Get your bearings on a hop-on hop-off tram tour or a self-guided audio tour, both of which allow for independent exploration with the convenience of transportation or narration. Find your morning caffeine fix on Fremantle’s bustling “Cappuccino Strip,” then make your way to the Fremantle Tourist Wheel for a bird’s-eye look at the harbor below. The 130-foot-high (40-meter-high) Ferris wheel holds six people per gondola for the 8-minute rotation. If you’re interested in the city’s maritime heritage, check out the WA Maritime Museum or Shipwrecks Museum.

Learn about the region’s convict past, Aboriginal heritage, and present-day lifestyle. A biking or walking excursion is a refreshing way to take in the sights at a leisurely pace. Many tours stop by landmarks such as the UNESCO-listed Fremantle Prison, the Fremantle Markets, the 19th-century Round House, and Esplanade Park.

Fremantle boasts a lively after-hours scene, with bars and restaurants that draw locals and Perth residents to the town center and waterfront. A bar crawl is a fun way to meet other travelers and mingle with locals. Or, opt for a photography tour and learn how to capture the sights in the evening light. Alternatively, head out to sea on an evening cruise for tranquil views of the sunset and a new perspective on the city.