10 BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN ALBANIA

10 BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN ALBANIA

Still very much off the beaten path, year-on-year Albania is becoming an increasingly popular tourist destination thanks to its stunning scenery, interesting historic sites, and welcoming people.

Isolated and shut off from the world for so long, Albania emerged from communist rule in 1991. Nowadays, visitors are invariably surprised at all that it has to offer; beautiful beaches lying alongside breathtaking mountain ranges and glittering lakes.

Thanks to its long and interesting history, Albania’s cities and scenic countryside are full of amazing old castles, Roman ruins, and Ottoman-era mosques and buildings, which make the country fascinating to explore.

With picturesque towns such as Gjirokaster and Berat for visitors to enjoy, there is always something new to see and do. The now colorful capital, Tirana, is full of monuments and museums offering a look at the country’s communist past.

A fascinating country, now is the time to visit Albania, as word is quickly spreading about what this hidden gem has to offer.

 

10. Dhermishowmap

dhermi 1535
With its welcoming turquoise waters and beautiful beaches that stretch into the distance, the gorgeous scenery of Dhermi is where many young Albanians head to in the summer. It is also home to some pulsating nightlife.

Located on a mountain slope overlooking the sea, the town boasts some stunning sunsets. Grabbing a drink at one of its numerous bars and restaurants while watching the sun go down is a lovely way to spend an evening.

While there is a fun and festive atmosphere about the place, with lively beachside bars blaring out music, there is more than enough beach to go around; you can always find a peaceful spot to simply kick back and enjoy the scenery of the Albanian Riviera.

9. Durresshowmap
Durresdreamstime/© Lev Levin

Once the capital of Albania, Durres is located not far from Tirana on the country’s coastline. It is a very popular destination, which means that it can get a bit crowded during the summer.

With one of the largest ports in the Adriatic, the city is a bit stuffy and over-developed, although there is a nice stretch of beach for visitors and locals alike to enjoy. Along the seafront, there are lots of restaurants selling delicious fresh seafood.

Fought over for millennia by the Bulgarians, Greeks, Venetians, and Ottomans, among others, its wealth of historic sites entices just as many people as its beaches. The spectacular Roman amphitheater and fantastic archaeological museum are the undoubted highlights.

8. Sarandeshowmap
Sarande

With its stunning location on the Ionian Sea, Sarande is blessed with year-round warm weather, sparkling waters, and a relaxed way of life.

While the seafront is a bit over-developed with its line of identity-less apartment blocks, there are lots of nice parts of Sarande to walk around, and loads of bars, restaurants and souvenir shops on offer.

In addition to the ancient ruins found in town, Sarande’s surroundings are full of historic sites and natural beauty, making it a great place to use as a base to explore the region.

7.Shkodrashowmap
Shkodra

Lying just a stone’s throw away from huge Lake Skadar that straddles the Montenegro-Albania border, Shkodra is a very pretty city to visit. The Buna River runs through town and the Albanian Alps can be seen off in the distance.

The undoubted highlight is Rozafa Castle. Over the course of its history, it has been ruled by the Illyrians, Venetians, and Ottomans, to name a few. The magnificent ramparts and ruins of the castle are fun to explore, and the views over Shkodra are breathtaking.

Although the center of the city has recently undergone extensive renovations, there are still plenty of lovely old buildings and historic sites to be found, such as the Ebu Beker Mosque and Orthodox Cathedral. The Historical Museum showcases just some of the region’s rich history and heritage.

With so much beautiful countryside surrounding Shkodra for visitors to explore, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

6. Beratshowmap
Berat

Widely regarded as one of the prettiest cities in the whole of the Balkans, Berat is known as ‘the Town of a Thousand Windows,’ as so many windows peer out at you from the front of its hillside buildings which are so tightly clustered together.

Located on a hillside, there are a number of Ottoman-era mosques and Byzantine churches scattered about town. One of the best views of Berat is from across the banks of the Osumi River which runs through it.

While simply wandering around Berat is a lovely way to spend the time, the town also has a great 13th-century hilltop castle, which is worth visiting for the outstanding views. There are also two interesting museums with some fascinating local costumes and artifacts on display and some splendid 16th-century icons.

5. Himareshowmap
Himare

With its beautiful setting on the Albanian Riviera, Himare’s sparkling turquoise waters and spectacular hilly coastline make it a great place to head if you’re after some sun, sea, and sand.

While its beaches and peaceful seaside promenade are what most people come for, the historic old town is lovely to wander around; its atmospheric tavernas are full of Mediterranean charm and delicious local seafood.

Perched atop a hill overlooking the old town is a delightful castle, which offers wonderful views over the sea. The nearby mountains also have some lovely trails and viewpoints for visitors to enjoy, while the surrounding countryside is home to spectacular churches and monasteries, such as the Monastery of the Cross and Athaliotissa.

4. Gjirokastershowmap
Gjirokaster

Located in the south of the country, Gjirokaster is a delight to visit. Its beautiful old town is perched on the side of a hill overlooking a valley and its winding cobbled streets are full of quaint buildings and historic sites.

With over 500 homes and buildings protected and preserved as ‘cultural monuments’, Gjirokaster is full of wonderful architecture. It is often known as the ‘City of Stone’ due to the distinctive local rooves that can be seen everywhere you go.

Perched above the scenic Old Bazaar is Gjirokaster Castle, reputed to be the second largest in the whole of the Balkans. A fascinating place to visit, the castle has an underground Cold War-era bunker and an Armaments Museum for visitors to enjoy, alongside its impressive fortifications and ruins.

3. Krujeshowmap
Kruje

Lying just to the north of Tirana, Kruje – or Kruja, as it is known in English – is famous for being the home city of Albania’s national hero Gjergj Skanderbeg. In the 15th century, Gjergj managed to hold out against the Ottomans for 25 years from his base in Kruje.

Known as the ‘Adriatic Balcony’ by locals, the craggy mountain that looks over the city is home to the majestic Kruje Castle, which was once Skanderbeg’s base. Nowadays, there is an interesting museum about the hero as well as a fantastic 15th-century church located within its walls. The panoramic views from the castle are simply spectacular.

The Old Bazaar in the center of town is just as fascinating to walk around. Nestled away amongst its atmospheric streets you’ll find some delightful little cafes and restaurants, alongside the plethora of shops selling anything from souvenirs and artisan goods to antiques and leather products.

A picturesque and peaceful place, Kruje is well worth visiting for its historic sites and beautiful natural setting. The surrounding area is equally enchanting to explore, with its lakes, canyons, and mountains.

2. Butrint National Parkshowmap
Butrint National Park

Home to a number of diverse ecosystems and stunning archaeological sites, Butrint National Park is a popular tourist destination, in large part due to its proximity to the Greek island of Corfu. Many people come to see its majestic blend of history and nature.

Covering a peninsula that is bordered by the huge Lake Butrint on one side and the Vivari Channel on the other, the natural beauty is magnificent; over 1,200 different types of animals and plants reside amongst its scenic wetlands, hills, and islands.

The main attraction, however, is the amazing archaeological site which covers over 2,500 years of history; this includes ancient city walls, remnants of a Roman theater, a Byzantine Basilica and two castles. Wandering around the ruins with the beautiful scenery all around you is a delightful experience. This is undoubtedly one of the hidden gems of what Albania has to offer.

1. Tiranashowmap
#1 of Best Places To Visit In Albania

Once full of grey, unwelcoming communist buildings, Tirana has transformed considerably since the early 90s. Albania’s capital is now a fun, friendly and festive place to visit.

Full of life, the now brightly colored pedestrian streets showcase some delightful Ottoman-era buildings and Italian architecture 犀利士
that highlights the country’s rich past. There are a number of great museums and art galleries worth checking out. Of particular interest is BUNK’ART, which was once a huge government bunker but now hosts art installations.

While it can be slightly chaotic in the traffic-filled center of town, the scenic Mount Dajti is just a short cable car ride away. With fantastic views of the city below and resplendent nature all around, it’s a lovely place to spend an afternoon.

With endless bars, cafes, and restaurants to be found around the trendy Blloku area, Tirana has a lively nightlife scene. Visitors to this under-visited capital invariably come away impressed at all that the city has to offer.

20 FUN FACTS ABOUT TRAVELLING

20 FUN FACTS ABOUT TRAVELLING

Facts About Travelling: Travel is one of the most popular forms of leisure around the world. When most of us decide to take a vacation from work it almost always involves planning to travel somewhere. There are so many
interesting things on this planet to see and learn about and this list is only going to cover twenty of them.

3435a6abae598eecc8e4ab17265dc96c

  1. The pilot and his assistant must eat different food in order not to upset their stomachs at the same time.
  2.  Don’t afraid to fly! Statistically, a plain is the safest mode of transport in the world.
  3.  People are changing the world while they are traveling. A lot of custom writers and artists get inspiration during a trip.
  4.  Monaco is the second among the smallest countries in the world after the Vatican. It occupies the area of 2 square kilometers. Monaco is even smaller than Central Park in New York City.
  5. In New Guinea, there are more than 850 languages. It’s the paradise for linguists.
  6. Fans of high speed should go to German. There are no speed limits on their autobahns and other freeway-style highways.
  7. In 1987, American Airlines saved $40,000  by removing one olive from each salad served in first class
  8. Travelling by train is usually the cheaper alternative, but I’m fairly sure you will reconsider when you want to travel to Vladivostok from Moscow. The longest rail journey in the world is between these 2 cities, taking seven days of travel through the frozen taiga forests, totaling  9,302 kilometers (5,780 miles).
  9. Since we are talking about trains, let’s mention the fastest train ride, as犀利士
    well. Linking downtown Shanghai with Pudong International Airport, the Maglev train covers the intervening 30 kilometers (19 miles) in just 8 minutes, and with a top speed of 501 km/h (311 mph). That must be quite the ride.
  10. The number one country for paid time off is Italy. Italians receive an average of 42 paid vacation days from their employers each year.
  11. Most workers in the US receive less than 2 weeks’ worth of vacation time per year
  12. Did you know there’s research revealing which languages are the happiest, i.e. contain the largest number of positive words? According to this measure, the happiest language is Spanish, with Portuguese, English, Indonesian and French rounding out the top five.
  13. Usually, a plain reserves a white stripe in the sky so you can predict the weather. According to the thickness of the line, you can determine large or small air humidity is. Very thick stripe means that a storm is coming.
  14. Money spent on the journey makes people happier than money spent on tangible goods.
  15. Las Vegas has the largest number of hotel rooms in the whole world.
  16. Many people think that they will travel when becoming retirees. But they can’t because of poor health and loss of enthusiasm.
  17. France is the most popular country among tourists.
  18. Travelling is not always expensive. You can find cheap rooms in most cities to stay there for a night.
  19. The most intelligent country is Canada. More than 55% of the population has higher education.
  20. The largest underground cemetery in the world is located in Paris. There are around 6 million dead persons buried there.