Albania — Where to Go
Top Things to See
Butrint
Don't miss the ancient city of Butrint (www.butrint.org), with archaeological remains spanning 2,500 years. Embark on one of the suggested walks or take a boat trip around the park.
Gjirokastra and Berati
Explore the Ottoman cities of Gjirokastra and Berati, with their unique domestic architecture and their imposing hilltop castles.
Kruja
Make the easy day trip from Tirana to the family seat of Albania's 15th-century hero, Skanderbeg. Within the medieval castle's walls are two interesting museums. The restored Ottoman bazaar just outside the castle offers the best souvenir-shopping in Albania.
Rozafa Castle
Built before the Roman conquest, this castle in Shkodra was last used for military purposes as recently as 1913. Rozafa was the last fortress in Albania to fall to the Ottomans, in 1479.
Tirana'scommunist past
Sights include the murals and statues in the city center, the house where Enver Hoxha lived and the Pyramid, built as his mausoleum. Afterwards, take a bus or taxi up to the Martyrs' (partisans') Cemetery, with its statue of Mother Albania.
VisitVoskopoja
Admire the vibrant colors of the frescoes in Albania's little-known churches. Voskopoja, near Korça, was once the largest city in the Balkans, full of churches and basilicas, and with its own academy where artists were trained.
Top Things to Do
Birdwatching
Birdwatch in the coastal wetlands of Karavastaja, the westernmost breeding site of the Dalmatian pelican, or Kune-Vaini, home to spotted eagles, spoonbills and herons.
Cycling
Cycle through the Gramoz mountains from Korça to Përmeti. Allow time to enjoy the dramatic views and sample the food in the restaurants along the way.
Explorearcheological sites
See interesting and accessible archaeological sites, such as the abandoned city of Apollonia and the Roman amphitheater in Durrësi. Byllis is a little harder to get to, but well worth the effort.
Go to the beach
Sunbathe or swim on one of Albania's beautiful beaches. They slope gently into the Adriatic and are more rugged further south. The lakes have beaches too. But be warned: in high season, all but the most remote beaches are crowded and dirty.
Hiking
Hike in Albania's magnificent mountains. The two areas with the best infrastructure (in terms of accommodation, guides etc) are the Albanian Alps in the far north and the Tomorri massif in the southeast. Outdoor Albania (www.outdooralbania.com) organizes hiking, skiing and mountain-biking tours throughout the country.
Lake Komani ferry
Take the ferry up the jade waters of Lake Komani, hemmed in on both sides with towering cliffs. Look out for pygmy cormorants, herons and golden eagles.
View religious art
The national collections of religious art, in Tirana, Korça and Berati, contain wonderful icons painted by the 16th-century artist Onufri and his successors in the 18th and 19th centuries.
White-water rafting
Go white-water rafting through the spectacular canyons of the Osumi River. Outdoor Albania (www.outdooralbania.com) has qualified and experienced guides, or the Castle Park Hotel in Berati organizes rafting weekends.
Featured Tours to Albania
Albania, Macedonia & Beyond
Go where few have gone before on your exploration of these hospitable countries. Visit the cliffside monastery of Kalishta and the Byzantine…
