ME
Perast
A baroque seafaring village facing two island churches in the Bay of Kotor
A baroque seafaring village facing two island churches in the Bay of Kotor
Perast is essentially one long promenade lined with stone palaces, churches and small harbours, backed by the slopes of St Elijah hill. Many palaces belonged to sea captains’ families. The Bujović Palace houses the Perast Museum, with exhibits on the town’s maritime history.
Walk the waterfront in the early morning before the day boats from Kotor arrive.
Photo: Marcin Konsek, CC BY-SA 4.0
The parish church of St Nicholas, with its tall bell tower, dominates the centre of the waterfront. The church itself was never finished. You can usually climb the bell tower for a small fee, giving the best view over the town and the two islands.
The climb is narrow and steep; go early or late to avoid the heat.
Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0
According to tradition, sailors found an icon of the Virgin Mary on a rock here in 1452 and began building an island by sinking stones and old ships. The church was renovated in 1722 and contains 68 paintings by the baroque painter Tripo Kokolja, plus a small museum with a famous embroidery worked over 25 years by Jacinta Kunić-Mijović, partly with her own hair. Each 22 July at sunset, locals take boats out to throw stones around the island in the fašinada ceremony.
Boats leave constantly from the waterfront; agree the return time before you go.
Photo: Miomir Magdevski, CC BY-SA 4.0
The smaller, natural island next to Our Lady of the Rocks holds a Benedictine monastery surrounded by cypress trees and an old cemetery. It is usually viewed from the water rather than visited.
The best photos of both islands are from the waterfront near St Nicholas.
Photo: Alexey Komarov, CC BY 3.0
Perast is an easy base for the rest of the bay: the walled old town of Kotor and its fortress climb, the small towns of Dobrota, Risan and its Roman mosaics, and boat trips through the narrow Verige strait.
Combine a bus to Kotor with a boat back across the bay.
Photo: Gzzz, CC BY-SA 4.0
Perast’s waterfront restaurants specialise in seafood: grilled fish, mussels from the bay’s farms, black risotto with cuttlefish ink and octopus salad, with local Vranac red or Krstač white wine.
Look for peraški kolač, a traditional almond cake. Prices are higher than elsewhere in the bay because of the setting.
Tivat Airport is the closest airport, about half an hour away by car; Podgorica and Dubrovnik airports are further. Buses between Kotor and Herceg Novi or Risan stop on the main road above Perast, and Kotor is about 12km away.
The waterfront is car-free in season, with paid car parks at both ends of the village that fill up quickly in summer. Many visitors arrive by day boat from Kotor or Budva.
Montenegro uses the euro. Perast is one of the most expensive places to stay in the country in summer.
Staying in Risan or Kotor is cheaper.
Book July and August well ahead.
May, June and September give good weather with lower prices.
One full day, ideally with an overnight stay, covers Perast well.
Start early with a boat to Our Lady of the Rocks, then climb the St Nicholas bell tower and visit the Perast Museum. Swim from the jetties in the afternoon, and finish with seafood on the waterfront as the islands light up at sunset.
Carry cash for the boats and small entrance fees.
Summer parking is limited and expensive; buses and day boats are easier.
Day-trippers leave by late afternoon, and evenings are calm.
Small boats to Our Lady of the Rocks run from several points on the waterfront.
There is no sandy beach, but the stone jetties have clear water for swimming.
Quick answers for planning time in Perast.
Small boats leave from the Perast waterfront throughout the day; the crossing takes only a few minutes.
About 12km, a short bus, taxi or boat ride along the bay.
Yes. It is one of the most beautiful small towns on the Bay of Kotor, with baroque palaces and two famous island churches.
Yes, from the stone piers and small platforms along the waterfront; there is no sandy beach.
A tradition held every 22 July at sunset, when local boats throw stones into the sea around Our Lady of the Rocks to enlarge the island.
Planning a wider trip? Our Montenegro travel guide covers getting there, costs, when to go and more.