Montenegro, and in particular, Kotor, boasts some of the best views and scenery in Europe. The beautiful Old Town is a world UNESCO heritage site surrounded by black mountains and the still Bay of Kotor, making for peaceful, serene landscapes all around. There are quite a few ways to enjoy the surroundings while in Kotor, including climbing up to St John’s Fortress (see our YouTube video here), walking along the bay, or, our favourite way, which is by taking a boat ride on the bay. Taking a boat trip offers some of the best views while also providing the opportunity to explore some of the other attractions on the bay. While in Kotor, we booked this tour with Viator, which cost €15 ($18), the process was quick and easy and we really enjoyed the ride.
How To Find A Boat Trip On The Bay Of Kotor
As we were in Kotor during the Covid-19 pandemic and were there out of peak season (June 2021), we had initially found it difficult to get a boat tour, as most companies would only run with a minimum amount of people. However, we then found a convenient and highly rated Kotor Boat Tour through Viator and booked, you can also book this tour by clicking here. We were pleasantly surprised that they would run the boat trip no matter how many customers they had. The boat was easy to find at the Sea Gate end of the harbour front, in front of the Old Town. It was large and spacious with plenty of seating, both covered and uncovered. They also played music while we headed out into the bay.
Our Lady Of The Rocks
First stop on the trip was Our Lady of the Rocks, a small man made island on the bay of Kotor, and one of the most famous sights in the region. The island was created by a bulwark of rocks, and by sinking old and seized ships loaded with rocks. Legend has it that the island was made over the centuries by local seamen who kept an ancient oath after finding the icon of Madonna and Child on the rock in the sea on 22nd July 1452. After returning from each successful voyage, they laid a rock in the Bay. Over time, the island gradually emerged from the sea. The custom of throwing rocks into the sea still remains and every year on the sunset of 22nd July, local residents take their boats and throw rocks into the sea, widening the surface of the island.
The journey on the boat to Our Lady of the Rocks, which takes approx 20min, gave us the opportunity to appreciate the incredible views all around. On arriving at the island, we had 30 minutes to explore, which was more than enough time. Our Lady of the Rocks Catholic church is the centrepiece of the island, and also has a museum. There is also a gift shop, not to mention, some great photo opportunities. There are toilets on the island too. After visiting the church and museum, and taking a walk around the small island, it was time for us to head back to the boat.
Exploring Perast On The Bay Of Kotor
It was only 5 minutes from Our Lady of the Rocks to the next and final stop, Perast. Perast is an idyllic, small town overlooking the Bay of Kotor. Despite its small size, the town has 16 churches, the main one being the Church of Saint Nicholas. The town is often considered one of the more upmarket towns on the bay, with high end restaurants and hotels available. We had around 30-40min to explore the town which centres around one road through the centre, on the bay front. There is also an earlier 12pm boat available, which would allow you to spend 2.5 hours in Perast instead, and get the later boat back. If you opt for the longer option then you would have the chance to enjoy lunch in one of the many restaurants along the front. We would recommend trying Konoba Školji if you have the chance, which specialises in traditional Montenegrin food and freshly grilled seafood and meat dishes.
With either trip length, there is plenty of time of explore. We were able to visit the Church of St Nicholas, wander along the main road and visit the Perast Museum (€4, $5 entry). We thoroughly recommend the museum if learning about Perast’s maritime history is something of interest to you. The main road offers picturesque views over the bay, which is only enhanced by the small fishing boats moored up along the front, creating an almost picture postcard like scene.
Returning To Kotor
After we had explored and experienced the beautiful town of Perast, it was time to get back on the boat. The ride back to Kotor is equally as good as the trip on the way out and gave us the opportunity to see some of the sights we didn’t see previously. It takes around 30-40 minutes to get back to Kotor. On arrival, it’s a very quick process to depart board the boat. This trip in particular took 2.5 hours but there are lots of other options if you would prefer to take a longer or shorter trip, or see some other sights. Either way, we would definitely recommend a boat trip on the bay to fully experience the amazing surroundings and would thoroughly recommend the company we used which can be found here on Viator. If you would like more information on other things to see and do in Kotor, check out our article on the best things to see and do in Kotor or check out our Kotor travel guide for top tips on where to stay, how to get around, when to go and what to eat. Let us know in the comments if you have taken this trip!
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