Fasinada
At sunset on 22 July, Perast's boats carry stones to Our Lady of the Rocks — a tradition unbroken for 570+ years.
This event has ended
It returns every year — dates for the next edition haven't been announced yet.
Perast is the perfect town for a ritual like this: a single line of stone palaces and church towers along the shore, facing the islets that define its seascape. There is no beach-resort bustle here — Perast is a place of façades, bell towers and water, and on the evening of Fašinada its whole waterfront turns toward the bay.
The evening unfolds slowly. The boats gather and set out at sunset, strung in a line across the bay; there is no staging and nothing to buy — just the ritual itself, decorated boats moving from Perast towards the island in the last light of a July evening, as they have for over five centuries.
That age and continuity earned Fašinada a place among Montenegro's national intangible cultural heritage in 2013. The procession is traditionally followed by the Fašinada Cup regatta, which brings sails to the same waters — the solemn half of the evening answered by a sporting one.
For spectators, the best vantage point is the Perast waterfront, where the whole procession passes in view. It is worth arriving before sunset to watch the boats assemble; the light on the bay in that hour is reason enough for the trip on its own.
Fašinada takes place every year on 22 July at sunset, setting out from Perast on the Bay of Kotor. Watching from the waterfront is free, and no tickets or arrangements are needed.
What to expect
570+ years unbroken
The stone-carrying vow has been kept by Perast for more than five and a half centuries.
National heritage since 2013
Fašinada is inscribed as Montenegro's intangible cultural heritage.
Sunset boat procession
Decorated boats cross from Perast to Our Lady of the Rocks at sunset on 22 July.
The regatta follows
The Fašinada Cup regatta traditionally follows the procession.
Free from the waterfront
The whole procession can be watched from Perast's waterfront at no charge.
Come before sunset
Arrive early on the Perast waterfront to watch the boats gather in the evening light.
What happens when
July 22, 2026
- Wed22JulWednesday, July 22Fašinada procession at sunsetDecorated boats carry stones from Perast to Our Lady of the Rocks; the Fašinada Cup regatta traditionally follows.
Photos
Where it takes place
Where to Eat in Kotor
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Plan your stay
Kotor — where to stay and how to get around
Live offers from local hosts on our booking platform. Nothing is charged online — you pay the host on site.
Booking requests are confirmed by the host; payment on site. Offers come from the Travel to Montenegro booking platform.
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What else is on in Montenegro around the same time.
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Njegos Day
Montenegro's holiday of culture on Njegoš's birthday — ceremonies, awards and programmes centred on Cetinje.
Camellia Days (Fešta kamelija)
Stoliv celebrates its camellia bloom with flower exhibitions, concerts and the Camellia Ball.