Perast

It occupies less than a kilometre of waterfront but contains some of the finest civic and religious architecture in Montenegro, the product of extraordinary wea…It occupies less than a kilometre of waterfront but contains some of the finest civic and religious architecture in Montenegro, the product of extraordinary wealth accumulated during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries under Venetian rule. The town sits directly opposite the islands of Our Lady of the Rocks and St George.

The town reached its peak during this maritime era, when Perast was home to a naval academy and produced some of the most distinguished officers in the Adriatic. The legacy of that period survives in the row of baroque palaces and stone churches lining the waterfront, including the Church of St Nicholas and its campanile, which remains the most recognisable landmark on the Perast skyline. Twelve palaces and seventeen churches were recorded within the town at its height, and much of this architectural fabric has remained intact.

Perast today is the departure point for boat trips to Our Lady of the Rocks, the pilgrimage island reached in minutes from the waterfront. Speedboat tours and private boat charters also operate from Perast, connecting the town with Kotor and the wider bay. Restaurants in Perast line the waterfront road with views across to the islands. The town is 12 km from Kotor along the northern shore and a regular stop on inner bay boat tours. Listings covering boat tours, restaurants and services in and around Perast are below.