Perast was the best part of my 5 day trip to Montenegro this year. It had everything about ‘slow travel’ written on it. While one can argue that its so tiny and has hardly anything to see and do, I would say for those who want to smell the roses, this is your place.
Lazy stroll, soak in the sun and fresh air, visit a museum and then a lazy lunch admiring the beauty of Kotor Bay. There is nothing more I can expect from a holiday and Perast ticked all the boxes for me. So here are some tips and account of my day trip from Kotor to Perast.
Where is Perast and how to reach here?
Starting with some basics. Perast is really a small town on Kotor Bay and in between Kotor and Herceg Novi
It is small but has a big historical past. From being a fishing village to an important trading port, its strategic location right at the entry of the Kotor Bay made it acquire a lot of importance under the Venetian rule. Also ruled by Ottoman Empire, the influence is evident in some of its monuments.
By Boat
If you are staying in Kotor, you can reach here by taking a boat ride from Kotor. There are several operators whom you can easily locate if you walk to the docks area. You can either pre-book or just walk there and book. Depending on the tourist season you may decide. I traveled in March this year and I booked an evening prior to the tour. I chose the round-trip from Kotor to Lady of Rocks and Perast. It costed about 20 Euros and I paid in cash.
The day of the tour I arrived at the docks and was escorted to the boat. There were other tourists who were heading to Blue Lagoon for a swim. Our first stop was Lady of Rocks where we spent an hour and then I was dropped at Perast and all other tourist headed to Blue Lagoon. I was in Perast for about 3 hours after which the Boat bringing back the tourists from Blue Lagoon picked me up and we headed back to Kotor. Overall it was about 7 hours trip.
By Bus
You can also take the Bus from the Kotor Bus station and book tickets at the station or online. The bus heading towards Herceg Novi also stops at Perast. And it’s a very beautiful ride all along the Kotor Bay. Ensure you are sitting on the left side when you board from Kotor.
How much time do you need in Perast?
I would say 3-4 hours is good enough if you are visiting here as a day trip from Kotor. You can also choose to stay here if you want a quieter option over Kotor.
I spent just a little over 3 hours here and was able to have a really relaxed time. Honestly I would have loved to stay here and have a more lazy and quieter day or two in my trip itinerary.
This is how I spent my 3 hours in Perast
As I mentioned here I arrived here by boat after visiting The Lady of Rocks. The Captain of our boat dropped me safely at the docks and gave me a time when I should be back at the same place when he arrives to pick me up. I had a little over 3 hours with me. It was just inching towards lunchtime as well so it was perfect timing. The weather was sunny and clear but a bit nippy, again perfect weather to walk and explore.
There is just one main arterial street or road next to the water which you can walk and explore. So its pretty easy. After exiting the docks where I was dropped off, I could spot a museum just on my left. I had read about it and some window on the upper floor from where we get stunning views, so I decided to head to my first spot, the museum.
The Perast Musuem
The waterfront museum has an impressive location opening up to the Kotor Bay. When I entered the Museum, I was the only visitor, the small reception desk was empty. Soon two smartly dressed ladies arrived and welcomed me. I paid 5 euros as entry ticket. Then I was escorted by one of the ladies all around the museum which was just about 2 storey and few rooms. So you can say I got an exclusive private tour. Also made me a bit conscious in spending time at individual exhibits, as I felt she was waiting for me to finish.
The Museum has maritime and historical collections. There is a good display of artillery. There are exhibits which tell us the story of the glorious Venetian past of Perast and how it evolved over centuries. The balcony from where you get envious views was closed and it was disappointing. However the short visit to this museum was interesting as a starting point to explore the town.
Stroll by the waterfront and admire Kotor Bay
As I mentioned above there is one main street in Perast. After exiting the Museum, I spent almost 45 minutes lazily strolling around and clicking pictures. On the left are cute shops, boutiques, restaurants and on the right is the blue and green water of Kotor Bay against the backdrop of the Black Mountains. The entire landscape is simply stunning. Since this was in March there was a lot of wisteria all around which made some of these buildings look very instagrammy. Depending on the time you have venture into the alleys to explore more of this pretty town.
Lunch : Al fresco dining at the edge of the Kotor Bay
I had really worked a good appetite for some good lunch. It was a shoulder season so the resturants were not very busy. There were several of them which had some excellent al fresco seating area right at the edge of the Bay. It almost seemed as if you were sitting on the water. Its what influencers show us on Instagram, and I was really spoilt for a choice.
Try Lamb cooked under a Bell
I read about this croatian style of cooking in several websites and it seemed that neighbouring Montenegro also had adapted this way to roast lamb. Inherited from romans, lamb is cooked along with potatoes, carrots and other vegetables on a hot iron plate and its covered with a giant conical bell. Embers are then thrown over and the bell is covered; the lamb and vegetable slow cook in their own juices, making the dish very flavourful and delicious.
After browsing menu of many resturants like any other confused tourist I settled for Otok Bronza Konoba. There were lots of tables outside and I chose one that was literally on the Bay with some stunning views of the mountains. I ordered the obvious, Lamb under the Bell with some beer. They served bread too.
The lamb arrived soon accompanied by roasted vegetables. Trust me the food was simple, real and gorgeous. Lamb was succulent and falling off the bone. Enjoying this meal on the banks of Kotor Bay with this stunning scenery and a rather peaceful ambience was one of the best moments I have had in a long long time on any trip. This was priceless.
Try a swim at Perast Beach
Now it is a bad idea to swim after you have a large portion of lamb in your belly. However I did want to introduce this also as one of the option which you can explore when you are in Perast. Specifically if you are staying here it will be a great idea to wake up early and try a swim.
Wining and Dining Options
I think I have painted a bit boring image of Perast, and thats totally because I am a bit boring traveler who likes to vegetate with a wine and olives at the waterfront practicing art of doing nothing. But then there are many who would like to make maximum of their time and indulge in some activities. So there are lots of options to try some great wine and also party in Perast.
Accomodation Options in Perast
There are some lovely options to stay in Perast. And I can promise from the pictures that they must be with some killer views. I stayed in Kotor and did a day trip to Perast. However it could be a great option to stay in Perast if you are looking for something a little quieter than the busy Kotor.
Some options which are available on Booking.com are here for you to check out. I dont have a specific recommendation as I did not stay here. Check them out here
Final thoughts on Perast
Perast is a great day trip from Kotor, Dubrovnik or Tivat and it is also a great option to stay for few nights. I would classify this as a slow living travel destination if you visit it in shoulder season or just at the start of the tourist season. It has beautiful scenery. It has local shops and restaurants and it’s great to eat and shop local and support them.
Absolutely must visit destination in Montenegro, I can say it’s truly a jewel of Kotor Bay.
