Walking tour from Durres - the main attractions in Tirana and Durres Albania

Come with us to discover Tirana and Durres, the biggest cities in Albania. Enjoy this walking tour made for those who love art, history, architecture, and landscapes. Included in the price is a guided tour of the two cities’ main museums, both testimonies of different cultures that lead to the modern Albanian identity.

The reason why you deserve a Tirana and Durres guided tour

With MyTour, Albania is more accessible than ever. We have tested and selected for you the best pathways, comfortable to walk, and in the company of an expert guide that is able to tell you all the details you want to know. Join us to receive a unique point of view of the two biggest cities in the country. You will visit the main museums, churches, mosques and the historical buildings and monuments of Tirana and Durres. To take part in this tour the only requirement is being able to get around on foot without problem. You will move from Durres to Tirana with MyTour transports, and you will have the time to walk leisurely around the cities, no rush.

Tirana: land and history

There are many reasons that make Tirana a symbolic, political, and cultural capital. Surrounded by green hills, the capital of Albania is observed by the 1800 meter “mountain of pits” (Gropà Mali), by the 1600 meters Dajti Mali and by the hills of Krrabë. 

The small Lana river runs through Tirana and it welcomes the tourists with the colors of life. The capital is located on the biggest plain of Albania and considering all the municipal territory, it is one of the biggest plains in Mediterranean Europe. Here, we often experience warm weather and the sun shines bright for more than 2,400 hours/year. The history of Tirana takes us back in time. The capital has been populated since the Iron age but it only started to rise in the II century AC (the Roman Age). In 1614, Tirana was officially a city, with the help of Sulejman Pashë Bargjini, an Ottoman General with Albanian origin, who built mosques, minarets, universities, bazaars, Turkish baths, and saunas. Finally, in 1920, Tirana officially became the capital of Albania.

Tirana things to see: A walking tour of art and history

This tour is perfect for the ones that have just arrived in Albania and also for those who have been for a while in Albania but still want to discover the best things to do in Tirana. Thanks to this Tirana walking tour you can admire the best views of the city. You will receive general information and historic information for each square or monument that you will visit. Feel free to ask questions.

The tour will start in the morning, from Skanderbeg square, a square dedicated to the Albanian national hero. In this square, you will find the National Historic Museum, where we will first explore the interior. There is a big facade that was built during the years of communism. It reflects the phases that the country passed through in more than 3,000 years of history. A full tour of the Museum would last about 3 hours, but during this tour, we will visit only the main rooms.

You will spend the rest of the morning visiting some important historical and architectural spots of the capital. The contemporary and cosmopolitan city of Tirana expresses the will of change that characterizes the Albanian people. The story of these people consists of a series of external invasions and a desire for identity redemption.

From the 700 years of the Byzantine Empire to the 500 years of the Ottoman Empire invasion. From the Italian invasion in the time of fascism to the communist regime that ended in the 90’. The same story is reflected in every place and in every corner of the city. By walking through the squares and buildings, you will notice the inheritance of every era, from the battles against the Turkish Invasion to the nowadays monuments, promoted by the actual Prime Minister Edi Rama.

A short history of Durres Albania

Located by the sea, Durres is surrounded by the vineyards of the sunny Ishmi hills, where it has been producing excellent wine since the Greek era. Durresi, the so-called Durrazo in Italian, has one of the oldest centers in Albania and also the second most populated city in the country. It has been known as Epidamnos in the seven first centuries AC from the Greek colonies, Korint and Corfu. During the Roman era, the city assumed increasing importance, becoming also a battleground between the armies of Caesar and Pompey during the period of the civil war.

After the byzantine empire, the city fought the Bulgarians and Ottomans. Today, Durres Port is one of the biggest tourist and commercial ports on the Adriatic sea.

What to see in Durres: a city with 3000 years of history.

In the afternoon, you will arrive in Durres. The walking tour will start from the Venetian tower, a military fortified tower built between 1400 and 1500 to protect the port. The Venetian tower is located next to the ancient walls of the Durres castle, which surrounded the city center. Then we will move towards the Roman Amphitheater, built from the Trajan Emperor at the beginning of the II century AC. The amphitheater was built to accommodate a capacity of 20,000 people and it is the biggest in the Balkan area.

After that, during your visit to Durres Albania, you will see the Archeological Museum, a treasure holder and a must-see for the ones that visit the area. Thanks to this guided tour, you will be introduced to the unique story of this city and the archeological monuments that it holds. Most of these archeological monuments are found in the ancient city of Dyrrachium, and it refers to the Greek period and the Roman Empire. Leaving the museum, the participants will have half an hour to walk around on their own, before returning to Tirana.

•Due the moderate amount of walking to reach the main attraction sites could be better to wear comfortable shoes and clothes

•We suggest this tour to customers who are able to climb and descend streets and stairs.

•This tour is not suitable for customers in wheelchair. 

•In case of hot weather we suggest you to bring a cap with you.

•Reach the meeting point 15 minutes before the departure time.