Perast
Perast is a small town on Montenegro's Bay of Kotor, known for two offshore islets and about 20 Baroque palaces built on seafaring wealth.
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Perast is a small coastal town in Montenegro, a few kilometers northwest of Kotor, on the Bay of Kotor. One long street runs along the shore, with stairs climbing to the upper town. Two islets lie offshore. St George has a 12th-century Benedictine monastery. Our Lady of the Rocks is an artificial islet with a church built in 1630, hung with about 2,000 silver votive plaques that sailors gave to thank the Virgin for sea victories and safe passage through storms.
Perast grew rich from seafaring in the 17th and 18th centuries, and about 20 Baroque palaces from that time remain, many neglected and overgrown with ivy. The church of St Nicholas dominates the central square; its bell tower is 55 meters tall, but the three-nave church was never finished for lack of money. The town gets about 240 sunny days a year, so it works for a half day of walking and a boat trip to the islets. With only 237 residents in the 2023 census, the old center is easy to cover on foot.
Perast in five
- Take the boat to Our Lady of the RocksThe church on its island is almost 400 years old, the board notes, and holds a tapestry woven between 1803 and 1828. Ask the price and return time at the quay before you board; none is quoted here.
- Pick early morning or evening for the quayPerast is a small village, so a full boat or bus can change the mood of the waterfront. Walk it early or after dinner if you want it quiet.
- Arrive by bus or taxi from KotorPerast sits on the shore road between Kotor and Risan. A bus or a pre-arranged taxi means no parking decisions; drivers should read the bay planner for the loop.Plan the bay
- Pair it with Risan's Roman mosaicsThe tourism board points to the mosaics in Risan, a short way along the same bay. Together they make a calm day away from the Kotor crowds.
- Stay a night for the quay at duskRooms are limited in a village this size. If you plan an overnight, book ahead for summer and compare it with Kotor on the where-to-stay guide.Where to stay in Kotor
Need to know
- Airport
- Tivat (TIV); Podgorica (TGD) is the other option
- Getting there
- Shore road from Kotor by bus, taxi or car
- Getting around
- On foot; boats to the islands
- Best base
- Perast for quiet; Kotor for more choice
- Time needed
- Half a day; overnight for the evenings
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain14 rainy daysHigh9°Low4°Quiet, wetJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 9°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 254 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Quiet, wet
- FebruaryRain12 rainy daysHigh11°Low6°Quiet, wetFebruaryRain
Poor
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 232 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Quiet, wet
- MarchRain14 rainy daysHigh13°Low8°Spring, emptyMarchRain
Poor
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 288 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, empty
- AprilRain13 rainy daysHigh17°Low11°Warm, greenAprilRain
Good
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 158 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, green
- MayRain16 rainy daysHigh20°Low15°Warm, calmMayRain
Mixed
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 220 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, calm
- JuneClear10 rainy daysHigh26°Low20°Hot, brightJuneClear
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 95 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, bright
- JulyClear5 rainy daysHigh29°Low22°Hot, groupsJulyClear
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 51 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, groups
- AugustClear8 rainy daysHigh29°Low22°Hot, groupsAugustClear
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 75 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, groups
- SeptemberRain10 rainy daysHigh24°Low18°Warm seaSeptemberRain
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 183 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm sea
- OctoberRain10 rainy daysHigh20°Low15°Mild, calmOctoberRain
Good
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 213 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, calm
- NovemberRain15 rainy daysHigh15°Low10°RainyNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 391 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rainy
- DecemberRain13 rainy daysHigh11°Low6°Mild, wetDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 268 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, wet
Average daily high and low in Kotor, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Perast
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
15
- Feels like
- 12°
- Humidity
- 48%
- Wind
- 11 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 48%
Perast
10:57 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today19°12°48%Monday: Rain. High 19°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 48%.
- Tue16°12°80%Tuesday: Rain. High 16°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 80%.
- Wed16°12°3%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 16°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Thu17°12°0%Thursday: Partly cloudy. High 17°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri16°11°4%Friday: Clear. High 16°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 4%.
- Sat15°10°17%Saturday: Rain. High 15°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 17%.
- Sun13°11°28%Sunday: Rain. High 13°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 28%.
Updated 10:46 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Before you go to Perast
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Rules for Perast, checked
- Check entry rules with the Montenegrin Ministry of Foreign Affairs before you book, since they depend on your passport and nationality.
- Dial 112 for police, fire or an ambulance anywhere in Montenegro.
- Cover shoulders and knees when you enter a church, including St Nicholas in the central square and the church on Our Lady of the Rocks.
- Check the bill for a service charge before you add a tip in a restaurant.
Plan around Perast
Old town and fortress path nearby
Read the guideBay of KotorRoute, ferry and boat options around the bay
Read the guideTivatAirport town and marina
Read the guideHerceg NoviThe western end of the bay
Read the guideWhere to stay in KotorBases around the inner bay
Read the guideKotor or Budva?Choose between bay and beach
Read the guideAll of MontenegroEntry rules, coast and mountains
Read the guidePerast FAQ
Is Perast worth visiting?
Yes, for a calm baroque waterfront and the boat to the island church. It is small, so plan a few hours or an overnight, not a full day.
How do you get to Our Lady of the Rocks?
By small boat from the Perast waterfront. Ask the price and return time before boarding, since this guide does not quote a fare.
How far is Perast from Kotor?
It is a short drive or bus ride along the shore road. Allow extra time in summer, when UK advice notes congestion on coastal roads.
Can you visit Perast as a day trip from Dubrovnik?
It is possible but long. The catamaran lands in Kotor, so you would add a road leg to Perast; Kotor itself fills the day more comfortably.
Is it better to stay in Perast or Kotor?
Perast for quiet evenings and the water; Kotor for restaurants, transport and the old town. Many visitors base in Kotor and visit Perast for a half day.