The tiny town of Perast, nestled on the shores of the Bay of Kotor, has become a popular tourist destination. Despite having only 350 permanent residents, over 300,000 visitors explore this charming town each year. In this guide, I’ll cover everything you need to know about Perast, including a map of top attractions, the best restaurants and beaches, and even a bonus section on local oyster farms. Get ready for the most comprehensive tourist guide to Perast!
Table of Contents:
- Perast: General Information and Brief History
- How to Get to Perast
- Hotel and Apartments in Perast
- Best Taverns and Restaurants
- All About Beaches and Seaside Activities
- Top Attractions: What to See in Perast
- Travel Tips and the Fašinada Festival
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Perast: General Information and Brief History
I won’t bore you with a six-page historical account copied from Wikipedia—you can read that yourself if you’re interested. Instead, here are the key historical highlights you need to know about Perast.
- The first settlements in the area date back to the pre-Roman era, established by the Illyrians.
- Over the centuries, Perast has changed hands dozens of times, being ruled by Romans, Byzantines, Venetians, Ottomans, Austro-Hungarians, and later becoming part of Yugoslavia.
- Perast flourished the most in the 15th century under Venetian rule, which is why its architecture still exudes a strong medieval Venetian charm.
Good to know:
Despite its prime location and 2,500-year history, Perast never grew into a major city. The reason? The nearby town of Kotor, just 13 km away, was historically a powerful fortress and trade center, overshadowing Perast and limiting its development.
Quick Facts About Perast:
- Officially founded in the 3rd century AD, but settlements existed as early as the 5th century BC.
- According to the latest census, only 349 people live here permanently—exactly how many you’d expect to find in winter.
- In summer, however, Perast transforms into a bustling tourist hub with excellent infrastructure.
- Coordinates: 42.486152307638015, 18.698627860655353
How to get to Perast
Perast is conveniently located near all the key transport routes of Montenegro. Getting here is easy from almost anywhere in the country, and nearly every coastal bus route passes through Perast.
If you’re driving or taking a taxi, there’s not much to explain—just get in and go. Instead, I’ll provide a useful link to an article on Montenegro’s taxi services, transfer prices, and how to find the best options.
For independent travelers, the most important question is: How do you get to Perast by bus?
The answer: Easily! Coastal buses run frequently, and here’s the schedule and ticket prices:
Bus Schedule: Kotor to Perast
- Travel time: 20 minutes
- Ticket price: €2
- Departure point: Kotor Bus Station (5 minutes’ walk from the Old Town) – 42.41972493200627, 18.770122817638182
- In reality, there are more buses from Kotor to Perast than the official schedule suggests. All buses heading to Herceg Novi also stop in Perast.
- How to buy a ticket, where to look for a schedule and all about public transport in Montenegro.
Good to know:
Most tourists visit Perast as part of sightseeing tours around the Bay of Kotor.
Hotels and Apartments in Perast
Here’s an important note: Perast is a one-day destination. Very few travelers stay here for more than 1-2 nights. You can walk through the entire town and see its main attractions in about two hours. Plus, there are no beaches here.
So, while you probably won’t spend your entire vacation in Perast, I can still recommend some great places to stay for a short visit.
Below, you’ll find a dynamic list of the most popular accommodations in Perast, including self-catering apartments and boutique hotels right on the waterfront. Many are housed in historic Venetian-era buildings. Click on each option to read reviews, see photos, and compare prices.
For even more choices, check out the full accommodation list via the provided link.
Best Taverns and Restaurants in Perast
Perast may be small, but when it comes to food, Montenegro never disappoints. The country is packed with restaurants, cafes, and taverns serving hearty meals.
The most common cuisines here are:
Montenegrin: Heavy on grilled meats
Mediterranean: Pasta, risotto, seafood, pizza
You’ll find both types of cuisine in Perast. Here are some of the most popular restaurants (all marked on the city’s attraction map, coming up later):
- Bocalibre – Probably the most budget-friendly spot in Perast.
- Otok Bronza – Offers a great selection of national dishes, including ćevapi and pleskavica, at reasonable prices.
- Šijavoga – A mix of Mediterranean and Montenegrin cuisine, also affordably priced.
Mussel & Oyster Farms Near Perast
Montenegro’s oyster farms are only found in the Bay of Kotor. Most of them have small, family-run restaurants where you can enjoy freshly shucked oysters and mussels cooked in wine sauce. These farms have become a signature experience in the Bay of Kotor.
Two oyster farms are located near Perast:
- 900m from the town
- 1.8 km away (which I highly recommend visiting)
You can walk to them or paddle over by kayak or boat from Perast.
You will find an overview of all oyster farms in the bay, menus, prices in the article about the Bay of Kotor. You will also learn why the water in the bay is colder than the sea.
Good to know:
Perast has a mix of budget-friendly eateries and high-end restaurants where a €100 dinner is standard. But no matter where you eat, portions are huge, and the food is delicious.
Beach Life and Swimming in Perast
Let’s keep it brief: if you’ve come to Perast for a beach holiday, you’ve made a big mistake. There are practically no beaches here. The only options within walking distance are concrete sunbathing platforms without proper water access.
There is just one beach in town—around 50 meters long and 2 meters wide, located under the main road. It has a small patch of pebbles and a somewhat decent entry into the water. Enjoy!
The easiest way to find it? Look for the Pirate Bar, which serves as a convenient landmark. I’ve marked it on the map below.
Top 10 Attractions: What to See in Perast
Despite being a tiny town—less than a kilometer from end to end—Perast is packed with history. You won’t be bored for at least two hours, as there’s plenty to see!
Here’s what Perast has to offer:
- 18 palaces
- 16 medieval churches
- 2 islands
- A bell tower-chapel
- A town museum
- An old fortress on the hillside
A sharp-eyed reader might wonder: how did all this fit into such a small town? Below, I’ll explain everything, including opening hours, entrance fees, and insider tips to make your visit worthwhile.
Perast Attractions Map
Green markers – Beaches
Purple markers – Taverns and restaurants
Red markers – Main attractions
Palaces of Perast
Let’s be clear: you won’t find Versailles here. In Perast, “palaces” refer to grand residences once owned by wealthy and influential local families. Each one is named after the noble family that built it.
In most cases, you can’t enter these palaces, and honestly, you don’t need to. A quick two-minute stop at each is enough. Below are the most famous ones:
🏛 Balovići Palace
🏛 Bronza Palace
🏛 Bujovići Palace
🏛 Viskovići Palace
🏛 Zmajevići Palace
🏛 Mrče Palace
🏛 Mazarovići Palace
🏛 Šestokrilovići Palace
🏛 Smeća Palace and many others.
I haven’t marked them all on the map since they look very similar. For tourists, this attraction is average at best. However, knowing that almost every house you pass in Perast belonged to a noble medieval family adds an extra layer of charm to your walk.
The Churches of Perast
Perast has as many churches as it does palaces. However, only two stand out as must-visit landmarks: one in town and one on an island (we’ll cover the island later).
St. Nicholas Church
Located in the very center of town, right on the waterfront. Its bell tower is Perast’s most recognizable landmark—you’ll see it in every photo of the town.
Coordinates: 42.48614, 18.69863
You can climb the bell tower via steep steps. The entrance fee is €1.
⏳ Opening Hours: No fixed schedule, but generally open during daylight hours.
From the top, you get a fantastic panoramic view of the Bay of Kotor and Perast.
Author rating:
If you appreciate religious and historical sites, it’s a great stop. Otherwise, it may not be too exciting. Plus, Perast has even better panoramic viewpoints that are higher than the bell tower (as seen in earlier photos).
Perast’s Maritime Museum
Also known as the Town Museum of Perast, this is a mix of an ethnographic, historical, and maritime museum. It showcases Perast’s history through artifacts, household items, maps, weapons, manuscripts, and naval uniforms.
Located inside Bujovići Palace—one of the few palaces you can actually enter.
- Coordinates: 42.48794, 18.69568
- Official website: Muzej Kotor (Check for updated opening hours).
- Opening Hours:
- April 15 – October 15: Tuesday–Sunday, 8 AM – 8 PM
- October 15 – April 15: Tuesday–Sunday, 10 AM – 4 PM
Ticket Price: €5
Time Needed: Though the museum is well-curated, it’s very small. 20 minutes is more than enough.
Author rating:
5/10 – The building is amazing, and the exhibits are interesting, but the museum is tiny and a bit overpriced. However, Bujovići Palace is worth admiring from the outside—for free!
On the mountainside above Perast lies the ruins of an old Austro-Hungarian fortress. While it’s overgrown with bushes and filled with debris, it might interest fans of abandoned sites. Entry is unrestricted, but don’t expect much.
Perast’s Crown Jewel: The Islands
The main attraction in Perast—the reason so many tourists come—is the two picturesque islands just 300 meters offshore.
Getting There: Boats leave every 15 minutes throughout the day.
Travel Time: 5 minutes from Perast’s main pier.
Price: €10-20, depending on the number of passengers.
Time Needed: A maximum of one hour, but 20 minutes is usually enough.
On the island, you’ll find:
- Our Lady of the Rocks Church – Built by sailors who found an image of the Virgin Mary on this reef after a storm.
- A small museum with religious icons
- A walking path around the island
- A lighthouse
Worth Visiting?
⭐ 10/10 – This is the must-see spot in Perast!
That wraps up Perast’s highlights! Stroll through the medieval streets, sip coffee by the waterfront, and take a boat trip to the island—that’s all you need to experience this charming town.
Tourist Tips & the Fašinada Festival
A Few Helpful Tips:
- Most visitors come to Perast as part of group tours around the Bay of Kotor, with only 1-2 hours allocated to the town.
- If you’re visiting independently, plan for at least 3-4 hours. This will be enough time to explore the town and visit the island.
- Staying overnight? Not necessary. However, I know travelers who have spent 4-5 days here, using Perast as a base for sightseeing around the bay.
Reminder: There are no proper beaches here. Perast is all about history, sightseeing, and great food.
Must-Do: Visit an oyster farm—a must for seafood lovers!
The Fašinada Festival
If possible, schedule your visit for July 22, when Perast celebrates its most unique and colorful tradition: Fašinada.
Legend has it that on this day centuries ago, sailors laid the first stone for the church on Our Lady of the Rocks island. To honor this, locals reenact the tradition every year.
- All the town’s boats tie together into a long procession.
- Locals dress in traditional attire and set sail with stones and poplar saplings (symbolically, though today they often use palm branches).
- Only men row the boats—because, as legend says, having a woman on board is bad luck at sea.
- The boats sail past the waterfront, with singing and music, before heading to Our Lady of the Rocks island.
- Upon arrival, they throw the stones into the water around the island’s foundation, reinforcing it against erosion.
- Afterward, a sailing regatta takes place.
- Want to know which Montenegrin towns are most popular with tourists? Check out my ranking list in a separate guide.
- Or, if you’re looking for a similar small town but with beaches, read about Bečići: A Beach Destination.
Final Thoughts on Perast
To wrap up: Perast is Montenegro’s most romantic town.
People don’t come here for the beaches or even the historical landmarks—there are other Montenegrin towns with more of both. Visitors come to Perast for its atmosphere.
- Wander through its medieval streets
- Enjoy a coffee by the waterfront
- Hike to a scenic viewpoint
- Take a mini boat trip to the island
That’s all you need to truly experience this magical place.
Resources to help you plan your dream trip to Montenegro
- WayAway: Cheap flights and best deals.
- Car rental in Montenegro:
- LocalRent – works with local rental companies. Leader in car rental in Montenegro.
- DiscoverCars – a large international platform.
- Budget-friendly vacation packages to Montenegro: CheapOair.
- Hotels and apartments all over the country:
- Trip.com – the most popular accommodation booking platform
- TripAdvisor compares the prices among dozens of other booking services and offer the best price
- Tours, excursions and activities (including extreme ones):
- GetYourGuide – more than 800 tours
- Viator – 1000+ excursions and activities throughout the country
- Comprehensive travel insurance: EKTA
- Internet and Calls:
- Airalo eSIM in Montenegro
- Drimsim – universal sim card for frequent traveler
- Taxi and airport transfers: Intui.Travel