Vacation in Albania: The 10 Most Important Attractions

In recent years, Albania has become a popular destination for beach lovers, adventurers, and culture enthusiasts. However, this country, long isolated from the rest of Europe, is still considered a hidden gem.

As a result, some of the most spectacular sights are barely known outside the country-like the Blloku district, the Marubi Museum, or the city of a thousand windows.

To help you get to know Albania better, let's explore the country and present you with the ten most important attractions of the Balkan state.

A place like a fairy tale: The Mangalem district in Berat, one of the most beautiful historic cities in Albania, is unique. Whitewashed houses with countless large windows are packed closely together up the hill-they're the reason Berat is called the 'City of a Thousand Windows.' The distinctive architecture dates back to the Ottoman period.

Since 2008, the picturesque city located on the Osum River has been a UNESCO World Heritage site. In Berat, you can hear church bells and the call to prayer alike. Besides the many white houses, there are mosques, monasteries, churches, and the Ethnographic Museum to see in the Mangalem district.

Above the old town of Berat lies Kalaja, Berat's castle fortress. Like the Mangalem district, the fortress is unique because, in reality, it's not just a castle but an entire district-a city within a city. Even today, families live in the old stone houses. Sometimes you see children playing soccer or women selling crocheted blankets at small stands.

Be sure to take a few hours during your Berat visit to climb the hill on which the fortress sits and walk through the winding alleyways of the compound. There, you'll also discover churches and the ruins of several mosques. The best feature of the castle town: You have a fantastic view from up there of the city, the Osum River, and the beautiful valley.

Albania's capital is still a blank spot on the map for many city trip enthusiasts, which is precisely what makes Tirana so exciting: there's much to discover-markets, murals, and coffee houses. Start your exploration at Skanderbeg Square, the central hub.

It's the political, economic, and cultural center of the country, named after the national hero Skanderbeg, who played a crucial role in fighting the Ottomans as a military commander.

Skanderbeg Square might not be traditionally beautiful, but it's impressive: it's vast and lined with equally impressive buildings like the Et'hem Bey Mosque, the Palace of Culture, and the 15-story Tirana International Hotel. Mingle with the crowds and enjoy the grand atmosphere of the square.

Here, you can take a journey through Albania's dark history: the underground Bunkart 2 museum is one of the country's most fascinating, though somber, museums.

The bunker complex in the center of Tirana was built as a refuge in the event of a nuclear war. It was never used. Today, Bunkart 2 is an art and history museum where you can learn a lot about the era of dictatorship, especially about the brutal secret police and their surveillance and torture methods.

If you are interested in Albania's recent history, Bunkart 2 is one of the most important places to visit. The museum is called Bunkart 2 because there is another bunker complex to visit just outside the city known as Bunkart 1.

Are you in the mood for relaxed cafés, trendy restaurants, and chic boutiques? Blloku in Tirana is a trendy scene district that also tells of the country's turbulent history.

After World War II, the Blloku district was reserved for the state leadership and closed to the public. You can still find the villa and garden of dictator Enver Hoxha there. After the collapse of the communist system, international organizations took over vacant buildings, and the community reclaimed the district.

Many bars, restaurants, and shops emerged as a result. Some government buildings and embassies are still located there, so parts of Blloku still remind one of the communist era-but primarily, it's a lively and exciting district that you should definitely visit during your trip to Tirana.

Another important attraction is the Marubi Museum in the northern Albanian city of Shkodra. It may be one of Europe's lesser-known photography museums, but it has a fascinating history.

Pjeter Marubi was an Italian who fled to Albania in the 19th century for political reasons and opened a photography studio in Shkodra. Today, he and his sons are considered the founders of Albanian photography.

The Marubi Museum hosts a collection of about 150,000 photos documenting political events, everyday life, and social changes in the country. So, you'll learn a lot about Albania and its history there.

The small town of Kruja is also worth a detour: there you can visit the fortress and the Skanderbeg Museum, which is integrated into the fortress complex. As mentioned earlier, Skanderbeg was a military commander and is Albania's national hero.

In the museum, you can learn a lot about Albanian history and discover many historical objects, documents, and biographical references.

If you are more interested in the craftsmanship and lifestyle of the inhabitants from past centuries, visit the Ethnographic Museum. It is housed in a restored building from the Ottoman period that is also part of the fortress.

The ruins of Butrint are among the country's key attractions. Butrint is located in southern Albania, not far from the coastal town of Saranda. What can you see there? The most famous and best-preserved structure is the ancient theater from the 3rd century BC.

But there is much more to discover-for example, a large basilica, the Sanctuary of Asclepius, and the Venetian Castle, as well as other churches and palaces.

In Butrint, you travel through centuries and cultures: you visit buildings from different phases of the city, including Greek, Roman, Ottoman, and Venetian times.

Apollonia is an archaeological site in the village of Pojan in the Fier County of central Albania. The city was founded in 588 BC on a hill north of the Vjosa River by settlers from Corinth and Corfu. It is one of the world's most important ancient sites, built in honor of the god Apollo. At its peak, as many as 60,000 people are said to have lived there.

Today, you can see the remnants of the ancient city. Apollonia's emblem is the Buleuterion, a former meeting hall from the 2nd century AD.

Other highlights include the Odeon, the theater, the library, and other temples and public buildings.

Welcome to the 'City of Stones': Alongside Berat, Gjirokastër is probably the most beautiful historic city in Albania and well worth a visit.

In Gjirokastër, you can leisurely wander through the streets of the old town, browsing small shops offering a variety of local handmade crafts and typical specialties.

In addition to the fortress and a selection of museums, the old mansions are a highlight in Gjirokastër, such as the Zekate and Skenduli houses. Externally, they resemble small fortresses.

During a tour of the Skenduli House, you can explore living rooms, bedrooms, bathhouses, and the bunker, getting to know the special design and atmosphere of the old houses.

Looking for more inspiration? Find tips for all top travel destinations at bettercities.net.

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