Vuno

Small town feeling on the Albanian riviera

Korca

Korçë (Korça) is the principal city in the district of Korçë in Southeastern Albania.

Albanian Riviera

Featuring crystal clear waters, unspoiled beaches, and picturesque villages, this is the Mediterranean coastline as it once was.

Tirana

(Tiranë) — the capital. Trees and mountains surround the city. Mt. Dajt is a popular tourist site for a great view of the city.

Shëngjin

A growing beach town located in northwest Albania known for its Adriatic Sea views.

Berat

Thought to be one of the oldest towns in Albania, it is a new member of the UNESCO world heritage list. Berat has long been known as the "city of 1001 windows" because of its unique Ottoman/Albanian architecture. It has a well preserved castle with residents still living inside its protective walls.

Pustec

contains Albania's share of Lake Prespa, which forms Prespa National Park. This is also an area of much history, evidenced by the multiple cave churches found near its villages as well as on the island of Maligrad.

Korçë

(Korça) — Located in southeast Albania, several miles from the Greek border, this city is full of life during the summer when you can find couples and families strolling through the city's main park, Parku Rinia. You can hike to the top of the beautiful mountain Moravia and view the city and its surrounding landscape. Don't miss the Korça Brewery (famous throughout Albania) which sponsors a week long Beer Festival every August!

Shkodra

the biggest town in Northern Albania. Shkodra is considered the capital of Albanian culture. In Shkodra is located "Migjeni" theatre, the first in Albania and also was held the first cyclic race and also the first football match and the first photograph was developed (by Marubi). The Rozafa Castle is a major tourist attraction here,but also "The Great Cathedral", "The mosque Ebu Beker" etc.

Pogradec

Pogradec is a town in the east of Albania on the shores of Lake Ohrid.

Prespa (North Macedonia)

Prespa (Macedonian: Преспа) is a region surrounding the Great Prespa Lake and Small Prespa Lake. This international region is shared by Albania, Greece, and North Macedonia, which contains a majority of the Great Prespa Lake. North Macedonia's share of the region is completely within Resen Municipality, bound by Galičica National Park to the west, Pelister National Park to the east, the borders with Albania and Greece to the south, and northern parts of Resen Municipality to the north.

Thethi

Thethi is a village surrounded by Thethi National Park, up on Albanian Alps, in Northeastern Albania, in Shkodra District.

Durrës

Durrës is an Albanian Adriatic port city. It has ferries to Bari in (Italy). Alternative spellings of the city's name are Durazzo (Italian), Drač (Драч, Serbo-Croatian) or Dyrrhachion (Δυρράχιον, Greek).

Vlorë

Lively seaside city, nice beaches south of town. Passenger ferries to and from Italy dock here.

Kruje

(Krujë) — ancient city of the national hero Skanderbeg. It consists of beautiful mountains; Skanderbeg's castle is now a museum. Kruje also contains an old style bazaar with shops selling traditional goods amid cobblestone streets. Kruje is known for it's carpet craftworks.

Gjirokastër

another UNESCO city, located in the south is known for its unique Ottoman period architecture. There is a large castle on the hill in the middle of the city which served as a jail for many generations. A Military Museum and Art Gallery are now located inside. Gjirokastër is also the birthplace of former communist Leader, Enver Hoxha, as well as Albania's most internationally famous author, Ismail Kadare, their homes now serve as museums.

Elbasan

A large, poor, intriguing industrial city that is full of life. The market is fascinating, and the breakfast "Bugace" legendary. The Via Ignatia, an old Roman road to Istanbul, runs through the city.

Dhërmi

one of the finest of the many beaches along the coastal road between Vlore and Saranda, perfect for camping.

Shkodër

city in northwestern Albania

Lake Skadar

lake

Butrint

Lake Ohrid

lake

Lake Prespa

Aoös

river

Korab (mountain)

Çorovodë

main city of Skrapar District, Albania

Birra Korça

Famous throughout Albania, sponsors a week-long Beer Festival in the summer.

Et'hem Bey Mosque

Construction of this mosque took about 28 years and finished in 1821. It is considered one of the most beautiful mosques in Albania with very interesting decorations and art-work within it. It is under repair.

Tanners' Bridge

cultural Monument in Albania

Orikum

municipality of Albania

Korab

mountain range

Mother Teresa Square (Tirana)

Located at the southern side of Deshmoret e Kombit Boulevard, this square features typical fascist architecture. Buildings include the University of Tirana, Archaeological Institute, Academy of Arts and the National Stadium.

Vithkuq

municipality in Korçë District, Albania

Shebenik-Jabllanicë National Park

The Shebenik-Jabllanicë National Park is a national park in eastern Albania adjacent to the border with North Macedonia. It encompasses 339.277 square kilometres (33,927.7 ha) and is specifically marked by a mountainous landscape supplied with glacial lakes, valleys, dense coniferous and deciduous forests and alpine meadows and pastures. Elevations in the park vary from 300 metres to over 2,200 metres above the Adriatic at the peak of Shebenik and Jabllanica, hence the name. It dwells a number of endangered species that are fast becoming rare in Southern Europe, including the brown bear, gray wolf and balkan lynx. The abundance in wildlife can in part be explained by the variety of vegetation types and remote location.

King Mosque, Berat

Shurdhah Island

It is in the Vau i Dejës Reservoir, which is fed and drained by the river Drin. It is accessible by tourist boat in summer from the Vau i Dejës dam or Rragam. It contains the ruins of the medieval town of Sarda. You can visit the ruins of the 11th-century medieval castle, which includes two rings of defensive walls and towers (some submerged in the lake), the remains of a Byzantine church and other early medieval walls. The setting on the steep rocks rising from the lake is especially impressive.

Fatih Mosque, Durrës

Built in 1503.

Prespa National Park

One of Albania's national parks, Prespa, is mostly located within Pustec Municipality. The park covers 27,750 hectares (68,570 acres), consisting of Albania's share of the Prespa region. Established in 1999, it aims to conserve the wildlife of Prespa including rare species of bird like the white pelican, the white stork, and the Dalmatian pelican. Almost half of the area of the national park is forest.

Oricum

Ancient theatre of Orikum (1st century BC), Church of Marmiroi (Kisha e Marmiroit) - Here is also a small hotel

Gjirokastër Fortress

The historical and geographical center of the city, the Castle is billed as the second largest in all the Balkans, and is worth a look. The Armaments Museum is located in the castle (separate 200 leke entrance) and contains a collection of mostly post-War era weapons, photographs and artwork: the main gallery, with its eerily lit corridor, contains two columns of large German and Italian field guns, remnants of WWII. The Castle also contains two Bektashi tekes, the stage for the internationally-renowned Gjirokaster National Folk Festival, a prison (now part of the Armaments Museum and available with an extra charge) and numerous chambers, some in ruins, open to exploration. A second museum gallery, the Zenebishi Gallery, features occasional free art exhibits. Underneath the castle is the underground bunker built in the Cold War.

Muradie Mosque

Lead Mosque, Shkodër

Dajti National Park

1,612-m-high (getting to the topmost point is not possible because of a restricted area with antennas and a military zone). Offers great views of Tirana. A very relaxing area, mount Dajti can be reached through an Austrian-built express cable car (one ride takes more than 15 minutes so is worth the cost even if you don't stay atop the mountain). To get to the bottom station of the cable car, take the bus line "Qender - Linze" that starts east beside the Skanderbeg place behind the mosque. In the bus tell the conductor "Teleferik" and he will show you the station to get out of the bus. From there it is a short 5-minute walk guided by direction signs (the cable car is closed on Tuesdays). In the top station of the cable car, there is a hotel (€30 for a double room [2013]) and a tourist agency offering various activities like horse riding, trekking, excursions, sky sports, ski etc. The area has a limited number of hotels and restaurants, but it is great for taking a breath of fresh air, mountain sports, or to just get out of the city for a while.The Pellumba Cave in the area is worth a visit. Unfortunately, litter is becoming a problem on Mount Dajti. This detracts from the experience somewhat, but the beautiful scenery still makes the trip worthwhile. Don't forget to visit the spectacular Erzeni Canyon along the Erzeni River south of the park near the dam.A new tourist information center was opened by the Albanian Agency of Protected Areas (AKZM) near the TV and Radio antennas in Fushe Dajt. The administration of the national park is shared between AKZM and Tirana Municipality Parks and Recreation Agency.

Kapllan Pasha Tomb

Tushemisht

Village in Korçë, Albania

Berat Castle

It was mostly built in the 13th century, but with origins going back to the 4th century BC. A very beautiful place with great views of the surrounding area. Getting to the Kala requires a steep walk up a cobbled path - take care, the stones are worn and slippery. The citadel is still inhabited, with many churches, and there are a couple of bars and shops in the Kala area.

Kaninë Castle

Built in the old center of Vlore in the 3rd century BC. This castle has an area of 3625 ha. It was rebuilt by Emperor Justinian in the 5th century BC. In Anna Komnenes' notes, she talked long about her father, Emperor Aleks', war against the Norman army.

St. Stephen's Cathedral, Shkodër

Bachelors' Mosque

Red Mosque, Berat

Skanderbeg Square

Tirana's city centre. A statue of Albanian hero Skanderbeg stands in the square with the Albanian flag on the side. Renovations have made the square pedestrians and public transportation friendly. Government buildings featuring Italian architecture and some structures outlined below are all right off this square.

Porto Palermo Castle

fortification

National Museum of Medieval Art (Albania)

Fantastic collection; if the door is locked during opening hours, ring the buzzer.

Skanderbeg Monument

bronze sculpture

Blue Eye, Albania

Pyramid of Tirana

The now-derelict pyramid was built in 1987 according to the design of Enver Hoxha's daughter and was opened as a museum dedicated to her father. In 2007 US President George W. Bush gave a speech in front of this building. The building was the most expensive erected under communism, and there are plans for future changes into it. The more adventure-minded can climb its side to get a view of the surrounding city center.

Resurrection Cathedral, Tirana

This cathedral features fascinating architecture and rich interior iconography. The church covered with a 23-m-high dome

Dajti Castle

Dajti Castle is a 1.12 hectares archaeological site in Albania, comprising the ruins of a Roman fortification and several dwellings. It belongs to late antiquity, probably having been built over Illyrian foundations. It lies at 1,200 metres (3,900 ft) altitude on top of a hill, west-side of Mount Dajti, close to Tirana. It was discovered in 1963 and eventually was inscribed in the list of the Cultural Monuments of Albania. In 2008 a three-year restoration project began, aiming to conduct further archaeological searching and surveys and to improve the nearby infrastructure for visitors and tourists.

St. Mary's Church, Maligrad

This Orthodox cave church was built in 1369 by Serbian nobleman Kesar Novak, though there is an older preserved inscription in the apse of the church dating from 1345. A fresco on the interior depicts Novak's family. The western facade was painted in 1607. The church is built within a cave overlooking the lake.

Natural Sciences Museum Sabiha Kasimati

national museum

Kardhiq

Village in Albania.

National Museum Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu

Krujë

Fir of Drenovë National Park

Zekate House

It is the most visited of Gjirokastër's monumental stone houses. It is one of the largest of its kind, featuring three floors spread over two large towers. The house was recently restored again (having undergone earlier restorations during the Communist era) and is kept open by its owners as a museum house. In addition to providing an interesting primer of the characteristic architectural elements of the city's tower houses, it offers a beautiful view of the city below.

Petrelë Castle

This is one of Albania's best preserved castles. It is known as an ancient settlement 2000 years old and was commanded by princess Mamica, the sister of the national hero, Skanderbeg.

Gjirokastër Ethnographic Museum

Once Enver Hoxha's house, it is a well-restored Ottoman house which displays clothing, kitchenware, tools and other cultural artifacts. The guided tour (available in Albanian, English, and German though availability should be checked in advance).

Labovë e Madhe

village in Albania

Shkodër Orthodox Cathedral

Kosmaç

village in Albania

Royal Villa of Durrës

This used to be the most luxurious crib in all of Albania, but it was looted in the 1997 uprising and isn't open to visitors now. Reportedly prince Leka has plans to renovate the villa "in the near future", but this has been reported for quite some time. Endure the steep climb up the hill for one of the most spectacular views over the city.

Albanopolis

city in Epirus Nova, Roman Macedon

Canyon of Gjipe

Fortress of Justinian

This is a castle in Tirana. Its history dates back before 1300 and is a remnant from the Byzantine-era. The fortress is the place where the main east-west and north-south roads crossed, and formed the heart of Tirana. About all that's left of the fortress above ground is a 6-m-high Ottoman-era wall, covered in vines. The recently uncovered wall foundations were incorporated into the pedestrianised Murat Toptani Street, while a mosaic commemorating the 100th Anniversary of Albania's Independence was unveiled near the Albanian Parliament

Kokonozi Mosque

Lead Mosque, Berat

Lake Bovilla

lake in Tirana County, Albania

Lëkurësi Castle

Ebu Beker Mosque

Drisht Castle

A ruined castle, the earliest traces of Frost Castle's fortifications date to the late Neolithic era. The walls and towers date to 1396-1478 during the Venetian era.

Tanners' Mosque

Great Mosque of Durrës

Hysen Pasha Mosque

Taivani

This beautiful place in the heart of downtown Tirana. It includes restaurants, casinos, bars, a club, etc. It is surrounded by a huge lit water fountain with a glowing bridge that reaches to the restaurant, and is an ideal place for all ages. Children enjoy gourmet ice cream and iced European soft drinks, whilst adults and teens can enjoy fun casinos. This is an excellent tourist attraction, and many Albanian celebrities can be found in the area.

Grand Park of Tirana

People have picnics and have fun, and the natural beauty allows it because of the huge trees, open spaces, and mountains surrounding them. An artificial lake lies in the middle of the Park. It is popular with locals and tourists as a place to walk around and enjoy a lunch or coffee at one of the restaurants or cafés. Over 120 types of plants. A popular swimming pool complex is nearby.

Castle of Rodon

Roman amphitheatre in Durrës, Albania

Prezë Castle

This 15th-century castle is on the picturesque hills of Preze village west of Rinas airport.

Rugova Mountains

mountain region in northwest Kosovo

Tirana Zoo

Visiting this zoo is an odd experience; there are few animals but you will see them at remarkably close range. Nearby is the Botanical Garden featuring the best of Albania's fauna.

Ish-Blloku

Among the apartment blocks, one can find some of Tirana's trendiest cafés, shops, and restaurants. Here is also located the villa of the former dictator, Enver Hoxha. During communism, the area was reserved solely for government officials and was not allowed to be entered by the commoner. It was opened to the public in 1991 and since became the number one spot for Tirana's youth. At night the area gets full of people especially on weekends when most night clubs are full. The streets, especially in summer afternoons, are filled with Tirana's citizens and expensive cars cruising around. From the Block you can go almost anywhere for less than 10-15 minutes. If you need to have a coffee or relax while taking a look at the parade of trendy and elegant people, the block is a perfect place for you. In the Block you can buy trendy clothing items and French delicacies. You can also get taxis.

Boboshticë

village in Korçë, Albania

Andon Zako Çajupi Theatre

St Mary's Church, Tuminec

Located east of Tuminec just inside the border with North Macedonia, this monastery got its present appearance in 1888, although a cave church of the same name just 100 meters (110 yards) north of the monastery complex dates from the 14th century. The cave church stands 10 m (33 ft) tall and contains many large frescoes. The monastery has not had monks since 1898.

Flag's Square

- Independence Monument - a massive socialist-realist monument celebrating the independence of Albania from the Ottoman empire in 1912