Let's go explore...Perth

Situated in the heart of Scotland, the fair city of Perth is a great place to visit on the way up to the Scottish Highlands or as a brief city break from Edinburgh and Glasgow. Perth is easy to get to, with great transport links (by rail, bicycle, long-distance bus, by car or even on foot!) from Edinburgh and Glasgow and lies just off the A9 - the main north-south road of Scotland.

The town centre is very walkable - the High Street is pedestrianised - and there are some amazing places nearby like Scone Palace and Kinnoull Hill - which provides a spectacular panorama of the River Tay flowing across the plain towards Dundee. Downtown Perth is packed-full of interesting historical architecture, churches and two big beautiful parks (in the North Inch Park you can even play golf!) and delightful riverside walks. There is also a good array of shops and a lot of great pubs, cafes and restaurants.

Situated on the River Tay, Perth has a wealth of charm - Photo: Jonathan Mitchell

The historic St John's Kirk in the centre of Perth, Scotland. Truly ancient, this church dates back to around the 12th Century and was a backdrop to several important events in Scottish history - Photo: Jonathan Mitchell

Beside St John's Kirk is the new Perth Museum, which used to be Perth City Hall and stood empty and unused until becoming the base for the museum in March 2024. Pride of place among the many interesting exhibits is the Stone of Destiny (also known as the Stone of Scone - where it used to reside). The display case was recently damaged in an incident on 12 July 2025, so the Stone of Destiny is not currently on display, though the museum says it will be - without specifying when.

Another interesting museum is the Black Watch Museum - which details the history of the famous Highland Regiment, which played a key role in international history over three centuries or so.

Being a draw for the theatre crowd, Perth naturally has some excellent high-quality dining options, including what used to be one of the most affordable Michelin 2 Star restaurants in the UK - Pig Haile. Though it recently re-branded as Cardo Restaurant (if it does not have two Michelin stars then it probably should!) and is run by Paula and Herve Tabiurel, who are Portuguese and French respectively and offer a fusion menu of the two cuisines. Like many top-end restaurants in Perth, they work hard to secure local produce and keep standards very high - though without breaking the bank!

The North Port is also notable and does Scottish cuisine with a modern twist, though is a bit more pricey. Situated in an old 18th Century cottage, it is a charming spot and even offers private dining for up to 12 people.

63 Tay Street is another old favourite - for those. who don't mind. spending a little more - and offers a similar menu to The North Port, i.e. mostly locally-sourced Scottish produce from land and sea, served up with a side-plate of creativity.

There are many other options including pub food, cafe snacks a good smattering of take-aways reflecting the international cuisine popular in most Scottish cities. One no-nonsense traditional cafe, Blue Lagoon - serves traditional Scottish Fish and Chips and other deep-fried delicacies such as Haggis and the infamous Deep Fried Mars Bar!

Cafe-wise, coffee lovers are very well catered for in Perth, with lots of nice cafes dotted around the city and the High Street and by the kirk in St John's Place, which are both devoid of vehicles.

Perth has great pubs, some of which are excellent value, usually have a great atmosphere and are quite friendly. There is quite a bit of live music in the Perth pubs. The Kirkside Bar seems almost as old as the kirk and has a nice seating area out front. If you want a genuine Scottish pub, this - and The Royal Bar are the places. Both are full of colourful local characters and friendly.

There are many other pubs scattered around the city centre, especially on South Street. On the riverbank is a Wetherspoons, which lacks atmosphere, though is located in a grand old bank, hence the name - The Capital Asset. If you are not familiar with the UK, this chain of pubs often has cheap, but good beer and other drinks and passable food. So not a bad option if you are on a tight budget. There is a pleasant terrace out front which overlooks the River Tay.

If you don't have time to visit Perth, it makes a great pit-stop to fill-up on fuel - there is an Asda and two Tesco supermarkets offering cheaper petrol and diesel, so it does pay to fill your tank up if heading for Aviemore and Inverness - as not much in the way of cheap fuel until Inverness. Though if not, Blair Atholl is reasonable and if you are in a camper van or camping, food shopping, as again, not many large supermarkets until Inverness.

Perth can get busy on the roads around rush-hour, though once you get onto the north-bound A9, it becomes a seemless drive and 30 minutes later you are very much in the Highlands, with a dramatic change of scenery.

The South Inch Park in Perth Scotland - Photo: Jonathan Mitchell

So whether you are just passing through on the way up to the Highlands or opt for an interesting city break, Perth is always a delight for the traveller.

The amazing view over the River Tay from Kinnoull Hill - Photo: Jonathan Mitchell

Perth also hosts one of the best theatres in Scotland, Perth Theatre and Concert Hall which holds a wide-variety of stage productions and concerts. Indeed, Perth is somewhat famous for entertainment with the T-in-the-Park music festival held every summer (though has not been held for a few years due to local issues).

Note to travellers: With fast rail links to Edinburgh and Glasgow, Perth is a good base for exploring the southern Highlands with a hire car. This web site can save you up to 70% on car hire.