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
3-Hour Layover in Perth: What To Do
By AirConnect Editorial
Photo: Rachel Claire on Pexels.
Quick answer
Can you leave the airport on a 3-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
Stay airside — 3h is too tight
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.
You are here3 hours in Perth
Stay airside — 3h is too tight
Photo: Atlantic Ambience on Pexels.
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).
3 hours in Perth
3-Hour Itinerary
1
0–30 min
Stay airside and find your departure area
With 3 hours, leaving Perth Airport is risky: passport control, the trip into Perth and security on the way back take most of the time.
2
30–120 min
Eat, rest or use a lounge airside
Check the departures board for your gate before you settle in.
3
120–180 min
Go to your gate
Allow at least 30 minutes for security checks and the walk to the gate.
Your questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a visa for a 3-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 3 hours enough to leave Perth Airport?
Stay airside — 3h is too tight. 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.Also useful for your Perth trip
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
Allow at least 30 minutes for security checks and the walk to the gate.
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.