Albania Tourist Attractions

Byzantine Walls

The Walls of Constantinople are a series of defensive stone walls that have surrounded and protected the city of Constantinople since its founding as the new capital of the Roman Empire by Constantine the Great.

BoVilia Lake

Skanderbeg Square

Kruja

Koman Lake

Belshi Lakes

Pyramid Of Tirana

National Heroes Cemetry

Durres

shkoder

Bovilla

Tirana

Kulla e Sahatit

National Arts Gallery

National Heroes Cemetery

Albanian Alps Tour

Rozafa Castle

Berat Castle

Et'hem Bej Mosque

Palace of Culture

Tirana Castle

Ethnographic Museum

Albanian Alps

Dajti Mt National Park Information Center

Muzeu Kombëtar Gjergj Kastrioti

Albanian Riviera

If you are thinking of the things to do in Albania, explore Albania Riviera and its beaches. Albanian Riviera is named Top Value Destination of 2012, for its rolling hills and unspoilt sands, rustic accommodation, grilled meats and cold beers. Here’s a list of some of the attractions you can visit while you are at the Albanian Riviera such as Llogara Pass, Llogara National Park, Gjipe Canyon & Beach, Butrint Archaeological Site and National Park, Saranda at the Corfu Strait, Ksamil Islands south of Saranda, and many others.

Porto Palermo Castle

The Porto Palermo Castle is few km along the Albanian Riviera in the bay of Porto Palermo. It was ranked as Europe’s 15 undiscovered destinations in 2014, and it's protected by the Albanian Government. It was built in the 19th century probably by the Venetian as the same structure is found in the Venetian fort. And, in 1921, it was named Venetian. It’s also known as Castle of Ali Pasha dark inside but really a worthwhile site to see and explore the battlements, which also give a good view of the sea.

Llogara Pass

The Llogara Pass is one of Albania Tourist Attractions, it’s a mountain pass along the Albanian Riviera within the Ceraunian Mountain. The nearest city is Orikum which on the northern side of the pass and the Dhermi village in the south. The pass is also part and parcel of the Llogara National Park. The road was built in the 1920s, and recently in 2009, the road got very narrow, almost in a single lane.

Blue Eye

The famous Blue-eye is a water spring and natural beauty that every visitor should see and visit. The beautiful turquoise is an oasis of fresh air, tropical paradise that can beat off the other tropical islands. The depth of the river is supposed to be 50 m, but many divers have gone in, and it’s still unclear of the actual depth of the hole.

Lively Saranda

Saranda is one place that has attracted many travellers as its Albania Tourist Spots. Saranda is the kind of place excellent for day trips which will let you experience a different side of Albania. The humming beach town can get a bit crazy in the summer time. Here at this site, you get to see Albania intricately woven with natural beauty, history and grandeur shores. While you are in Saranda, you can enjoy the clear water of Ksamil or walk through the old ruins of Butrint!

Valbona and Theth

Theth is a small village town in Albania and its hiking destination. Travellers start off from here and get to Valbona where they reach the top of the mountain. The way is very steep, but there are also some flatter parts. You will find a few cafes along the way, including a stop at the peak. It is truly worth taking the hike as the view from the top of the mountains is something you will never experience from any city. The panoramas over the valley on the other side will make you not regret the journey!

Ksamil Islands

Ksamil Islands has just started to get its prominence in recent years, and it has been a hidden gem on the Albanian Riviera. The paradise beach offers crystal clear water and white sand with a Mediterranean climate. It is located in southern Albania, unlike most beaches; this beach is less crowded as it’s most popular among the locals. There are many islands in Ksamil, but the most famous one amongst them is the Twin Islands which has their own beauty and charm.

Gjirokaster

Gjirokaster is a small Ottoman town which turned out to be Albania's Most Beautiful UNESCO Town. This town sets it apart from the other regular towns in Albania for its unique stone houses, cobbled streets and small like a fortress. The town is located near the bazaar and date back its history to the 17th and 18th centuries. It’s no wonder why Albanians are so proud of this historical site, and it’s also considered a cultural city because of the birth of the famous Albanian writer Ismail Kadare.

Berat - The City of a Thousand Windows

The UNESCO World Heritage site is well-known for its historical sites and scenic beauty. It’s Albania’s most important cities and it’s the best preserved Ottoman cities in the Balkans. What really makes the site a special dime is its traditional style of Balkan houses and they hold on to it and carry the style forward till today. The houses here have two floors, with large windows, roofs covered with ceramic tiles. Due to the construction of the houses on the steep hill, they appear to be stacked on one another. And, thus the view from afar makes it look like the city of thousand windows.

Berat - The City of a Thousand Windows

The UNESCO World Heritage site is well-known for its historical sites and scenic beauty. It’s Albania’s most important cities and it’s the best preserved Ottoman cities in the Balkans. What really makes the site a special dime is its traditional style of Balkan houses and they hold on to it and carry the style forward till today. The houses here have two floors, with large windows, roofs covered with ceramic tiles. Due to the construction of the houses on the steep hill, they appear to be stacked on one another. And, thus the view from afar makes it look like the city of thousand windows.

Shkodra - The cultural capital of Albania

Shkodra is the cultural centre of Albania and it’s one of the oldest cities in Europe. It was founded in the 3rd century by the IIIyrians. It has a pleasant temperature with an amazing infrastructure as some buildings in the Old Town went through rebuilding and revamping leaving the facades still fresh, yet elegant and colourful. It’s known as the culture of Albania due to the rich cultural history it offers which is more than what it has to show in the way of sights.

Durres - The largest amphitheatre in the Balkans

Durres is listed on the ten most beautiful Roman amphitheatres, and thus remains one of the most majestic sites of the ancient world. It is a treasure of the Balkans that’s slowly getting the way of its shell. The Amphitheatre of Durrës was built after the 2nd century and considered to be the greatest Roman construction under the Roman Emperor Trajan. The arena has witnessed many events which had almost 20,000 spectators who watched the gladiator show.

Korçë - The City of Serenades

Korçë is a small city in south-eastern Albania known for it’s composed of low houses, typical quarters which are covered with cobblestone. You will find a wide number of museums here such as the Education Museum, the renewed National Museum of Medieval Art, the Prehistoric Museum and many others. The Theatre Cajupi is also a famous Albania Tourist Places in Korçë.

Vlora

Vlora was originally known as Aulona, and it’s an ancient city founded in the 6th century B.C. The town is adorned with huge palm trees and enjoys a beautiful position in front of Sazani Island and Karaburuni peninsular. Thus, it’s very close to scenic mountains and rocky beaches which makes is the second largest port in the country. If you are wondering about things to do in Albania, visit Vlora and its attractions such as The Mosque of Muradie, The Vlora Bay, Triportus, The Museum of Independence and many others.

Pogradec

Pogradec is a small city situated in the east of Albania surrounded by hills and water on all sides. During the communist era, the place was once a very popular lakeside resort with a richness of natural beauty. It is a serene city which is in contrast to the chaotic, buzzing and austere urbanism. This is a truly interesting place to visit the Driloni National Park, Royal Tombs of Selca E Poshtme, Golik Bridge, Pogradec castle, Depo Complex and many others.

Apollonia - The city of Apollo

Apollonia was an ancient Greek city which is left in ruins now on the bank of Aous River. It was first founded by the Albanians then after it was discovered by the Greek. There has been some excavations dugout at these ruins, some antiquities and a large collection of Roman statuary. The town thrived when the Roman was ruling and it was mentioned in the writings of Cicero. Even after severe devastation by the earthquake, the site still remains to be Albania Tourist Attractions.

Valbona Valley National Park

It is a National park located inside the Albanian Alps encompassing the Valbona River and its surrounding areas with landscapes, terrain, rocks, deep depressions, waterfalls and forests. The park is characterised by exceptionally rich and varied fauna such as grey wolves, brown bears, chamois, wild boar, roe deer, golden eagle, and western capercaillie. Valbona Valley National Park is also a habitat for the endangered lynx. You can see the breathtaking views of Valbona Valley National Park from Maja e Popluks, Maja e Rosit and Valbona pass.

Butrint National Park

The Butrint National Park is one of Albania tourist spots which are a National Park with wetlands, freshwater lakes, reed beds, salt marshes and islands. There are about 1,200 animals and plants species found in the park. Butrint National Park was established to preserve the ecosystem, habits as well as the cultural heritage. Over 400 species are distributed across the park ranging from reptiles, mammals, amphibians, fish, birds and few wild animals.

Dardhe

Dardhe is a small community in Albania which is popularly known as the top ski destination in Albania. In 2012, the first ski tow was opened near Dardhe at the Bigell Ski Resort. The mountainous areas are hit by the heavy snowfall which thus makes it a good spot for Skiing. Many tourists come here as it as snow destination with low budget. Though the resort doesn't meet much to other European resorts, yet the accommodation is affordable and pleasant. It cost 40-60 Euros per person inclusive of accommodation, guide, skiing equipment and instructor.

Lake Koman

Lake Koman is situated in northern Albania and it’s surrounded by deep gorges, slopes, forested hills and a narrow valley. The lake is fed by the Drin, the Valbona and the Shala Rivers. The combination of the geographical, hydrological and topography conditions have contributed to the formation of animals such as the red fox, golden jackal, Eurasian otter, beech marten, European badger and the European polecat.

Dhermi

A small village in Vlore County built on the slope of Ceraunia Mountains of Albania. It comprises of two neighbours which is Kondraq and Gjilek. The youths of Albania consider this place as a nightlife destination. Some of the attractions are Drymades Beach, Alevra, Gramata harbour, the Pirates' cave, and the harbour of Gjipe, Hypapante Church, Panagia Monastery Church, Dhërmi and St. Stephen's Church.

Himare

Himare is a small and traditionally preserved town built on a hill in southern Albania. The town has a wide number of monasteries and orthodox churches such as Athaliotissa, Monastery of the Cross, Saint Theodore, Virgin Mary in Dhërmi and Saint Demetrius. Himare has a lot to offer to tourists, discover the best top things to do in Himare, Albania including Dhermi Beach, Baraban Bar, Penisola Di Porto Palermo e Castello, Gjipe Beach, Livadhi Beach, the Castle of Himara, Ali Pasha Castle, and Jale Beach, Himara Seas the Day, Llamani Beach, and Restaurants in Himare.

Mount Dajti and Cable Car

If you want to get to the Mountain of Tirana, Dajti, you can take the cable car which takes only 13 minutes. You can see everything from up there, the streets, the run-down village houses and a brief summary of life in Albania and its history. The ruins at Dajti dates back to aeon years ago. From the top, you can spot military camps, location of political prisoners during the communist rule. It is said that these mountains are full of skeletons.

Downtown Tirana

It is a 140-metre skyscraper in Tirana which will soon become one of Albania’s tallest buildings. The 37 storey tower is one of the places to visit in Tirana as has the most striking elements of houses and offices in Albania. It envisioned as an expression to show the development of Albania. Every house or office represents a town or a village so that when its seen from afar forms an abstract map of Albania.

Blloku

One of the things to do in Tirana is to visit Blloku, an upmarket city in Albania. It is popularly known as an entertainment destination along with its shops, boutiques, restaurants, pubs, trendy bars and cafes. After the fall of communism, the area became alive and more attractive than ever. There has been a lot of developments taken place with many new apartments and flats. Though a small and quiet area, it offers many places to see and things to do.

BunkArt & BunkArt2

It was originally codenamed as “Objekti Shtylla,” and was built in the 1970s with over 100 rooms. The place is now a cultural centre, but with remembrance and preservation of the dark years under Hoxha’s rule. It is now known as Bunk’Art with 24 rooms and has been turned into a history museum and art gallery. You can still see the preserved quarters and meeting rooms during the time when it was under Hoxha’s rule. The BunkArt2 is the latest museum open on 17 November in Tirana.

National History Museum

The Historical Museum has 18,000 square metres just for expositions. At the entrance of the museum, there’s a large mosaic titled The Albanians exhibiting Albania’s ancient to modern figures history. The museum includes the Pavilion of Antiquity, National Liberation Antifascist War, Renaissance, Middle Ages, Iconography, Independence, Communist Terror, and Mother Teresa.

Clock Tower

The clock tower of Tirana is a monument of culture which is 35 metres tall and was the tallest building at that time; it has about 90 steps in a spiral fashion. It was built by the Ottoman Turks and the bell was originally from Venice, but it was destroyed during WWII and replaced with a Roman numeral clock in 1946. Then, in 1970, it was again replaced by the Chinese clock. So, the tower has gone through many renovations to become what it is today.

Et’hem Bey Mosque

Et’hem Bey Mosque is an 18th-year-old mosque built in 1791 and completed in1819. There used to be an old bazaar in front of the mosque but it got destroyed in WWII. During the time of the atheist campaign, the mosque was spared from destruction because of its status as a cultural monument. The mosque consists of a portico, a prayer hall and a minaret. The entrance of the prayer hall is well constructed which is a square plan in a unique volume. It is fully covered in the dome and has no windows.

Grand Park of Tirana

The Grand Park of Tirana, also known as the park on the artificial lake is situated on the southern part of Albania. There are many landmarks around the park such as the Presidential Palace, the Saint Procopius Church, the Zoo and Botanical garden. The park was built between the years 1955 and 1956. It includes the Royal Palace where the Italian King Victor Emmanuel III resided during his visit to Albania.

Tanners’ Bridge

The 18th-year-old Ottoman footbridge connected Tirana with Debar; it’s located near the Tanner’s Mosque. This was the route which brought livestock to the city, with butcher shops and leather workers were located near the area. It was diverted in the 1930s, but it was again restored in 1900s for use by pedestrians. An artificial pond was also recreated on both sides during the time of its restoration.

Christ Orthodox Cathedral

Located in the heart of the city, the construction of this church was constructed in 2012 and has rapidly gained many visitors. The Christ Orthodox Cathedral is the third largest in the Balkans, and the religious complex includes the Cathedral, residence of the Holy Synod, Chapel of the Nativity, a cultural centre, small chapel and a library. The entire complex is adorned with beautiful architecture and its interiors are all harmonised with mosaics, Frescoes and iconostasis.

Pazari i Ri

The Pazari i Ri is also known as New Bazaar went through renovation from being just simple fruits and vegetable market to a beautiful space area. Along the street, there are many coffee shops, meat and vegetable vendor covered in elegant black glass. The space in the market is called Markata e Gjelber which means The Green Market. There are many places to eat and the biggest of them all is seafood at reasonable prices.