Fremantle (Walyalup), Australia's Top Tourism Town 2025, has a way of drawing you in and making you want to stay forever. Its charm is found in narrow streets lined with historic buildings, a seagull-scattered port bobbing with fishing boats, one-off shops, unconventional breweries and quirky buskers. It can be reached from central Perth via a 25-minute train ride, or half hour drive along Stirling Highway. Freo, as the locals call it, has a history as colourful as its buzzing markets. In days gone by, convicts, bushrangers, prison escapees and sailors frequented the postcode and since 1897, hundreds of tiny stalls run by artists, makers and growers have clustered within the Fremantle Markets ’ limestone walls. This DNA has resulted in a creative, independently-minded population. Sign up for a walking tour to hear about the port town’s characterful past and present. Many roam the heritage-listed West End, where repurposed former pubs, shipping headquarters and warehouses loom with grand architecture, or you can put on overalls and a hard hat to explore the subterranean tunnels of World Heritage Listed Fremantle Prison – by torchlight - as you learn about its inmates. Allow the smells of fresh seafood and hot chips to lure you to Fremantle’s Fishing Boat Harbour and seek out the statue of one of Australia’s most famous rock n roll stars, locally-raised AC/DC frontman, Bon Scott. Follow the rusted anchors to the WA Shipwrecks Museum , regarded as the foremost maritime archaeology museum in the Southern Hemisphere. The nearby WA Maritime Museum holds treasures such as the Australia II, winner of the 1983 America's Cup and an 89 metre-long submarine you can clamber through. Tucked between the two is Bathers Beach , a secluded sandy stretch loved by locals. View it all from above, on a Ferris Wheel ride at Esplanade Park , then browse the boutiques and galleries along Market Street, a bustling alfresco dining strip. Off High Street shopping mall, find Walyalup Koort (meaning ‘heart of Fremantle’ in the Aboriginal Nyoongar language). Positioned around Kings Square, the shopping and dining precinct opened in December 2021, completing the largest public-private infrastructure project in Fremantle’s history. Fremantle Markets Built in 1897, Fremantle Markets is one of the port city’s most significant landmarks and has rightfully earned itself a reputation as one of the best destinations in Fremantle for locals and tourists alike, as well as a leading source of independent wares and produce. <br/><br/>Fremantle Markets houses a family of stallholders from encouraging young local talent such as designers and artists, launching the careers of budding musicians including John Butler to creating a hub of events for visitors.<br/><br/>Housed in an historic, heritage-listed building, its unique bohemian atmosphere has made it the best and most well-known market in Western Australia.<br/><br/> Built in 1897, Fremantle Markets is one of the port city’s most significant landmarks and has rightfully earned itself a reputation as one of the best destinations in Fremantle for locals and tourists alike, as well as a leading source of independent wares and produce. <br/><br/>Fremantle Markets houses a family of stallholders from encouraging young local talent such as designers and artists, launching the careers of budding musicians including John Butler to creating a hub of events for visitors.<br/><br/>Housed in an historic, heritage-listed building, its unique bohemian atmosphere has made it the best and most well-known market in Western Australia.<br/><br/> Fremantle Prison Fremantle Prison is one of Western Australia's premier cultural heritage sites and tourist attractions. It is the state's only world heritage-listed building and the only world heritage-listed site in the Perth metropolitan region.<br/><br/>Built by convicts in the 1850s, Fremantle Prison was used as a place of incarceration for 136 years before being decommissioned as an operating maximum security gaol in 1991.<br/> <br/>Visitors can "step inside and do time" with Fremantle Prison's experienced guides on a range of fascinating tours. "Convict Prison" "Behind Bars" and "True Crime" tours highlight convict and prison life, daring escapes and colourful characters in tales laced with prison humour. Visitors with a spirit for adventure can descend 20 meters below the prison to explore a one kilometre labyrinth of tunnels by foot and by boat on a "Tunnels Tour" or delve into the darker side of the Prison's history at night on a spooky "Torchlight Tour".<br/><br/>In addition to its guided tours, Fremantle Prison also features exhibitions in the Prison Gallery, interpretive Visitor Centre, an onsite cafe and an award-winning gift shop. Fremantle Prison is one of Western Australia's premier cultural heritage sites and tourist attractions. It is the state's only world heritage-listed building and the only world heritage-listed site in the Perth metropolitan region.<br/><br/>Built by convicts in the 1850s, Fremantle Prison was used as a place of incarceration for 136 years before being decommissioned as an operating maximum security gaol in 1991.<br/> <br/>Visitors can "step inside and do time" with Fremantle Prison's experienced guides on a range of fascinating tours. "Convict Prison" "Behind Bars" and "True Crime" tours highlight convict and prison life, daring escapes and colourful characters in tales laced with prison humour. Visitors with a spirit for adventure can descend 20 meters below the prison to explore a one kilometre labyrinth of tunnels by foot and by boat on a "Tunnels Tour" or delve into the darker side of the Prison's history at night on a spooky "Torchlight Tour".<br/><br/>In addition to its guided tours, Fremantle Prison also features exhibitions in the Prison Gallery, interpretive Visitor Centre, an onsite cafe and an award-winning gift shop. The Old Synagogue The Old Synagogue was built in 1902 making it Western Australia’s first synagogue. Today, The Old Synagogue is home to four unique hospitality venues on a state heritage-listed site.<br/><br/>Venues include Tonic + Ginger - southeast Asian food, The Arbor - a beer and wine garden, Mr Chapple - a craft bar with bites to eat and L'Chaim - an intimate cocktail bar.<br/><br/>With so much choice, why not visit them all! The Old Synagogue was built in 1902 making it Western Australia’s first synagogue. Today, The Old Synagogue is home to four unique hospitality venues on a state heritage-listed site.<br/><br/>Venues include Tonic + Ginger - southeast Asian food, The Arbor - a beer and wine garden, Mr Chapple - a craft bar with bites to eat and L'Chaim - an intimate cocktail bar.<br/><br/>With so much choice, why not visit them all! Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour A fully operational fishing port since the early 1900s, today the Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour is also abuzz with locals and visitors sampling a fresh serve of its famous fish and chips and locally brewed beers.<br/><br/>The harbour is just a short walk from the centre of Fremantle and a 30-minute drive or train ride from Perth city centre, making it a popular weekend haunt by day and night.<br/><br/>Since its early days as a single jetty and fish market, the harbour has enjoyed a long and eventful history and underwent a major facelift in preparation for staging America's Cup yacht race defence off the coast of Fremantle in 1987.<br/><br/>Today, against a backdrop of lively boardwalk restaurants, bars, cafes and nightclubs, you can casually watch traditional maritime activities unfold before your eyes. See the fish being hauled in as you tuck into the catch of the day, or stroll over to the fresh seafood market to select ingredients for your own Indian Ocean feast.

A fully operational fishing port since the early 1900s, today the Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour is also abuzz with locals and visitors sampling a fresh serve of its famous fish and chips and locally brewed beers.<br/><br/>The harbour is just a short walk from the centre of Fremantle and a 30-minute drive or train ride from Perth city centre, making it a popular weekend haunt by day and night.<br/><br/>Since its early days as a single jetty and fish market, the harbour has enjoyed a long and eventful history and underwent a major facelift in preparation for staging America's Cup yacht race defence off the coast of Fremantle in 1987.<br/><br/>Today, against a backdrop of lively boardwalk restaurants, bars, cafes and nightclubs, you can casually watch traditional maritime activities unfold before your eyes. See the fish being hauled in as you tuck into the catch of the day, or stroll over to the fresh seafood market to select ingredients for your own Indian Ocean feast. Cappuccino Strip The section of South Terrace from the corner of Bannister Street to Parry Street in Fremantle is renowned as the Cappuccino Strip, where Nunzio Gumina applied for (and got) the city's very first al fresco dining license in 1977 for Old Papa's café (now Grill'd). <br/><br/>The Cappuccino Strip is Fremantle's action-packed centre. Here buskers, street performers, and heritage-listed stall holders are every bit as revered as the award-winning restaurants and charming small bars that line the street. <br/><br/>It is the home of alfresco dining in Western Australia, and the street is lined with restaurants, pubs and breweries including the famous Sail and Anchor which launched Australia's first contemporary craft brewery, Matilda Bay Brewing Company, and transformed the Australian beer landscape for good. <br/><br/>The Cappuccino Strip is also home to a range of shops covering everything from fashion to souvenirs. Don't forget to wander through PIAZZA Fremantle, a newly established artist precinct featuring art, workshops, independent stores and culinary delights. <br/><br/>At the northern end of the strip is the historic Fremantle Markets featuring more than 150 stalls. Dating back to 1897 and still housed in one of only two surviving municipal market buildings in WA, the market is considered a must for locals and tourists alike.<br/><br/>The Cappuccino Strip is a five-minute walk from Fremantle Train station. The section of South Terrace from the corner of Bannister Street to Parry Street in Fremantle is renowned as the Cappuccino Strip, where Nunzio Gumina applied for (and got) the city's very first al fresco dining license in 1977 for Old Papa's café (now Grill'd). <br/><br/>The Cappuccino Strip is Fremantle's action-packed centre. Here buskers, street performers, and heritage-listed stall holders are every bit as revered as the award-winning restaurants and charming small bars that line the street. <br/><br/>It is the home of alfresco dining in Western Australia, and the street is lined with restaurants, pubs and breweries including the famous Sail and Anchor which launched Australia's first contemporary craft brewery, Matilda Bay Brewing Company, and transformed the Australian beer landscape for good. <br/><br/>The Cappuccino Strip is also home to a range of shops covering everything from fashion to souvenirs. Don't forget to wander through PIAZZA Fremantle, a newly established artist precinct featuring art, workshops, independent stores and culinary delights. <br/><br/>At the northern end of the strip is the historic Fremantle Markets featuring more than 150 stalls. Dating back to 1897 and still housed in one of only two surviving municipal market buildings in WA, the market is considered a must for locals and tourists alike.<br/><br/>The Cappuccino Strip is a five-minute walk from Fremantle Train station. Bathers Beach Bathers Beach is where the rich heritage and vibrancy of Fremantle meets the ocean. It’s here you’ll find bars, cafes and restaurants, just a sandy-footed stroll from the oldest public building in Western Australia.<br/><br/>It’s an easy 12-minute walk from Fremantle bus and train station through the heritage-listed West End to reach Bathers Beach, or a short free ride on Fremantle’s Blue CAT bus and the beach is accessible via ramps, with a free beach wheelchair available for hire.<br/><br/>The calm waters make it a popular spot for swimming, kite surfing and paddling. With 300 metres of white sand, it’s also perfect for pitching up to watch an Indian Ocean sunset with fish and chips from neighbouring Fishing Boat Harbour or enjoying cocktails and a shared plate on the sun lounges at Bathers Beach House.<br/><br/>Right in the middle of the beach lies Kidogo Arthouse and the Bathers Beach Art Precinct - home to some of Western Australia’s most celebrated sculptors, painters, photographers, Indigenous artists and designers.<br/><br/>Head north to the Round House, the State’s first gaol, to see the cannon fired at 1 pm and take in the best view of Bathers Beach. Bathers Beach is where the rich heritage and vibrancy of Fremantle meets the ocean. It’s here you’ll find bars, cafes and restaurants, just a sandy-footed stroll from the oldest public building in Western Australia.<br/><br/>It’s an easy 12-minute walk from Fremantle bus and train station through the heritage-listed West End to reach Bathers Beach, or a short free ride on Fremantle’s Blue CAT bus and the beach is accessible via ramps, with a free beach wheelchair available for hire.<br/><br/>The calm waters make it a popular spot for swimming, kite surfing and paddling. With 300 metres of white sand, it’s also perfect for pitching up to watch an Indian Ocean sunset with fish and chips from neighbouring Fishing Boat Harbour or enjoying cocktails and a shared plate on the sun lounges at Bathers Beach House.<br/><br/>Right in the middle of the beach lies Kidogo Arthouse and the Bathers Beach Art Precinct - home to some of Western Australia’s most celebrated sculptors, painters, photographers, Indigenous artists and designers.<br/><br/>Head north to the Round House, the State’s first gaol, to see the cannon fired at 1 pm and take in the best view of Bathers Beach. Best things to do in Fremantle / Walyalup Best things to do in Fremantle / Walyalup Fremantle Markets Perth Holiday Planner With year round blue skies and turquoise beaches, it's easy to be seduced by Perth's natural charms. Tourism Western Australia acknowledges Aboriginal peoples as the traditional custodians of Western Australia and pay our respects to Elders past and present. We celebrate the diversity of Aboriginal West Australians and honour their continuing connection to Country, culture and community. We recognise and appreciate the invaluable contributions made by First Nations peoples across many generations in shaping Western Australia as a premier destination.