A SLEEPY BAY TOWN WITH SOME CHARMING ARCHITECTURE

Perast is a perfect example of my main issue reading travel blogs - every city is written to sound extraordinary, everything a superlative. In several blogs that I read before I went, Perast was cited as one of the best places in Montenegro - a must-go-to gem.

In my opinion, this is just not true. Perast is, in its own way, quite charming - but to me it pales greatly when compared to nearby Kotor or Budva. Different than the nearby Old Towns, Perast is not walled - and instead opens to the sea. The town was formed by 12 clans of wealthy fisherman and has a different architecture style than the nearby towns - Venetian style “palaces” and churches - 17 and 19 respectively in a town of about 250 residents. Like all the towns along the Bay of Kotor, Perast offers stunning views of the mountains and sea.

For me, it was a pleasant day trip; it took a few hours to wander along its coastline, climb the St. Nikola Church Belltower (for 1 euro) and walk through the town - checking out its palaces and smaller churches. I don’t advise taking a sight-seeing approach to exploring the city - and instead just wandering a bit and seeing what catches your eye. The only reason I can see to spend the night is to escape the crowds - but that’s doable even in Kotor if you stay in an apartment along the coast a bit outside of Old Town.

I’m not saying don’t go to Perast; I’m just saying temper your expectations. It’s quaint and idyllic - but I don’t think there’s anything to take your breath away or blow your mind. It’s just a pleasant town along the coast.

TAKE A BOAT TO OUR LADY OF THE ROCKS

Perast’s primary claim to fame is the Our Lady of the Rocks chapel - built on the Adriatic Sea’s only manmade island and the only chapel in Europe on an artificial island. To be honest, I think it’s quite revealing that this extremely niche only-one-of-its-kind is the primary draw of the town. I’ve never bumped into someone with a strong desire to see a chapel on a manmade island.

Nonetheless, I’ve heard it’s charming - and that the bright green frescoes inside are stunning. I didn’t make the trip because I was short on cash - so I saved the five euros the boat costs for bus expenses the next day on my way to Tirana.

TAKE A DAY TRIP

The different Montenegrin coastal cities are small and can each be comfortably experienced in one day. Instead of changing cities every day (and having to drag your luggage around), I think the better way to experience Montenegro is by day trips.

Perast is a fine base if you’re hoping to be more anti-social and not see many other tourists; it’s not the most convenient option for buses, but it’s doable. If you base in Perast, you can still travel by bus to Kotor (the most famous Montegrin Old Town, which is a bit like Dubrovnik), Budva (a budding party city along the beach with a small Old Town), or Herceg Novi (another coastal bay city known for its fort, sea mud and spas). Then, at the end of the day, you’ll likely to have Perast to yourself as tourists normally just go for day trips. You can eat along its coast and watch the sunset, essentially alone.