Perast Sunset Boat Trip (2026): Times, Tours, Where to Watch

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The easiest way to see Our Lady of the Rocks at sunset is a 1.5–2 hour sunset boat tour from Kotor, which runs out to the islet and Perast as the light goes and brings you back afterwards. Sunset ranges from about 16:10 in early December to about 20:25 in late June. The catch: the church and museum on the islet usually close around 18:00, so on a summer sunset trip you may not get inside. If going inside matters to you, visit the islet in the afternoon and stay in Perast to watch the sunset from the waterfront.

The sunset boat tour from Kotor

The dedicated option is the Perast & Our Lady of the Rocks Sunset Tour. It costs from about €36 (Oct 2026), is rated 4.8 from 36 reviews, lasts 1.5–2 hours and leaves from Kotor.

How a sunset trip usually runs

Sunset tours from Kotor typically run like this:

• About 20 minutes on the water from Kotor to the islet.
• About 30 minutes ashore on Our Lady of the Rocks.
• About 40 minutes in Perast to walk the waterfront.
• The ride back to Kotor, often in the last light or at dusk.

Departure times move with the season to follow the sunset, so check the time on the listing for your date rather than assuming a fixed hour.

The church closing time

The church and museum on the islet are open roughly 09:00–18:00. From about April to September the sun sets well after 18:00, so a sunset tour in those months may reach the islet after the doors have shut. You still get the quay and the light, but not Tripo Kokolja’s paintings inside. In autumn and winter, when sunset is earlier, the timing is much closer, but ask the operator before you book if going inside is your priority. Entry, when it is open, is usually about €5 per person in cash and usually not included in tour prices.

Sunset cruiseFrom €36

The engine drops to a murmur and the bay turns copper around you. Perast slides past, its stone houses glowing under the mountain, and the two islets sit dark against the water ahead. By the time you step back onto the quay in Kotor, the lights of the Old Town are coming on and the day-trippers are long gone. The 2-hour sunset tour from Kotor is an easy way to spend that hour on the water.

Sunset tour, private boat or do it yourself?

Option	Price (Oct 2026)	Duration	Good for	Watch out for
Sunset group tour from Kotor	From about €36	1.5–2 h	No logistics; you are taken back to Kotor	Islet church may be closed in summer
Private boat from Kotor	From about €46 (short trips) to €324–450 (half-day hires)	1.5–5.5 h	Your own timing, couples, groups	Agree the route and sunset timing in advance
Daytime speedboat tour + evening in Perast	From about €26–29 for the tour	2 h tour	Getting inside the church	You need your own way back after dark
Bus to Perast + boat taxi	About €2 bus + about €5–10 boat taxi return	Flexible	Budget, staying late in Perast	Boat taxis have no schedule; check the last bus

Private boats

A private boat is the alternative if you want to choose the exact time, linger at the islet or keep it to your own group. On a private hire you can usually ask the skipper to time the trip around sunset; confirm this when you book. Options from the GetYourGuide listings:

• Kotor: Blue Cave & Bay of Kotor Boat Tour w/Drink+SWIMMING: from about €46 (Oct 2026), rated 4.7 from 92 reviews, 1.5–3 hours.
• Private Boka Bay Boat tour: from about €324 (Oct 2026), not yet rated, 4.5–5.5 hours from Kotor.
• Lux 3.5-hour Speedboat Our Lady of the Rock & Swimming: from about €450 (Oct 2026), not yet rated, 3.5 hours from Kotor.

Our private boat vs group tour guide goes through when a private hire is worth the extra cost.

The two isletsFrom €50

Getting inside first, then sunset from Perast

If you want both the church interior and the sunset, split the evening. Take a short afternoon speedboat tour such as the Perast & Our Lady of the Rocks Speedboat Tour (2h) (from about €29 (Oct 2026), rated 4.7 from 1,137 reviews), or make your own way to Perast and take the 5-minute boat taxi across before about 17:00. Then stay on in Perast for sunset. The full transport options are in how to get to Our Lady of the Rocks.

Sunset times in Perast by month

These are approximate mid-month sunset times in local time, rounded to five minutes. Check a sunset app for your exact date.

Month	Approx. sunset	Islet church (closes ~18:00)
January	~16:40	Sunset before closing
February	~17:20	Sunset before closing
March	~17:55	Very tight
April	~19:30	Visit inside first
May	~20:00	Visit inside first
June	~20:25	Visit inside first
July	~20:20	Visit inside first
August	~19:55	Visit inside first
September	~19:10	Visit inside first
October	~18:05 (before clocks change)	Tight
November	~16:25	Sunset before closing
December	~16:15	Sunset before closing

A few fixed points: the latest sunset is around 27 June at about 20:26, and the earliest around 8 December at about 16:11. In October 2026 sunset falls from about 18:28 on 1 October to about 17:58 on 19 October. When the clocks go back on 25 October 2026, it jumps an hour earlier to about 16:49, so late-October evenings end much sooner than the first half of the month. For weather and crowds, see the best time to visit Our Lady of the Rocks.

Where to watch the sunset in Perast from land

Island churchFrom €36

You find a table at the water’s edge as the stone of the promenade gives back the warmth of the afternoon. Out in the bay, Our Lady of the Rocks catches the last light on its dome while the cypresses of St George go black beside it. The coach groups left hours ago, and the only sound is the slap of the boat taxis against the jetty. The sunset tour brings you out here, or you can simply stay on after a day in Perast.

• The waterfront bars. The simplest choice. The promenade looks straight out to the islets, and bars such as Pirate Bar sit right on the water.
• Our Lady of the Rocks itself. You can watch from the islet’s quay if you cross by boat taxi in the late afternoon. Boat taxis have no published timetable, so agree your return time with the boatman before you go, and pay in cash.
• St Ilija hill above Perast. About a 30-minute hike up behind the village for a view over the rooftops, the islets and the bay. Bring a torch for the walk down and take care on the path in the dark.
• St Nicholas bell tower. At 55 m, with about 150 steps, it gives the classic view over the islets for about €2 in cash. Young children are not allowed up. Opening hours vary, so check on the day whether it is still open in the evening.

More ideas for the rest of your time are in things to do in Perast.

Fašinada: the sunset procession on 22 July

If you are in the Bay of Kotor on 22 July, this is the evening to be in Perast. At sunset, a convoy of decorated boats tied together, led by the parish priest and town notables, rows out to Our Lady of the Rocks. When they reach the islet, stones are dropped into the sea around it. The custom goes back to the legend of the icon found on a rock in the bay on 22 July 1452, which led local sailors to build the islet stone by stone. Fašinada was declared Montenegrin intangible cultural heritage in 2013, and the Fašinada Cup sailing regatta takes place around the same time.

Sunset in late July is around 20:20, so the procession takes place in the evening. Expect Perast to be much busier than a normal summer evening, and plan your way back to Kotor in advance. The story behind the islet is told in full in the history of Our Lady of the Rocks.

What to bring

• Cash in euros. The island church (about €5), the bell tower (about €2), the boat taxi (usually about €5–10 return) and the Blue Line bus (about €2) are all paid in cash.
• A light layer. It can feel cooler on the water once the sun goes, especially in spring and autumn.
• Shoes with grip. The stone quays and steps in Perast and on the islet are smooth.
• Something to cover your shoulders if you plan to go into the church; it is a place of worship, so modest dress is respectful.
• A phone torch if you are walking St Ilija hill or back to the bus stop after dark.

Sunset cruiseFrom €176

An evening plan: Perast at sunset, dinner, back to Kotor

Late afternoon

Arrive in Perast in the late afternoon by Blue Line bus from Kotor (about 35 minutes, about €2) or taxi (about 15 minutes, about €15–20 one way). Take the boat taxi to the islet early enough to see inside the church before it closes at around 18:00. From mid-April to mid-October the Perast Museum in the Bujović Palace stays open until 20:00 (closed Mondays; €8 adults).

Sunset and dinner

Pick your viewpoint: the bell tower or St Ilija hill for height, or a waterfront table as the islets turn gold. Then stay for dinner on the promenade, when the village is quiet. Waterfront restaurants usually cost more than those a lane back, and fresh fish is often priced by weight, so ask before you order.

Getting back to Kotor

This is the part to plan before you set off. The Blue Line bus runs roughly hourly Monday to Saturday and about every two hours on Sundays and public holidays, and delays are common in summer. Last-bus times are not something to guess, so check the last departure with the driver or at the stop on your way in. No taxis wait in Perast, so if you plan to take one back, book it in advance or arrange a pickup time. A sunset tour avoids the question. If you would rather not travel at all, staying the night in Perast is an option; see where to stay in the Bay of Kotor.

Sunset cruiseFrom €176

Based on the Budva Riviera?

There is no direct local bus from Budva to Perast (you change in Kotor). For a sunset at sea closer to base, the Blue Lagoon, Sveti Stefan, and Snorkeling Cruise is a private boat from Budva, from about €176 (Oct 2026), rated 4.8 from 16 reviews, 2–4 hours.

See Perast and Our Lady of the Rocks tours

Frequently asked questions

What time is sunset in Perast?

Approximately 16:10–16:40 from November to January, 17:20–17:55 in February and March, 19:30–20:25 from April to August and about 19:10 in September. In October it falls from about 18:28 to about 18:00, then jumps to about 16:50 when the clocks go back on 25 October 2026.

Can you go inside Our Lady of the Rocks at sunset?

Usually not in summer. The church and museum are open roughly 09:00–18:00, and from April to September the sun sets well after that. Visit inside in the afternoon and watch the sunset from Perast, or ask the tour operator about timing before you book.

How much is the Perast sunset boat tour?

The Perast & Our Lady of the Rocks Sunset Tour from Kotor costs from about €36 per person (Oct 2026) and lasts 1.5–2 hours. The islet church fee of about €5, paid in cash, is usually extra.

Where is the best place to watch the sunset in Perast?

The waterfront bars give the easiest view of the islets. For height, climb the 55 m St Nicholas bell tower if it is open, or hike about 30 minutes up St Ilija hill. You can also watch from the islet itself if you arrange your return boat taxi in advance.

What is Fašinada?

A procession held at sunset on 22 July, when decorated boats tied together row to Our Lady of the Rocks and stones are dropped around the islet, recalling the 1452 legend of the icon. It was declared Montenegrin intangible cultural heritage in 2013.

How do I get back to Kotor from Perast in the evening?

By Blue Line bus (about €2, roughly hourly Monday to Saturday, less often on Sundays; check the last departure on the day) or by taxi (about €15–20 one way). No taxis wait in Perast, so book one ahead. A sunset boat tour from Kotor brings you back to Kotor.