park
Kings Park + Botanic Gardens
400-hectare park overlooking the Swan River + Perth skyline. Free. Best at sunrise/sunset. Glass Tree Top Walk + DNA Tower for the iconic city view.
Perth Airport (PER) · Australia
24-Hour Layover in Perth: What To Do
By AirConnect Editorial
Photo: Rachel Claire on Pexels.
Quick answer
Can you leave the airport on a 24-hour layover in Perth?
Entry
Australian ETA (Electronic Travel Authority) — visa-free for 9 nationalities (NZ, US, Canada, UK, EU, JP, SG, MY, KR) — AUD 20, online via ETA mobile app. eVisitor visa for EU — free, 12 months. Most other nationalities need a Visitor Visa (subclass 600).
Into town
Perth Airport Train (T3 line): 20 min to Perth Underground, AUD 5.
Time outside
18–20 hours — treat it as a mini trip
Times from PER arrivals. Check entry rules for your passport before you fly.
Top Perth: Where to Go
The sights in Perth worth leaving the airport for.
2Elizabeth Quay + Bell Tower
Riverside redevelopment with food trucks, sculptures + St Martin's Bell Tower (1988, gift from London). Free to walk.
Photo: File:Elizabeth Quay June 2018.jpg: Nick-D derivative work: Georgfotoart, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
market
Fremantle Markets + Cappuccino Strip
Fremantle's 1897 Victorian indoor market (Fri–Sun) + South Terrace's café strip. Free. The 30-min train ride south is part of the experience.
park
Cottesloe Beach + Sculptures by the Sea (March)
Perth's iconic Indian Ocean beach. 30-min train + 10-min walk. Free. Sunset over the ocean is the West Coast specialty Sydney can't offer.
Itinerary ideas for Perth
Pick the plan that fits the time between your flights.
3 hours in Perth
Stay airside — 3h is too tight
See the 3-hour planPhoto: Atlantic Ambience on Pexels.
24 hours
You are here24 hours in Perth
18–20 hours — treat it as a mini trip
Insider tip
PER is 12km east of central Perth — the new T3 airport train (opened 2022) goes Perth Underground in 20 min for AUD 5. Perth is the closest Australian capital to Asia, making it the most common Australian transit hub from Singapore, Bali, Bangkok, Dubai. For 6-hour layovers: Kings Park + Elizabeth Quay. For 12+ hours: add Fremantle. The Indian Ocean sunset from Cottesloe is the West Coast's unique gift.
Into Perth
Getting to Perth City Centre
| Mode | Cost | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Perth Airport Train (T3 line) | AUD 5 | 20 min to Perth Underground |
| Bus 36/40 to CBD | AUD 5 | 40–55 min |
| Uber to CBD | AUD 35–55 | 20 min |
Eat like a local
Eat Like a Local in Perth
Margaret River cabernet sauvignon + chardonnay. Fish & chips at Cicerello's (Fremantle). Vegemite on toast. WA rock lobster. Lamington. Tim Tams. Coffee culture (Long Mac).
24 hours in Perth
24-Hour Itinerary
1
Day 1 — Arrival
Into Perth and check in to your hotel
Take Perth Airport Train (T3 line) (20 min to Perth Underground, AUD 5). Most hotels hold bags before check-in.
2
Day 1 — Afternoon
Kings Park + Botanic Gardens
400-hectare park overlooking the Swan River + Perth skyline. Free. Best at sunrise/sunset. Glass Tree Top Walk + DNA Tower for the iconic city view.
3
Day 1 — Evening
Dinner like a local
Margaret River cabernet sauvignon + chardonnay. Fish & chips at Cicerello's (Fremantle). Vegemite on toast. WA rock lobster. Lamington. Tim Tams. Coffee culture (Long Mac).
4
Day 2 — Morning
Elizabeth Quay + Bell Tower
Riverside redevelopment with food trucks, sculptures + St Martin's Bell Tower (1988, gift from London). Free to walk.
5
Day 2 — Late morning
Fremantle Markets + Cappuccino Strip
Fremantle's 1897 Victorian indoor market (Fri–Sun) + South Terrace's café strip. Free. The 30-min train ride south is part of the experience.
6
Day 2 — Departure
Back to Perth Airport
Head back to Perth Airport by Perth Airport Train (T3 line) (20 min to Perth Underground, AUD 5). Be at the airport at least 2–3 hours before an international flight.
Your questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a visa for a 24-hour layover in Perth?
Australian ETA (Electronic Travel Authority) — visa-free for 9 nationalities (NZ, US, Canada, UK, EU, JP, SG, MY, KR) — AUD 20, online via ETA mobile app. eVisitor visa for EU — free, 12 months. Most other nationalities need a Visitor Visa (subclass 600). Check the rules for your own passport before you fly.
Is 24 hours enough to leave Perth Airport?
18–20 hours — treat it as a mini trip. Getting into Perth by Perth Airport Train (T3 line) takes 20 min to Perth Underground each way.
How do I get from Perth Airport to Perth centre?
Perth Airport Train (T3 line): 20 min to Perth Underground, AUD 5. Bus 36/40 to CBD: 40–55 min, AUD 5. Uber to CBD: 20 min, AUD 35–55.
Where can I leave my bags in Perth?
Luggage storage near Perth Airport and in Perth is listed in our Perth luggage storage guide.
Getting out of Perth Airport
Skip the taxi rank and lock in your fare before you land.
Pre-book a fixed-price transfer
Our pickDriver waits at arrivals with your name, tracks your flight, and the price you see is the price you pay. English-speaking, fixed price. No surge, no haggling at 2am.
Check transfer pricesRenting a car instead? Compare rentals with free cancellation.Things to do in Perth
Lock in a few experiences before you go — the good ones sell out.
Tours, tickets & day trips
Our pickGetYourGuide has the deepest catalogue for Perth and free cancellation on most experiences — book now, decide later.
Browse PerthJust need timed-entry attraction tickets in Perth? Try Tiqets.Want a private driver-guide? Trip.com Private Tours in Perth.Trains & buses from Perth
Compare overland routes — often cheaper, more scenic and skip the airport queue.
Photo: Engin Akyurt on Pexels.
Hotels near Perth Airport
With 24 hours, a day-use hotel room is worth it — shower, sleep, and recharge before your next flight.
Find hotels in Perth
Hotels, hostels & more · Trip.com
Search hotels
Also useful for your Perth trip
Stay connected abroad — no roaming bills
Buy a travel eSIM before you fly and install it by QR code.
Airlines that fly to Perth
See each airline’s route map: where else it flies from PER.
Flights to Perth from 15 cities: fares and airlines →
Jetstar route mapQantas route mapRex Airlines route mapVirgin Australia route mapAir Mauritius route mapAir New Zealand route mapAirAsia route mapAirAsia Indonesia route mapAirnorth route mapAll Nippon Airways route mapAll Nippon Airways route mapAlliance Airlines route mapBatik Air route mapBatik Air Malaysia route mapCathay Pacific route mapChina Eastern route mapChina Eastern Airlines route mapChina Southern route map
Airport lounges at Perth Airport
Wait for your flight in a lounge — one membership covers lounges at airports across the country and worldwide.
Perth travel deals
Weekly layover, flight + hotel deals. No spam.
How a layover in Perth works
01
Check you can leave
Australian ETA (Electronic Travel Authority) — visa-free for 9 nationalities (NZ, US, Canada, UK, EU, JP, SG, MY, KR) — AUD 20, online via ETA mobile app. eVisitor visa for EU — free, 12 months. Most other nationalities need a Visitor Visa (subclass 600).
02
Head into town
Perth Airport Train (T3 line): 20 min to Perth Underground, AUD 5.
Photo: Artem Yellow on Pexels.
03
Back in time for your flight
Head back to Perth Airport by Perth Airport Train (T3 line) (20 min to Perth Underground, AUD 5). Be at the airport at least 2–3 hours before an international flight.
Ready for Perth?
Tours, tickets and day trips that fit between your flights.
Daylight on the ground
Daylight in Perth runs from about 9.9 hours in Jun to 14.1 in Dec. Enough of a difference that a winter stopover gives you noticeably less usable time outside than a summer one.