The Best Things to Do in Durres
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
The city of Durres has the second largest population in Albania with around 113,500 people. It is also the former capital of the country. The port city can be dated back to 627 BC when it was founded by the ancient Greeks. Durres also held an important part of the Roman Empire and has the largest amphitheatre in the Balkans, built in the 2nd Century.
More recently, after the death of Dictator Enver Hoxha and the collapse of Communism in 1990, Durres was a point of mass emigration from Albania to Italy. So much so that ships were hijacked and forced to sail to Italy at gun point, allowing over 20,000 Albanians to leave the country. The Italians put the port under Military control and a food aid programme was set up.
Nowadays, Durres is a popular beach town for Albanian tourists. There are plenty of hotels and restaurants and a beautiful promenade along the seafront.
Where is Durres
The post city sits on the Western coast of Albania. It is only 34km from Tirana making it ideal for a day trip from the capital city. It is also only 123km from the southern Albanian town of Vlore.
How to get there
It is really easy to get to Durres from Tirana by bus, car or taxi. Check out our comprehensive guide HERE. You can also take a bus from Tirana Airport directly to Durres.
Saranda and Vlore in the south are also well connected by public transport to Durres.
The Best Things to Do in Durres
Durres is jam packed with awesome things to do. Each time we visit we find something else interesting to discover. Here are some of the very best things to do in Durres.
The Best Things to Do in Durres – Hit the Beach
The beach was our first stop. We took a walk along the long pier and gazed across the water that lead to Italy. You can also get a nice outlook over the town from here. As we visited in April, the beaches were very quiet. The tourists don’t really arrive until the summer but most things were still open.
The beach in Durres is hard to miss! During the off seasons the sands are clear and quiet – we had the place almost to ourselves. There are a variety of different beaches to explore in and around the town. However, if you are planning on staying in town, Durres beach is great.
The Best Things to Do in Durres – Explore Durres Castle
Just by the beach is Durres Castle. Built by the Byzantine Emperor Anastasius in the 5th and 6th centuries, this made Durres one of the most fortified cities on the Adriatic. It is not really a castle, as such, but a tower from the Venetian walls. There is now a small café on the roof of the tower with great views.
Marvel at the Great Mosque
The Great Mosque (AKA Faith Mosque) in Durres was built in 1931 by King Zog I. It was constructed on the site of an earlier Ottoman building.
The Roman Amphitheatre
Our last stop before heading for the bus was the Roman Amphitheatre. This is well preserved considering it dates back to the 2nd century BC. It was not discovered until 1966 and this was almost certainly by accident. The story goes that a local resident (and keen archaeologist) found a fig tree that had fallen a few meters below ground. After a little investigating, he insisted that a full excavation of the area was carried out. Not far below the earth was the amphitheatre.
The arena was built to contain 12,000 to 20,000 spectators and walking through the tunnel is certainly like something from the movie “Gladiator”. Entrance is only €3 and this includes a Byzantine chapel with some beautiful mosaics.
Take a Day Trip to Tirana from Durres
Tirana is super easy to get to from Durres. You can drive in 40 minutes or take a bus from the bus station. For more information on amazing things to do in Tirana, check out out post HERE.
Explore Shtam Pass National Park
Just an hour and 30 minutes drive from Durres is the spectacular Shtam Pass National Park. Here, you can explore 2000 hectares of pine forests, mountains and lakes.
Where to Eat in Durres
Durres is well known for its pizza and ice cream. This is probably due to its close geographical proximity to the Eastern Italian coast.
Pizza in Durres
We had been advised to try some pizza while visiting Durres. Due to the close proximity to Italy, this town has a great reputation for pizza. We stopped for lunch at Proper Pizza and we NOT disappointed! After great debate, we ordered a BBQ pizza to share and it was delicious. The staff were really helpful and patient with our terrible attempts at speaking Albanian!
Ice Cream in Durres
Next on our list of recommendations was ice cream. We stopped at a place called Pasticeri Behari. This was a small, slightly retro looking café, not far from the square we passed earlier. We sat in and enjoyed a coffee before ordering some ice cream to go. At €0.30 per scoop, it was probably the best ice cream ever! We would highly recommend this when visiting the coastal town!
How Expensive is Durres
Durres is very inexpensive compared to other European destinations. It is easy to find good quality food in a nice restaurant for around €10 per person. On our most recent visit, we paid €30 per night for a 1 bed Air BnB apartment in the centre of town in October. Travel is also good value, if not a little unpredictable. For example, the bus to from Durres to Tirana costs 150 Lek (about €1.20).
What is the Weather Like?
The summers in Durres can get hot! With some days reaching towards 40°C (104°F). For us, this is a bit too much. Spring and autumn are warm, pleasant and a lot quieter. Winters can get cool and temperatures can drop to around 5°C ( 41°F).
When to Visit Durres
Durres is at its busiest during the summer months. The sun is out and everything is open. However, that of course means there are more crowds. Saying that, it is not really that touristy compared to places like Corfu or Dubrovnik.
The shoulder seasons are cheaper and quieter and the sun is not scorching hot. This would be our preferred time to visit.
How Long to Stay in the City
How long to stay really depends on the time of year that you visit. Ideally you will need a weekend in the summer. This will allow plenty of time to relax by the beach and fit in a few day trips to explore the surrounding area.
If you are visiting off season, a day trip from Tirana will probably be enough. Either way, Durres is definitely worth visiting.
How to Travel Around Durres
Durres is a medium sized town and the centre is easily walkable. If you want to explore the area around the town, renting a car might be the way forward, but more on that below…
With a bit of forward planning, you can use the Albanian furgons (minibus) to get around the area.
Is Durres Worth Visiting?
As you can see, there are many amazing things to do in Durres. So we would say yes, absolutely Durres is worth visiting! We visited for a day from Tirana. However, the town itself was so much to offer, you could easily make it your base when visiting Albania.
What to Pack for your Trip to Durres
We have put together a convenient packing list for the little extras that you might need for your trip.
- Hiking boots or comfy shoes for walking
- Backpack
- Snacks for travel
- Mini handheld fan (buses get incredibly hot in the summer!)
- Book/audiobook/music
- Water bottle
- Weather appropriate clothing, such as windbreaker and fleece OR swimsuit, flip flops and beach towel
- Insect repellent
- Sunscreen and sunglasses
- Map or downloaded GPS or map application on your phone
- Phone
- Charger and power bank
- Decent camera (phone) with plenty of space for pictures of the spectacular scenery
- Cash – Albania Lek
Should I Rent a Car in Albania?
This is a tricky one, and definitely down to personal preference. Albania’s public transport is cheap and cheerful and most places are accessible by bus. However, there are very few railways in Albania. The buses – or furgons – are great for travelling between towns and cities. However, the timetable can be a bit restrictive. If you can haggle, a taxi driver will take you anywhere!
Hitchhiking in Albania is a popular way to get around and is supposedly perfectly safe. We have not tried this ourselves but have spoken to many successful hitchers.
If you decide to rent a car in Albania, please make sure you take out the full insurance. Drivers in the Balkans have their own unique style… On our last visit to Saranda we spent 3 days in the town and witnessed 2 crashes.
Plan your journey in advance as there are many small roads that are not more than dirt tracks. Several mountain routes can be perilous if you do not plan ahead and take great care.
The Albanian Language
Many Albanians in the cities speak a little English but it is useful to learn a few phrases in Albanian. It is certainly not an easy language for English speakers, but any attempt is greatly appreciated by the locals. Here are a few words to try out:
Hello Tungjatjeta (toon-jah-TYEH-tah)
Please Ju lutem (yoo LOO-tehm)
Thank you Faleminderit (fah-lehm-meen-DEH-reet)
Yes Po (poh)
No Jo (yoh)
Goodbye Mirupafshim (meer-oo-PAHF-sheem)
Where to go next
Ready for more inspiration? Why not try exploring the town of Saranda, just a bit further south? This beautiful seaside resort is full of surprises!
Final note: Things change in the Balkans all the time and there is not much information online in English. We would definitely advise checking with a local where possible. We found people to be really friendly and super helpful.
Have you visited Albania? Are you planning a trip and need more information? Drop a comment in the box, we’d love to hear from you!
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