Perast Old Town & Our Lady of the Rocks: Speed Boat Tour

Boka Bay looks best from the water. This short trip combines a scenic speedboat ride with two worthwhile stops: the small island of Our Lady of the Rocks and the old Venetian town of Perast. I especially like the small-group limit of 10 people and the easy 90-minute schedule, which gives you a taste of the bay without using half your day. I also like that water and safety equipment are included. The main concern is reliability: one recent booking reported that the organizer never appeared at the meeting point, so I would confirm the departure before setting out.

The $32 price is fair for a short boat outing, especially since it includes a professional English-speaking skipper and visits to two famous Boka Bay sights. Just remember that the church museum costs an extra €3, and you must make your own way to Hotel Tianis in Kotor.

Five useful things to know before you go

• The tour lasts 90 minutes: You get 20 minutes on Our Lady of the Rocks, 30 minutes in Perast, and about 50 minutes on the boat.
• The group is limited to 10 people: That should feel more personal than a large excursion boat, though space on a speedboat is naturally limited.
• The church museum costs €3 extra: You can still visit the island if the church is closed.
• The meeting point is Hotel Tianis: There is no hotel pickup, and summer parking in Kotor can be difficult.
• Weather controls the schedule: Rough seas may cause a cancellation or a change of timing.
• Recent service has been mixed: Two July 2025 bookings praised the friendly, attentive staff, while a September booking reported a serious no-show problem.

Leaving Kotor from Hotel Tianis

Your starting point is the reception of Garni Hotel Tianis at Tabačina 16, near Kotor’s old town. You need to arrive here independently because hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.

That detail matters more than it first appears. Kotor parking can be difficult in summer, so I would not arrive at the last second if you are driving. Give yourself extra time to park, find the hotel, and check in at reception. If you are already staying in or near Kotor’s center, the meeting point should be simple to reach, but the tour information does not promise a walking transfer from any particular hotel.

Once aboard, you have roughly 20 minutes of boat travel before the first stop. The speedboat is not just transportation. It gives you a moving view of Boka Bay, with steep coastal slopes, small settlements, churches, and old palaces passing by from a much better angle than you get on land.

The boat carries no more than 10 participants. I see that as one of the strongest features of this outing. A small group makes it easier to hear the English-speaking skipper and ask a question without competing with a crowd. On the other hand, a speedboat offers less room than a big sightseeing vessel, so pack light. Large bags and luggage are not allowed.

Our Lady of the Rocks and its island legend

The first stop is Our Lady of the Rocks, a small artificial island near Perast. You get about 20 minutes here for a photo stop and a visit.

The island grew from a local maritime tradition. According to the legend, sailors found an image of the Madonna and Child on a rock in the bay. They then began adding stones and sinking old ships at the site, creating the island as a gesture of thanks for safe voyages. The story gives this tiny place an unusual character: part religious sanctuary, part monument to the seafaring life of the bay.

The church and museum are the main points of interest. Inside, you can see votive offerings, paintings, tapestries, and sacred objects connected with local devotion and maritime culture. The entrance fee is €3 per person, paid separately. At this price, the museum is a worthwhile extra if you enjoy art, local customs, and small historic collections.

Your time on the island is short, so you should decide before arriving if you want to enter the church. Twenty minutes can pass quickly, especially if there is a line at the entrance. There is no skip-the-line access, and that is not really surprising: the church is small, with limited interior space.

The church has seasonal opening hours. In April, May, September, and October, it generally closes by 5 PM. In June, the closing time is usually 6 PM, and in July and August it is usually 7 PM. The church can occasionally close earlier, but the island itself can still be visited.

I would dress with the church in mind. Swimwear is not allowed inside, and a modest dress code applies. Sunglasses and a sun hat are useful outdoors, but you may want a light layer that gives you suitable coverage for the church.

Five minutes across the bay to Perast

After the island visit, the speedboat takes about five minutes to reach Perast. That quick crossing leaves plenty of time for the town itself, but it also means you should be ready to get off the boat promptly.

Perast is one of the most attractive settlements on Boka Bay. Its appearance reflects centuries of Adriatic trade and Venetian rule, with stone buildings, baroque palaces, old churches, and a waterfront that once served a busy maritime community. The town’s story reaches back before the Venetians, with earlier Illyrian and Byzantine connections also tied to the area.

You get around 30 minutes for a break, photographs, and a walk. I like this balance. The island gives you a focused religious and cultural visit, while Perast lets you stretch your legs and see an old coastal town from street level.

Do not expect a long town tour in half an hour. You have enough time for a compact walk, some photographs, and perhaps a coffee, ice cream, or local souvenir. You will not have time to explore every church or palace in detail. If Perast is a major reason for your trip, you may want to return independently for a longer visit.

The short stop also suits people who want variety. You can admire the town’s stone waterfront, hear about its maritime past, and enjoy a break from the boat without committing to a full-day excursion. I would keep an eye on the time, though. It is easy to linger over the view and then realize you need to return to the meeting place.

What the speedboat ride adds

The return trip lasts about 25 minutes and brings you back to Hotel Tianis. Added to the 20-minute ride from Kotor and the five-minute crossing to Perast, you spend roughly 50 minutes moving across the bay.

That is a substantial part of a 90-minute tour, but it is not wasted time. Boka Bay is the setting that connects the two stops. From the water, you can see how villages, churches, palaces, and mountains fit together around the narrow inlets.

The boat also gives you a fresh view of the coast. You are not simply moving between attractions by road. The route itself is the experience, with water, rocky shorelines, and old settlements appearing from different angles as the boat changes direction.

The trade-off is comfort. The tour is not suitable for pregnant women, people with back problems, people with mobility impairments, or wheelchair users. The boat may feel lively on the water, particularly if conditions change. The operator can cancel or reschedule because of bad weather or rough seas, so the plan depends on the bay behaving itself.

Spring and autumn can be cool on the water even when Kotor feels mild. I would bring a warm layer during those seasons. In summer, sunglasses, a hat, and sun protection are practical choices. Comfortable shoes are important for the island and Perast, where you will be walking on hard surfaces.

Is $32 good value?

At $32 per person, I consider this a reasonable short tour rather than a bargain or a splurge. The price includes the speedboat, the island visit, an English-speaking skipper and guide, drinking water, and safety equipment. You also get a small group instead of a large boat packed with passengers.

The extra €3 for the church museum is modest. Since the fee is not included, you should carry enough cash or payment for the entrance, though the available information does not specify how the museum accepts payment. If the church is closed, you can still visit the island without paying that museum fee.

Value depends on what you want from your day. If you have only a short stay in Kotor, this trip covers two major Boka Bay sights efficiently. You see the bay from the water, step onto Our Lady of the Rocks, and walk through Perast without arranging separate transport.

If you prefer slow exploration, the 90-minute format may feel rushed. You will not have long inside the church, and Perast receives only 30 minutes. I would pay the $32 gladly for a first look, then return to Perast later if I wanted a quieter walk and more time with the buildings.

Small-group service, with one serious warning

The strongest positive feedback points to the staff. A July 2025 booking described the trip as very good, with friendly people and a worthwhile experience. Another July booking praised the personalized feel and attentive guides, adding that the group would happily do the tour again.

That matches what I would hope for from a 10-person speedboat. A friendly skipper can make a short ride feel personal by explaining the bay, pointing out landmarks, and helping you use your limited time at each stop.

Still, I would not ignore the negative report. A September 2025 booking from Moldova said the organizer did not arrive at the meeting point, causing a major loss of time and money. That is a serious operational complaint, not a small difference of opinion about the tour.

Because of that, I would confirm the meeting details with Tianis shortly before departure. Keep your booking confirmation available, arrive early, and do not assume that reaching the hotel at the exact departure time will solve a communication problem. The tour also offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and a reserve-now, pay-later option, which gives you some flexibility when making the booking.

The overall score is 3.2 from five ratings, a small sample that reflects both very positive experiences and one major failure. I would treat the service history as a reason to verify the booking, not as automatic proof that the boat trip itself is poor.

Who should book this Kotor boat trip?

I would recommend it to you if you want:

• A short introduction to Boka Bay
• A small group instead of a large boat
• A simple visit to Our Lady of the Rocks
• A brief look at Perast
• An English-speaking skipper
• A flexible outing that leaves most of the day free

It is especially useful for a first day in Kotor. You get your bearings from the water, see two famous sights, and learn enough to decide where you want to return later.

I would be cautious if you have back problems, limited mobility, or need wheelchair access. I would also avoid booking it as your only plan if rough seas would make you uncomfortable. The tour depends on weather, and a speedboat is not the calmest way to travel when the bay is choppy.

Families and couples may enjoy the compact schedule, but large bags are not allowed and the boat has limited space. Bring only what you need for the water and the short walks. The required items are simple: passport or ID, comfortable shoes, sunglasses, a sun hat, and a camera.

My booking verdict

I would book this tour for a quick, scenic introduction to Boka Bay, especially if I had limited time in Kotor. The small group and friendly guide reports give it a personal feel, while the combination of Our Lady of the Rocks and Perast offers more variety than a boat ride with no land stops.

I would confirm the departure before going and arrive early at Hotel Tianis. If you accept the short visits, the extra €3 museum fee, and the possibility of weather changes, $32 is fair value. If you want a slow, detailed visit to Perast or a long church tour, choose a longer outing instead.

FAQ

Where does the tour meet?

The meeting point is at the reception of Garni Hotel Tianis, at Tabačina 16 in Kotor.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. You must make your own way to Hotel Tianis. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts 90 minutes. This includes the boat rides, a 20-minute visit to Our Lady of the Rocks, and about 30 minutes in Perast.

What is included in the price?

The price includes the speedboat tour, the visit to Our Lady of the Rocks island, an English-speaking skipper and guide, water, and safety equipment.

Is the church museum entrance included?

No. Entrance to the Our Lady of the Rocks Church Museum costs €3 per person.

Can I visit the island if the church is closed?

Yes. The island can still be visited when the church is closed, though you will not be able to enter the church and museum.

Can the tour be canceled because of weather?

Yes. The tour may be canceled or rescheduled if bad weather or rough seas make the trip unsuitable.