Our Lady of the Rocks: How to Visit, What to See and Tips

Last updated: May 2026

Our Lady of the Rocks is a principal stop on an itinerary through Perast and the Bay of Kotor. The church stands on a small artificial island facing the village, surrounded by water, mountains and the stone buildings along the coast.

Boats to the island leave from Perast's waterfront. The short crossing provides views back towards the village and across the Bay of Kotor.

On the island, visitors can see the outside area, church, small museum and viewpoints across the Bay of Kotor. Allow one to two hours for the return boat journey and visit rather than treating the island as a brief photograph stop.

How to include Our Lady of the Rocks in your Perast itinerary

Our Lady of the Rocks can be visited during an outing through the village of Perast. The simplest option is to walk to the waterfront, choose one of the local boats and agree on the return time before boarding.

Allow between 1 and 2 hours for the whole outing. That covers the round-trip boat, the visit to the church and the small museum, plus some time to take in the scenery and photograph.

One suggestion is to explore Perast's waterfront first and then make the crossing. On the island, start with the outside area, continue through the church and the museum and finish by looking back at Perast, the mountains and the neighboring St. George Island.

After returning, continue the walk along the waterfront and through Perast's streets. That way, the island becomes part of an itinerary through the village without needing a separate day.

What is Our Lady of the Rocks?

Our Lady of the Rocks is an artificial island located in the Bay of Kotor, opposite the village of Perast.

The island houses a Catholic church and a small museum. The place is tied to an old regional tradition in which sailors and residents dropped stones into the sea around the spot where an image of the Virgin Mary is said to have been found.

That custom is believed to have gradually formed the island over time. Today, the church, the museum and the surrounding scenery make Our Lady of the Rocks one of Perast's main attractions.

Next to it sits St. George Island, a natural island with a monastery and cypress trees. It's normally observed only from the outside during the crossing and the visit to Our Lady of the Rocks.

How to get to Our Lady of the Rocks

Our Lady of the Rocks is reached by boat. The most common departure point is Perast's waterfront, where local boats make the round trip.

The main options are:

• Boat from Perast: the simplest, quickest and cheapest option for those already visiting the village
• Boat trip from Kotor: an option for combining Perast, Our Lady of the Rocks and other parts of the Bay of Kotor
• Organized Bay of Kotor tour: may include the island, Perast, the Blue Cave and other stops, depending on the route

If you're already in Perast, the crossing from the waterfront is usually the most practical way. During high season, the local boats generally run throughout the day.

Before boarding, confirm the price, whether it includes the return leg and how much time you'll have to see the island.

How to plan your visit to Our Lady of the Rocks

The outing starts on Perast's waterfront. Choose one of the boats making the crossing, confirm the conditions of the trip and use the ride to take in the village, the mountains and the Bay of Kotor scenery.

After landing, walk around the island's outside area and look back at Perast from the water. It's one of the best angles for photographing the village and the surrounding mountains.

Continue the visit inside the Church of Our Lady of the Rocks. The interior gathers decoration and religious works tied to the history of the place.

Next, see the small museum, which holds historic objects, religious pieces and items linked to the local maritime tradition.

Before returning to the boat, set aside a few minutes to look at St. George Island and the bay scenery from different points on the island.

The visit can include:

• Boat crossing: short ride with views of Perast and the mountains of the Bay of Kotor
• Island's outside area: space for walking, taking in the scenery and photographing the bay
• Church of Our Lady of the Rocks: the island's main attraction, with a decorated interior and religious works
• Small museum: area with historic objects, religious pieces and items tied to the local maritime tradition
• View of Perast: perspective of the village seen from the water
• View of St. George Island: neighboring natural island, normally observed only from the outside

The island is small and doesn't require a long visit. Even so, allow enough time to see the church and the museum instead of making only a photo stop.

Entry fees and boat trip

The boat crossing from Perast usually costs between €5 and €10 per person. The price can vary by operator, season and the type of trip offered.

Before boarding, confirm whether the price includes the return leg or is part of a larger Bay of Kotor tour.

Entry to the church and museum usually costs around €3 per person. Some excursions treat this ticket as optional and charged separately, normally in cash.

Montenegro uses the euro, so charges are in €. Prices can change with the season, the boat operator and local management. Confirm the fees directly on Perast's waterfront before the crossing.

How much time to allow

Allow between 1 and 2 hours to visit Our Lady of the Rocks.

That covers the round-trip crossing from Perast, the walk around the outside area, the visit to the church and museum and some time for photos.

On organized tours departing from Kotor, the time available on the island can be shorter, depending on the other stops on the route.

For a more relaxed visit, the direct crossing from Perast is usually the most practical option.

Best time to visit

Each part of the day offers different conditions:

• Morning: a good option for more pleasant temperatures and clear light over the bay
• Late afternoon: beautiful light for photographing the island, Perast and the mountains
• Midday: can be busier during high season
• Clear days: offer better visibility of the mountains, the water and the village of Perast

The morning is best for avoiding some of the crowds. The late afternoon works better if the light and the Bay of Kotor scenery are your priority.

Avoid leaving the outing too late, as boat frequency can drop as the day goes on.

Practical tips

• Bring cash for the boat and for the church and museum entry
• Confirm the price of the crossing before boarding
• Ask whether the fare includes the return leg
• Agree in advance on how much time you'll have to see the island
• Allow between 1 and 2 hours for the full outing
• Visit in the morning or late afternoon
• Don't leave the crossing too late
• Wear comfortable footwear for walking around Perast before or after the trip
• Combine the island with a walk along Perast's waterfront
• Don't confuse Our Lady of the Rocks with the neighboring St. George Island, which normally isn't visited

Suggested itinerary

Start the outing by walking along Perast's waterfront and looking at the two islands facing the village. Choose a local boat and confirm the price, the time available and whether the fare includes the round trip.

During the crossing, enjoy the view of Perast and the mountains of the Bay of Kotor. After landing, walk around the island's outside area, visit the Church of Our Lady of the Rocks and see the small museum.

Before heading back, take in Perast and St. George Island from the water. After the return crossing, continue the outing along the waterfront and through the village streets.

That way, Our Lady of the Rocks can be visited in a few hours and fits naturally into a Perast itinerary.