in Perth are expensive for solo travellers. You may want to consider alternative ways to hotels, like staying in hostels or using Airbnb. You can read about my experience staying with a local in Perth.

Check out The Best Areas To Stay In Perth

If you find this article helpful for your trip to Perth, I’d appreciate it if you could support Rocky Travel and book tours and accommodation using our links at no extra cost. Thank you!

Related Page: All Australian Destinations

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First published in 2018, last updated in April 2025