The single best day out from Bečići pairs two very different Bay of Kotor towns: Kotor, a walled UNESCO city with a fortress climb, and Perast, a tiny car-free baroque village with a boat out to a man-made island church. Both sit at the head of the same fjord-like bay, roughly 30–40 minutes up the coast, so you can leave the beach after breakfast and be back for an evening swim. Here is how to do it, what it costs in 2026, and how to fit both into one day. For the wider picture, see our best day trips guide.
At a glance
| Kotor | Perast | |
|---|---|---|
| From Bečići | ~25 km, 30–40 min by road | ~37 km, ~45 min–1 hr by road |
| What it is | Walled UNESCO old town + fortress climb | Car-free baroque village on the bay |
| Headline sight | City walls to San Giovanni fortress (~€15) | Boat to Our Lady of the Rocks (~€5 return) |
| Time needed | 2–4 hours | 1–2 hours |
| Best for | History, views, the fortress hike | Photos, calm, the island church |
In short: drive or tour around the bay, do Kotor's old town and (if you're fit) the walls, then loop 12 km on to Perast for the boat to Our Lady of the Rocks. A full day covers both comfortably.
Getting from Bečići to Kotor and Perast
Kotor's old town is about 25 km from Bečići, a 30–40 minute drive along the coast road around the bay — though peak-summer traffic builds badly near Kotor, so allow extra in July and August and set off early. Perast is a further 12 km (about 30 minutes) up the same bay-shore road. You have three sensible ways to do the trip.
| Option | Rough cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Self-drive / rental car | From ~€25/day + fuel + parking | Most flexible; park outside both old towns (Perast is car-free) |
| Bus + local bus | A few euros each leg | Bečići/Budva to Kotor by coach, then the Blue Line bus Kotor↔Perast (~25 min, roughly every 30 min) |
| Organised day tour | Varies — check current fares | Coach or small-group tours are sold from Budva and Bečići, usually bundling Kotor, Perast and a boat stop |
For self-drivers, note that Perast is completely pedestrian — cars are not allowed in, so you park in the lots at either end of the village and walk (a 15–20 minute stroll end to end). Summer parking there runs about €8 for the day (roughly €15 for 24 hours); it's typically free out of season. See our getting here and practical info pages for transport and car-hire basics.
Guided full-day tours from the Budva Riviera typically run 9–11 hours and bundle Kotor, Perast and often Budva, sometimes with the island boat ride included; prices vary by operator and season, so check a current listing on a platform like GetYourGuide or Viator before booking rather than relying on a fixed figure. Booking a tour also solves the summer parking and driving headaches around the bay.
Kotor: the walled city and the fortress climb
Kotor is the star of the Bay — a medieval walled town of squares, churches and marble lanes that has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979. The old town itself is free to wander, and an hour or two of drifting through its lanes to the cathedral and the main squares is the easy, everyone-can-do-it version of the visit.
The signature experience is the climb up the city walls to the fortress of San Giovanni (St. John's) — roughly 1,350 steps and 45 minutes to an hour up, rewarded with the classic sweeping view down over the terracotta roofs and the bay. In summer this is a paid climb: around €15, cash only, charged roughly May–September during staffed hours (around 08:00–20:00); out of season it's generally free. Prices here have risen in recent years, so treat €15 as the 2026 summer figure and carry cash — card facilities at the gate are unreliable.
Practical tips for the walls:
- Go early or late. Midday sun on the exposed stone is brutal; morning (before the cruise crowds) or the golden hour before closing are far kinder.
- Wear proper shoes and bring water. The steps are uneven and there's little shade.
- Skip it if you're not up for a real climb — the old town and the bay views from ground level are lovely on their own.
Perast: the baroque village and Our Lady of the Rocks
A short hop north around the bay, Perast is the opposite of Kotor's bustle: a single elegant waterfront of baroque stone palaces and church towers, no cars, and a slow, photogenic calm. Walking the length of it takes 15–20 minutes, and the main event sits just offshore.
Our Lady of the Rocks is a man-made island built up over centuries on a reef, crowned by a blue-domed church — one of Montenegro's most distinctive sights. Small boats shuttle out from the Perast waterfront: reckon on around €5 per person for the return trip bought directly from a boatman on the quay (some operators quote up to €10, and pre-booked tour boats more), plus a small entry fee of about €2 for the church and its little museum. There's no fixed timetable — boats go when they fill, which in summer is constantly.
Perast pairs naturally with Kotor because it's so close and needs so little time: an hour or two covers the waterfront stroll, the boat and a coffee with a bay view.
A suggested full-day plan
- Leave Bečići after an early breakfast (aim to be driving by 8:30–9:00 to beat the worst bay traffic and midday heat).
- Kotor first: park outside the old town, wander the lanes, and — if you're climbing — do the walls before it gets hot.
- Lunch in or near Kotor's old town.
- Drive 12 km on to Perast, park at the edge, stroll the waterfront and take the boat to Our Lady of the Rocks.
- Back to Bečići for a late-afternoon swim; the drive is about 30–40 minutes.
Prefer to relax? A tour flips all of this into a door-to-door coach day and removes the parking and driving. Either way, this is the day trip most people remember from a Budva Riviera holiday — see our things to do for more, and our sister guides to Sveti Stefan and the inland Ostrog Monastery.
Costs to budget (per person, 2026)
| Item | Rough cost |
|---|---|
| Kotor city walls (summer) | ~€15, cash |
| Perast boat to Our Lady of the Rocks (return) | ~€5 |
| Our Lady of the Rocks church entry | ~€2 |
| Perast parking (summer, if driving) | ~€8/day per car |
| Kotor old town / walking the bay | Free |
Everything except the walls and boat is essentially free, which makes this a low-cost, high-reward day if you self-drive or take the bus.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Kotor from Bečići?
Kotor's old town is about 25 km from Bečići — roughly a 30–40 minute drive around the bay, though peak-summer traffic near Kotor can add time, so set off early. It's easily done as a full-day trip by car, bus or organised tour.
How much are the Kotor city walls in 2026?
The climb to the San Giovanni fortress costs around €15 in summer (roughly May–September), cash only, during staffed hours of about 08:00–20:00. Out of season it is generally free to climb. Carry cash, as card payment at the gate is unreliable.
How much is the boat to Our Lady of the Rocks in Perast?
Reckon on around €5 per person for the return boat trip bought directly from a boatman on the Perast quay, plus a small entry fee of about €2 for the island church and museum. Some operators quote more, so agree the price before you get in.
Can you visit both Kotor and Perast in one day?
Yes — they're only about 12 km apart on the same bay, so a full day comfortably covers Kotor's old town (and walls, if you're fit), then Perast and the island boat. Many organised tours from Bečići and Budva combine the two.
Can you drive into Perast?
No — Perast is a car-free village, so you park in the lots at either end and walk in (15–20 minutes end to end). Summer parking is about €8 for the day, roughly €15 for 24 hours, and typically free out of season.
