10 things to do on a day trip to Perast (with incredible views)

Perast is the perfect destination for a day trip because it is small enough to be seen in a day but incredibly stunning so you won’t get bored. In this article, we have gathered the best things to do and see in Perast in one day, so you can plan the perfect day trip to this magical city.

Why is Perast worth visiting?

For anyone visiting the Bay of Kotor, we always say that Perast is a must-visit destination.

Here are the reasons why:

• Perast is one of the most beautiful and special towns on the Montenegrin coast (in our opinion). It may be small, but it is one of the most well-preserved cities on the Bay so you can really feel its unique energy.
• Perast has an interesting historical past. It was the first line of defense of the Kotor Bay, with the watchtowers and the Fortress of St. Cross to guard it.
• Still today, you can see the influence of the time when Perast belonged to the Venetian Republic through the city’s architecture. The Venetian period was the time the city prospered the most. When visiting Perast, you can go to the churches and admire the several palaces that are still standing today.
•  Perast is considered a UNESCO World Heritage Center.
• Visiting Perast by boat from Kotor is one of the most beautiful views you will see during your trip to the Bay of Kotor.

What to do in Perast: 10 things that should be on your list

If you will be visiting Perast for one day during a day trip from Kotor, this guide was made for you. We have put together the ultimate list of things to do and see in Perast based on our experience.

1. Hop on a boat to visit the two Perast islands

It may seem weird that the number one thing on my list is to get a boat to leave Perast – but trust me on this. As soon as the boat leaves the coast, make sure to look back towards Perast to see the city from the most beautiful angle: from the water.

Right in front of Perast, there are two beautiful islands: the Island of Saint George and Our Lady of the Rocks. The first is a natural island that holds a monastery but it is not possible to visit. 

The second, the famous Our Lady of the Rocks, is the only artificial island on the Adriatic. It was built with sunken shipwrecks and rocks until an island was formed. At the top, sits the Church of Our Lady of the Rocks, which is considered a worshipping place for sailors of the Bay. There is a fee to enter in the chapel and the price also includes the visit to the attached museum.

2. Walk along the Perast promenade

The Perast promenade will lead you through a beautiful walk following the coastline. A lot of people visit Perast for only a few minutes stop during a Boat Trip from Kotor and, in that case, walking along the promenade is what I recommend doing.

From this short walk, you can see some of the most traditional properties in Perast and get a good grasp of what the city looks like.

3. Explore the small alleys of Perast

Once you’ve had enough of the coastline (if that’s even possible), choose a small alley and explore the inside streets of Perast. Most of the alleys are quite narrow and go uphill, which means you get amazing glimpses of the Bay here and there.

Every time I visit a new place, I always try to picture what life feels like for the people who live there. Different from the promenade, in these small streets you get much more of the feeling of how the residents live. There are actually very high chances you will cross paths with some of the locals, as we have seen many people sitting for coffee outside or hanging their clothes. 

4. Climb up to Our Lady of the Rosary Church

Since you will be going up on the alleys, make sure you make your way to the Our Lady of the Rosary Church. Even though the church is closed for a visit, it is a stunning building and you have beautiful views of the Bay from there. 

The most unique feature of this church is the tower built in an octagonal shape.

5. Visit St. Nicholas’ (St. Nikola) Church and climb the bell tower

The main church of Perast is St. Nichola’s Church, located right by the promenade. If this is something you are interested in, I do recommend going inside if you manage to get to the church during the open times. Even though it is technically supposed to be open from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m, our guide told us they have a hard time sticking to the schedule.

During our visit, it was unfortunately closed. The visit to the side chapel is free but you will have to pay a fee to go inside the main room.

Located right behind it, you can also climb the Bell Tower for incredible views of Kotor Bay. Climbing the Bell Tower is one of the most popular things to do in Perast because it gives you a unique perspective of the city as you see it from above.

6. Check out the Main Square of Perast to discover the city’s most renowned residents

Right in front of St. Nichola’s Church is the main square of Perast. What makes this square special is that you will find statues of some of the city’s most special residents. You will be surprised to see how many important faces lived in such a small city as Perast.

7. Admire the Palaces of Perast

One of the things that make Perast so special is its palaces. Back in the day, Perast had 20 palaces built during the time that the city belonged to the Venetian Republic, but nowadays only 18 are still standing.

Most of the palaces are located along the coastline. Nowadays, some of them have been turned into hotels; some of them are still private properties. What struck us the most is how well-preserved most of them are. 

These Baroque palaces were built between the 17-18th century by merchants and navy clans called “Kazada”. Besides being home to noble families, they were also important for the defense of the city. Unlike Kotor, Perast was not a walled town so as protection, many of these palaces had watchtowers built next to the main building. You can still see some of them today.

8. Go to the Perast Museum for the best view of the city

If you want to visit one of Perast’s palaces from the inside, the best way of doing so is by visiting the Perast Museum, hosted in the Bujovic Palace. The exhibition in the Museum is mostly dedicated to the Maritime History of the city but you also get amazing views of the city from the upper balcony. The ticket costs 4 € per person.

Since the Perast Museum is located a bit outside the center, it is a great place to have as a reference if you are looking for great angles for photographing Perast.

9. Eat amazing seafood dishes

Seafood is the culinary specialty in Perast and the other towns along the Kotor Bay – and it is easy to understand why when you have the Adriatic Sea literally by your feet.

Some of the best seafood dishes we have eaten during our whole trip were in Kotor Bay. So, if you are a foodie like us, don’t miss out on the chance of doing one of the best things in Perast which is to experiment with the local cuisine.

This region of the Adriatic is especially known for having amazing octopus and squid dishes. To finish the meal, try the traditional local dessert called Peraška torta (or Perast cake) which is made with almonds and lemon.

10. Climb up to the Fortress of St. Cross

This is an activity we didn’t have time to do ourselves but we were recommended by our guide so we are leaving it here as a reference for you. The Fortress of St. Cross is located above Perast and it was once an important protection line of the Kotor Bay.

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And that’s a wrap! There are also many other things you can do in Perast such as just lying on the beach or visiting the famous Pirate Bar, but we have made this guide with a focus on those of you who will be visiting for one day during a day trip from Kotor.

How to get to Perast?

There are several ways to get to Perast, depending on your preference. Here are the main options:

Going to Perast by car

Perast is located only 13 km away from Kotor, which means it takes only 20 min to drive from Kotor to Perast. If you will be renting a car for your trip through Montenegro, this is a great option for your day trip because you will have no time limit on when to go back and can stop along the way on the road for amazing views.

Read also: Driving in Montenegro as a traveler

Need to rent a car for your trip?
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Going to Perast by boat

One of the easiest (and most fun) ways of going from Kotor to Perast is by boat. In the Kotor Marina, you will find several options of boat transfer available, as there are many companies that offer boat trips to Perast. 

The best thing about going to Perast by boat is that you can already purchase a day tour that includes a visit to the island of Our Lady of the Rocks, instead of having to arrange that in Perast itself.

Due to the proximity to Croatia, many people visit Perast and other cities in the Kotor Bay with a day trip from Dubrovnik. If this is your case, we recommend checking out this tour which includes also a visit to Our Lady of the Rocks and Kotor.

Going to Perast by bus

Another great option for going from Kotor to Perast is the hop-on hop-off sightseeing tour. I will admit that I am not usually a fan of this type of bus, but this one is actually quite useful as you are able to stop not only in Perast but also in Risan to see their famous mosaics. You can get a ticket here.

Pro tip: The route that the bus goes through is very panoramic so make sure to get a sit on the left side on the top on the way to Perast, and on the right side on the way back. 

How long should you stay in Perast?

Perast is quite small and you can easily visit it in one day, which makes it a perfect destination for a day trip from Kotor. The vast majority of travelers that visit Perast do so on a day trip and don’t spend the night.

However, if you want to experience a different side of the town, you can also spend a night or two in Perast. Unlike Kotor, during the night, Perast is incredibly quiet since it is much smaller. It gets a whole different atmosphere, compared to the tourist chaos that happens during the day in the summer months. If you want to spend the night in Perast, continue reading for my hotel recommendations.

I wouldn’t recommend spending more than two days in Perast though. There is not that much to see in the city to justify it and you will have a better offer of restaurants and attractions by staying in a bigger town such as Kotor, for instance.

Where to stay in Perast

If you decide to spend one or more nights in Perast, make sure to get accommodation in the center where you can do everything on foot. The center is quite small so it is tricky sometimes when searching on Booking or Airbnb because the hosts tag their properties as if they are located in Perast but in fact, they are outside of the city.

With that being said, here are recommendations for places to stay in Perast:

• Conte Hotel & Restaurant: This property has it all! If you want to fully enjoy your stay in Perast, we would definitely recommend booking this accommodation. This beautiful hotel is located in the main square, only a few short steps away from the sea.
• Guesthouse Žmukić: If you are looking for a bit more affordable stay, we can definitely recommend this guesthouse. This adults-only accommodation offers beautiful terraces with amazing views of Kotor Bay.

If you decide to stay in Kotor instead, here are our recommended accommodations:

• Promenade Rose – This was the place we stayed in Dobrota, the promenade next to Kotor, and we can’t recommend it highly enough. The apartment had the most amazing view of the bay, had free parking on site, was very organized, and had a great price. All in all, an amazing deal. 
• Apartmani Maxim – This property has it all, from a children’s playground to free bikes and a private beach area. It’s also one of the best-rated properties on Booking, so are confident about adding it to our list.

FAQ – Planning a visit to Perast