Things to Do in Perast 2026: Island Churches, Palaces & Boat Trips

Perast’s activity list is deliberately short — it is a village of 350 people on a single waterfront street. But what it offers is very specific: the most atmospheric stretch of the Bay of Kotor, two island churches visible from the water, and a maritime history disproportionate to its size. All prices in euros (€).

Must-do: Our Lady of the Rocks (Gospa od Škrpjela)

The defining Perast experience. A 17th-century church on an entirely artificial island built by local sailors over several centuries — beginning with a rock they dropped on the site of a vision, and continuing by a tradition where each boat passing the spot added a stone. The church interior contains over 2,500 silver votive tablets donated by sailors and fishermen, plus 68 oil paintings by the Baroque artist Tripo Kokolja.

The island is reached by taxi boat negotiated from the Perast waterfront.

• Taxi boat price: approx. €5 return per person (negotiate directly at the water’s edge)
• Island visit duration: 30–45 minutes
• Best time: Morning, before day-trip crowds from Kotor

Maritime Museum of Perast

The museum occupies the 17th-century Bujović Palace on the main waterfront street. Three floors of navigational charts, ship models, weapons, and documentation of Perast’s remarkable seafaring history — including the story of Peter the Great sending Russian naval officers to train under Perast captains.

• Entry: approx. €2–3
• Duration: 45–60 minutes

Walk the Perast waterfront and palaces

The main street of Perast runs about 500 m along the bay — 16 Baroque noble palaces in various states of preservation line the route. Some are restored and inhabited; others are picturesque ruins. The Bujović Palace (museum), Smekja Palace, and Mazarović Palace are the most notable.

• Entry: Free (public street)
• Duration: 20–30 minutes at a stroll; longer with stops

Saint George island views

The natural island adjacent to Our Lady of the Rocks carries a Benedictine monastery from the 12th century. It is generally not open to visitors, but it is visible from every point of the Perast waterfront. Ask the taxi boat operator if a close circumnavigation is possible.

Swimming from Perast

The waterfront has small stone ledges for swimming in the bay. The water is clean and calm. Not a beach in the standard sense — more like a stone-ledge dip into the bay, which is part of the charm.

• Access: Free; various spots along the main street

Day trip combination: Perast + Risan

Risan, 4 km further west along the bay road, has well-preserved Roman floor mosaics from the Villa Urbana — one of the most significant archaeological sites in Montenegro and rarely visited. Combining Perast with Risan makes a strong full-day bay excursion from Kotor.

• Risan mosaics entry: approx. €3

Summary

Activity	Duration	Cost
Our Lady of the Rocks	1–1.5 hours	€5 (boat)
Maritime Museum	45–60 min	€2–3
Waterfront and palace walk	30 min	Free
Bay swimming	As long as you like	Free
Add-on: Risan mosaics	30 min	€3