Staying in Kotor for a month allowed us to explore the ancient city and other cute towns in the Bay of Kotor. One of our day trips from Kotor was to Perast, a beautiful place just a little north of Kotor along the Montenegrin coastline.
Perast was once a well-known hillside fishing village. Today, it’s a UNESCO-certified town thanks to its Venetian-style architecture and old palaces. Its location on the coast makes it one of the closest big towns to the small island of Saint George and Our Lady of the Rocks.
Travelling from Kotor to Perast is super quick and easy. It’s one of the dreamiest towns on the Bay of Kotor and you can’t miss it. Although we stayed in Kotor for a month, you should have time to squeeze in a day trip to Perast even if you’re just visiting for a long weekend.
This travel guide covers all the top things to do in Perast and everything you need to know about getting there.
How To Get From Kotor to Perast
The distance between Kotor and Perast is only 14 km. It’s a quick, scenic 20-minute drive along the Adriatic coast. Just another reason why it’s one of the best Kotor day trips!
By Bus
The best way to get from Kotor to Perast is by bus. You should take the ‘blue line’ bus service which runs between Kotor and Kostanjica along the northern coastline. It departs approximately once an hour from Kotor around a quarter past the hour six days a week. It only runs every two hours on Sundays.
The bus stop is on the main road outside Kotor Old Town’s city walls. It’s close to Kotor Food Market and the Corner Bastion. Bus tickets cost around €2 one-way which you can buy in cash from the driver.
Montenegrin public transport timetables are more of a guideline. Don’t worry too much if the bus doesn’t arrive exactly on time!
Buses depart from Perast to Kotor every hour at around half past the hour. While you might be dropped off at a bus stop on top of the hill, you don’t need to schlep back up there. The best bus stop is by Perast Beach at the intersection of two roads. There’s also a taxi rank, car park, and bus shelter here so you can’t miss it.
By Taxi
We might’ve been lucky, but I’ve heard a few stories of people who waited at the bus stop in Kotor and the bus just didn’t show up. Maybe it was a Sunday or this was years ago when fewer people were visiting Perast?
Don’t panic if this happens to you. Taxi rides are not that expensive at around €15 per journey. If other people are waiting with you at the bus stop you might even be able to split the fare.
Some say Djir Taxi has the cheapest prices, but Go Montenegro taxis allow you to book online. Red Taxi and Lucky Taxi Kotor are other options.
By Car
You can drive to Perast if you already have a car, but don’t rent one for this day trip! Taking the bus is, in my opinion, the best option.
You can’t drive directly into Perast but there are two large car parks at the city’s northern and southern entrances. They often have golf carts to help those with limited mobility get to town. Parking is free if you have tickets for the Our Lady of the Rocks boat tour.
Things To Do in Perast
Wander Around Perast’s Old Town
Perast has a population of fewer than 400 and measures less than two km from end to end. Walking through the Old Town without stopping wouldn’t take longer than 20 minutes. Even with all the stairs and hills to climb up and down! Naturally, it will (and should) take longer because there are so many beautiful buildings.
The Old Town has 19 churches and 17 palaces tucked away in Perast’s cobblestone alleys. Many landmark palaces are in the northern part of town along the coast, particularly the Smekja Palace.
Whether you wander through the town or along the promenade, don’t miss Perast’s main square. Here, you’ll find the busts of Marko Martinović and Mateja Zmajević. These two sailors impacted the nautical industry (including opening a school) in Perast in its heyday.
Climb the St Nicholas Church Bell Tower
Located in Perast’s main square is St Nicholas Church. This is by far the most notable out of the many churches in this charming little town. It was mostly built in the Baroque, Renaissance and Romanesque architectural styles around 1616.
It’s free to head inside and explore the small downstairs chapel and only €1 to climb up the bell tower. There’s a beautiful view of the sea from the top. Be mindful that there are 150 steps and a couple of tight spots on the way up.
Boat Tour to Our Lady of the Rocks
While the island of St. George is off-limits to visitors, you can visit Our Lady of the Rocks on a boat tour from the Perast waterfront. It’s actually an artificial island! Legend has it that fishermen saw the image of Madonna and the child here and decided to keep throwing rocks in this area until they built an island.
That’s why the main thing to see and do at Our Lady of the Rocks is to visit the Church of Our Lady of Škrpjela. It was built in the Byzantine style around 1720. While it looks simple from the outside, the inside holds beautiful frescoes painted by Perast artist Tripo Kolkoja and 68 paintings.
It’s a must-do in Perast! Boat tours leave constantly and cost €5 for a return ticket. Private water taxis cost around €10. Some longer boat tours include swimming tours of the Blue Cave, but not if it’s too windy. There are boat tours from Kotor to Perast and Our Lady of the Rocks too.
Lunch at Trattoria Rosmarino
Being on the Adriatic Sea, there are so many incredible seafood and Italian-inspired restaurants in Perast. Our favourite was Trattoria Rosmarino. This family-style restaurant has a small menu with a catch of the day, pasta, soups and more.
Although not directly on the waterfront, Trattoria Rosmarino’s hillside locale offers spectacular views across the town and water.
Sip Coffee from Armonia on the Water
Restaurant Armonia is right on Perast’s waterfront (close to Smekja Palace and St Mark’s Church). It’s the perfect place to grab a coffee and enjoy the view of the lush green mountains across the water.
Relax on Perast Beach
Perast Beach is near the southern tip of Old Town. Make it your last stop before travelling back to Kotor. As with most places in the Bay of Kotor, it’s not a sandy beach but more of a promenade where people sunbathe and swim. This beach is such a beautiful place to swim. It’s worth bringing beach gear in summer.
Visit the Perast Museum in Bujović Palace
If you are visiting Perast on a rainy day, seek shelter in the Perast Museum. It’s a fairly small museum which displays model ships, maps, and paintings related to Perast’s maritime heritage.
Entrance is €5 and the museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday and closed Mondays. Opening times are 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
Best Time to Visit Perast, Montenegro
As with Kotor, you’d typically think the best time to visit these coastal towns is summer. July and August are Perast’s peak months. Crowds are the busiest (often due to the cruise ships) and accommodation and flight prices are the highest. Temperatures regularly reach sweltering highs of 31°C/89°F.
June and September are still fairly warm and busy, but not as crowded or hot as summer. It shouldn’t be too cold if you want to swim in Perast’s clear blue waters.
Aren’t fussed about swimming or sunbathing? Late April, May, October, and early November are excellent times to visit Kotor and Perast. Crowds will be thinner and prices will be a little lower. Exploring these ancient towns will be all the more enjoyable. Temperatures will still be pleasant and not frigid, however some restaurants close in the off-season.
Essential Information for Visiting Perast
- Bring cash: You won’t need cash for the restaurants and main attractions. Buses and smaller shops like gelaterias will prefer cash if it’s a small amount.
- Visit Perast during a festival: For a small town, perast has many festivals! Visit in the last week of June for the Perast Music Festival or the last week of July for the Forteca International Film Festival. Fašinada is celebrated on July 22nd and celebrates the fishermen finding the image of the Madonna and the child.
- Cruise ships: Perast sometimes receives visitors from smaller MSC Cruises ships, but Kotor is usually the main target of cruise ship passengers in the bay. Use your day trip to Perast to escape most of the crowds in Kotor by checking the local cruise timetable.
Don’t Miss This Easy Day Trip From Kotor to Perast
We’re so pleased we took a day trip from Kotor to Perast. It’s such a cute town and so easy to reach! There’s a surprising number of things to do there, especially if you’re keen to explore the hills or sail out in the Bay of Kotor to the Submarine Tunnel. You could even stay there overnight, but as a day trip from Kotor, it’s perfect.
