Day trips from Tirana

Krujë(Kruja)

A medieval fortress town 30 km north of Tirana — Skanderbeg's seat, from which he held the Ottomans off Albania for 25 years. A castle, the Skanderbeg Museum, and an Ottoman bazaar packed with antiques and souvenirs.

What to see

• •Kruja Castle with the Skanderbeg Museum
• •The old Ottoman bazaar (Pazari i Vjetër) — antiques, kilims, souvenirs
• •The Ethnographic Museum, set inside an old Ottoman house
• •The Sari Salltik Bektashi tekke — a sacred site of the Alevi tradition
• •The view from the ramparts over the whole Kruja plain

Tips

• 💡The bus from Tirana leaves the northern station (Rruga Dritan Hoxha) every hour.
• 💡The bazaar is at its best in the morning — owners roll in around 10am.
• 💡The castle and museum are closed on Mondays.
• 💡Pair it with lunch — Restorant Panorama Krujë looks straight out over the plain.

Drač (Durrës)(Durrës)

Albania's largest port, 35 km west of Tirana — the country's second city, with a Roman amphitheatre (the largest in the Balkans after Pula), Adriatic swimming, and a seafront promenade. An ideal summer escape from Tirana.

What to see

• •The Roman amphitheatre (2nd century, capacity 15,000) — the largest in the Balkans
• •The Durrës Archaeological Museum
• •The Venetian tower and remnants of the Byzantine walls
• •The beaches south of town (Currila, Spille) — Adriatic swimming
• •The seafront (Sheshi Liria) for the evening *corso*

Tips

• 💡The amphitheatre is right in the middle of town — pair it with lunch in the centre and the beach afterwards.
• 💡The beaches next to the centre (Plazhi i Durrësit) are crowded and muddy — drive 15 min south to Currila or Spille for cleaner water.
• 💡The bus leaves Tirana's north station every 30 minutes.
• 💡Seafront fish restaurants — Vila Verde, Bujtina e Gjelit — superb value for fresh fish.

Berat

The UNESCO 'town of a thousand windows', 95 km south of Tirana — white Ottoman houses stacked in tiers up the hillside, a castle on top, and one of the finest panoramas in Albania. A long way from Tirana (almost 100 km), but worth a full-day trip.

What to see

• •The Mangalem quarter — rows of white houses with windows facing the Osum river
• •Berat Castle (still inhabited — more than 1,000 people live inside the walls)
• •The Onufri Icon Museum in the castle (16th century, one of Albania's greatest painters)
• •The Ethnographic Museum, in an old Ottoman house
• •Crossing the Gorica Bridge to the far side of the Osum

Tips

• 💡Set off at 7-8am — it's far, and you'll need 2-3h each way.
• 💡The castle is still inhabited — you can wander anywhere inside it, free of charge.
• 💡The classic photo is from the Gorica Bridge, looking back at the Mangalem wall.
• 💡Pair it with lunch at Onufri (the restaurant below the castle) — Albanian cooking, fair prices.
• 💡If you have time, stay the night — Berat is even better in the evening when the lights come on.