With a history of over two millennia, Durrës stands as one of Albania’s oldest and most significant cities. The cityscape is adorned with remnants of its illustrious past, including the imposing Roman amphitheatre and Byzantine walls. Beyond its archaeological treasures, Durrës offers a lively atmosphere with bustling streets and a lively waterfront that beckons locals and visitors alike. The city’s strategic coastal location has made it a crucial hub for trade and commerce throughout the ages, contributing to its diverse cultural influences. There’s plenty to see around Durrës too, visit Cape Rodon or Divjakë-Karavasta National Park.
5 things not to be missed in Durrës and around
|
You’ll probably only need half a day to explore the sights of Durrës. Since they are all located in the city’s historic centre and are only a few hundred yards apart, it is simple to walk between them.
History of Durrës
Greek colonists founded a settlement on the site of today’s Durrës in 627 BC and named it Epidamnos. In the 3rd century BC, it was taken over by the Romans and called Dyrrhachium. The trade and military route Via Egnatia started in Durrës, leading to Thessaloniki, Greece, via Ohrid Lake. The city was thriving at the time, being the largest commercial centre in the entire region. After the Romans, Durrës has the largest amphitheatre in the Balkans.
During the Middle Ages Durrës changed rulers several times: the Byzantines, Bulgarians, Normans and in the late 14th century the Venetians, who called the city Durazzo. In 1501, the Turks conquered the city and ruled it under the name Diraç for more than four centuries. During their reign, the town declined and lost its former importance.
In March 1914, the Prussian nobleman and Albanian prince Willem Wied placed his seat in Durrës and began his two-hundred-day rule over Albania. In June of the same year, the Dutch general Lodewijk Thompson, who commanded international troops in the newly formed Albania, was assassinated there. Wied left Albania shortly afterwards.
In 1926 Durrës was destroyed by an earthquake and almost nothing of the historic centre remained.
Transport to Durrës
The existence of a busy harbour, connections to motorways and railways, and a convenient location in the centre of the country make Durrës a natural transport hub.
Buses to Tirana run every half an hour from Durrës, while the journey takes about 45 minutes. Durrës has bus connections with almost all major Albanian cities, while some buses heading south from Tirana also stop in Durrës (not in the centre, but at the Plepa bus station, about 7 km south of the centre).
There are buses to Tirana airport from Durrës bus station at 8:00, 9:30, 11:00, 13:00 and 15:00, the journey takes 30-40 minutes and costs 600 lek. Buses leave from the airport to Durrës at 10:00, 12:00, 14:00, 15:30 and 17:00. Taxi costs about 30 euros.
Adria Ferries operates ferry lines with three Italian cities – Bari, Ancona and Trieste. A night ferry departs for Bari at 23:00 every day all year round, arriving in Italy at 08:00. Every Wednesday (19:00), Friday (17:00) and Sunday (17:00) the ferry runs between Durrës and Ancona. Once a week, on a Sunday, you can also reach Trieste from Durrës: the ferry departs at 17:00 and arrives in Italy after 37 hours.
Beaches of Durrës
Tens of thousands of sea-loving vacationers go to Durrës each year. The city’s beaches are frequently crowded, the water murky, and although things are getting better every year, there is trash in some areas. Hundreds of hotels, restaurants, clubs, and discos line the whole Bay of Durrës shoreline south of the city, with Golem being the primary resort. You can enjoy all the typical elements of a beach vacation in Durrës, including long sandy beaches, endless umbrella rows, shallow, warm water, and exciting nightlife.
Beaches on the hilly cost north of Durrës are smaller but almost equally crowded in the high season. Compared to the Albanian Riviera in the south, where the sea is crystal clear and the shoreline is more scenic, prices in Durrës are lower for lodging and services. More remote resorts, including General’s Beach or Lalëz Bay (Gjiri i Lalëzit), offer more privacy than Durrës.
Useful Links
Accommodation
Use Booking.com to find the best places to stay in Durrës.
Flights
Find the cheapest flights to Albania on Kiwi.com. It combines various airlines into a single itinerary.
Car Rental
Discover Albania with cheap car rentals through local companies or Rentalcars.com‘s extensive network-
Mobile data
Airalo provides affordable and convenient mobile data to keep you connected wherever you travel. Forget local SIM or roaming charges.
Experiences
Book a day trip from or to Durrës on Viator.com.