How to Get to Our Lady of the Rocks (2026): Boat Taxi, Bus & Tours

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The only way onto Our Lady of the Rocks is by boat. The easiest option is the small boat taxi from the Perast waterfront: about five minutes each way, usually around €5–10 per person return, paid in cash. To get to Perast, take the Blue Line bus or a taxi from Kotor (20–35 minutes). You can also skip the bus and boat taxi altogether and book a speedboat tour from Kotor that stops at the islet.

This guide covers every realistic route: boat taxis from Perast, the bus, taxis and driving from Kotor, tours from Kotor, Tivat and Budva, and day trips from Dubrovnik. It also covers what you pay on the island and how long to allow. For background on the church itself, see the history of Our Lady of the Rocks, and for a full overview of the islet and village, the complete visitor guide.

The quick answer: your options at a glance

Route	Time	Typical cost	Best for
Boat taxi from Perast waterfront	About 5 min each way	Around €5 return per person (agree first, cash)	Anyone already in Perast
Blue Line bus Kotor to Perast, then boat taxi	30–35 min bus + boat	Around €2 bus fare + boat	Budget travellers
Taxi Kotor to Perast, then boat taxi	15–20 min + boat	About €15–25 one way + boat	Couples and families short on time
Speedboat tour from Kotor (Perast + islet)	1.5–2 hours	From about $28 per person (Oct 2026)	Easiest one-ticket option
Blue Cave + Our Lady of the Rocks tour	About 3 hours	From about $36 per person (Oct 2026)	Combining the islet with swimming
Day trip from Dubrovnik	Full day	From about $58 per person (Oct 2026)	Visitors based in Croatia

Option 1: the boat taxi from Perast

Perast sits right opposite the two islets, and the crossing is short. Small boats wait along the waterfront promenade, usually with sandwich boards showing the price. Most visitors simply walk along the front, pick a boat and go.

• Crossing time: about 5 minutes each way.
• Price: usually quoted from about €5 per person return. Some boatmen ask more, especially in July and August or for a small private group. Prices are not published or fixed, so agree the fare (and whether it is return) before you step on board.
• Payment: cash, in euros. Montenegro uses the euro.
• Return: the boatman will either wait or come back for you. Agree a pick-up time; 30–45 minutes on the islet is enough for most people.
• When boats run: there is no published timetable. Boats run when there are visitors and the weather allows. They thin out late in the day, off-season and in strong wind.

St George, the wooded islet next door with the cypress trees and old Benedictine monastery, is not open to visitors. Boats only circle it, so the trip is to Our Lady of the Rocks alone.

By kayak: in calm weather, guided kayak tours also run from Perast out to the islet. It is a slower and more memorable way to arrive.

Island churchFrom €29

Option 2: getting to Perast from Kotor

Kotor is the usual base, about 14 km along the bay. You have four ways to cover that stretch.

By bus (cheapest)

The local Blue Line bus runs along the coast road between Kotor, Dobrota, Ljuta, Orahovac and Perast. You can board at Kotor’s main bus station, about 400 m south of the Old Town, or at the stop by the Old Town walls.

• Fare: about €2, paid in cash to the driver. Recent guides quote between €1.50 and €2.50, so carry coins.
• Frequency: roughly hourly Monday to Saturday, and about every two hours on Sundays and public holidays.
• Journey time: 30–35 minutes. Delays of 15–30 minutes are common in high summer traffic.
• Where you get off: the stop on the main road above Perast. Stone steps and lanes lead down to the waterfront in a few minutes.

For the return, wait at the same upper road stop and wave the bus down, since it does not always stop otherwise. No taxis wait in Perast, so check the last bus time before you go. If you miss it, you will need to call a taxi.

By taxi

A taxi from Kotor’s Old Town or cruise port takes 15–20 minutes and costs about €15–25 one way. Agree the fare first, as not every driver uses the meter. A round trip with the driver waiting typically runs €40–60. For two or more people this is often the best value for time, especially on a cruise day.

By car

Driving is easy, but parking is the catch. Perast is closed to general traffic in summer. Only residents and hotel guests with their own parking can drive through. Visitors use the paid car parks at the northern and southern entrances to the village and walk in, which takes up to 15–20 minutes end to end.

• In July and August the car parks fill by mid-morning. Arrive before 10:00 or after 16:00.
• Rates vary by season and are not widely published. Bring cash.
• In winter, parking is generally free and you can drive into the village.
• If both car parks are full, try roadside spaces above the village or park in Risan, a few kilometres further on, and take the bus back.

By private boat or water taxi from Kotor

There is no scheduled ferry from Kotor to Perast. Hiring a private boat for the crossing costs roughly €70–150 per boat, not per person. At that price, a shared speedboat tour is usually the better deal unless you are a group.

Bay of KotorFrom €70

Option 3: a boat tour that includes the islet

If you are staying in Kotor, the simplest choice is a boat tour. These sail past Dobrota and Prčanj, stop at Our Lady of the Rocks, and then usually give you free time in Perast. One ticket covers everything, and you see the narrow Verige strait and the mountain walls of the bay from the water. The church entry fee is usually paid separately on the islet. Check each listing.

Short Perast and islet speedboat tours (about 2 hours)

• Perast & Our Lady of the Rocks Speedboat Tour (2h): from about $33 (Oct 2026), rated 4.7 from 1,134 reviews.
• Perast & Lady of the Rock’s boat tour 1.5h–2h: from about $28 (Oct 2026), rated 4.6 from 110 reviews.
• Perast and Island Lady of the Rocks Speedboat Tour: from about $32 (Oct 2026), rated 4.6 from 346 reviews.
• Kotor: Relaxing 3h Tour to Lady of the Rocks & Perast: a slower version, from about $46 (Oct 2026), rated 4.7 from 326 reviews.

Blue Cave combination tours (about 3 hours)

Most visitors pair the islet with the Blue Cave on the Luštica peninsula. The most-reviewed option is the Blue Cave, Submarine Base, and Lady of the Rocks Tour, from about $43 (Oct 2026), rated 4.8 from 5,104 reviews. The Boat Tour with Blue Cave visit and Boka Bay is cheaper, from about $36 (Oct 2026), rated 4.8 from 1,050 reviews. Our Blue Cave and Our Lady of the Rocks tour guide explains the route in detail. Bay of Kotor boat tours compared lines up every tour type side by side.

Bay cruiseFrom €25

Picture the engine murmuring as the boat slips away from the Perast quay, the stone palaces and the bell tower of St Nicholas shrinking behind you. The water is calm and green beneath the mountains, and the blue dome on the islet grows closer with every minute. If you would rather not bargain on the waterfront, this short boat ride from Perast and back takes you across and returns you to the village.

Option 4: from Tivat, Budva or Herceg Novi

• Tivat: the Tivat/Kotor: Boka Bay Full-Day Guided Cruise with Swim Stop sails on a larger ship and includes the islet, from about $28 (Oct 2026), rated 4.3 from 1,258 reviews. By road, Perast is about 30 minutes from Tivat.
• Budva: the Boka Bay Guided Full-Day Tour and Cruise combines a coach transfer with a cruise, from about $66 (Oct 2026), rated 4.3 from 131 reviews. Alternatively, take a bus to Kotor and then the Blue Line to Perast.
• Herceg Novi: buses along the bay road pass Perast, and some cross the narrow strait by the Kamenari–Lepetane car ferry. Taxi boats from Herceg Novi also run trips into the inner bay in summer.

Option 5: day trips from Dubrovnik or Cavtat

Perast is roughly 2–2.5 hours’ drive from Dubrovnik, depending on the border queue. Day trips cross into Montenegro, usually include a short boat ride to the islet, and continue to Kotor. Bring your passport or national ID card. Expect a long day.

• Montenegro Boat Tour from Perast to Kotor: from about $59 (Oct 2026), rated 4.5 from 5,507 reviews.
• Montenegro Day Trip with Cruise in Kotor Bay: from about $58 (Oct 2026), rated 4.5 from 653 reviews.
• Perast, Kotor & Budva Small-Group Day Trip: from about $84 (Oct 2026), rated 4.7 from 1,236 reviews.
• From Cavtat: Montenegro Day Trip & Kotor Bay Short Boat Cruise, from about $76 (Oct 2026), rated 4.5 from 548 reviews.

SpeedboatFrom €32

What to expect on the islet

The islet is tiny: a stone quay, a small square, the church with its blue dome, a museum on the upper floor and a souvenir shop. Plan on this:

• Entry: the church and its museum charge a small cash fee, typically quoted at about €5. That usually includes a short guided walk-through of around 20 minutes. Fees are not well published, so treat this as a guide.
• Opening hours: roughly 9:00–18:00 in season. Off-season the church may open irregularly, and boats run less often.
• Dress: it is an active Catholic church. Shoulders covered is respectful, though basic summer clothing is tolerated. Keep your voice low during services.
• Access: there are steps, and the museum is upstairs. The islet is not suitable for wheelchair users.
• Time: 30–45 minutes on the islet, plus 1–2 hours for Perast itself (see things to do in Perast).

Island churchFrom €25

Step off the boat and the stones of the little square are warm underfoot. Inside, the walls glitter with silver votive plaques left by seafarers, and the air is cool and still after the glare of the bay. Outside again, the green slopes rise straight from the water, with the stone waterfront of Perast just across the channel.

Suggested plans

Half day from Kotor by public transport

1. Take a morning bus from Kotor to arrive in Perast before 10:00.
2. Take a boat taxi straight to the islet while it is quiet.
3. Back in Perast, climb St Nicholas’s bell tower or visit the Perast Museum, then have lunch.
4. Catch an early-afternoon bus back to Kotor before the hottest hours.

One ticket, no logistics

Book a 2-hour speedboat tour from Kotor in the morning or late afternoon. You get the islet, a stop in Perast and the bay views, with no bus or parking to manage. Add the Blue Cave if you want a swim. For timing by month and hour, see the best time to visit Our Lady of the Rocks.

See all Our Lady of the Rocks tours

Frequently asked questions

Can you walk or swim to Our Lady of the Rocks?

No. The islet sits a few hundred metres off Perast with no bridge or causeway, and swimming across a channel used by boats is not a safe or accepted way to visit. Use the boat taxi from the Perast waterfront or a tour.

How much is the boat to Our Lady of the Rocks?

Boat taxis from Perast are usually quoted from about €5 per person return, cash only. Prices are not fixed, so confirm the amount and the return trip before boarding. Speedboat tours from Kotor start from about $28 per person (Oct 2026).

Is there an entrance fee for the church?

Yes, a small cash fee is charged for the church and museum, typically quoted at about €5 and usually including a short guided visit. Bring coins.

Do I need to book the boat taxi in advance?

No. Boat taxis are arranged on the spot at the Perast waterfront. Tours from Kotor are worth booking ahead in July and August, when popular departures sell out.

Can I visit St George island too?

No. St George, the neighbouring islet with the monastery and cypress trees, is closed to visitors. Boats pass close by, and it is best photographed from Our Lady of the Rocks.

How do I get from the Kotor cruise port to Our Lady of the Rocks?

Take a taxi to Perast (about 15–20 minutes) and then a boat taxi, or book a short speedboat tour from Kotor that returns well before all-aboard time. Allow at least 3 hours in total.