This text is the 2021 complete travel guide for Perast Montenegro, in which I will list everything you need to know if you are planning a visit to this city.
The place is located on the part of the land between the Mrcevac road (E80), which is the main road along the Bay of Kotor and the coast of Marko Martinovic, which is a road that passes through the place by the sea.
Marko Martinovic street-Perast
Perast is a smaller city if compared to Kotor, Herceg Novi, Budva. Still, this is without a doubt the most visited place in this part of the Adriatic. Its cultural and historical heritage is a magnet for tourists from all over the world.
Below is an overview of tips on what to do to experience this area in the best way.
5 useful tips for Perast
- You should spend at least one whole day there, but if you like quiet and romantic mornings, don’t miss an overnight stay.
- Cash is king! For most payments you need cash, therefore prepare euros, there is no exchange office in the place.
- Tipping is optional. More about restaurants in the second part of the text.
- The easiest way to get around the city is to walk. The road leads along the coast. Everything is concentrated in a small space.
- Montenegro is very visited during the summer. However, if you want to avoid the peak tourist season, the advice is the following. June and September are the most pleasant months for visiting, swimming, and sunbathing.
History of Perast
The history of Perast has been marked by numerous events. It is an ancient city on the coast of Boka Bay. The city became famous for its numerous palaces in the Baroque style, Catholic and Orthodox churches, during its rich history.
The town was founded by the Illyrians, like a fishing village dating to 1336 years. He experienced his prosperity during the Venetian period until 1797 when Napoleon defeated the Republic of Venice and moved into the hands of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
Finally, with the creation of the new state in 1918, it belonged to Yugoslavia, and later in 2006 to Montenegro.
Things to do in Perast
What to do in Perast depends on your interests. The city can be visited in one day, but keep in mind that there is a history of 7 centuries.
- I especially recommend a visit to the Church of St. Nicholas, which was built in 1616. The church is open to visitors from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., and 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. The fee to visit the church is 1 euro, and I think it is worth studying and looking inside this bustling building. In addition to the church, there is a 55-meter-long tower with a magnificent panoramic view of the city and its surroundings. A ticket of 1 euro is also paid for the entrance to the tower. The stairs are very steep, but the view is exceptional.
Church of Saint Nickolas
- In front of the church there is a square, on which are statues of famous representatives of the feathers: Matija Zmajević, Tripo Kokolj, Marko Martinović. Each of them contributed to the development of the city in some way.
Main square in Perast-Matija Zmajevic
- A magnificent 18th-century baroque palace located in the eastern part of town, known as Bujovica palace. The Montenegrin Prince - Petar II Petrovic Njegos wrote here one of the most beautiful love poems "A night more precious than a century" while staying in this beautiful palace in the mid-19th-century. Today, this building houses the museum of the city of Perast.
Museum of city Perast - Bujovica palace
- The museum keeps valuable exhibits, art paintings, books. In the museum, you can also see a Venetian cannon from the 16th-century, which, in addition to the cannon in Copenhagen, is the only one of its kind in the world. I recommend the photo session from the balcony of this building because the view is great. Opening hours are from 8 am to 6 pm. A ticket for group visits of 5 and more people be 4 euros. Children up to 12 years pay 1 euro. A single entrance costs as much as 8 euros. That is why I especially advise you to wait for another visitor and enter the museum as a group of 5 or more visitors.
Venetian cannon
On a tour through the old town Perast the following places should not be missed:
- Zmajevica Palace, built-in 1664.
- Church of Our Lady of the Rosary from the 17th century.
- The Smekja Palace was built in 1764, and today houses the Iberostar Perast Hotel.
- Church of St. Mark - built-in 1760.
- Roman Catholic Church of St. Nicholas, built-in 1616.
- Bujovic Palace, built-in 1694.
The most impressive attraction of Perast is the 2 islets of Saint George Island (Sveti Đorđe) and Our Lady of the Rocks (Gospa od Škrpjela).
The Island of Saint George (Sveti Đorđe)
The Island of Saint George( Sveti Djordje) is closed to visitors. There is a Benedictine monastery, built-in 1166, and a church built-in 1667. Although the island is rich in historical monuments, they are not accessible to the public. When boating, it is possible to take photos only from the sea.
Saint George island - Sveti Djordje
Our Lady of the Rocks (Gospa od Škrpjela)
Our Lady of the Rocks(Gospa od Skrpjela) is a unique island, with a church built-in 1667. The interior was painted by Tripo Kokolja, a famous Montenegrin painter of the 17th century. Entrance to the chapel, which houses a small treasury of exhibits, is 1.5 euros. Before leaving, read the island's history because the whole complex is full of works of art that have been made on the island for centuries. Small boats depart from the center of the city towards the islands every 15 minutes. A return ticket costs 5 euros, while for children up to 6 years the transport is free. You can go with one boat and come back with the next.
Lady of Rocks - Gospa od Skrpjela
Fasinada
Fasinada is a summer festival that takes place every year on July 22nd. Many decorated boats sail towards the island of Our Lady of the Rocks. The boats are interconnected and each carries a stone that is deposited on the island. This event is included in the cultural heritage of Montenegro.
Fasinada Perast
Perast beach
Perast has a small sandy beach rented by the Pirate bar. Here you can rent deck chairs and umbrellas, the water is clean and pleasant. This beach is located in the northern part of town, which is furthest from Kotor, below the parking lot.
Accommodation in Perast
Perast is narrow, so all accommodation is concentrated near the coast.
You can find double apartments, and accommodation for families in the Admiral apartments, or Waterfront Haven amid Medieval Palaces of Boka.
Admiral apartments
In the middle category and the category of luxury hotels I will mention Monte Bay Retreat, Iberostar Heritage Grand Perast, Hotel Nauta.
Ibero Heritage Grand hotel
Prices are the same as in other tourist destinations in Montenegro. Depending on the type of room or apartment you can find accommodation for at 25-245 euros per night.
Where to eat-best waterside restaurants in Perast
You should not miss dinner or just refreshments in one of the best waterside restaurants in Perast. Each of them carries its own message, as do all the facilities in the city. An exceptional view, and the excellent Mediterranean or European menu is their feature. If you start from Kotor, you will first come across the restaurant island of Bronza, Bocalibre, Nauta and Admiral. Then there is the restaurant Conte, one of the best in Perast. Next to it are Fish Restaurant Djardin and Riva Terrace, Armonia Jelena Palace restaurant. I also recommend the Skolji tavern, a great place when you get hungry.
Restaurant Conte
How to get to Perast Montenegro?
Here we will list how you can get to Perast. In the beginning, I would like to mention that if you can afford comfort, rent a car and enjoy the ride. A rented car gives you the freedom to stop and take a photo exactly when you want.
- It is located 37 km north of Budva, and 47 of Sveti Stefan if you take a picturesque Adriatic road to Kotor and further along the bay.
- The Tivat airport is 19.7 km or 30 minutes drive away. The price of the bus ticket from Budva is about € 5, while the bus for the bus costs € 12 from the capital Podgorica. Is 12 km away from Kotor, and the Blue Line bus will take you to this section. You can pick up it outside the Kotor walls, just past the market stalls, a little park with trees and seats. There is no bus stop as such. The bus leaves Kotor every hour at 15 minutes past the hour and it drives right down into place. The bus ticket is 1 euro each way. There are other buses that you can use to get to these beautiful places, which produce further. In that case, you will get out on the main road above the locality and it will take you 5-6 minutes to get down to the waterfront.
- You can also reach the city by taxi or rent a car. For a taxi, you need to pay about 0.75 euros per km. If you rent a car in Montenegro, the price is 15-30 euros, depending on the agency, car, and rental period.
Parking in Perast
Parking in Perast is available at the following locations. Car parking exists at the entrance to the city from the side of Kotor, and on the opposite side. Parking costs 2 euros per car and during the season it is difficult to find a place because there are numerous visitors.
Parking in Perast
I hope that my experience is helpful when planning a vacation in Montenegro. If you have any more questions, you can write to me without hesitation at the address available on my site.