The best day trips from Durrës: Tirana, Kruja, Cape Rodon, Petrela Castle, Divjakë-Karavasta, Apollonia, Berat and Shkodër, with travel times.
One of the best things about staying near Durrës is where it sits: right in the middle of the country. Within two hours you can reach castles, ancient cities, lagoons full of pelicans and two UNESCO towns, and still be back by the lake for dinner. These are the day trips our guests come back happiest from. Times are by car from Durrës and depend on traffic.
01Tirana (about 40 minutes)
The capital is the easiest day trip of all. Spend the morning at Skanderbeg Square and Bunk’Art, climb the Pyramid for a view over the city, have lunch at the New Bazaar and ride the Dajti Express cable car in the afternoon. Buses run between Durrës and Tirana all day, so you don’t even need to drive. Here’s our full guide to things to do in Tirana.
02Kruja (about 1 hour)
Perched on a mountainside, Kruja was the stronghold of Skanderbeg, the national hero who held off the Ottoman armies for a quarter of a century. Walk up the cobbled old bazaar, full of carpets, felt hats, copperware and antiques, then visit the Skanderbeg Museum inside the castle and the Ethnographic Museum in a beautifully kept old house. On a clear day you can see across the plains to the sea.
03Cape Rodon (about 1 hour)
For a day of sea and history, head north to Cape Rodon. A path runs along the headland to the ruins of a castle built by Skanderbeg, with waves breaking against its walls, and to the small church of Saint Anthony. Bring a swimsuit, because the water around the cape is clear and calm on a good day, and stay for sunset.
04Petrela Castle (under an hour)
Just south of Tirana, Petrela Castle sits on a rocky hilltop above the Erzen valley. It’s small, but the setting is dramatic, and it’s linked to Skanderbeg’s sister, Mamica. There’s a café and restaurant at the top, which makes it a lovely lunch stop, with olive groves and hills rolling away in every direction.
05Divjakë-Karavasta National Park (about 1 hour 15 minutes)
South of Durrës, the Karavasta Lagoon is the largest lagoon in Albania and one of the most important wetlands on the Adriatic. It’s famous for its Dalmatian pelicans, among the largest birds in Europe, and in the right season you’ll spot flamingos and plenty of other birds from the lookout points. A pine forest runs down to a long, wild beach that stays quiet even in summer.
06Apollonia (about 1 hour 30 minutes)
Near the town of Fier are the ruins of Apollonia, founded by Greek colonists in the sixth century BC and later an important Roman city. Walk among the columns of its best-known monument, the grand facade of the Bouleuterion, see the little odeon and visit the medieval monastery of Saint Mary, which now houses a museum. It’s green, peaceful and rarely crowded.
07Berat (1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours)
The “city of a thousand windows” is one of the most beautiful towns in the Balkans and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. White Ottoman houses rise in rows up the hillside above the Osum river, and at the top, people still live inside the castle walls. Don’t miss the icons in the Onufri Museum. Berat easily fills a day, and it’s worth staying the night if you’re heading further south.
08Shkodër (1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours)
Up north, Shkodër is one of Albania’s oldest cities and often called its cultural capital. Climb to Rozafa Castle for views over the lake and three rivers, walk the lively pedestrian street and visit the Marubi National Museum of Photography, home to one of the most remarkable photo archives in the Balkans. On the way back, stop at the old Ottoman bridge of Mes, just outside town.
09Make Wonderful Camping your base
The best part of staying near Durrës is that you don’t have to pack up every morning. At Wonderful Camping you can leave the tent or camper set up by the lake, spend the day exploring and come back in the evening to a quiet campsite among pomegranate trees and olive groves, just as the lights come on. We’re about fifteen minutes from central Durrës, with easy roads north, south and toward Tirana.
Our tips for days out: leave early to beat the heat and the traffic, carry water and some cash in lek, and leave time to stop along the way. And before you go, have a look at our guide to things to do in Durrës itself.
