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- Tan with Albanian Families on Durres Beach. In Communist times, every citizen in the country received 15 days off per year, and Durres Beach was the place to go.
- Chill out on Vollga Beach. If you’d like a slightly quieter vibe, head a little north of Durres Port, to a small stretch of sand south of Currila beach.
- Explore the ancient Durres Amphitheatre. I bet you’d be surprised to learn that Durres is the most ancient city in Albania, with a history dating as far back as 627 B.C.
- See Durres Castle / Venetian Tower. One of the best places to see the political and religious upheavals that have centred in Albania is the Durres Castle and it’s extension, the Venetian Tower.
- Durres Amphitheatre
- Durres Beach
- Royal Villa of Durres
- Archaeological Museum
- Byzantine Forum
- Durres Mosques
- Spille Beach
- Tirana
- Krujë Castle
- Krujë Bazaar
Surely one of the greatest pieces of ancient architecture in Albania, if not the Balkans, the Durres Amphitheatre was built in 100AD by Hadrian and was only rediscovered in the 1960s. It was used for about 300 years and back then it could as many as 20,000 spectators. This grand scale is part of what makes the landmark special, but archaeologists a...
Albania’s most popular destination for a day by the sea, Durres Beach stretches out for more than ten kilometres along the city’s waterfront. The urban part of the beach is crazy in the summer, when it’s packed with people from all walks of life. There are all manner of things going on, from games of table football to water sports events. You’ll ne...
The Albanian monarchy, which lasted from 1928-1939, has been defunct for more than seven decades, but this building atop a hill in Durres stands as an interesting reminder of this era. These days the Royal Villa is derelict, but it has a fascinating history. It was built in 1937 for King Zog I, who only got to enjoy the residence for a year. After ...
The largest archaeological museum in Albania, here you can see what all the different civilisations that settled this region left behind. It’s just a few steps from the waterfront and was established in 1951, with collections that cover every period from the Ancient Illyrian culture, through the Roman era, Byzantine times and the rule of the Ottoma...
At the heart of Durres is the modest but evocative collection of colonnades that made up Macellum’s forum after the Roman era. It dates between the 600s and the 800s and is paved with excavated marble stones. You can get up close to the Corinthian columns in the forum to see the exquisite detail of the stonework. At one time there would have been a...
There are two impressive mosques to track down in Durres, as Albania’s relationship with religion was disrupted during communist times, and each place of worship has its own story. The Great Mosque is the younger of the two structures, having been built in 1931 by King Zog I on the site of an earlier Ottoman building. After 1967 its minaret was des...
A few short kilometres south of the city, just after Kavaje, is this natural beach that offers a contrast to the hectic waterfront at Durres. Spille is for those who want a more relaxed day by the sea and attracts fewer visitors, making it easy to find a spot to yourself at any time of year. Despite the seclusion and natural setting, all the servic...
It’s easy to catch a bus east to Albania’s capital, which is where the country’s past and present clash. If you want to see some real soviet architecture get to the Piramida, which has lain empty since the end of communism and was built as a monument to the dictator Enver Hoxha. For further proof of Albania’s complicated connection to Hoxha, you ca...
If you’d like you to witness the scene of a momentous event in Albania’s history then head northeast to Krujë Castle, popularly named after the Albanian national icon Skanderbeg. As the Ottoman Empire conquered the surrounding region this fortress stood firm, holding out against Mehmed II’s armies in three successive sieges during the 1400s. To giv...
This neighbourhood of Krujë is a step back in time, as Krujë’s entire 18th and 19th-century commercial district has been carefully preserved and continues to thrive. The market extends all the way from the gates of the castle to the centre of Krujë and is made up of a single cobblestone street along which all sorts of sellers tout their wares from ...
The ancient city of Durres is only 34 km from Tirana in Albania. It’s really worth a visit if you like history, enjoy the beach or can’t resist an ice cream! There are tonnes of awesome things to do in this former capital city. In this post we detail the very best things to do in Durres. A Very Brief History of Durres
Feb 3, 2021 · Francesca Masotti 03 February 2021. Durrës is the second-largest town of Albania, after the capital city Tirana and the first port of the country. Located on the Adriatic coast, Durrës is a sea town with many things to offers to visitors, including great beaches and unique archaeological landmarks, such as the largest amphitheater of the ...
- Francesca Masotti
Durrës (/ ˈ d ʊr ə s / DUURR-əs, Albanian:; Albanian definite form: Durrësi) is the second-most-populous city of the Republic of Albania and seat of Durrës County and Durrës Municipality. It is one of Albania's oldest continuously inhabited cities, with roughly 2,500 years of recorded history.
- 7th century BC
- Durrës
Aug 15, 2022 · Located by the Adriatic coast attracts many travelers. Not only beaches but also historic monuments and a lively atmosphere are the reasons why Durrës is such a popular tourist destination. Read our article to learn useful tips about visiting Durrës.
Dec 17, 2021 · A Day in Durrës: Albania’s Most Historic Coastal City. Albania / / Archaeology, City Guide, Greco-Roman. Last Updated on: 19th March 2022, 10:47 pm. Durrës, just an hour from Tirana, is Albania’s most developed and crowded beach town.
