Holidays in Albania? The perfect itinerary to visit Albania

Cities of art in Albania

Albania is a country rich in history and tradition, due to the long period of Roman, then Ottoman domination. Later, Albania was a communist state from 1944 and has been a parliamentary republic since 1998. From Kruja to Gjirokastra, via Tirana and Berat, there is no shortage of art, culture and history.

Tirana

Tirana is the capital of Albania and home to the country's most important institutions. The buildings in the city centre bear direct witness to the country's periods of domination and history. 

The first thing to see in Tirana is Skanderbeg Square, named after Skanderbeg, the Albanian national hero who fought for years against the Ottoman Empire, to whom the statue depicting him on horseback in the centre of the square is dedicated. Around the square are the Clock Tower, the Turkish Ethen Bey Mosque, the Opera and Ballet Theatre, and a whole host of other buildings that you will discover as you look around! 

Visiting the Bunk'art will be an adventure in discovering the capital in communist times, as will walking through the Blloku district, once populated only by officials of the communist regime and now full of trendy bars and clubs. A visit to the Resurrection Cathedral will give you a sense of Albania's interreligious spirit, while Deshmoret and Kombit avenues are dedicated to Albanian martyrs and fighters and are home to some of the city's most important buildings.



Berat

Berat was designated a UNESCO heritage city in 2008 as a rare example of a well-preserved Ottoman city. The city is dominated by a fortress perched on a hill, Berat Castle, from which there is a beautiful view as well as towers, churches and mosques. Berat is also known as the city of a thousand windows thanks to the many white Ottoman houses that line the banks of the Osum River and occupy the Mangalem and Gorica neighbourhoods. In these neighbourhoods steeped in Albanian culture, you can take long walks through winding streets, gardens and picturesque views.



Gjirokastra

The uniqueness of Gjirokastra derives from the pugnacity and rebellion of its inhabitants, today evidenced by the numerous fortress-houses from which they defended themselves. Among its main attractions are the large castle, the Drin Valley and the bazaar, the centre of town life. But you can also admire Topulli Square, the Cold War tunnel that housed the population in case of war, the Bazar Mosque and the Education Obelisk, a vantage point over the city.

Where to go to the beach in Albania?

The sea in Albania is very underrated, but it amazes everyone. It is close, cheap and crystal clear, what more could you want? Among the best known and most touristy seaside destinations are Durres and Vlora, but secret and even less pristine beaches are scattered throughout the 460 km of coastline Albania has to offer.

Vlora

Vlora Bay is the largest in Albania and the one that offers the greatest variety of beaches: rocky coves, sandy beaches surrounded by pine forests or bays that can only be reached by sea. Among the best known are the beaches of Uji i Ftohte, Orikum, Gjipe and Radhima, then the enchanting bay of Porto Palermo. 



Durres

Durres Sea is particularly popular with young people and families because the sea is shallow, the beach is sandy and the coast is full of entertainment. The crystal-clear sea is not the strong point of this city, but the Spille beach and the General's beach are the exceptions to the rule!