Balkan Summer: Perast

Boka Kotorska, or the bay of Kotor, is a stunning fjord-style bay in Monetenegro’s Adriatic coast. Renowned for its picturesque landscapes, Kotor bay is surrounded by sheer mountains that plunge into the deep, placid Mediterranean blue. It is probably the most scenic postcard picture in the Balkans, and is not one to be missed.

The eponymous Kotor is the main city of the region. During the high season, several cruise ships arrive each day, flooding the city’s stiflingly warm, compact old town area with a sea of tourists. Kotor old town is beautiful, and certainly worth a trip. But, if you are looking to escape the summer mania, a 20-min cab will take the tranquil oasis that is Perast.

On our last trip to Montenegro, we headed straight to Perast after getting a transfer from Dubrovnik airport. We have heard numerous horror stories about Kotor Bay's dedicated airport, Tivat, during the peak of summer travel.

Stretching a short way along the bay, Perast is a collection of Venetian palaces, luxury hotels, seafood restaurants, ancient churches, ice cream vendors and small markets. Fully pedestrianised, it will probably take you 20 minutes to walk the whole town. 

The scenery is stunning, with old stone houses peering out towards Our Lady of the Rocks, a 15th century church perched on a manmade island, just a few minutes’ boat ride out into the water. Perast bears the architectural legacy of a history of Roman, Venetian, Austro-Hungarian, Yugoslavian and then post-communist statehood. The confluence of the blue Adriatic water, the stone shades of the architecture and the brown and green of the mountains make for a scenic shot, to say the least.