Plus, the drivers usually stop along the way to let more people on the bus or to drop people off. Gjirokastra has houses from the period that Albania was ruled by the Ottoman Turks. Korca is the hometown of the Korca Beer factory. The city is one of the best options for those who want to live by the sea, yet close to the capital or the airport. The bazaar market is the perfect place to buy a souvenir from your Albania holidays. Just take it and travel according to the planned journey. People lost the security they felt from the state, and production was shut down completely. If you are interested in Albanias history, be sure to visit the museum during your Albania holidays. Therefore, I highly recommend you rent a car for your Albania travel. Since Himare has a large Greek community, there a wide choice of small Greek restaurants. The main attraction in Berat city is the beautiful castle on the top of the hill, which is called Kala Castle. 1. Borsh is the largest beach in the Ionian Sea, and therefore, a highlight in the Albanian Riviera. The best-known attraction is likely the Roman Amphitheater that dates back many centuries to 200 AD. You will see that the beach is surrounded by rocky piers that surround the bay. The Cathedral is hard to miss because it is gigantic, and it dominates the centre of Korce. In 1930, King Zog of Albania turned the castle into a prison. LAKE KOMAN VALBONE AND THETH GJIPE BEACH KSAMIL SHKODRA LAKE AND SHKODRA CITY THE BLUE EYE (alb. The access road to Theth is still unpaved and it feels adventurous to visit. Before you reach the beach site, you will first see the St. George Monastery on the top of the hill. In fact, you will receive a brief introduction before take-off. But when you see the turquoise water and the cliffs surrounding the site, you will realize it worth the effort. The Blloku is the most upscale neighbourhood in Tirana, with lively restaurants and bars. Elbasan is one of the biggest cities in Albania. It has crystal-clear beaches, and many people come here for the summer holidays. Moreover, from Jala Beach you can take a boat ride to Gjipe beach. Along with the capital city of Tirana, Riviera is the most popular place in the country among visitors in their Albania holidays. As a matter of fact, Albania has not been in any war since the Second World War. After the drive, you will arrive in the Pellumbas village, which is beautiful with amazing mountains around. You can travel to the city of Fier which is closeby and from there make a day-trip to the archaeological park. The Illyrians were Indo-European tribes who lived in the western part of the Balkans around 1000 B.C. The collection shows Albanias history in chronological order. This huge underground nuclear bunker built in the 1970s for Albania's political and military elite has been transformed. For most, Berat is only a day trip, but for those who love to be a part of living history, Berat is perfect. Bufe 4. Behind the castle is the lead dome mosque with several domes. Moreover, in the early 19th century the castle was owned by Ali Pasha of Tepelena. Also, if you liked the article, we would be grateful if you would share it. The mosaic tells the story of all the foreign countries that occupied the Albania in the past. Lets be honest, the best part of going on a holiday is the adventure. Moreover, the fortress is on the tentative list for UNESCO World Heritage awaiting a decision on its future. The collection inside the museum shows the history of Northern Albania. Enjoy its stunning views and make a trip full of history, culture, and beach. They have light but also quite a heavy cuisine. It protects him from the blood feud. Himar 3. When a trip surprises me, it is usually the highlight of my holiday. The theatre was built in the 2nd century AD and it is the largest amphitheatre in the Balkan Peninsula. Traveling with Albanian buses is an experience on its own. Permet is called the city of Roses by the locals. Tirana has terrible traffic, though, especially during lunchtime. The mountain range is surrounded by the Adriatic sea to the north and the Ionian sea to the south. Moreover, there are four more sites on the tentative list of UNESCO: The royal tombs of Selca, the amphitheatre of Durres, Apollonia and the Castle of Bashtova. If you want to disconnect for a while, connect with nature, and also experience Albanian traditions, northern Albania will be your perfect choice. From the castle, there is a breath-taking view across the Ionian Sea. It is a land of contrasting landscapes, from abandoned buildings in the middle of fields, fortresses, castles and fortifications. And thirdly, the city of Gjirokastra. There are several different pools, which cure skin diseases, bone diseases and rheuma. If you rent a car, you can use Saranda as a base to explore the more private beaches in the area. The castle of Kruja is only a 45-minute drive from Tirana, and therefore, it is a popular destination for a day-trip during Albania holidays. The country lies on Europes coastline where the Adriatic and Ionian Seas meet, just north of Greece. Besides, you can also explore the history of Albania, its largest archaeological site, many castles on the Albanian coast. Known as the largest sea cave in Albania, a calm lake rests inside, surrounded by stalactites and stalagmites. The 26 km long canyons are impressive and a great place for an adventure. You can take a tour trough the bunker. Albania was invaded by many neighbouring countries throughout the centuries. If you walk a bit further along the trail, you can see the source of the waterfall, as it drops into several little pools. In the past, the mountain range isolated the south part of the coast from the rest of the country. The dictator died and the regime ended, but the heritage remains in Albania and some of the history you can explore as a tourist. Albania holidays are not complete without a visit to one or several of the UNESCO World Heritage sites. If you dont do it, the other option is to come to the bus station when you want to leave. Agriculture is still a vital sector of the economy in Albania. This is partially due to the communist history when few people owned a car and partially because it is a flat city. Apollonia is an ancient Greek colony and former diocese of Illyria, located on the right bank of the river Aous (present-day Vjosa). There is a wooden plateau on the top of a rock from where you can take beautiful pictures. If you want to disconnect and spend some time in nature, getting to know traditional Albanian villages, and experience the peaceful lifestyle of locals, visit Theth. The Skoder Historical Museum is located in the villa of an Ottoman merchant. Be sure to bring a picnic meal, because the plateau above the spring is the perfect place. Here you can discover the remains of the largest amphitheater in Albania. The average monthly wage in Albania is 45,539 lek ($369 USD). Mount Dajti. The best! The castle has four towers and you can walk on the remains of the castle walls. Archaeologists discovered the monument was in the 1960s. 121LEK is equivalent to 1EUR and 103LEK is 1USD. About Albania Tour Guide |Tripadvisor Reviews | Terms & Conditions | Website Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Refund Policy | Editorial Policy. The Preza Castle is a medieval castle on a hilltop close to Tirana. But the Byzantine empire built most of the castle in the 13th Century. The villages pride is the 400-year old plane tree in the middle of the village. Gjirokastra has a traditional Folk Festival in May. Albania is still in the process of developing itself as a holiday destination. Since the water comes from the mountain snow, it is too cold for a swim. We and our partners use cookies to better understand your needs, improve performance and provide you with personalised content and advertisements. The Ottoman style houses are still in use today, and many have been converted into hotels and coffee houses. When you cross it, youll see the Byzantine Monastery of St. Mary with its cemetery. The castle is located on the top of the hill and it has a stunning view of the Albanian landscape all the way until the Adriatic Sea. The sea water is a nice temperature for swimming, usually between 20-23C in the summer. The lake is close to Gjirokastra. The Albanian alphabet has 36 letters and the words are spelled phonetically. The Canyon of the Erzen river is a beautiful place to visit during your Albania holidays. The city of Berat has two historic neighbourhoods. Although the tombs are weathered from the outside, they give you a unique look into the glorious history of the Illyrians. The house belonged to a wealthy family, which you can see from the beautiful carved wooden ceiling and the stained glass windows. The waterfall originates from the top of the Tomorr Mountain and falls down the limestone cliff, therefore the view is breath-taking. This historic place is very impressive, and the view from the top of the hill is really worth seeing. With our Albania tour packages, get the chance to explore this paradisal land. These include Northern Albania, Coastal Albania, Central Albania, and Southeast Albania. The water originates from a black underwater cave, which looks like the pupil of a human eye. As a result, it has been used as a natural harbour since antiquity. You must visit the Karaburun Peninsula during your Albania holidays, because it has breath-taking bays overlooking the sea. The castle is famous for a local legend. And it was also a broadcasting station for Albanian media. Or had a shower in a mountain waterfall. The town sits on a horseshoe bay along the Ionian Sea and has beautiful sandy beaches with deeply turquoise waters that youll be hard-pressed to want to leave. This narrow strip of land, in the shape of a peninsula, stretches along the Adriatic Sea and offers not only beautiful views, but several crucial historical and cultural monuments. The grave site was discovered by archeologists in the late sixties. If you want to know even more about Albania, this part is for you. The brothers made a pact that the wife, who would bring lunch the next afternoon, would be sacrificed. Only a few kilometres from Tirana stands the famous Cape of Rhodon with its castle and the Church of St. Anthony. The main historic highlight is the Rozafa Castle on the hill, which was built by the Venetians in the middle ages. The urban scene is full of life, dotted with numerous bars, clubs and restaurants with local products, all overlooking the Ionian Sea. If you dont have time to visit the Albanian Alps, you can at least make it to this lake and cross it on the ferry, which will take you through the Valbona Valley. This small inland city is the other historical city alongside Berat that is recognized by UNESCO for its exceptionally well-preserved character. UNESCO Top 8 Myths & Legends. And the beach to the south, which is larger but less developed. Visitors are welcome to enjoy picnics on the golden sand, so remember to bring along some refreshments. Maybe you can also find some other people and share the cost with them. Moreover, there is also a Byzantine chapel on site with beautiful mosaics. Albanian agriculture mainly produces corn, vegetables, potatoes, fruits, olives, grapes and has high cattle breeding. Albania. What makes it even more impressive is the area known as the Karaburun Balcony. Winter brings about the magic of Christmas, the adrenaline of skiing, and the romance of sleigh rides under the starry cold skies. The two mountains between which Berat is built are named after the two brothers, and the River Osum flows through the city. The owners of the house live next door, you can simply turn up and ask them to show you around. As I mentioned above, renting a car to travel Albania is the best option. But the person tells you hell drive you to your destination. You can choose to go cave diving during your Albania holidays, because there are several cave diving destinations. You can also rent a canoe or a boat for a trip on the lake. If you are in Albania, you shouldnt miss a wine and raki tasting and try different types of cheese and meat. Sarand is, located on an open sea bay of the Ionian Sea in the middle Mediterranean Sea, about 14 km (8.7 mi), east of the northern end of Corfu Island. You can visit the Funari Lake (Liqenet e Funarit) with its beautiful nature, or make it to the Holtas Canyon. A second destination, is the Blue Eye spring close to Saranda city. Several tools, artefacts and fossils have been found in the cave. Bear in mind there might not be any bus, or there is only one bus departing at 6am, so rather ask in advance. The city boasts two World Heritage Sites in the old town neighborhoods of Gorica and Mangalem that you should take time to stroll through before checking out the Caste of Berat, which happens to be the largest castle in the entire country. One of the best places to visit in Albania is Ksamili - an archipelago close to the Greek border, on the very south of Albania. Although to be frank the visit to the cold war tunnel is a little creepy. There is a beautiful stone church and many of the homes date back to the Ottoman period. The result of the hike is absolutely worth it. Kruja is a historic town in the Skanderberg Mountains, about 30 km from Tirana, and for sure must be on the list with places to visit in Albania. If you are looking for a hidden beach with no other tourists, Gjipe is the place for you. The locals call the bridge the Judges bridge, because a judge fell of the bridge during the Ottoman period. It is possible to swim in the water inside the cave. Skanderbeg was an Albanian national, who fought against the Ottoman Rule for 25 years. Dhermi 4. All these issues make Albania one of the poorest countries in Europe. I am not sure this place is officially named this way. By diving can discover the beautiful underwater creatures. One of the reasons why Saranda is a popular destination among is that it is quite close to two other tourist countries, Greece and Italy. Explore the ancient theatre with its castle and the stunning views of the park with the sea. Adding that to the difficulty of ever leaving the country and you've got a very tough situation for much of the population. Its a great place to buy some souvenirs. The town marks the spot where independence from the Ottoman Empire was called for, making the Independence Monument an interesting place to check out. But only under the condition that her breast would be exposed to feet her baby, one foot exposed to rock the babies cradle and one arm to sooth the baby. Of course, the market also offers many souvenirs, like wallets, key hangers, post cards etcetera. Berat has many monuments and old churches to explore. Once the Ottoman forces were approaching, Petrela castle could signal the other castles in the area by lighting a fire. The bunker has now been converted into a museum about the communist regime. Mountains. According to My Travel Guide, Albania is ranked the fourth among ten places worth visiting in Eastern Europe ("Top 10 Eastern European Destinations"). Located just a few kilometers from Tirana, Cape Rodon is a destination whose popularity has grown exponentially among tourists in recent years. Therefore, Berat city became a museum city in 1961. And there is a lovely little Independence Museum about Albanias road to independence. Nowadays, the castle is a popular sight to visit during Albania holidays. Once the capital of Albania, Durres is located not far from Tirana on the country's coastline. The drive to Radomire is about 40 kilometers and takes 1.5-2 hours. Rogner Hotel Tirana. The cities of Berat and Gjirokastra both have a beautiful historical center. The Permet town is a traditional Albanian place, where the time stops for you. The coastal road is a link between the city of Vlore to the city of Saranda. You can take a boat from Vlore or from the Dhermi village. Historians believe the castle was built by the Venetians in the 15th century. The bridge was built in the 18th century by a local leader. 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