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ALL 21 MEDITERRANEAN COUNTRIES
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TOP 5 COASTAL CITIES
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Durrës
Durrës, the biggest seaport in Albania, is the perfect combination of sandy beaches with a wealth of ancient history.
The city was founded in 627 bce and its nearly 3,000 years of history makes it the most ancient city of Albania.
Durres boasts numerous ancient archaeological sites and treasures.
The 15,000 seat amphitheater built by the notorious Roman emperor Hadrian is a must stop and see.
Another fascinating attraction is the mosaic covered walls of a 9th century church. Additionally, one can explore the 2nd century bathhouses, a 5th century Byzantine forum of marble columns as well remnants of the original city castle.
Sarandë
Sarande situated on a horseshoe shaped bay is a favorite jewel of the Albanian Riviera for both local and international visitors.
In lively Sarande one can enjoy all that the city offers, the beach, olive trees, promenade and much more.
One can also explore the ancient archaeological remnant of a 5th century Jewish synagogue which included a whole network of buildings, with a school and community center.
The still visible intricate floor mosaics depict Jewish symbols such as the menorah, shofar (musical horn) and etrogs (the citron fruit consumed during the Sukkot holiday).
Shëngjin
Located in northwestern coastal Albania, the port and beach city of Shenjin is surrounded by the beautiful, blue lagoon with pine forests and picturesque hills in the background.
Local tradition claims the city's name is connected to the Forest of the Fairies (Pylli i Zanave), which is located between Shëngjin and Velipoja to the south.
Just south of Shëngjin one can find the Kunë-Vain-Tale Nature Park a protected area surroundings by wetlands and seafront. North of the city you can experience the stretch of coastal dune.
Vlorë
The harbor and beach city of Vlore has significant meaning for modern Albania. Vlore was the location where Albania declared its independence from the Ottoman Empire at the beginning of the 20th century. Independence Monument, designed by Mumtaz Dhrami, at the center of Vlore’s Square of the Flag celebrates Albanian independence.
A reminder of Ottoman rule is the famous Muradie Mosque, an Albanian National Monument, built by legendary Turkish architect Mimar Sinan in 1537. The mosque features an eighteen meter high minaret with ornamental stonework.
Dhërmi
The coastal village of Dhermi is built on a slope of the massive green Ceraunian Mountains 200 meters in height and faces the Ionian coast and Corfu to the south.
The city and beach have witnessed a boom in the construction of accommodation facilities, including a large promenade by the sea. The pebbly beaches, beautiful clear blue water and a growing reputation as a nightlife destination, has Dhermi featured as the "paradise" of the Albanian Riviera.
TOP 7 people, food & fun
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Mother Teresa
Born in Macedonia in 1910 to parents of Albanian-descent, Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu, better known as Mother Theresa was the founder of the Order of the Missionaries of Charity, a Roman Catholic congregation of women dedicated to helping the poor. Her order established a hospice; centers for the blind, aged and disabled; and a leper colony.
In 1979, Mother Teresa received the Nobel Peace Prize for her humanitarian work. and was canonized by the Catholic Church as Saint Theresa of Calcutta in 2016.
Ismail Kadare
Ismail Kadare, Albania’s best-known novelist, playwright and poet, was awarded the inaugural Man Booker International Prize in 2005, the Jerusalem Prize in 2015. and more recently was named the 26th laureate of the renowned Neustadt International Prize for Literature.
Kadare's first novel, The General of the Dead Army, was published in 1963.
His works have been translated extensively, appearing in forty countries.
George Kastriot Skanderbeg
George Kastrioti Skanderbeg, 1405 – 1468 is a great historical national hero of Albanians.
He was taken hostage by Turkish sultan, converted to Islam and educated in Turkey.
Skanderbeg abandoned the Ottoman military and joined his native Albanian countrymen in the fight against the Turkish Islamic empire. From 1444–66 he successfully led the resistance to many Turkish invasions, which earned him fame in the entire Western world.
Inva Mula
Inva Mula, born in 1963, is an international acclaimed opera lyric soprano. Both her parents were also opera singers and she commenced her singing career at an early age.
Mula was born in Tirana, Albania, and has won numerous international competitions. including the Butterfly competition in Barcelona in 1992 and the Plácido Domingo's first Operalia International Opera Competition in Paris, 1993.
Western film goers know Mula as the voice of the Diva Plavalaguna in the 1997 film The Fifth Element.
Sarma
Sarma is a dish comprised of vine, cabbage, monk's hubarb or chard leaves rolled around a filling usually based on a combination of grains, like bulgur or rice, and minced meat.
Sarma can be served hot or cold.
Byrek
Byrek is one of Albania's famous food dishes.
Byrek is a tasty salty pie made with filo pastry found everywhere in the country and coming in different sizes and types.
Byrek with spinach is popular but it also can be served with gjize cheese or meat. Anther well known variation is "Byrek me Domate dhe Qepë” (Byrek with Onions and Tomatoes). Byrek is eaten both an appetizer, a snack and by some even as a breakfast staple.
It is usually oven cooked in a large pan then cut into square, triangle or rectangular shapes.
Raki
Raki, the national drink of Albania, is a powerful fruit brandy.
Most versions of Rak are quite potent - 80- to 100 proof / 40% to 50% alcohol.
Popular and most common flavors are grape, plum, and apricot; Raki has a strong anise flavor.
Locals drink Raki before or after meals and sometimes even in the morning, while having a coffee.
TOP 10 ATTRACTIONS
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Blue Eye
Albania’s famous Blue Eye (Syri i kaltër) located in the southeast of the country is a natural water spring and phenomenon visited by thrilled tourists from around the globe.
Blue Eye is surrounded by forests and a beautiful light blue river flows through what has been called a natural paradise.
From an overlooking metal balcony, visitors can get a close up look at the Blue Eye.
The Blue Eye is a water spring and its extremely light blue water bubbles in a more than 50 meter deep pool. The water is so clear that one can actually see straight to the bottom.
Llogara National Park
Llogara National Park is home to wide variety of birds, deer, wild cats, foxes rich flora and fauna. For the adventurous type it offers numerous air sports, paragliding, as well as mountain biking.
Llogara is the meeting place of the stunning Adriatic and the Ionian Seas surrounded by majestic mountain peaks.
One enters through the Llogara Pass with its regal mountains peaking at 1017 meters. Visitors stop to take in the so-called Flag Pine (Pisha Flamur), a century-old tree, bent from the winds into the shape of a flag. Traveling south one encounters the Ceraunian Mountain range, topped by the Çika Mountain at 2,044 meters.
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Islands of Kasmil
The Islands of Kasmil consist of four islands including the Twin Islands, which are connected to one another via a narrow sand belt. Described as a tropical paradise, the Islands boast exquisite turquoise waters, sandy beaches, and absolute tranquility.
The soft sandy beaches of Kasmil is made up of dozens of small coves that wrap around a jagged landscape.
Visitors enjoy canoeing, diving, boating and most of all the secluded sandy beaches.
Butrint National Park
Situated just south of Sarande and engulfing the Kasmil Islands, Butrint National Park deservedly earned UNESCO status as an official World Heritage Site in 1992.
Butrint features a 2500-year-old ruins amidst a majestic 30 kilometer wide natural reserve. Butrint's well-preserved monuments is a living tour of history covering a range of historical periods, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine and Venetian. It was the Greeks from the island of Corfu who settled in the 6th century bce. The ancient wonders of Butrint include a 3rd century bce Greek Theater which held 2500 people, the ruins of the Temple of Asclepius from the 1st century, and the remnant walls and intricate mosaics of a 6th century basilica.
Berat / Osum Canyon
Berat, the "town of a thousand windows" features a collection of white Ottoman houses climbing up the hill to its castle. Its striking uniqueness earned it the UNESCO designation of a World Heritage site. This over 2,400 year old city showcases a collection of Byzantine churches in the castle of Berat.
The Osumi river, which passes through the town of Berat, flows through the famous Osum Canyon.
The canyons are 26 kilometer long rising to an altitude of 450 meters; it contains underground passages and unexplored caves, with a rich and diverse ecosystem.
Tirana / Ish-Blloku
The capital city of Tirana boasts numerous museums including the National Art Gallery, National Archaeological Museum, Bunk'art Museum and the National Historical Museum.
Famous city squares include Mother Teresa Square and the Skanderbeg Square. Of all the sections of Tirana, Blloku (the former Block) is considered to be the most famous and expensive neighborhood in the capital city of Tirana.
During the Communist period it was a restricted residential area for the members of the Albanian politburo only.
Today the area is dotted with many nice cafes, bars, pubs, restaurants, hotels and night clubs.
Apollonia
Founded in the sixth century bce, Apollonia was an ancient Greek colony city, located on the right bank of the Aous river (modern-day Vjosa).
The Archaeological Park, the largest in Albania connects visitors to the splendor of the ancient Hellenistic and Roman periods.
The city flourished during the 4th century as an important economic and trade center. The Monumental Complex at Apollonia includes the Buleuterion, one of Agora’s most impressive objects, dating back to the 2nd century bce; the ruins of the Arch of Triumph, the Library, the Sanctuary plus much more.
Gjirokastra
In 2005 UNESCO designated the museum city of Gjirokastra as a World Heritage Site. The castle of Gjirokastra was built in the 4th century and the city is known as the "The Stone City" as a result of its predominantly stone houses and cobblestone streets.
The city is the birthplace of the Nobel-laurate writer Ismail Kadare and also of infamous communist leader Enver Hoxha.
Famous old houses and museums include the Fico House, Ismail Kadare Museum, Sokaku i të Marreve and Ethnographic Museum. The medieval Old Bazaar is an additional highlight when visiting Gjirokastra.
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Rozafa Castle
Rozafa Castle is not just a castle but rather a living testament to Albanian history over the millennium.
The castle features Illyrian walls, medieval ruins of the Balshaj and the Towers of the Bushatllinj.
The castle is comprised of three main courtyards, enter the fortified 15th-century main entrance where you will find a 4th-century tract of the Illyrian, medieval ruins of cisterns, the towers of the Balshaj, and former Venetian residences.
In the second courtyard one can view the ruins of the Church of St. Stephen, now a mosque.
The third courtyard of the castle houses a three-story Venetian building, also known as the “Capitol”, which served as the residence of the Venetian ruler.
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Kruge Castle
Krujë castle was built in the 5th / 6th century, and served as the headquarters of Gjergj Kastrioti (Skanderbeg), known as the “Dragon of Albania.” Under his command, troops stationed in the elliptical castle, fought off many massive sieges from the Turks, beginning in the mid fifteenth century.
The castle contains a museum dedicated to Skanderbeg's life which covered one of the proudest periods of Albanian history.
At the entrance of the museum are the remains of an Ottoman-era mosque, Sultan Mehmed Fatih, which is named after the leader who successfully penetrated and captured the castle./ 6th century, and served as the headquarters of Gjergj Kastrioti (Skanderbeg), known as the “Dragon of Albania.” Under his command, troops stationed in the elliptical castle, fought off many massive sieges from the Turks, beginning in the mid fifteenth century.
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travel partners
Good Albania
ALBANIA
Good Albania is a leading, highly experienced, tour operator covering Albania and the Balkan region.
Each Good Albania trip offers the perfect balance of carefully planned activities and free time to explore your interests, so you’ll return home with memories that last a lifetime.
Albanian Eagle Tours
ALBANIA
Albanian Eagle Tours is a highly experienced incoming travel company offering a wide range of exciting
travel packages in Albania.
Their tailor made tour packages are uniquely designed for groups, both large and small, as well as for individuals and families.
Enjoy a wide assortment of very reasonably priced offerings including: panoramic city tours of Tirana, 3 day beach & culture package, 3 day get away of relaxation, ancient Appolonia, plus much much more.
Eagle Tours will take care of all of your travel needs, from hotel booking to car rentals; from visa applications to ferry tickets.
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