Kotor
Perast
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The most beautiful village on the bay — a perfectly preserved Baroque town opposite two island churches in the water.
Perast (population ~340) is 12km north of Kotor along the bay and is widely considered the most beautiful village on the entire Boka Kotorska. The town consists of a single long street of Baroque palaces — built by the wealthy captains of the Boka Navy during the 17th and 18th centuries — facing directly onto the bay and its two celebrated islands: the natural island of Saint George (Sveti Đorđe, with a Benedictine abbey and cypress trees) and the artificial island of Our Lady of the Rocks (Gospa od Škrpjela), built over centuries by local sailors depositing stones and ex-votos, and holding a beautiful baroque church with interior walls entirely covered in votive paintings. Kayaking to the island from Perast is one of the finest short excursions on the Adriatic.
Scores
Walkability
Transit
Price
Local feel
Nightlife
Family-friendly
Centrality
What you gain
- ↑The boat trip to Our Lady of the Rocks is non-negotiable — the interior of the church, with 68 paintings by Tripo Kokolja and the wall of silver ex-votos (hundreds of small devotional plaques left by sailors who survived storms), is one of the most atmospheric and genuinely moving interiors on the Adriatic. The boat ride from Perast takes 5 minutes.
- ↑The Pjaca restaurant and the Conte restaurant in Perast both serve excellent grilled fish and locally caught eel (jegulja) from the bay. Sitting at a waterfront table in Perast in May or September with the two islands in the foreground and the Orjen mountains behind is among the finest dining settings in Montenegro.
- ↑Perast has almost no cruise ship traffic — it is too far from the Kotor dock for the standard tour itinerary. The village is entirely unspoiled in comparison.
What you sacrifice
- ↓Getting to Perast requires a car, taxi (about €15 from Kotor), or infrequent bus. There is no regular boat service from Kotor. Self-drive along the bay road is recommended for flexibility.
- ↓Accommodation in Perast is very limited — a handful of apartments and one or two small guesthouses. Most visitors stay in Kotor and visit as a day trip or half-day excursion.
Best for
Avoid if
Other Kotor neighbourhoods
A Venetian walled city of 2km² packed with medieval churches, cats, and more atmosphere per square metre than anywhere on the Adriatic.
The elegant residential shore north of Kotor — Baroque palaces on the waterfront, local restaurants, and no cruise ships.
The gateway to Boka Bay — a fortified old town with affordable prices and a local atmosphere the interior towns have lost.
Know where to stay — now find when to go.
Best time to visit Kotor →