A Venetian Captains' Village on the Bay
Perast occupies a single slender strip of waterfront beneath Mount St Elias. Roughly 350 people live here year-round, yet between 1420 and 1797 this hamlet supplied the Venetian Republic with some of its finest sea captains. Sixteen palaces line the quay.
From Tivat Airport the drive takes about 25 minutes. The bay road hugs the waterline beneath karst cliffs. Park at the northern edge and walk the waterfront in ten minutes. Spaces are limited and the road becomes one-way in summer.
Two Islands, Two Stories
Sveti Djordje (St George)
The natural island closer to shore is draped in dark cypresses and closed to the public. A Benedictine abbey has occupied the site since the 12th century.
Gospa od Skrpjela (Our Lady of the Rocks)
On 22 July 1452, two fishermen hauled an icon from the seabed near a submerged rock. Locals began sinking stones to enlarge the spot. The resulting island holds a baroque church with 68 paintings by Tripo Kokolja. Skiffs depart every half hour.
Stone and Memory
Sixteen palaces, seventeen churches, and several guard towers. The Museum of Perast in the Palazzo Bujovic holds maritime instruments, ship models, and town records.
Banja Monastery
Past Perast toward Risan, a minor turn leads to the Banja Monastery. Religious artefacts from Russian, Greek, and Boka dynasties. Few visitors make the detour. Plan your route with our Montenegro driving and routes guide.