Getting Around · Day Trips
Perast sits just 12 km up the bay from Kotor, and getting there is genuinely easy — the only question is which way suits you. Here's the full Kotor to Perast transport guide: boat vs bus vs taxi vs private transfer vs rental car, what each costs, cruise-day timing, parking, Our Lady of the Rocks and the itineraries we'd actually use.
Quick answer: the fastest, cheapest way from Kotor to Perast is the local Blue Line bus — about €1.50–€2 and 20–30 minutes along the bay. If you're in a group, on a schedule, or arriving off a ship, a taxi or private transfer (≈€15–€25 one way, 15–20 minutes) is just as simple door to door. Want the journey itself to be the experience? Take a boat tour that arrives by water and folds in Our Lady of the Rocks. A rental car only makes sense if you're already driving the coast, because Perast is essentially car-free. Below we break down each route, the costs, the cruise-day timing and a few ready-made itineraries.
The shortcut most people miss. You don't have to choose between bus and boat. The smart play is to reach Perast cheaply by bus or taxi, then take the constant five-minute boat taxi from the waterfront out to Our Lady of the Rocks. You get the scenic island crossing without paying for a full boat tour — unless you specifically want the bay loop and the Blue Cave too.
| Mode | Time | Rough cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local bus (Blue Line) | 20–30 min | ~€1.50–€2 | Budget & independent travellers |
| Taxi | 15–20 min | ~€15–€25 each way | Door-to-door, small groups |
| Private transfer | 15–20 min | From ~€25–€40 | Comfort, families, cruise days |
| Rental car | 15–20 min | Fuel + paid parking | Those already road-tripping the bay |
| Boat / guided tour | Varies | From ~€20–€40 | Scenery + Our Lady of the Rocks & cave |
For the wider picture on buses, taxis and boats across the bay, see our getting around Kotor guide and the Kotor without a car walkthrough.
The Blue Line bus runs along the bay between Kotor and Perast (and on toward Risan and Herceg Novi) roughly every 30–60 minutes in season. Catch it near the entrance to Kotor's Old Town, pay the driver a euro or two, and you'll be in Perast in 20–30 minutes. The catch is small: buses drop you on the main road above the village, not on the waterfront, so there's a short, gentle walk down. It's the route we recommend for solo travellers and couples who don't mind a fixed-ish timetable. Carry small change and check the last return time so you're not stranded after dinner.
A taxi takes you straight to the edge of Perast in 15–20 minutes for about €15–€25 one way. Agree the fare before you set off — not every taxi uses a meter. For three or four people, the per-head cost is close to the bus while saving you the walk and the wait. A pre-booked private transfer costs a little more but adds a fixed price, a named pickup time and a driver who'll wait — ideal for families, early starts and anyone arriving off a cruise ship who wants zero uncertainty. If you're also sorting airport logistics, our Tivat Airport to Kotor guide covers the same transfer operators.
Book a Perast & Our Lady of the Rocks tour
The simplest way to combine the journey, the village and the island church — and, on longer loops, the Blue Cave. Group boats are cheap and social; private boats let you set the pace.
If your real goal is Our Lady of the Rocks and a scenic ride along the bay, a boat tour beats any road option. Tours arrive at Perast from the water, stop at the island church, and most longer trips continue to the Blue Cave and other bay highlights. Group boats are inexpensive and sociable; private boats let you control the timing and swim stops. This is also the most photogenic approach to Perast — the village rises out of the water as you come in. Compare the full range in our Bay of Kotor boat tours guide.
Driving Kotor to Perast is quick — 15–20 minutes on the coastal road through Dobrota — but Perast is essentially car-free. You'll leave the car in paid lots and roadside spaces at the village entrance and walk in. Those spaces fill fast in summer and on cruise days. So a rental car earns its keep only if you're already road-tripping the bay; otherwise the bus or a taxi is simpler and cheaper. If you do drive, go early for parking, and don't attempt to take the car into the village itself.
Parking in plain terms. There is no central car park inside Perast — the main road and a few signed lots at each end of the village are it. On a busy August midday or a two-ship cruise day, expect to circle. Arriving before 10am or after 4pm makes parking, photos and the island boat all noticeably easier.
Perast is one of the safest cruise-day trips from Kotor precisely because the journey is short and dependable — no open-sea weather risk like a full Blue Cave loop. A taxi or a booked half-day tour gets you to Perast and Our Lady of the Rocks and back well within a typical port call. Head straight there early to beat the tour-bus rush, keep a clear buffer before all-aboard, and you'll tick off one of the bay's signature sights with time to spare. Pair this with our guide to avoiding cruise crowds in Kotor for the wider timing plan.
Our Lady of the Rocks is a man-made island built up over centuries on a reef, crowned by a blue-domed church and a small museum of votive offerings. However you reach Perast, the island is a short hop away: boat taxis run constantly from the waterfront — about five minutes each way for a few euros return — and many bay tours stop there directly. A small entry fee covers the church and museum, and 30–45 minutes is about right on the island. For the full village experience — where to eat, walk and photograph — see our Perast day trip from Kotor guide.
Stay over and have Perast to yourself
When the day-trippers leave, Perast turns quiet and golden. Waterfront rooms are limited — reserve early with free cancellation if an overnight tempts you.
Take the Blue Line bus. It's a euro or two, runs often, and the short walk down into the village is part of the charm.
Split a taxi or, for a fixed early start, a private transfer. Door to door, no timetable, easy to combine with lunch and the island.
Book a half-day tour or private transfer and go early. Reliable timing, the island church included, and a comfortable buffer before all-aboard.
Go by boat tour. Arriving by water is the prettiest approach, and you fold in Our Lady of the Rocks and often the Blue Cave.
| Half-day (most people) | Cruise port call | Slow / overnight | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Get there by | Bus or taxi, early | Taxi or booked tour | Bus or car, late morning |
| In Perast | Waterfront, one church, bell tower | Quick waterfront + island | Long lunch, swim, sunset |
| Island | Boat taxi, 30–45 min | Boat taxi, 20–30 min | Boat taxi at golden hour |
| Back to Kotor | Early afternoon | Well before all-aboard | Stay the night |
Building a longer trip? Slot Perast into our Kotor 3-day itinerary, and browse the wider things to do in Kotor and towns & villages around Kotor to see where it fits.
Related guide
Arrive at Our Lady of the Rocks by private yacht
For a higher-end take on the Kotor–Perast run, a crewed day charter lets you cruise up the bay at your own pace, anchor off the islands and swim from the boat before the village wakes up. Our sister site Adriatic Yacht Guide covers private boat and yacht options for the Bay of Kotor, Porto Montenegro and beyond.
For more bay-wide pitfalls, read our 12 Kotor travel mistakes guide.
Plan your Kotor to Perast trip
Book a Perast and Our Lady of the Rocks tour, or sort a Kotor base first and go independently by bus or taxi.
Perast is about 12 km away. Take a local Blue Line bus (~€1.50–€2, 20–30 min), a taxi or private transfer (~€15–€25 one way, 15–20 min), drive a rental car (15–20 min, parking at the village edge), or join a boat tour from the water. Buses drop you on the road above the village, a short walk down to the waterfront.
The bus is cheaper, faster and more frequent for simply reaching Perast. A boat tour wins if your goal is Our Lady of the Rocks and a scenic bay loop. Many people take the bus or taxi to Perast, then a short boat taxi out to the island once they're there.
About €15–€25 one way, depending on season. Agree the fare before you go, as not all taxis use meters. For three or four people, splitting a taxi or private transfer costs little more per head than the bus and saves time.
Perast is largely car-free. Park in the paid lots and roadside spaces on the main road at the village entrance, then walk down. Spaces fill quickly in summer and on cruise days, so arrive early or take the bus or a taxi.
Yes — it's one of the most reliable cruise-day trips because it's close and dependable. A taxi or booked half-day tour reaches Perast and Our Lady of the Rocks and returns within a typical port call. Go early to beat the buses and keep a buffer before all-aboard.
