Things to do in

Vlorë County

Discover mysterious Albania on a guided day trip from Corfu. Cross to the port city of Saranda to enjoy a 20-kilometer guided bus tour of the southern coast and its virgin shores and islands. Pass through small villages and gaze in awe at the endless fertile plains that lead to a great lake. Arrive at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Butrint, where the ancient Greek city of Buthrotum disappeared under layers of silt and vegetation until archaeologists uncovered some of the finest remains in the Mediterranean. Tour the Venetian tower and see the remains of the theater and Temple of Asclepius. Continue to the ruins of the ancient gymnasium and Roman Baths and admire a priceless mosaic floor in the Roman Baptistery. Travel back in time as you explore the Cyclopean walls and get panoramic views of the lake and plains from the top of the hill. Return to Saranda for lunch, and then take a walking tour before sailing back to Corfu.

Explore Albania's top attractions in the hands of an expert tour director during a 4-day, 3-night sightseeing tour. Sample authentic Albanian food and visit UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as Berat, Gjirokastra, and Butrint. Day 1: Durres and Berat Start the tour with a hotel or airport pickup in Tirana and head to Durres for a short guided walking tour and coffee break. Alternatively, you can start with a hotel pickup in Durres. Transfer to Berat, the "city of a thousand windows." Get settled in your picturesque hotel before enjoying lunch in a restaurant with city views. In the afternoon, follow your expert local guide on a guided tour of this fascinating city. Visit Berat Castle/Citadel and explore the upper town with churches, mosques, and 27 watchtowers packed inside its walls. Admire the Ottoman houses, where people still live as they have done for centuries. In the evening, your tour director will guide you to the best restaurants to sample Berat’s typical dishes. Day 2: Gjirokaster After breakfast, admire small villages during your transfer to Gjirokaster. Once you arrive in this “city of a thousand steps,” settle into your hotel before heading for lunch in a small local restaurant for a taste of the city’s authentic dishes. Next, visit Skenduli House, the best-preserved Ottoman house in the old city of Gjirokaster. Hear about its past from your local guide and the house’s owner, a descendant of the Skenduli family. Then, soak up the castle's rich history and enjoy the view of the “city of stone” from above. Explore the Ottoman Bazaar and historic wooden houses before visiting the Gjirokaster Obelisk dedicated to the town's first school. Enjoy its 360º views. Spend a relaxing evening in the streets of Gjirokaster. Day 3: “Blue Eye” and Butrint Travel to the “Blue Eye” spring. Admire the shades of blue and surrounding nature before heading to Butrint. There, marvel at 2,500 years of history on a guided tour with a local guide. See the highlights, such as the amphitheater, castle, churches, and Lion Gate. Drive to Ksamil and enjoy lunch by the lake at the Mussel House. Spend your afternoon in Ksamil before heading to Saranda via Lekursi Castle, which overlooks the city. Day 4: Llogara National Park and Vlore Transfer to the city of Vlore via Ali Pasha Castle, which you will explore with your tour director. Marvel at the architecture and listen to entertaining legends about the man who built it, Ali Pasha of Tepelenë. Head to the Llogara “balcony” for a stunning view of the South Coast beaches before indulging in lunch at Llogara National Park surrounded by pine trees and a fresh mountain breeze. Visit the city of Vlore, the hometown of the Albanian nationalist movement, in the afternoon. See sights such as Flag Square with its Independence Monument right in the center, the Muradie Mosque, and Vlore Lungomare. After you have explored Vlore, you will get transferred back to Tirana.

Venture into the lush greenery of South Albania to discover the natural phenomenon of the Blue Eye. visit the ancient Lekursi Castle on the hillside and get a stunning panorama of Saranda, Butrint Lagoon, and the Greek island of Corfu. Depart in the morning from Saranda. Your guide will lead you to one of the most breathtaking views in south Albania, the Blue Eye to admire its uniqueness. Be enchanted by the surrounding green forest and all its freshwater. At the center of the tarn source, you will understand why it is named the ‘Blue Eye’. Be mesmerized by how crystal clear the water is as you get a clear view of the bottom of a pool that is over 50 meters deep. Continue to the Lekursi Castle. located only half an hour away from the Blue Eye, on a hill that offers you a panoramic view of Saranda, Butrint Lagoon, and the island of Corfu. See the ruins of the homonymous village.

Depart in the early morning on a drive through Albania, known for its centuries of notable world history. Travel from the north to south of the ancient nation, where we will uncover pieces of archeological history that still stand today, including churches and castles.  Learn and understand how life was organized more than 2 millennia ago. We will visit notable people’s homes, including dictators and Nobel winners in the Palorto Neighborhood in our last stop, Gjirokaster, after visiting the beaches and basilicas in Saranda, Ksamil Beach, and Butrint. The drive will take us through the Albanian Riviera, where the natural beauty of the nation can be taken in before discovering the history of the ancient world’s architecture in the next stops. The journey will end in Tirana, with stops in between the three-hour return journey.

Travel south along the Albanian coast and explore the best of this region on a guided tour. Spend the day discovering Vlora, Butrint, Saranda, and Gjirokaster. Start your trip with a comfortable ride in an air-conditioned vehicle from your hotel in Tirana. Travel to Vlora, the city of independence. Proceed to Llogara to enjoy the breathtaking views of the coast from a 1043-meter height. Continue to Saranda and see enchanting beaches such as Gjipe Beach, Porto Palermo, Lukovë, and more. Next, visit the National Park of Butrint that holds more than 2000 years of history. Head to the source of the “Blue Eye” before getting to Gjirokaster. It’s a water spring with clear blue waters coming from the depth of the earth, running in the shape of an eye. The road leading to Gjirokaster will take you to the castle of the city and the old bazaar neighborhood. Visit the former homes of Ismail Kadare and Enver Hoxha, which are now museums dedicated to communism. Enjoy this last stop of the coastal tour before returning to Tirana.

Experience authentic rural Albania with a visit to Konispol and surrounding villages. Konispol is an untouched region off the beaten track, full of diverse activities. Explore its historical, cultural, and natural treasures on this tour. Start your tour at 9 AM from Saranda. After a relaxing 40-minute drive, you will reach your countryside destination. Konispol is the southernmost town in Albania, just 1 kilometer away from the Albanian-Greek border. It is divided into several settlements like Çiflik, Market, and Xarrë. Konispol offers spectacular views of Butrint Lake and Ionian Sea. Spot traditional stone houses in the region which once hosted wealthy families. Explore the town's main interests of agriculture and viticulture. Visit citrus groves and cultivated fields of the caves inhabited since the Paleolithic era. Enjoy the unique cultural heritage of the town. Konispol is located between Laberia to the north and Cameria to the south. Since the beginning of time, Albanians of the Cham ethnic group from the Chameria region lived in these parts. Learn all about its history and culture from your guide. Continue to your next stop, the Kreshmoi Cave, commonly known as the Cave of Konispol. This limestone cavern is one of the oldest testimonies of human settlement in Europe. It is built on a 400-meter-high hill near Saraqini’s ridge. Enjoy great views of Konispol from here.

Day 1: Travel Day and Tirana An airport pickup service is available throughout the day, following which you can get settled in your hotel. If you are not too tired, there is a guided walking tour of the city also available. Day 2: Kruja and Shkoder You'll begin your journey from Tirana directly to the city of Kruja. From there you will set off on a guided tour of the castle, the Skanderbeg Museum, and the National Ethnographic Museum. You'll transfer for lunch in Shiroke, with Lake Shkoder well known for its fish cuisine. Following lunch, visit the Rozafa Fortress and enjoy amazing views whilst learning the fortress’s fascinating history. Afterwards, get settled in to your hotel in Shkoder and experience the Old Town, St. Stephen’s Catholic Cathedral, the Ebu Bekr Mosque, and Marubi Museum throughout a guided tour. Later, enjoy free time in the evening in the Pedonalja area. Day 3: Koman Lake to Shala River through Koman Lake boat ride Transfer to Koman in the early morning, where you will take a scenic boat ride passing by rocky mountains and vivid green hills towards the Shala River. This river is a hidden paradise which is also referred to as “Albanian Thailand”. Later, enjoy lunch with views over the Mirror River whilst surrounded by the quietness of the mountains and nature. You'll eventually leave this idyllic spot in the afternoon, at which point you will transfer to the seaside city of Durres. Day 4: Berat and Vlore On your fourth day you will transfer to Berat, passing through scenic hills full of olive trees. You'll later take a guided tour to admire the citadel/castle of Berat complete with a Red Mosque, White Mosque, the Church of the Holy Trinity, and the arched bridge of Gorica. Following that, enjoy lunch with city views and take some free time to wander the two main districts of Mangalem and Gorica. In the afternoon you'll visit the city of Vlore, which is the hometown to the National Independence Movement. There you can visit Flag Square, the Muradie Mosque, and Vlore’s Lungomare. Day 5: Saranda via Gjirokaster Transfer to Gjirokaster to discover this "city of a thousand steps” whilst driving through small villages. Once arrived, settle into your hotel before soaking up the rich history of the castle and enjoying the view of the “city of stone” from above. Explore the Ottoman Bazaar and historic wooden house before stopping for lunch in a small local restaurant for a taste of the city’s authentic dishes. On the road to Saranda, you will later stop at the “Blue Eye” spring. Day 6: Butrint and Ksamil Transfer to Butrint for a guided tour of the UNESCO archaeological site. Following that you will have free time for a beach day at the Ksamil Islands, before returning to Saranda in the evening. Day 7: Ali Pasha Castle & Llogara National Park Visit Porto Palermo Castle with your guide, before spending the day at the beach in the bay of Porto Palermo. Along the way you'll stop by Tirana, as well as the Llogara “balcony” to try local products of the area. Day 8: Departure Day Following breakfast on your final day, your tour will conclude.

Depart from Saranda and head to the Archaeological Park of Finiq, where you will discover the remains of the most important buildings in Antigone, dating back to the 3rd century B.C. Explore the ruins of the stage, a beautiful theatre, the old city walls, and a Byzantine church, which gave this place the status of a protected monument. Learn the history of this ancient spectacle with your guide. Have the opportunity to visit the small village of Mesopotamia, home to one of the largest churches in ancient Albania, only a few kilometers away.

Day 1: Travel day You'll be picked up from the airport. Welcome to Albania! Get settled in the hotel and for those of you not too tired, there is a guided walking tour of the city center before dinner in a traditional restaurant in the evening. Day 2: Sightseeing tour of Berat Transfer to Berat, passing through hills full of olive trees. Get settled in the hotel and head for lunch in a local restaurant facing the city. Set out for a walking guide through the UNESCO listed old town with your local guide, admiring the White Mosque, the Holy Trinity Church and Gorica Bridge. Enter into the Berat Castle for a guided tour. Enjoy a free evening in "the city of a thousand and one windows.” Day 3: Rural Berat, Bogova Waterfall & Wine Tasting Transfer to Bogove and take a 30min walk towards the impressive waterfall. Head back to Bogove village and have a homemade lunch on the river shore, with homemade wine and raki (fruit brandy). In the afternoon, visit the town of Polican, famous for its weapon factories during Communist times. The abandoned factories and people in this remote town are a strong reminder of the country's’ past. After a short drive, you'll arrive at Nurellari Winery.  Enjoy a wine tasting tour in this family-run winery, walk around the vineyard and savor 4 varieties of wine. Head back to the city and enjoy free time in the evening exploring the ancient neighborhoods of Mangalem and Gorica.   Day 4: Sightseeing tour of Gjirokaster Transfer to Gjirokaster to discover "the city of a thousand steps.” Get settled in your hotel and head out for lunch in a small, local restaurant for a taste of the city’s authentic dishes. Step into Skenduli house (an Ottoman tower house) and listen to its history and details from the 10th generation of Skenduli family and your local guide. Soak up to the rich history of the castle and enjoy the views! Pass by the Ottoman Bazaar and historic wooden houses and visit Gjirokastra’s Obelisk. Day 5: Typical food from Rural Gjirokastra Drive to Saraqinisht and experience a day in an Albanian countryside cottage. You'll learn about the food, life, and traditions of an Albanian family. Start cooking with three generations of Albanian ladies or drink Raki with cheese and olives with “Grandpa” and listen to his Commie stories. In the afternoon, you can take a 40-minute hike to visit 400-years old St. Mary's Church, built on the face of a cliff and with its monastery beneath. In the evening, transfer back to the city, visiting a Communist bunker on the way back.  Day 6: Sightseeing tour of the Blue Eye Spring and Butrint Travel to the Blue Eye Spring and marvel at this beautiful natural area. Then, set off on a guided tour of Butrint National Park where a local guide explains the 2500 years of history of the Amphitheater, the castle, the churches, and the Lion Gate. Drive to Ksamil and enjoy seafood next to turquoise waters. On the way to Himare, stop for a coffee break at Borsh waterfalls. What a sight! Transfer to Himare and enjoy free time in this typical seaside city. Finish the day with your tour leader and group and enjoy an evening of raki drinking.  Day 7: Apollonia via Llogara National Park En route to Apollonia, explore the Ali Pasha Castle. Marvel at the architecture and listen to entertaining legends about the man who built it, Ali Pasha Tepelena. Stop at Llogara balcony for a stunning view of the South Coast beaches and then head for lunch to Llogara National Park freshened by the mountain breeze and pine trees. Set off a guided tour in Apollonia in the afternoon, where an on-site archeologist explains the history behind the temple of Artemis, the Odeon and the Triumphal Arch. On the way to Tirana, stop for the delicious byrek (pastries) in the city of Lushnje. Day 8: Departure Transfer to the airport for your return flight home.

Take advantage of a convenient private transfer from Tirana or Durres to Saranda. Our English speaking driver will be waiting for you with a sign at your hotel 15 min before departure. Cars are available all year round, 24 hours per day. On the way to Saranda, enjoy a coffee break and visit the UNESCO town of Gjirokaster. Stop and visit the Blue Eye Spring before reaching Saranda. Ride in the air-conditioned comfort of a Caddy Life, VW Touran or T5 Caravelle Van. Vehicles and drivers are supplied by Good Albania, a local tour operator, with a track record of high-quality customer service.