Perast is a town in Montenegro

Perast is a small, ancient town on the coast of Montenegro. Every tourist visiting Montenegro must visit Perast. The town is small—visiting it takes just 60–90 minutes—but despite its size, it has many fascinating sights.

It’s best to visit Perast as a day trip—never book accommodation there. The town is tiny, and staying more than a few hours would be dull.

Perast is located close to other historic towns—Kotor and Risan. If you’re driving, it makes sense to visit all three in one trip: you’ll spend about an hour in Perast, even less in Risan, and much longer in Kotor.

Rich History and Venetian Influence

Perast boasts many attractions due to its rich history. People inhabited the area long before Christ—archaeological finds date back to 3500 BC. The settlement was founded by the Illyrians.

Despite its age, Perast truly flourished after joining the Venetian Republic. Before that, its economic growth was limited by nearby Kotor’s dominance. When both came under Venice, the rivalry ended. As a border town, Perast received customs-free trade privileges and Venice promoted its marine and military fleet.

Remarkably, the town lacked defensive walls yet withstood Ottoman attacks for centuries by building the Fortress of the Holy Cross and ten defensive towers. The Ottomans never captured it, proving the system’s effectiveness.

By the late 18th century, Perast reached its peak: 1,643 residents, 4 shipyards, 19 palaces, and 19 churches.

From 1420 until Venice’s fall, Perast prospered. In 1797, it was the last Venetian city to surrender to Napoleon. On August 22, 1797, Captain Josim Visković removed the Venetian flag, gave a farewell speech, and buried the banner under the altar of Perast’s main cathedral.

Perast is also famed as the place where Peter I trained his captains.

Today, Perast is part of Montenegro and has a population of 350. The town’s appearance reflects its baroque-era heyday, making it one of the best-preserved examples of baroque architecture on the Montenegrin coast.

What to See in Perast

City Museum

Start at the City Museum in the Bujović Palace. The collection is surprisingly rich for such a small town. Most exhibits were donated by descendants of Perast’s noble families and chronicle the city’s rise and decline.

The Two Islands

Perast’s most famous sights are its two islands:

St. George Island has a 12th-century Benedictine abbey (possibly active in the 9th century), but it’s closed to tourists.

Our Lady of the Rocks is open to tourists. A boat runs regularly between Perast and the island for a few euros, returning after about half an hour—enough time to explore.

The island was man-made: when sailors found a Marian icon on a reef and the sick one was cured, locals sank old ships and added stones from passing vessels to build it up. The plateau spans about 3,000 m².

The island’s church, in Byzantine style, houses a wealthy collection: 68 paintings and 2,500 silver and gold plaques. It serves as both a church and a gallery/treasury.

Each year on June 22, locals celebrate Fašinada by throwing stones around the island to maintain its foundation. There’s also a sailing regatta, with about 100 boats competing for the Fašinada Cup—an event best viewed from the water.

Palaces & Towers

Perast had 12 noble families, building 19 baroque palaces in the 17th–18th centuries. Notable palaces include:

• Zmajević Palace (17th c.), former residence of two bishops
• Bujović Palace, the museum location
• Smekja Palace, the largest in town
• Visković Palace, the oldest, dating to 1500, with a tower and loggia

Other palaces include Šeštokrilović (17th c.), Lučić-Kolović-Matikola (18th c.).

As noted, the Fortress of the Holy Cross overlooks the town (16th c.) and the ten defensive towers—some still standing—provided Ottoman-era protection.

Churches & Bell Tower

Besides the Our Lady island church, visit St. Nicholas Church (early 17th c.)—its bell tower is stunning, built in a Romanesque–Baroque–Renaissance style at the end of the 17th century. The tower is open to tourists and offers panoramic views.

Other churches include Our Lady of the Rosary (17th c.), St. John the Baptist (16th c.), St. Anne, St. Mark (18th c.), St. Anthony (17th c.), and the Nativity of the Virgin (18th c.).

Things to Do

• Walk the town: admire architecture and churches
• Visit Our Lady of the Rocks by boat
• Swim at the small pebble beach—quiet and charming, with basic conveniences
• Dine at one of the few local cafes—cozy and quality food
• Rent a canoe and paddle around both islands—fun and affordable
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There are minimal shopping options—only souvenirs, ice cream, and drinks.

Getting to Perast

Do not stay in Perast overnight—visit on a day trip. Transport options:

• Tour bus
• Rental car (recommended for visiting Perast, Kotor, and Risan in one day)
• Excursion tours

Bus travel is inconvenient due to transfers; renting a car or booking a guided tour is easier.

When to Visit

Perast enjoys the typical Montenegrin coastal climate, with beach season May–end of September. However, Perast is more a sightseeing destination, not a beach resort. You can visit any time of year—even February—though winter has fewer tourists. Town facilities (museum, cafes, churches, boat trips) are open year-round.