Where to stay in Perth

The CBD sits on the Swan River, bounded by the river, Kings Park and Newcastle Street, with the shops and entertainment of Hay Street and Murray Street and the Elizabeth Quay waterfront. Northbridge lies across the railway lines to the north: a multicultural precinct with laneway bars, restaurants and cafes and Perth's main nightlife district around James Street and Lake Street. East Perth, next to the CBD, was rebuilt from industrial land around Claisebrook Cove in the largest inner-city urban renewal project in the state.

Fremantle, the port at the mouth of the Swan River, has Fremantle Prison, a World Heritage Site, the Round House, the Fremantle Markets and the West End's streets of late Victorian and Edwardian buildings. Cottesloe, between Perth and Fremantle, is built around Cottesloe Beach, reachable by train, with offshore reefs that make it a relatively safe place to swim. Scarborough, about 14 km north-west of the city centre, has a landmark high-rise hotel and a beach that has hosted the national surf life saving championships.

The City of Perth charges for kerbside parking from Monday to Saturday, 8am to 6pm unless a sign says otherwise: AUD 7 an hour in the CBD with a AUD 2 minimum, AUD 6 in Northbridge and AUD 5.40 in East Perth and West Perth. In time-limited areas it is an offence to return to the same section of road within an hour, and card payments carry a 0.96% surcharge. The council's car parks charge AUD 5 for the whole night from 6pm, apart from four named car parks, and releasing a car after hours costs AUD 85 on top of the fee.

Fremantle gives 30 minutes free on High Street in the West End and on part of Adelaide Street. Its street zones of 1 to 3 hours cost AUD 4.60 an hour, rising to AUD 7.40 an hour in the evening, and its 27 car parks charge AUD 3 an hour (AUD 15 a day where a day rate applies) or AUD 2.40 (AUD 12 a day) in fringe car parks such as Beach Street and Ellen Street.

At the two beach areas no council parking fee was found. The Town of Cottesloe provides free unrestricted and time-limited parking throughout the suburb, and Scarborough is not among the City of Stirling's paid parking areas; its beach car parks show live bay counts on signs, and the free SURFCat bus runs from Stirling station every 10 minutes.

GetCar's guide Driving in Perth covers the airport counters, the Western Australian road rules and the city's roads, which carry no tolls.

No Western Australian or council levy on short stays was found as of September 2026. Under ACCC guidance the advertised price must be the total price, taxes and unavoidable fees such as cleaning included, and GST is 10%.

Western Australia has run a state register of short-term rentals under the Short-Term Rental Accommodation Act 2024. Since 1 January 2025 a home let for periods of under 3 months, hosted or not, must be registered before it can be advertised or booked, and its registration number must appear clearly in each advertisement. An advertisement for an unregistered home, or without the number, is prohibited, and publishing one is an offence. The public can check on the register whether a number is valid. Traditional bed and breakfasts count as short-term rentals too.

Councils add a planning layer. In the Perth metropolitan area a whole home let without the host present needs development approval once it passes 90 nights in 12 months, and the register counts the nights from platform bookings; hosted lets are exempt. The City of Fremantle has its own planning policy for these lets. In a strata building, a by-law can prohibit short-term rentals.

Apply for the eVisitor or the ETA before anything else: both must be granted before travel, and Home Affairs suggests not making travel arrangements until the ETA is granted.

For a longer stay in a whole home, ask the host whether it has development approval or how many of its 90 metropolitan nights are left, because a host without approval cannot take unhosted bookings beyond 90 nights in 12 months. Check the registration number in the listing against the register before paying.

A first visit and a business trip: the CBD.

Evenings out: Northbridge.

A quieter city stay by the water: East Perth.

Heritage streets, markets and the port: Fremantle.

A beach stay between the city and Fremantle: Cottesloe.

A beach stay with free parking to the north: Scarborough.