The best way to see Fremantle is on foot, and a weekend is just enough time to do it properly. From our door on Bannister Street, the markets, the prison, the Round House, the beach and the harbour are all a walk away, so you can park the car on Friday and not think about it again until Sunday.
In short: stay in Fremantle's heritage west end and you can walk the whole town. The Hougoumont is about 20 metres from the Market Street cappuccino strip, around five minutes from Fremantle Markets and around ten minutes from Fremantle Prison. Spend day one on the markets, the prison and the arts centre, and day two on the waterfront: the museums, the Round House at 1pm, Bathers Beach and the Fishing Boat Harbour.
This is the route we give guests who ask the concierge where to start. It works for a first visit and for locals who have not walked Freo in a while, and every stop below can be reached without a car, a bus or a taxi.
Before you set off
Check-in at the Hougoumont is from 2pm and check-out is at 11am. If you arrive early or leave late, the ground floor cloakroom will hold your bags at no charge, so the last afternoon is still yours. Comfortable shoes matter more than anything else on this list; Fremantle's limestone footpaths and the climb up to the prison reward a good pair.
If you are deciding between rooms, all of our Cabin Rooms and State Rooms sit in the same building on Bannister Street, and across the road New Haus adds larger rooms, studios and suites, some with balconies, for guests who want more space for a longer stay.
Day one: markets, prison and the old town
Tea, toast and a slow start
Complimentary tea and toast are served in the Lobby Lounge from 7:30am to 9:30am, with bread from Bread In Common, Nespresso coffee and Rubra tea. If you would rather sit outside, Cos Baby is about 110 metres from the hotel.
Fremantle Markets
Fremantle Markets are about five minutes on foot, on the corner of South Terrace and Henderson Street. The Hall opens at 9am and the Yard at 8am, and both close at 6pm on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holiday Mondays. Go early, before the crowds, for fresh produce, local makers and a second coffee.
Fremantle Prison
From the markets it is a short walk up to Fremantle Prison on The Terrace, about ten minutes from the hotel. The convict-built prison is part of the UNESCO World Heritage listed Australian Convict Sites, and the Behind Bars tour departs every hour from 10:30am to 4:30pm, running for about 1 hour 15 minutes. Booking ahead is a good idea on weekends and school holidays.
Lunch on the cappuccino strip
Walk back down to South Terrace, Fremantle's famous cappuccino strip, for a long lunch with a view of the street. This stretch has been the town's outdoor dining room for decades, and on a sunny weekend it is the best people watching in Perth.
Walyalup Fremantle Arts Centre
Wander east to the Walyalup Fremantle Arts Centre at 1 Finnerty Street, a convict-built limestone building from the 1860s with free exhibition galleries open from 10am to 5pm daily. The gardens are a quiet place to sit for half an hour before the walk back into town.
A drink next door at Calamity's Rod
Back at the hotel, step next door to Calamity's Rod, our working nano-brewery and courtyard bar, built on part of the old car park. Hotel guests are welcomed with complimentary wine and hors d'oeuvres there from 5pm to 6pm each evening, which makes it the easiest decision of the day.
Dinner in the west end
Dinner is a short stroll in any direction, from the restaurants along Market Street and High Street to the west end laneways. Our concierge is happy to suggest a table, book evening entertainment or arrange a tailored tour for the next day.
Day two: the waterfront
WA Shipwrecks Museum
After breakfast, walk down to Cliff Street and the WA Shipwrecks Museum, open daily from 9:30am to 5pm with free general admission. It is home to the remains of the Batavia and the story of the ships lost along the Western Australian coast, and it rarely takes less than an hour.
Check out, then the WA Maritime Museum
Leave your bags in the cloakroom at check-out and carry on to the WA Maritime Museum on Victoria Quay, open daily from 9:30am to 5pm (general admission $15 for adults, free for juniors). On the way you will pass B Shed, where the Rottnest ferries leave for a crossing of about 25 minutes, worth knowing if you want to add a day on the island.
The Round House and the 1pm cannon
Be at the Round House, at the western end of High Street, before 1pm. Western Australia's oldest public building, it fires its cannon at 1pm daily, weather permitting, and is open from 10:30am to 3:30pm for a gold coin donation. Then take the Whalers Tunnel beneath it down to the sand.
Bathers Beach and the Fishing Boat Harbour
Bathers Beach is Fremantle's town beach, right below the Round House. Follow the shoreline south to the Fishing Boat Harbour for a late lunch on the water and a pint of Little Creatures, brewed at the harbour, before the easy walk back to Bannister Street to collect your bags.
Why the west end works for a walking weekend
Fremantle is compact, flat in most places and full of heritage streetscapes, so the walking is part of the pleasure rather than the price of getting somewhere. Staying in the west end puts the cappuccino strip on your doorstep and the waterfront within a few minutes, which means short legs between stops and time to stop for a coffee whenever you like. Guests who want to cover more ground can borrow one of our free hire bikes, listed with everything else included in your stay.
Walking weekend in Fremantle: your questions
What can you walk to from the Hougoumont Hotel in Fremantle?
From the Hougoumont on Bannister Street you can walk to almost everything in central Fremantle: the Market Street cappuccino strip is about 20 metres away, Fremantle Markets about five minutes and Fremantle Prison about ten minutes on foot. The Round House, Bathers Beach, the WA Shipwrecks Museum, the WA Maritime Museum and the Fishing Boat Harbour are all an easy stroll through the west end.
When are Fremantle Markets open?
Fremantle Markets are open on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holiday Mondays. The Yard opens from 8am to 6pm and the Hall from 9am to 6pm, at 74 South Terrace.
How long is a Fremantle Prison tour?
The Behind Bars tour at Fremantle Prison runs for about 1 hour 15 minutes and departs every hour from 10:30am to 4:30pm daily. Booking is not essential but is worth doing at busy times, and the prison is about a ten minute walk from the Hougoumont.
What time is the cannon fired at the Round House in Fremantle?
The cannon is fired at the Round House at 1pm every day, weather permitting. The Round House is open daily from 10:30am to 3:30pm, entry is by gold coin donation, and the Whalers Tunnel beneath it leads down to Bathers Beach.
Can I leave my luggage at the Hougoumont after check-out?
Yes, luggage can be stored in the ground floor cloakroom at no charge, before check-in or after check-out. Check-out is at 11am, so you can leave your bags and spend the rest of the day walking Fremantle.
Where does the Rottnest ferry leave from in Fremantle?
Rottnest ferries leave Fremantle from B Shed on Victoria Quay, an easy walk from the Hougoumont, and the crossing takes about 25 minutes. Some services also depart from Northport in North Fremantle.
More questions about staying with us are answered on our FAQs page.
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Hougoumont Hotel, 15 Bannister Street, Fremantle WA 6160 | (08) 6160 6800