Categories > Guides and Tips
How to Enjoy Perth on a Time Limit: 48 Hours
- Best Places to Stay During Your Visit to Perth
- European Hotel
- DoubleTree
- YHA Fremantle Prison
- What can I do during my two-day stay in Perth?
- Where to Eat
- North Perth
- Wildflower
- The Palace Arcade
- South Perth
- Running With Thieves
- Bread in Common
- What to See
- North Perth
- Kings Park
- Old Mill
- Elizabeth Quay
- The Bell Tower
- The Regal Theatre
- South Perth
- Perth Zoo
- FAQs about Travelling to Perth
You’re staying in Perth for only two days, but you want to enjoy the city as best you can. Let me introduce you to the best spots you should definitely visit within two days.
Best Places to Stay During Your Visit to Perth
So you arrived in Perth fresh from the airport. Now, you’re looking for a place to stay that will serve as your rest stop for your two full days of exploring the city.
I carefully picked these spots with great attention put to their prices, popularity, and location. Amenities and facilities aren’t that much of a factor here since we can safely assume that you’ll be out of the hotel for most of the day, anyway.
Here are some places I can recommend to you thanks to their great prices and location:
European Hotel
Customer rating: 4.4/5
Address: 97 Murray St, Perth WA 6000, Australia
Website: https://europeanhotel.com.au/
Contact number: +61 8 9325 3900
Average room price: $180 per night
The European Hotel is one of the best hotels to stay at in Perth thanks to its central location. This is one of my preferred spots to stay if I need to be closer to the city centre for a meeting the next day.
It’s a three-star hotel that has received high praise from many of its visitors thanks to its cleanliness, simplicity, and wonderful staff.
The European Hotel also has free high-speed Wi-Fi and a rooftop garden that its guests can use to relax after a long day.
This hotel also has its own restaurant and cafe on the premises. The food quality is good for me, and it’s where I like to get a quick bite before heading out to my destination.
Good location, good prices, and good services. What’s not to like?
| A local’s tip: Booking directly at The European Hotel’s website not only gives you the best rates, but it also entitles you to a full breakfast and unlimited access to their Wi-Fi! |
DoubleTree
Customer rating: 4.3/5
Address: 100 James St, Northbridge WA 6003, Australia
Website: https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/perdtdi-doubletree-perth-northbridge/
Contact number: +61 8 6148 2000
Average room price: $290 per night
DoubleTree is a great four-star hotel if you still want to enjoy your stay with a few more added amenities and features that a three-star hotel can’t provide. Located in Northbridge, this hotel gets my seal of approval due to its central location.
It’s got great features, including an outdoor pool, a gym, unlimited Wi-Fi access, and more. DoubleTree also has a breakfast buffet every morning for guests, so they won’t need to go outside for their morning meal.
I’m not a regular guest here, unlike at the European Hotel, but on my few visits here, I’ve been impressed with their seamless and round-the-clock service.
The moment you walk through the front door, their staff is already there to welcome you and help you with your luggage.
And that’s why I highly recommend this hotel for your two-day stay in the city. While not the cheapest hotel in the city, it’s got great service and facilities, which are more than enough for the short time you’ll be visiting Perth.
| A local’s tip: DoubleTree grants up to a 17% discount to guests who book their reservations early. |
YHA Fremantle Prison
Customer rating: 4.5/5
Address: 6A The Terrace, Fremantle WA 6160, Australia
Website: https://www.yha.com.au/hostels/wa/perth-surrounds/fremantle-backpackers-hostel/
Contact number: +61 8 9433 4305
Average room price: $110 per night
YHA Fremantle Prison is the third place I highly recommend you try out as your hotel while in Perth. Don’t let the name fool you; it’s one of the best three-star hotels in the city not only because of its facilities but because of its historical significance too.
This hotel was a former prison built in the 1850s. It carries the unique distinction of being the only accommodation in Western Australia with UNESCO World Heritage Status.
I have tried this place three times already, and I can say I’m pleased with its service. The rooms are kept in pristine condition, and guests have praised the staff for being attentive to requests or concerns.
However, its features and amenities aren’t as varied as the other two I mentioned earlier.
The hotel is in Fremantle, which means it’s no longer in a central location (although not too far from the Perth CBD) and it’s a bit further away from Perth’s northern regions.
Still, with prices just a bit over $100, you already have a great spot to rest your feet after a long day exploring the city.
You’re also now in one of Perth’s most popular landmarks, which means you can already cross one off the list of Perth spots you need to visit.
| A local’s tip: First-time visitors of YHA Fremantle Prison are automatically entitled to YHA membership, free of charge. Being a YHA member grants you exclusive discounts and deals to any YHA establishment. |
What can I do during my two-day stay in Perth?
You can do a lot during your two-day stay in Perth because it’s one of Australia’s largest cities, full of both indoor and outdoor activities. The city is chock full of things you can try out; you don’t even need to travel outside the city limits!
We’ve got it all here: restaurants, national parks, shopping malls, cinemas, and more. I’ll explicitly state whether my recommended spot is north or south of the Swan River so you can plan your itinerary better.
Here are the places you should definitely try out before your 48 hours in Perth end.
Where to Eat
Let’s not waste our time talking about popular restaurant chains you already see back home. I’ll be giving you the very best my city can offer when it comes to food.
Here are my go-to restaurants whenever my overseas friends come to visit Perth:
North Perth
Wildflower
Customer rating: 4.6/5
Address: COMO The Treasury Level 4, 1 Cathedral Ave, Perth WA 6000, Australia
Website: https://wildflowerperth.com.au/
Contact number: +61 8 6168 7855
Business hours:
12:00 PM – 2:30 PM, 5:30 PM – 10:00 PM (WED-FRI)
5:30 PM – 10:00 PM (TUES and SAT)
Closed on SUN and MON
Curious to taste food made with foraged ingredients and not from industrial farming? Then come down to one of Perth’s coolest dining places, the Wildflower, which continues to amaze me.
As their name suggests, the Wildflower is a restaurant that only uses ingredients from locally-sourced foraging. Their menu is available for both lunch and dinner.
My curiosity led me to try it, and I can confirm the food is good! Their menu has that flavour you can’t get from food that comes from mechanised food production.
I guess the fact that most of their ingredients are naturally grown without much human interaction involved makes quite a difference.
Moreover, the restaurant’s location is also lovely. Located on the upper floors of COMO The Treasury, the Wildflower offers an amazing view of the Swan River that its guests will certainly appreciate, especially at night.
| A local’s tip: From Wednesday to Friday, you can enjoy a lunch complete with an entree and a main course for only $58. |
The Palace Arcade
Customer rating: 4.6/5
Address: 84 Beaufort St, Perth WA 6000, Australia
Website: https://www.thepalacearcade.com.au/
Contact number: +61 8 9227 7439
Business hours:
4:00 PM – 12:00 AM (WED-FRI)
12:00 PM – 2:00 AM (SAT)
12:00 PM – 10:00 PM (SUN)
Closed on MON and TUES
The Palace Arcade is one of the best hangout spots in the city. My friends and I come here from time to time because of its delicious pizza and chicken wings.
The place also has a vibe that’s perfect for just chilling with your friends.
The Palace Arcade has a ton of arcade machines, which always makes me think of my younger days. A lot of their arcade machines are vintage and were made back in the 80s and 90s.
I’m also happy to report that this restaurant serves liquor. They’ve got great beers and cocktails, so make sure not to miss out on those!
The pizzas are also my favourite in The Palace Arcade. You can get yourself and your friends the classic Italian Margherita pizza or go for the highly popular NY-style pizzas like meat lovers and Hawaiian.
All their pizzas are available in gluten-free versions.
| A local’s tip: The Palace Arcade offers great deals on certain days. One of these is their Super Session Wednesdays where you can play unlimited games and have some delicious wings for only $10. |
South Perth
Running With Thieves
Customer rating: 4.4/5
Address: 218 Marine Terrace, South Fremantle WA 6162, Australia
Website: https://runningwiththieves.com/
Contact number: +61 499 198 145
Business hours: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM (MON-SUN)
Running With Thieves is my recommended restaurant for those who are tired of fine dining and want to enjoy an informal setting.
This restaurant prides itself on its commitment to being counter-culture and independent from the influence of most major restaurants.
Running With Thieves is both a bar and a restaurant. What I really love about this restaurant is its innovative approach to alcohol.
Those who aren’t averse to trying out new stuff can try their beer infused with cannabis!
This beer and more are the results of Running With Thieves being an independently-owned restaurant. They are never afraid of trying out the wackiest things.
You can also enjoy their great selection of classic cocktails if you’re not in the mood to experiment.
If you’re not a fan of alcohol. they still have great platters you and your buddies can enjoy. They even have non-alcoholic drinks available, including my favourite, English Breakfast tea.
| A local’s tip: They have an online store available on their website. Check it out if you’re looking to try out their unique drinks from the comfort of your own home. |
Bread in Common
Customer rating: 4.3/5
Address: 43 Pakenham St, Fremantle WA 6160, Australia
Website: https://breadincommon.com.au/
Contact number: +61 449 588 404
Business hours:
11:30 AM – 10:00 PM (MON-FRI)
8:00 AM – 11:30 PM (SAT and SUN)
Bread in Common is another restaurant I highly recommend, especially for huge lovers of bread. Their restaurant in Fremantle offers a unique dining experience thanks to its seasonal menus and awesome interior design.
All of their bread and pastries are made in their wood-fired traditional ovens. This restaurant also only uses locally-sourced natural ingredients for its menu.
The result is great food that I make sure to try at least once a year!
Bread in Common also has a bakery where customers can buy their delicious bread to go. It even has its own distillery, which creates its own coffee liqueur using surplus bread from the bakery.
| A local’s tip: Bread in Common offers vouchers you can give to your friends and family they can use on their next meal. |
What to See
Of course, we don’t stop at restaurants. After enjoying some great food, it’s time to finally explore what Perth can offer its visitors.
Here are some of my favourite spots to visit in the city. They’re not too far away from my recommended hotels, so you won’t waste too much time travelling.
North Perth
Kings Park
Address: Fraser Avenue, Kings Park WA 6005
Operating hours: Accessible 24/7
Kings Park is like our very own Central Park. It’s a wide green space with so many activities you can do and a vibrant ecosystem featuring our endemic plants and animals.
Plus, all this greenery is right beside the Perth CBD.
The park has a bushland area with walking tracks and bike lanes, so you can easily go around the park. If you’re looking for my state’s exotic plant life, then you can also check out the Kings Park Botanic Garden.
If you’re simply looking to relax and pass the time, then you can just walk around the park’s more modernised sections where most events and concerts are held.
You can also visit the park’s War Memorial if you want to know about Perth’s contributions to both world wars.
| A local’s tip: Afraid you’ll get lost in Kings Park? Don’t worry! The park offers guided tours, so visitors new to the area can enjoy the park with the help of a seasoned tour guide. |
Old Mill
Address: Melville Pl, South Perth WA 6151, Australia
Operating hours:
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM (TUES-FRI)
1:00 PM – 4:00 PM (SAT and SUN)
Closed on MON
Ever wanted to see a glimpse of what Perth looked like during the colonial era? Then come on down to the Old Mill, located right beside the busy Narrows Bridge and the majestic Swan River.
It’s a windmill built back in 1835 that used to produce up to 680 kilograms of flour every day.
Nowadays, guests can join guided tours of up to 70 people to explore the windmill’s interior and learn more about what life used to be like during the colonial era.
My first visit here was great. I actually left the place a bit smarter with random facts I’d learned, like the Old Mill becoming a hotel at one point and that the Narrows Bridge’s route was slightly altered to protect this historic site.
| A local’s tip: Check out the future of public transportation with the RAC Intellibus, which you can ride at the Old Mill. These driverless shuttles transport passengers between the Old Mill and the Perth Zoo. |
Elizabeth Quay
Address: The Esplanade, Perth, WA 6000, Australia
Operating hours: Accessible 24/7
Elizabeth Quay is one of my city’s best entertainment venues. It was built to honour Queen Elizabeth II on her Diamond Jubilee.
It has a lot of attractions to offer, such as an island playground, a water park, public artwork, and a lot more. Elizabeth Quay is also where you can find a lot of Perth’s most famous restaurants and bars.
Sometimes I go for a ride on one of its scenic tours. These tours travel from Elizabeth Quay to other famous spots in the city, like Swan Valley and Fremantle.
The tour is so good, especially at dusk because of the soft sunlight reflecting onto the calm Swan River.
| A local’s tip: Aside from scenic tours, you can also use Elizabeth Quay’s fast 10-minute ferry service to quickly travel to South Perth’s Mends Street Jetty. |
The Bell Tower
Address: Barrack Square, Riverside Dr, Perth WA 6000, Australia (north)
Operating hours: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM (WED-SUN)
Already done with Elizabeth Quay? Don’t leave just yet.
I recommend you check out the Bell Tower, which is located just right beside the quay. Its height can give you one of the best viewing decks looking out towards the Swan River and Perth’s skyline.
In the Bell Tower, you’ll find the Swan Bells, a set of 18 bells hanging 82.5 metres from the ground. Make sure to visit on Tuesdays and Sundays at noon so you can hear what they sound like when played.
I got to hear the bells during my last visit at the start of 2023. I paid $18 (which was worth it, in my opinion) to hear the bells ring, see the famous ANZAC bell, and impress my gal with our own lovelock padlock at the tower’s railing.
| A local’s tip: First time visiting the Bell Tower? Make sure to use the code “10OFF” before buying a ticket from their website to save 10%. |
The Regal Theatre
Address: 474 Hay St, Subiaco, WA 6008, Australia
Operating hours: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM (TUES-FRI)
Catch the hottest live shows in town before leaving the city! Come to The Regal Theatre, the place where the best of Perth’s local talent can showcase their abilities to a crowd of more than 1,000 viewers.
The theatre hosts a wide variety of live performances for different genres like comedy, drama, and musicals. I come here from time to time to check out their comedy shows and meet my favourite comedians in the city.
If you’re interested in knowing more about their shows, you can always check out their website for more information. You can also see the show times there and buy the tickets in advance to avoid the hassle of buying them on-site.
| A local’s tip: The Regal Theatre has two paid parking spots nearby where you can park your car safely. |
South Perth
Perth Zoo
Address: 20 Labouchere Rd, South Perth, WA 6151, Australia
Operating hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (MON-SUN)
You already saw Western Australia’s most exotic plants in Kings Park; why not go all the way and see the exotic animals in Perth Zoo?
Located just a few metres away from the Old Mill, the Perth Zoo is home to more than 1,200 animals from 164 species.
I was able to spend an entire afternoon in this zoo for only $34. The place has a lot of exhibits; each of which has its own theme to immerse guests further during their visit.
Perth Zoo has a membership plan where guests can get cheaper ticket prices and priority access to the zoo on busier days. Don’t forget to check out the souvenir shop to get a plushie of our lovable koala!
| A local’s tip: The zoo offers rental wagons kids can ride on for only $14. These wagons can help parents carry their children across the zoo should they get tired midway. |
