5-Day Tour: Experience the Best of Albania

Pickup from Tirana International Airport and transfer to the city. 

After arrival we will check in at the hotel, then a walking tour of Tirana. Albania Capital city since 1920. The tour starts from Skanderbeg Square with the mosaics of the National Museum, Et’hem Bey Mosque, the elegant government buildings, Bunkart-2, Fine Arts Gallery, ex-Hotel Dajti, and Rinia Park. Then we walk across “Zhan D'Ark" and “Bulevardi Bajram Curri” boulevards by Lana River’s bridge, (Photo stops) then and we arrive at the ‘Pyramid’. Next is the Prime Minister’s Building (the ex-Communist Party headquarters), and in front of it is the Parliamentary Offices. Beyond Rruga “Ismail Qemali” is the Hotel Rogner Europapark, and a little further the Palace of Congresses and in front of it is the Presidential Building. This building was the Soviet embassy until 1961. At the end of the main boulevard is “Mother Teresa” Square, named to honor the most famous Albanian nun of the 20th century. Around this square we see the Archaeological Museum, the Art Academy and Polytechnic University. This square is a cosmopolitan meeting place. We will pass through the ex-Blok quartier, that was prohibited in communism for the normal citizen, only high ranking officials' families (like Hoxha, etc.) used to live there. 

Overnight at Albanopolis Hotel 4* or similar. (B)

Note: If the flight arrival is at late hours, the walking tour will be done the next day in the morning.

 After breakfast we head to Kruja, one of Albania’s most important towns due to the part it played in resistance against the Ottomans. Visit the Skanderbeg Museum and castle as well as the old bazaar. Then heading to Tirana. City tour of  Tirana, Albania's capital.  Overnight Overnight at Albanopolis Hotel 4* or similar. (B)

After breakfast, the next stop will be in Lezha city. In the ancient pelasgian period it was called Lis (in Roman era Lissus). Visit to its top hill castle where you enjoy the fascinating panorama of the Adriatic Riviera and bronze age ancient city walls, and visit the Mausoleum of Skanderbeg (Albanian National Hero). Afterward, we will continue to Shkodra. A nice landscape with highland (Albanian Alps on the north) is a full contrast. City tour of Shkodra, Old Bazaar, Centrum, Cathedral and Mosque. Visit the Castle of Rozafa and we will enjoy wonderful views of mountains (Albanian Alps), Shkodra’s lake (the biggest in the Balkans), Drini, Buna and Kir rivers with the valleys around from the top of Rozafa castle. Shkoder overnight. Overnight at Tradita G & Tosk Hotel 4*, or similar. (B) 

After breakfast we continue to Durres. This port city, is the most important ancient central mediterranean metropol until medieval time in the 15th century when it got occupied by ottomans until 1912 when Albania proclaimed its independence, and Durres became its capital until 1920. (Durres is also more than 3500 years old (mentioned first time in Odisea where Ulicsus spent part of his time in Taulantia (ancient Pelasgian-Illyrian name of Epidamn-Durrah-Durres) on his way back to Itaka after Troyan war. This city has the largest Roman amphitheater in the Balkan region (about 20,000 seats), dating back to the beginning of the 2nd century which we will visit with the ancient city castle wall and byzantine bazaar/forum, Roman public baths, etc. Later we will continue to Berat, one of the oldest inhabited regions of Albania, more than 2400 years old, and with special status from UNESCO. Visit the castle of Berat with the Onufri museum and other churches inside; the Mosque of Berat and the old Bridge of Gorica, Onufri Museum and several churches and mosques. Onufri was an Albanian master painter of the 16th. Many of his wonderfully painted icons still remain in the museum while others can be found in churches in Albania and Greece where he worked. Return to Tirana. Overnight at Hotel Albanopolis 4* or similar. (B)

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Transfer to Tirana Airport for departure. End of services. (B)