Albanian City Breaks

Sometimes it's nice to just get away for a few days and escape  from your ordinary routine Take a well-deserved  5-day break, a chance to relax and rejuvenate. Join us on this thrilling break to Albania.

Overview

Day 01: Mother Teresa Airport - Shkodra

Day 02: Shkodra – Kruja - Durres

Day 03: Durres - Ardenica - Apollonia - Berat

Day 04: Berat - Elbasan - Tirana

Day 05: Tirana - Mother Teresa Airport

Day 01: Airport-Shkoder (83 km, 1.5 hours driving time)

Meet and greet at the Tirana airport and transfer to hotel in Shkoder, a diamond shaped city founded around the 4th century B.C. on the hills around the castle of Shkodra (Rozafa).
To visit:

• “Rozafa” Fortres
• Marubi Photographic Museum
• The Leaden Mosque
• The Catholic Cathedral

Then we will take a lovely walk to the newly renovated pedestrian area of Italian and Austrian architecture, testimony to this town historic links with both these countries. Overnight in Shkoder.

Day 02: Shkodra –Kruja- Durres (128.5 km, 2.5 driving time)

After an early breakfast, we drive towards Kruja,. Here we visit the Scanderbeg museum, a very rich Ethnographic Museum and the Old Bazaar of Kruja, a charming place, one of the most original in Europe with its cobblestone street lined with a variety of old small shops. Proceed to Durres, one of the oldest cities (founded in 627 B.C.) where we have lunch by the sea. After lunch we take a quick tour of the Amphitheater situated in the middle of the modern city in an inhabited area, and the Archeological Museum, a treasure trove of artifacts.

Day 03: Durres-Ardenica-Apollonia-Berat (174 km, 3.5 hours driving time)

Today we will drive to Berat, the city of “one-thousand-windows”. As we travel we stop at the Monastery of Ardenice, which was built by Byzantine Emperor, Andronikos II Palaiologos in 1282, after the victory against Angevins in the Siege of Berat. We proceed to the ancient city of Apollonia situated on the famous Via Egnatia, one of the most important cities in Roman times (founded in 588 B.C.E. by Greek colonists from Corfu and Corinth on a site initially occupied by Illyrian tribes). Afterward we continue to Berat, where we visit the Castle and Onufri Museum. The castle of Berat is of particular interest as people still live within its walls in their traditional houses, as have their ancestors for centuries. Overnight in Berat.

Day 04: Berat-Elbasan-Tirana (112 km, 2.5 hours driving time)

Today we head to Elbasan, the site of the ancient city of Scampa (founded in the 1st century AD). We visit the castle and its surrounding walls that were built in the early Ottoman period, Turkish Bath from the early 19th century, Saint Mary Orthodox Church, the Ethnographic Museum before heading to the capital of Albania Tirana, time permitting we will visit the National Historical Museum, which holds most of the country’s archeological treasure. Overnight in Tirana.

Day 05: Tirana- Airport (18 km, 30 min driving time)

After the breakfast, transfer to Mother Teresa Airport. End of our Service.

Km traveled:  516