Welcome to the Best Private Tour from Kotor

The starting point for the Kotor private tour is Kotor, from where we are heading to the most complete baroque town on the Adriatic coast, Perast, and the tiny artificial island just across it, Lady of the Rocks.

From the interaction between mainland and bay, the inherent contrast of stone and water, and the dialogue of island and wave, sometimes in harmony but often in conflict, this sea-faring town has derived unity, strength, and a sense of purpose. Despite its size, a sophisticated urban structure has arisen, demonstrated by the proportion, scale, massing, and rhythm of many public buildings, especially along the waterfront.

First, we arrive in the town of Perast, just 20 minutes away from Kotor. From there, we’ll take a boat ride to the most famous island in Montenegro—Lady of Rocks.

The legend is that the island has been made over the centuries by local seamen who kept an ancient oath after finding the icon of Madonna and the Child on the rock in the sea on July 22, 1452. After each successful voyage, they laid a rock in the Bay. Over time, the islet gradually emerged from the sea. The custom of throwing rocks into the ocean is alive even nowadays. Every year, on the sunset of July 22, an event called “Fašinada” occurs when residents take their boats and throw rocks, widening the island’s surface.

Besides the 17th-century church, there is also a museum of gifts, mainly donated by sailors and captains who had lived through storms, battles, and long periods at the open sea.

As we return from the island, we visit the main square in the middle of Perast, with the church of St. Nicola’s and its impressive 55-meter-high belfry. From there, we continued walking about 1 kilometer along the waterfront, admiring the beautiful architecture from the 17th and 18th centuries, until we met the vehicle waiting to take us back to Kotor.

Hidden beneath the Mountain of Lovćen, in the heart of the breathtaking Boka Bay, this jewel of the Adriatic is unmatched in its beauty. This beauty is represented by the assimilation of different cultural influences whose signatures are more than visible even now.
Join us on this Kotor, Perast, and Budva private tour and help us reveal all the secrets!

Here you can take a quick look at Kotor Old Town on 360° view: https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=zuBSSORz54Ew.k3OtZaUCoeQ4&hl=en_US

Our walking tour of Kotor starts in front of the main gate (1). When we enter the Old Town, we’ll first step on the main town square, better known as Arms Square (2), recognized by a Town Clock Tower (3), which dates back to 1602. By the tower facade, there is a pyramidal pillar, a pillory, and a testimony to the moral and legal norms respected in the town.

On your way to Flower Square (4), we pass beautiful baroque architecture, which reflects the monumental palaces of families Bizanti and Beskuća (5), followed by the great story and legends about those noble residents. Near the most beautiful palace in Kotor – Pima, we find the genuine diamond of this town – Cathedral of St Tryphon (6), built in honor of St Tryphon, patron and protector of the city, on the same place where the older church, dedicated to the same saint existed from 809.

We proceed to the Maritime Museum (7), which has rich exhibits representing the sailing history of this area and its way of life. The museum is a “must-see place” in Kotor. It is decorated with original furniture of noble families, models of ships that were used for trade and battles, and an extensive collection of guns and swords that show the critical role of Kotor during past centuries.

The path leads us to the Church of Saint Luke’s (8), which initially was a Catholic school. It was then given to Orthodox believers for use, representing a testimony of the harmonious coexistence of Catholic and Orthodox people. On our way to Saint Luke’s church, we pass by Karampana Square (9).

Right next to Saint Luke’s is Saint Nicholas Church (10) (built in 1909.), which possesses a rich collection of icons and a beautiful iconostasis made by Cigler, a Czech artist.

Church of Saint Mary (11), built in 1221 on the site of a 6th-century basilica, is not something you want to skip. This Catholic Church is distinguished by impressive 20th-century bronze doors covered in bas-reliefs, a particularly gruesome larger-than-life crucifix, and a glass coffin containing the body of Blessed Osanna of Cattaro (1493–1565). She was known as an anchor, choosing to be walled into a small cell attached to a church to devote her life to prayer.

Soon, we came to another gate and reached the end of our tour. North Gate of Kotor (12) was built to remember the battle against the Ottoman Empire in 1539; one year later, the gate was built. From that point, you can see the shortest river in Montenegro, Škurda.

*From Perast, we drive about 50 minutes to Budva.

By far the most visited summer destination in Montenegro—the queen of tourism—Budva attracts tourists worldwide with its beautiful Old Town, vivid atmosphere, bars, nightclubs, palm trees, and gorgeous beaches consisting primarily of pebbles and sand. A magnificent combination of the ancient and modern, Budva is a great option for visiting something different from Boka Bay, yet it is only 30 minutes away from Kotor.

Budva Old Town lies on a small peninsula surrounded by the sea and represents a treasure chest of cultural heritage. From Greek and Roman traces, over medieval influence to a final combination of Byzantine and Baroque styles. Crossed with narrow streets and squares are relevant monuments that indicate Budva’s important religious aspect–including the Holy Trinity Church, churches of St. John, St. Sava’s, and Our Lady “In Punta” (Santa Maria in Punta).

After the 45-minute walking tour, we drive back to Kotor and make a photo stop above the Bay to take breathtaking pictures of the town below.

*We finish with the walking tour in the Old Town of Kotor (described earlier).

SEE YOU ON THE KOTOR, PERAST, BUDVA PRIVATE TOUR!