Our suggestions on how to get the most of this ancient city and unpack its countless historical, cultural, natural and gastronomical treasures in the short span of 24 hours.

Morning

After your nice morning coffee along the main seaside promenade or in one of the nice cafés along the streets of the old town, we suggest that you devote some time to explore the city’s ancient history by taking a nice walk around its many gorgeous ancient ruins.

Traditional buildings in Durrës. Photo by IntoAlbania.

An intimate caffee place near the Boulevard Epidamn. Photo by IntoAlbania.

Amphitheater of Durrës

The absolute best place to start off your walk through ancient history is the Amphitheater of Durrës. Built in the 2^nd century, this is one of the largest Roman constructions in the region and one of the most famous architectural wonders of Emperor Trajan’s time. To read more about the amphitheater, click here.

Amphitheater of Durrës, photo by IntoAlbania.

Byzantine Forum

Leaving the Amphitheater behind, follow the road in Illyria Square toward the Byzantine Forum, one of the most beautiful monuments of the late Roman and early Byzantine periods. Built at the end of the 6^th century, during the time of Roman Emperor Anastasios (481-518), along with the city-harbor’s fortifications, this construction is one of the most visited sites in Durrës. To read more about the forum, click here.

Byzantine Forum in Durrës, photo by IntoAlbania.

Archaeological Museum of Durrës

The journey into the city’s ancient past cannot be complete without a stop at the Archaeological Museum of Durrës, one of the most visited museums in the entire country. The museum includes a great number of objects belonging to Durrës’ prehistoric, archaic, classical and civic Illyrian periods, extending as far back as the 1^st century. For a complete and comprehensive tour of the ancient city, click here.

Archaeological Museum, photo by IntoAlbania.

Lunch

When lunchtime comes around, you may have a difficult time selecting from the sheer variety of delicious seafood restaurants in Durrës. Even if you are not a seafood fan, you may want to give it a try while in the city that is famous for its seafood cuisine. One of the best restaurants to try is Vertigo, popular not only for its food but the breathtaking views of the Adriatic.

Photo source: facebook.com/www.vertigo.al.

Save some room for dessert and take a walk along the seaside promenade to reach the most legendary ice-cream parlor in town, Gelateria Çela. Make a stop here and choose your favorites among the countless delicious flavors.

Gelateria Çela, photo by IntoAlbania.

You may sit and enjoy your dessert but we suggest continuing your walk until you reach the Sphinx. Also called the Urban Cape, this modern architectural object serves as the apex of Durrës’ land and seascapes.

Sphinx, Vollga Promenade, Durrës, photo by IntoAlbania.

Sunset

After spending some time strolling around the promenade or at the beach, head to the most contemporary restaurant-bar in town, “Charlie Max Marina“. Located strategically, so that it offers beautiful views of both the city and the sea, this is one of the most ideal locations to enjoy the sunset. If you don’t want to stray too far from the city, this is the place to go!

View from Charlie Max Marina, photo by IntoAlbania.

Evening

For evening fare, you may take another look at our list of the best seafood restaurants in Durrës. However, there are plenty of other restaurants and pizza places along the seaside promenade which, at this time of day, is bustling with people and activity. If you would like to stop for a drink, “Fly Wine & Bar” is one of the most popular spots as it affords the highly-coveted 360-degree view of the entire city.

Photo source: flybardurres.com.

For those of you who would like to stay in the city after a long day of sightseeing, Vila Austria 1843 is perfect. While here, you can learn more about the historic villa and its owners throughout the years, the Tedeschinis, who have contributed significantly to Albanian society. To read more about this fascinating place, click here

Fireplace Room at Vila Austria 1843, photo by IntoAlbania.

More Suggestions

Cape of Rodon

The only reason that the Cape of Rodon is not included in the main itinerary is that to reach it, you must leave the city of Durrës. Only reachable by car, this gorgeous site has breathtaking views that will be totally worth your while! This narrow strip of peninsular land along the Adriatic also offers plenty of crucial historical and cultural monuments. The Cape is surrounded by navels with an altitude of 25 meters and is particularly famous for the Castle of Skanderbeg located there. To read more about it, click here.

Castle of Skanderbeg, Cape of Rodon, Durrës, photo by Intoalbania.

Lalzi Bay

Another site only reachable by car that would be worth experiencing is the hyper-popular Lalzi Bay. During peak beach season, it is packed! It is ideal for many people as it is situated between Durrës and Tirana, boasts a pristine shoreline and crystal waters, and has a great variety of restaurants and bars. 

Durrës Beaches

Thanks to a very long coast, Durrës has plenty of other fantastic beaches to choose from depending on your preferences. For a full list, click here.