Perth Hop on Hop off Bus Tours

The Perth tourist bus allows you to comfortably stroll through its most emblematic areas, making it a great option for touring the city in one or two days.

Ana Caballero

Ana Caballero

11 min read

Perth Hop on Hop off Bus Tours

Tourist Bus | Geoffrey White

Perth is a city characterized by wildlife, Western Australia's Aboriginal past, ancient buildings and natural limestone rock formations. The idea of walking its streets in one day seems impossible. However, you can get a panoramic view of its spaces if you take a tour in its tourist bus.

You can schedule this experience if you have little time, or in case you want to orient yourself on the exact location of the main monuments and attractions. I tell you everything you need to know to get to know Perth on a panoramic tour aboard a double-decker bus.

The most complete option

Perth Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Bus Tour

Discover Perth at your own pace with an audio guide available in several languages

The tourist bus ticket can be activated for 24 or 48 hours. It is the best way to tour the city in a short time.

A bus tour with free stops is one of the best things to do in Perth, as it will allow you to get to know its heritage. The city is very large, but with this tour you will be able to explore its buildings and monuments. It is a very complete activity, as it works as an introduction to the history of the main local areas.

This bus offers about 12 free stops, where you can get on and off without restrictions. If you prefer, you can also take advantage of the complete tour, which lasts approximately two hours. It is activated after the first use and is available for 24 or 48 hours.

Recommended if... you are looking for activities to do in Perth with children, as it is a comfortable and learning tour. This way, the little ones won't get bored.

Perth Free Stopping Tour Bus

Tour bus| ©Ben Freeman
Tour bus| ©Ben Freeman

The sightseeing bus with free stops is one of the best tours of Perth, as you will be able to visit emblematic sites. The biggest advantage is that it is a dynamic and interactive tour - here's how it works!

  • Activation: activated after the first use, it is available for 24 or 48 hours.
  • Operation: it offers 12 free stops, you can get on and off wherever you want at no additional cost, as long as the ticket is active.
  • Hours: the bus usually operates from 9:15 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  • Cost: from 30 euros perperson.

Book the Perth sightseeing bus

Perth Tourist Bus Route

Perth Bell Tower| ©jrgr
Perth Bell Tower| ©jrgr

The Perth Tourist Bus offers a regular route, which runs Monday to Sunday. You can hop on and off wherever you want, but please note that the buses run every hour.

The bus picks up tourists at certain points in the city, the stops are:

  • Stop 1: on Barrack St Jetty Street. In this area you can visit the Perth Bell Tower, the cruise department and Elizabeth Quay.
  • Stop 2: approach to 471 Hay Street, you can take the opportunity to visit shopping centers and local stores. If your intention is not to shop, you can skip this stop.
  • Stop 3: get off at Beaufort St, here you can walk around Northbridge, the Perth Art Gallery and visit the Cultural Center.
  • Stop 4: located near Gate E, you can take a tour of the Optus Stadium.
  • Stop 5: located in Burswood WA, in the area there are restaurants and casinos. You can visit Crown Perth and Burswood Park.
  • Stop 6: located in Hay Street, it is one of the most expected stops, as you will be able to visit the Perth Mint.
  • Stop 7: located on Fraser Avenue, near the Wadjuk parking lot. In this area you can visit Kings Park.
  • Stop 8: is located on Forrest Dr. It is ideal to visit the Roe Gardens monument, the Perth Blue Boat House, the DNA lookout, Tree Top Walk and get the best views of the Swan River.
  • Stop 9: located in May Drive, here you can pass by Children's Parkland.
  • Stop 10: located on Wellington St, where the Watertown Shopping Center is located.
  • Stop 11: located at 300 Murray St. It is a stop where you can visit Yagan Square.
  • Stop 12: go to 50 William St, to visit Arcade Square.

Knowing the bus route will allow you to locate the main points of interest so you can get the most out of your ticket.

Book the Perth Sightseeing Bus

Attractions you can visit on the Perth Sightseeing Bus

Elizabeth Quay| ©David Davies
Elizabeth Quay| ©David Davies

The free stops of the tour bus are strategically designed, thus allowing you to visit the main attractions of Perth. For example, from Elizabeth Quay you can access the Perth Zoo, the Bell Tower and King's Park in a matter of minutes.

If it is your first time in the city and you plan to stay several days, I recommend purchasing a 48-hour pass. This way, the first day you will be able to take the complete tour, to locate the most interesting sites. The next day, you will have the freedom to hop off and on, to explore each stop at your leisure.

Bell Tower and Elizabeth Quay

At stop 1 is Elizabeth Quay, one of Perth's most important entertainment complexes. Here you can find shopping malls, cafes, monuments, art areas and activities to share with the family. In one hour you can tour the main areas, so it is a great stop.

If you want to see one of the largest musical instruments in the world, I suggest you visit the Perth Bell Tower. There are tours that offer you forty-five minute tours, the best part is that they help you avoid the lines.

You can also walk along the promenade, where the cruise department is located. In the area you will find the Perth Zoo, which has been operating in the city since 1898 and costs approximately 20 euros.

Buy tickets for the Perth Belfry

Perth City Centre and Arcade Square

The center of Perth is an ideal stop in case you want to go shopping. There are a variety of souvenir stores, malls and places to eat. Note that there are two stops in this area, stop #2 and stop #12 connect here. I recommend getting off directly at the latter, to optimize your time.

Here you will find Arcade Square, which is a very popular shopping center and outlet mall in Perth. It is connected to the shopping streets Murray and Hay St, so you can take the opportunity to stroll around.

Perth Cultural Center and Northbridge

The third stop revolves around the art, cultural performances and vibrant atmospheres of the city. The Perth Cultural Center is a colorful sightseeing tour, which offers open-air rooftops, theaters and museums. Here you can visit:

Optus Stadium

Optus Stadium| ©photobom
Optus Stadium| ©photobom

Optus Stadium is at stop 4, ideal if you want to learn more about the Perth lifestyle. From here you can get the best views of the Swan River and the city while sipping a coffee. There are adventurous adventures from the heights, as well as tours of their facilities.

Book a guided tour of Optus Stadium

Crown Perth and Burswood Park

Riverside is a popular tourist area as it is close to the Swan River. During your visit you can take the opportunity to visit Crown Perth, whose facilities offer accommodation, a spa area and the famous Perth casino. It's an interesting stop, but I recommend a more in-depth tour another day.

Burswood Park is a family resort that offers picnic and play areas, lakeside recreation areas, art spaces, as well as walking and exercise trails.

Please note that both Crown Perth and BurswoodPark are located at Stop 5.

Perth Mint

Many people are curious about Australia's Gold Rush era, the answers can be found at the Perth Mint. Tours of its facilities focus on the collection of coins, metals and bullion.

Note that it is located at Stop 6.

Kings Park

Kings Park is one of the largest parks in the world, in fact it is believed to surpass Central Park in New York. Its acres combine a variety of recreational activities, ideal for all ages.

It is one of the best activities to do with children in Perth, since it has a viewpoint in the DNA Tower, which offers the best views of the Swan River. Additionally, in the botanical garden you can learn more about wildflowers.

You can also visit Roe Gardens, a very important monument in Perth. It is a quiet space and in summer people come here to sunbathe. On the other hand, at Tree Top Walk you can get involved with the flora of Western Australia.

If you want to take pictures, you can go to the Perth Blue Boat House. There's not much to do in the surrounding area, but it's a free area that looks like something out of a postcard.

Note that Roe Gardens, DNA Tower, Tree Top Walk and the Blue Boat House are all between stop 7 and 8. You can walk there in a matter of minutes, so it may not be worth waiting for the bus.

Yagan Square

If you are interested in local markets, you can find a very interesting space at stop 11, corresponding to Yagan Square.

It is an ideal area to meet people from different cultures, have a drink, or stroll through the gardens in the area. In the evenings they usually perform live shows that you can not miss.

Advantages of using the Perth sightseeing bus

Bus Day| ©KDhandapani
Bus Day| ©KDhandapani

The Perth sightseeing bus offers ideal benefits for a comfortable ride, here's why you should consider it!

  • Comfortable: ideal if you are looking for a fast and safe option.
  • Organized: it has stops that allow you to explore the city at your own pace and plan your itinerary in advance.
  • Available in your language: you can enjoy an audio guide in Spanish. It is also available in English, French, German, Malay, Indonesian, Mandarin and Japanese.
  • Ideal for children: the bus offers a children's channel read by Kev the Green Kangaroo in English.
  • Accessible: it is a wheelchair accessible attraction. You can also take assistance animals and strollers.

Disadvantages of using the Perth tour bus

Bus through the streets| ©Eren A
Bus through the streets| ©Eren A
  • Expensive: if you go as a family, the cost of this attraction will probably increase considerably.
  • Daytime hours: the tour bus only operates during the day from 9:15 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Sunday.
  • Tourist crowds: Most tourists want to go up to the open-air floor, however in high season it may be difficult to get a seat.

How to book a tourist bus in Perth?

Book Online| ©Glenn Carstens-Peters
Book Online| ©Glenn Carstens-Peters

If you want to book a sightseeing bus tour with free stops in Perth, I recommend you to book online. You can buy your ticket in advance with no worries, as you have a cancellation policy of up to twenty-four hours.

Keep in mind that this is one of the best tours in Perth, so there are seasons when it sells out quickly.

Book the Perth Sightseeing Bus

How long does the Perth Sightseeing Bus tour last?

Clock| ©Cats Coming
Clock| ©Cats Coming

The duration of the tour is set by you, depending on the stops you take. If you just want to walk around the city, it will take approximately two hours. This way, you can go up to the second floor and enjoy the views.

The duration may vary, as you will tour the sites at your own pace. Depending on the number of days you are in the city you can choose between a 24 or 48 hour ticket.

How much does the Perth sightseeing bus ticket cost?

Money in Euros| ©Ibrahim Boran
Money in Euros| ©Ibrahim Boran

You can buy your ticket for the Perth sightseeing bus from 30 euros per person, please note that it does not include entrance to the monuments.

On the other hand, remember that you can buy a ticket valid for 24 or 48 hours, depending on the duration of the ticket, it may increase the final price. The value is the same for children, seniors and Australians.

I suggest you take Australian dollars loose, as some areas do not have ATMs nearby. Also, in Australia they do not accept euros or US dollars.

How the Perth tourist bus works

Tour day| ©Ben Freeman
Tour day| ©Ben Freeman

You can buy the ticket online or at authorized points near the stops, one of the most central is located on Hay Street. You can only get on and off at the marked places, just show your digital pass to the driver. Additionally, buses run every forty minutes.

The bus starts working very early in the morning, usually you can buy your ticket until the same day. During business hours, there are several buses running around the city. In high season I recommend buying in advance, as tickets may sell out.

The bus offers two floors, you can make the tour with air conditioning. If you want to get the best views, I suggest going up to the second floor to travel in the open air. Wear comfortable, light clothing and sun protection.

Does the Perth tour bus operate at night?

Tour bus| ©Ben Freeman
Tour bus| ©Ben Freeman

If you want to take advantage of the best things to do in Perth at night, you should be aware that the bus is not available during these hours. In fact, the last tour starts at 4:40 pm. After this time, you will hardly be able to find any running.

Don't worry! Public transportation in Perth is quite fast and covers different areas. It usually runs until midnight and the fare is around 3 euros.

Tips for using the Perth tourist bus

Kings Park| ©Chris Hare Photography
Kings Park| ©Chris Hare Photography
  • Find out about weather conditions and public holidays to avoid them coinciding with your tour.
  • The best times to take this experience are summer and spring. You can do this trip during the rainy season, but it is a bit uncomfortable.
  • Plan your trip, this will help you get off at the stops that best align with your interests. I recommend downloading a map of the city and marking the most emblematic sites.
  • Remember that the bus runs every hour, so you must be attentive.
  • You can skip those stops that do not catch your attention, it is not mandatory to get off.

Other activities in Perth

Afternoon cruise| ©Alan & Flora Botting
Afternoon cruise| ©Alan & Flora Botting

The tourist bus is one of the best things to do in Perth, as it allows you to cover the most emblematic sites in a short time. If you tried it and liked it, then I recommend you take advantage of other activities available in the region.

A great option is to book the best cruises in Perth, as they offer unrepeatable gastronomic experiences. They are ideal for relaxing, while sailing on the Swan River. The best thing is that there are cruises that offer free stops, so you can explore the city's shores at your own pace.