REVIEW · KOTOR
Perast Old Town & Our Lady of the Rocks: Speed Boat Tour
Book on GetYourGuide →Operated by Tianis · Bookable on GetYourGuide
There are two postcards in 90 minutes. You start in Kotor and glide through Boka Bay by speedboat, with time to visit Our Lady of the Rocks and stroll Perast Old Town at a relaxed pace. I love that it blends sea views, a real legend you can see in person, and a quick walk through a UNESCO-listed town without dragging all day. The one thing to watch: the ride can be rough in bad weather, and the church museum has seasonal hours plus a modest dress code.
The tour feels especially good when you want nature and culture together, but don’t want the hassle of long bus rides. I also like the small group size (10 people max) and the English-speaking skipper/guide, which keeps the timing from feeling chaotic. A possible drawback is simple logistics: there’s no hotel pickup, and you meet at the reception of Hotel Tianis, so you need to be there on time.
In This Review
- Key points at a glance
- Speedboat Through Boka Bay: Why This Ride Works
- Our Lady of the Rocks Island: Legends, Votive Treasures, and Your Time There
- What you’ll do on the island
- Church hours: the part that can change your visit
- Dress code and what you can’t bring
- Perast Old Town Walk: Venetian-Era Details in a Short Window
- What to look for while you have time
- The tradeoff
- Your Skipper and the Small-Group Advantage
- Price and Value: Is $32 a Good Deal for 90 Minutes?
- Weather, Waves, and What to Wear (Without Overpacking)
- Stop-by-Stop Breakdown You Can Actually Plan Around
- Should You Book This Speedboat Tour From Kotor?
- FAQ
- FAQ
- Where is the meeting point for the tour?
- How long is the speedboat tour?
- What is included in the tour price?
- Is the Our Lady of the Rocks museum entrance included?
- How much time do I get at Our Lady of the Rocks and Perast?
- What should I bring for the tour?
- What dress code is required?
- What should I expect if the weather is bad?
- Is skip-the-line access available for the church and museum?
Key points at a glance
- Speedboat from Kotor for fast, scenic Boka Bay cruising instead of sitting on land
- Our Lady of the Rocks island visit tied to a famous sailor legend and a compact museum
- Perast Old Town time to see Venetian-era baroque details without rushing nonstop
- Small group limit (10) helps you move through photo stops and visits smoothly
- Plan around seasonal church hours and remember there’s a 3€ museum entrance fee
Speedboat Through Boka Bay: Why This Ride Works
This is a tour that uses the sea as the main feature, not just a way to get somewhere. In about 90 minutes total, you get a fast cruise out of Kotor and back again, with short breaks that keep you from feeling trapped on a schedule.
What I like most is the pacing. The boat ride is short enough that you stay energized, but long enough to actually feel like you’re seeing the coast the way locals and sailors do. You also get that classic Boka Bay feeling: dramatic coastline, fishing villages, and church and palace shapes you’d otherwise miss if you only saw the shoreline from the street.
You’ll be guided by a professional English-speaking skipper/guide, so it’s not just sit-and-look. You get context while you’re cruising past Romanesque churches and Byzantine palaces, which makes the scenery feel meaningful instead of random.
One practical point: speedboats are fun, but they aren’t magic. If seas are rough, the comfort level changes fast, and the tour can be canceled or rescheduled for safety. If you’re sensitive to motion, this is something to consider before you book.
Our Lady of the Rocks Island: Legends, Votive Treasures, and Your Time There

Your first big stop is the island sanctuary of Our Lady of the Rocks in Perast. This is where the tour leans into story and devotion. Folklore says sailors built the island after finding an image of the Madonna and Child on a sea rock, as a gratitude offering for safe voyages. Over time, the place grew into a sanctuary filled with votives, tapestries, paintings, and sacred relics.
That matters because it changes what you’re looking at. Instead of just snapping photos of a church on a rock, you’re seeing why people cared enough to preserve it over centuries.
What you’ll do on the island
You get around 20 minutes for the island stop, including break time and a photo stop, plus time to visit. There’s a museum connected to the church, and the entrance fee for the museum is 3€ per person (not included in your tour price). There isn’t skip-the-line access either, since the church is small—so if you’re hoping for a rapid checklist visit, you’ll want to be ready to move at the pace of the space.
Church hours: the part that can change your visit
The church and museum operate on seasonal hours:
- April, May, September, October: until 5 PM
- June: until 6 PM
- July and August: until 7 PM
Occasionally the church can close earlier. The good news is that the island can still be visited even if the church is closed, so you’re not completely shut out if the day runs late or hours are tighter than expected.
Dress code and what you can’t bring
There’s a modest dress code for entering the church, and swimwear isn’t allowed. Bring something you can pull on quickly, especially if you’re traveling in warmer months. Comfortable shoes also help because you’ll be walking around an island sanctuary area.
Also remember what this tour does not allow: no smoking in the vehicle, and pets are not allowed.
Perast Old Town Walk: Venetian-Era Details in a Short Window
After the island, you cruise back for another short stretch by boat, then you land in Perast—a UNESCO-listed town tied to its maritime past. This stop is about making the “old coastal town” feel real, without turning it into an all-day walking project.
You’ll have about 30 minutes for Perast, including break time and photo time. That’s not a long lunch break, but it’s plenty to get your bearings, spot the baroque facades, and appreciate the way Perast’s seafaring identity still shows up in the streets and churches.
What to look for while you have time
Perast’s reputation comes from more than one building. It’s the overall street rhythm: old churches, baroque palaces, and the maritime history that links it to the Adriatic world. You’ll feel the Venetian influence in the look and scale of architecture even during a quick walk.
A good way to spend your 30 minutes is:
- Pick one main church or square to anchor your photos
- Walk one loop through the old town lanes
- Use your break time for a coffee, ice cream, or a small souvenir, then head back toward where the boat departs
The tour is designed so you don’t have to rush to “cover everything.” You just need to move at a steady pace and let the town come to you.
The tradeoff
Thirty minutes in old town is always a compromise. If you want deep museum time or long indoor visits, this speedboat format won’t replace a slower Perast day. But if you want a taste of Perast’s character paired with Boka Bay’s views, the timing is actually smart.
Your Skipper and the Small-Group Advantage
This is one of those tours where group size affects the experience a lot. With a maximum of 10 participants, you typically get a more personal vibe: less waiting, fewer people blocking photo angles, and calmer transitions between boat, island, and town.
The skipper/guide is English-speaking, which helps when you want real explanations rather than silent sightseeing. You’ll also get the kind of guidance that matters when you’re short on time, like where to focus your attention on the island and what to prioritize in Perast.
That said, you still need to handle your side of timing. The meeting point is at the reception of Hotel Tianis in Kotor (Tabačina 16). There’s no hotel pickup, so you don’t want to arrive late and hope they’ll find you.
One caution I take seriously: there has been a reported case of the organizer not arriving at the meeting point, leading to lost time and money trying to get there. I can’t predict what will happen on your day, but it’s a solid reminder to confirm your plans the day before and plan to arrive early enough to settle in.
Price and Value: Is $32 a Good Deal for 90 Minutes?
At $32 per person for a 90-minute speedboat tour, you’re paying for three things: time on the water, guided stops, and a small-group experience.
Here’s how I think about value in a practical way:
- You’re not just paying for transportation. You’re paying for access to two specific cultural points—Our Lady of the Rocks and Perast Old Town—paired with Boka Bay cruising.
- The tour includes the speedboat, water, safety equipment, and an English-speaking skipper/guide.
- The only notable extra cost is the 3€ museum entrance fee at Our Lady of the Rocks.
So if you’re the kind of traveler who would otherwise struggle to line up boat time, figure out how to get to the island, and still keep a tight schedule, this price looks fair. If you’re someone who plans to spend hours in museums or wants a slow, in-depth Perast exploration, then $32 won’t be the deciding factor—the tour format itself might not match your pace.
Weather, Waves, and What to Wear (Without Overpacking)
This is a sea tour, so weather matters. The tour may be canceled or rescheduled due to bad weather or rough seas. That’s not unusual for this part of Montenegro, and it’s why you’ll want to dress for quick changes.
Practical wardrobe tips:
- Wear comfortable shoes you can walk in on land.
- Bring sunglasses and a sun hat for daytime glare.
- In spring or autumn, bring warm clothing, because it can feel cooler on the water.
- If it’s a hot day, plan for the fact that you’ll still need a modest church outfit when you reach the island.
Also keep in mind what you can’t bring: no large bags or luggage, and no pets. Pack lightly and you’ll have an easier time at the meeting point and on board.
If you’re parking in Kotor during summer, it can be tricky. Early arrival helps, even if you’re not driving, because it gives you time to locate the meeting spot calmly.
Stop-by-Stop Breakdown You Can Actually Plan Around
Here’s a simple mental timeline so you can match your expectations to the actual rhythm of the day.
Start at Hotel Tianis (reception in Kotor). This is your anchor point. Once you’re there, the tour runs like a loop: boat out, two stops, then boat back.
Speedboat cruise (~20 minutes). This is your initial coast-viewing time in Boka Bay. Use it to get oriented and enjoy the first wave of scenery.
Our Lady of the Rocks (~20 minutes). You’ll have time for photos and to visit. Expect a modest dress code and plan for the possibility that church hours may vary by season.
Short boat transfer (~5 minutes). This is quick, so it’s more of a reposition than a second “tour segment.”
Perast (~30 minutes). Time for a walk, photos, and a quick break for coffee or ice cream, plus a feel for Venetian-era baroque streets and maritime identity.
Return cruise (~25 minutes). You’ll sail back to the meeting point area, usually with enough time to enjoy the last views without feeling rushed.
That structure is the whole point of the experience: you get variety fast, without spending your day only traveling.
Should You Book This Speedboat Tour From Kotor?
Book it if you want a high-impact day that mixes sea scenery with two culture hits—Our Lady of the Rocks and Perast—and you prefer a small group and a guided plan.
Skip it or choose carefully if:
- You’re sensitive to rough seas or motion (this isn’t listed as suitable for pregnant women, people with back problems, mobility impairments, or wheelchair users).
- You want deep time in museums or a slow, thorough old-town exploration.
- You don’t like meeting at a specific place with no pickup and arriving on time.
My bottom line: for $32 and about 90 minutes, it’s a solid deal if your main goal is to see Boka Bay from the water and still check out the island legend plus a quick Perast walk. Just arrive early at Hotel Tianis reception, dress appropriately for the church, and keep your expectations aligned with the short, friendly pacing.
FAQ
FAQ
Where is the meeting point for the tour?
You meet at the reception of Hotel Tianis, located at Tabačina 16, Kotor.
How long is the speedboat tour?
The duration is 90 minutes.
What is included in the tour price?
It includes the speedboat tour, a visit to Our Lady of the Rocks Island, a professional English-speaking skipper/guide, water, and safety equipment.
Is the Our Lady of the Rocks museum entrance included?
No. The church museum entrance fee is 3€ per person and is not included.
How much time do I get at Our Lady of the Rocks and Perast?
You get about 20 minutes for Our Lady of the Rocks (including break and photo time), and about 30 minutes in Perast (including break and photo time).
What should I bring for the tour?
Bring a passport or ID card, comfortable shoes, sunglasses, a sun hat, and a camera.
What dress code is required?
You need modest clothing to enter the church. Swimwear is not allowed.
What should I expect if the weather is bad?
The tour may be canceled or rescheduled due to bad weather or rough seas.
Is skip-the-line access available for the church and museum?
No. There is no skip-the-line access because the church is small.










