Perast is a small waterfront town on the Bay of Kotor, with stone palaces, churches and two islands just offshore. One of them, Our Lady of the Rocks, has a Catholic church and museum that you can visit by boat.
For a first visit, we suggest allowing half a day for Perast and the island. You can travel to Perast independently and arrange the short crossing from its waterfront, or take a boat tour from Kotor. Going independently gives you more time in town; a tour can be convenient if you want to travel across the bay and return to Kotor at a set time.
Check the itinerary carefully before booking. A tour that mentions Perast or Our Lady of the Rocks may only pass them, and an island stop does not necessarily include admission to the church and museum.
Should you visit independently or book a tour?
| Option | When it makes sense | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Travel to Perast, then take a local boat | You want time to walk around town, visit the museum or stop for lunch. | Transport back to Kotor, the return boat arrangement and all island charges. |
| Perast and Our Lady of the Rocks boat tour from Kotor | You prefer an organised outing focused on this part of the bay. | Whether you land at both places, how long each stop lasts and which fees are included. |
| A longer bay tour including the Blue Cave | You want a wider boat excursion and are happy to give less time to Perast. | Whether Perast is a stop or a pass-by, island access and weather-dependent changes. |
If Perast itself is your main interest, choose a trip that gives you time ashore. A brief stop is enough for a look along the waterfront, but leaves little room for a museum visit or a meal.
If you are deciding between an island visit and a longer excursion, compare the options in our Kotor boat-trip guide
How to get to Perast from Kotor
By local bus
Local buses on the Kotor–Risan route serve Perast. Confirm the current departure time and boarding point in Kotor, and ask where to catch the return service. Blue Line’s Kotor and Tivat transport page provides the operator’s local contact details.
Check the fare and payment arrangements before travelling, and carry some euro cash. For an evening visit, establish the last return departure before you leave Kotor.
By taxi or car
A taxi is worth considering if you want to choose your own departure time or are travelling with luggage. Agree the price before setting off and ask about a return pickup if you will need one. Summer traffic can affect the journey, so leave a margin before any timed booking.
If driving, check the parking signs and access restrictions on arrival. Plan to walk into the historic centre from the available visitor parking rather than assuming you can park beside a waterfront restaurant. Overnight visitors should ask their accommodation where to leave the car and how to bring in luggage.
By boat from Kotor
A boat tour combines the journey with views of the bay. For example, this Perast and Our Lady of the Rocks tour from Kotor currently lists a 20-minute island stop and 30 minutes in Perast. Island admission is listed as excluded.
Use those stop lengths to judge whether the trip suits you, and check the latest inclusions before paying. Allow time to reach the meeting point and follow the check-in instructions on your booking confirmation.
How to visit Our Lady of the Rocks from Perast
Our Lady of the Rocks, also called Gospa od Škrpjela, is an artificial island just off Perast. You reach it by boat; there is no bridge from the town.
Local boats offer the short crossing from the waterfront. Before agreeing to a trip, ask whether the quoted price includes the return journey, when you will be collected and how long you can spend on the island. Confirm the day’s arrangements rather than relying on an old fare quoted online.
If entering the church and museum matters to you, check that they will be open when you arrive. An evening crossing may let you see the island without giving you access to the buildings.
Boat fares, island access and museum tickets
There can be separate charges for the boat journey, access to the island, and entry to the church or museum. Ask for the total cost per person before boarding.
In a notice dated 31 March 2026, boat operator Sea Stars reported a €5-per-person island visiting fee taking effect on 1 April 2026, including for short stops. The company said its Blue Cave tours would pass the island and stop in Perast instead unless guests requested an island landing at the additional charge.
That notice is useful when comparing tours, but check how your own operator handles the fee. Do not assume that paying for a boat trip covers every admission charge, or that all operators use the same itinerary.
What is there to see on the island?
The main sights are the church, the small museum and the views back towards Perast. If you are interested in the religious history, choose a visit with enough time to go inside rather than a photo stop alone.
The island’s story is associated with an icon of the Virgin Mary found on a reef. The tradition of bringing stones to the island continues in Perast’s Fašinada celebration, when boats gather around it at dusk.
Bring suitable clothing for entering a church; swimwear alone is not appropriate. Carry some cash for charges that may be paid locally. If boarding steps or moving between a boat and a quay could be difficult for you, ask the operator about access before booking.
What to do in Perast
Walk along the waterfront
Begin with the waterfront, where the town’s stone buildings face the islands and the bay. Perast is compact enough to explore without a detailed walking route. Leave time to pause along the shore rather than treating the town simply as a place to catch a boat.
A coffee or lunch stop is an easy way to extend the visit. Check the menu and prices before choosing a table, particularly if you have a fixed budget or only a short time before your return journey.
See St Nicholas Church
St Nicholas Church stands beside the central square, with its tall bell tower rising above the waterfront. If the tower is open to visitors, it offers a higher view across the bay. Check access and any admission charge locally; do not plan your visit around a guaranteed climb.
Visit Perast Museum
Perast Museum occupies Bujović Palace and is a worthwhile addition if you want more context for the town’s seafaring history. It is in Perast itself, separate from the museum on Our Lady of the Rocks.
The museum’s published visitor information currently lists individual admission at €8. Opening hours are Tuesday to Sunday, 8am–8pm from 15 April to 15 October, and 10am–4pm from 15 October to 15 April. It closes on Mondays, throughout January and on certain holidays. Check the museum’s page before making a special journey.
How long should you spend in Perast?
We suggest allowing three to four hours in Perast for a waterfront walk, the island visit and a drink or lunch. Add time if you want to visit Perast Museum or linger over a meal. This is a planning allowance, rather than a fixed sightseeing duration.
For a straightforward half-day visit, walk through town first, arrange your island crossing, then leave time for lunch before returning to Kotor. If a museum visit is important, check its opening hours before deciding the order.
If you are visiting from a cruise ship, work backwards from the ship’s all-aboard time. Leave room for boarding, traffic and delays rather than choosing a tour whose advertised finish leaves only a few minutes to spare.
When to visit
In summer, an earlier start is worth considering if you want to do most of your walking before the hottest part of the day. A later visit can suit dinner on the waterfront, but check boat departures and church opening hours first.
For spring, autumn or winter visits, contact a boat operator in advance if the island is the main reason for your trip. Services and opening arrangements can change with the season, and a pleasant day ashore does not guarantee suitable conditions for a boat excursion.
For speedboat trips, bring a layer even if it feels warm on land. Check the operator’s weather policy and keep some flexibility in your plans.
Should you stay overnight in Perast?
Perast is worth considering for a night or two if your priority is a small waterfront base and time to enjoy the town beyond a short excursion. Look at hotels, guesthouses and apartments according to your budget, then check the exact location and access.
Ask about steps, parking and luggage drop-off before booking. If you are travelling outside the main season, check which nearby restaurants will be open. A bay view may be appealing, but the practical details matter when choosing where to sleep.
If you want to spend much of your trip exploring Kotor or joining excursions that depart there, compare the options in our where to stay in Kotor guide. Our guide to where to stay in Montenegro can help if you are choosing between the bay and another part of the country.
Is Perast worth visiting?
Perast is a good addition to a Kotor stay if you enjoy historic buildings, waterfront walks and a short boat trip. You do not need a full day of organised sightseeing to make the visit worthwhile.
For most visitors interested in the town and island together, we would choose an independent half-day visit or a tour with confirmed stops at both. Check the landing arrangements and total charges, then leave enough time to enjoy Perast itself.