Perth is a city in Perthshire County, Scotland. It is known for its rich history, castles, and beautiful surroundings. The city has been the site of many important historical events and some of the best things to do in Perth revolve around exploring these sites.
You will get to see the castles and palaces where the Scottish monarchs and lords used to live. You will also come across the famous church where John Knox gave the sermon during Perth sightseeing. This sermon was a key event in the Scottish Reformation.
The city also has close ties to the Scottish monarchy. It is home to the stone of destiny upon which Kings of Scots were crowned. This is one of the most popular things to see in Perth, Scotland. This stone along with several historical artifacts sits in the main museum in Perth. You also get to walk the coronation road while exploring the places to visit in Perth, Scotland. This route was walked upon by several kings on their way to be crowned.
The city is also popular for scotch distilleries around it. The most well-known among these Perth attractions is the Dewar Distillery. You can see how this famous brand makes its scotch and even get to taste the variants.
Perth’s surroundings are also popular for its natural beauty. It is called the Gateway to the Highlands and is surrounded by incredible scenery. The valley carved by river Tay creates opportunities for a lot of outdoor activities to do in Perth, Scotland. You can explore the hiking trails to see the valley and get to high vantage points for a view of the castles. You can also go for river rafting, paddleboarding, and boat tours. Some of these activities are tied to major Perth tourist attractions.
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Top 10 Tourist Places to Visit in Perth, Scotland
1. Perth Museum and Art Gallery
This is the primary museum of the city and focuses on art, natural history, and history of the city. The collection in the art and natural history parts is not limited to the city. You will find Egyptian mummies as well as pieces of meteorites. The paintings are also acquired from different regions and feature works of artists over several periods.
It is a great place to begin sightseeing in Perth as you get an overview of the city and its history. It makes the rest of the tour more interesting and gives you context to the places you see. You will need an hour or so to tour this museum when you visit Perth, Scotland.
2. Balhousie Castle
Dating back to 1631, this castle was the seat of the Earls of Kinnoull. The castle was restored and remodeled during the 19th and 20th centuries. It was redesigned by architect David Smart in the Baronial style.
The castle houses a museum dedicated to the legendary Black Watch. This royal infantry regiment originated in 1725 and fought several wars. This includes the Anglo-Egyptian War, the Second Boer War, WWI, and WWII. It was also the last British military regiment to leave Hong Kong.
This museum houses some of the most fascinating things to see in Perth, Scotland. It traces the history of the regiment and exhibits many artifacts from around the world. You will need about 2 hours to tour this museum.
3. Huntingtower Castle
Also known as Ruthven Castle, this one dates back to the 15th century. It was built by the Ruthven family and served as the seat of the Earl of Gowrie. The castle is one of the most popular places to visit in Perth, Scotland.
This is because of the involvement of Gowrie in several daring historical events. The family was involved in the plot to kidnap King James VI when he was young. They also instigated a plot to kill King James VI later and were executed for the attempt.
The castle traces the history of its residents and such events. It is one of the most interesting Perth tourist attractions for those interested in history. You will need an hour to tour this castle.
4. Scone Palace
This palace dates back to the 12th century and was built on the site of a church. It is considered one of the finest examples of Gregorian Gothic architecture in the UK. The castle is one of the best places to go in Perth for its history, it is considered a stuff of legends going back to pre-roman times.
You will get to explore the majestic rooms and halls of this palace, but only between September and April. You will get a peak into the life of Scottish nobility and discover lesser-known aspects of the country’s history. It takes about 2 hours to tour this palace.
5. Kinnoull Hill Woodland Park
If you are looking for outdoor activities to do in Perth, this piece of wilderness is perfect for you. The park offers amazing views of forests, valleys, grasslands, and river Tay. It is popular for hiking, horse riding, and bicycle trails.
It is believed that ancient kings used to take the Coronation Road in this park on their way to take the crown. It is one of the most popular trails in the park. Kinnoull hill is also known for fun things to do in Perth for families. There are several picnic and sightseeing spots as well as an arboretum. You can easily spend a couple of hours in this place.
6. Perth Museum
This museum focuses on the history and culture of Perth, specifically the times when it was at the heart of Scotland. It is one of the most popular museums in Perth. You will get to know how the story of the city was shaped and how it in turn shaped the story of the country.
It is one of the best things to do in Perth for those who love history and legends. It is also home to the Stone of Destiny, one of the crown jewels of Scotland. It is the seat on which monarchs of the country were coronated. You will need about 2 hours to tour this museum.
7. River Tay Public Art Trail
This trail stretches for two and a half miles and has several sculptures along the route. It is one of the most popular free things to do in Perth, Scotland. Some of the most popular ones on this trail include Soutar’s Menagerie, Giant Thistle, and River Tay Thames. The trail passes by the river, through a garden, under the bridge, and so on. You will cover several other places of interest in Perth, Scotland as while exploring this trail. It takes about 2 hours to complete this trail.
8. Fair Maid’s House
This house is one of the oldest buildings in the city and houses the Royal Scottish Geographical Society. While exploring this historic site, you also get to see the history of the earth. It is one of the most popular Perth attractions for families with children.
The society shows interesting facts about our planet including the hottest and coldest places, books by explorers, maps drawn at different times, and so on. You will need 30 to 45 minutes to tour this place.
9. Dewar Aberfeldy Distillery
The distillery of the renowned brand is one of the best places to visit around Perth. The historic distillery dates back to 1898 and was the first distillery of the brand. Not just Dewar, this distillery is a part of the history of Scotch as well.
The tour takes you through each step of the process to make Dewar’s iconic drink. And yes, you do get to taste the end product. You will need about 2 hours to tour this distillery.
10. River Rafting
River Tay is the longest river in the country. You can go on an amazing adventure touring this river in a raft. You will pass by many amazing places to visit near Perth. Rafting in this river is a blend of a tour and a thrilling ride. The river changes its ways many times.
You can also couple this with a tour of the Dewar Distillery. You will cover two of the most popular things to do and see in Perth, Scotland. The adventure takes about 2 hours.
I suggest you should book your Experience of River Rafting in Tay River in advance.
If you are looking for more things to do in Perth and around it, check out the sections below.
Things to do in Perth, Scotland
Monuments, Museums & Historical Places to Visit in Perth, Scotland
- Scone Palace
- The Black Watch Castle & Museum
- Perth Art Gallery
- Huntingtower Castle
- The Fair Maid’s House
- Elcho Castle
- The Hermitage
- Blair Castle
- Perth Museum
- The Scottish Crannog Centre
- Perth Cathedral
- Drummond Castle
- St. John’s Kirk
- Lochleven Castle
- Fortingall Yew Tree
- Balvaird Castle
- Forter Castle
- Dairsie Castle
- Taymouth Castle
- Archdiocese of St. Andrews
- Wemyss Castle
- Cultybraggan Camp
- Lochleven Castle
- Loch of Lewes
Nature & Wildlife Tourist Spots in Perth, Scotland
- Kinnoull Hill Woodland Park
- Quarrymill Woodland Park
- Auchingarrich Wildlife Park
- River Tay
- Moncreiffe Hill
- Birks of Aberfeldy
- Meikleour Beech Hedge
- The Scottish Deer Centre
- Schiehallion Peak
- Black Sprout Waterfall
- Loch Ordie
- Faskally Woods
- Falls of Archarn
- Glen Lyon Praying Hands
Entertainment & Leisure Tourist Spots in Perth, Scotland
- Branklyn Garden
- Perth Concert Hall
- Perth Racecourse
- Cullach Brewing
- Willowgate Activity Centre
- Dewar’s Centre
- Rodney Gardens
- Blair Athol Distillery
- Perth Theatre
- Pitlochry Festival Theatre
- Dewar’s Aberfeldy Distilery
- Bells’ Sports Centre
- South Inch
- Camila Bell Park
- The Glenturret Distillery
- North Inch Golf Course
- County Clays
- Larghan Victory Park
- Go Golf
- Pitlochry Purring Green
- Stanley Mills
- Rodney Gardens
Shopping in Perth, Scotland
- St. John’s Shopping Centre
- Farmer’s Market
- St. Catehrines Retail Park
- Pitlochry Market
- Perth Mela Market
- Kinross Farmers’ Market
- Aberfeldy Community Market
Offbeat Places, Tours, & Adventures in Perth, Scotland
- Hiking
- River Rafting
- Mountaineering
- Highland Safari
- Paddleboarding
- Boat Tour
Sightseeing in Perth, Scotland
- Stanley Mills
- Perth Old Town
- Greyfriars Burial Ground
- Queen’s View
- Salutation Hotel
- George Street
- Flur Pitlochry
- River Tay Way
- River Tay Public Art Trail
- Meikleour Beech Hedge
Food, Dining, Restaurants, & Street Food in Perth, Scotland
- Deans
- Jade Garden
- Cafe Tabou
- The Giddy Goose
- Paco’s
- CriDo’s
- North Port
- Sandeman
- 63 Tay Street
- Enzo
- Kisa’s
- Cairns
- Cardo
- No 1 The Bank
- The Bulldog Frog
- Eolas
- Breizh
- Barossa
- Everest Inn
- The Ivy
Where to Stay in Perth?
Here we have listed Top Rated Hotels in Perth. You can check below listed hotels for your perfect stay in Perth.
- Premier Inn Perth City Centre Hotel
- Parklands Boutique Hotel
- Leonardo Boutique Huntingtower Perth
- Sunbank House Hotel
- The Crees Inn
- Salutation Hotel
- The Lodge At Perth Racecourse
- Travelodge Perth Central
- Travelodge Perth A9
- The Townhouse
How to Reach Perth, Scotland?
By Air
The Dundee Airport is the closest airport to visit Perth. The airport sits about 25 minutes away from the city. It receives direct flights from London, Sumburg, and Kirkwall. The other close airports to consider for Perth travel include Edinburgh and Glasgow. These are 80 and 120 km away from the city. But you get several transport options.
By Road
Perth sits on the ScotRail line and it connects the city to several towns and cities in the UK. You can get trains to reach Perth from Inverness, Stirling, Dundee, Glasgow, Edinburgh, and several others. The bus network is also quite well-connected. You can get buses from several major cities and towns. But, if you covering a significant distance, trains are a much better option.
If you are planning to visit Perth by car, you should head for routes M90, A9, A90, or A85. These routes are close to the city.
By Water
There are no direct water routes for Perth travel.