Rozafa Castle

Shkodra

From its ancient Illyrian walls and the medieval ruins of the Balshaj, to the Towers of the Bushatllinj, Rozafa Castle is a monumental testament to the beauty of an everlasting fortress. Built during Antiquity, enduring the Roman and Ottoman empires, and remaining intact up to the present day, Rozafa Castle has witnessed the dramatic changes of [...]

Castles of Albania: The Most Famous Historic Fortresses in the Country

Berat

There is no shortage of ancient and medieval fortresses in Albania. From A to Z, north to south,  here’s a full list of the must-see castles in the entire country. Positioned on the edge of Via Egnatia, one of the most important trade routes of the Roman Empire, Bashtova Castle has fascinated the local and international [...]

Most Visited National Parks and Castles of Albania in 2019

Berat

With its rich array of fascinating destinations, Albania has attracted hundreds of thousands of tourists in the year 2019. Read below to find which were the most visited historic parks and castles in the country. Topping the list of most visited parks and castles in the country is none other than the ancient city of [...]

Kir Valley in Shkodra

Shkodra

Among the rare and variety-filled landscape surrounding the northern city of Shkodra, the spectacular Kir Valley is making a spectacular appearance as one of the must-see destinations of the country. “Shkodra asht dashni,” or Shkodra “is love”, as we say in Albania. Not only for its unique culture but the incredible landscape surrounding it. The [...]

Zâ Fest IV: Coming Soon in a New Online Format

Vlashent Sata brings the much-awaited fourth edition of what now has become one of the most unique festivals in Albania: Zâ Fest online edition. In the last three years, Zâ Fest has created quite the cult following. The contemporary folk festival fills a wide gap in a music industry that increasingly moves toward pop, oftentimes ignoring [...]

Shkodra’s Incredible Religious Harmony

Shkodra

An astoundingly high number of religious monuments honoring disparate faiths are scattered around the beautiful northern city of Shkodra, testifying to the rare religious harmony of the region. Of Albania’s peculiar and tragic history, filled with wars, invasions, dictatorships and civil unrest, a few very positive things have come out. One of these is the [...]

St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Shkodra

Shkodra

One of the grandest in the Balkans, the Cathedral of Shkodra has had an extraordinary story of survival.   The Cathedral of St. Stephen, the patron saint of the city of Shkodra, is also known as the Great Church. Once upon a time, the cathedral was located within the walls of the Rozafa Castle. In [...]

10 Unique Things You Can Do in Albania

Berat

From getting tattoos in bunkers and having fish dessert to more cultural gems and romantic ancient cities, Albania serves up an array of destinations exclusive to the country. In the age of globalization, tourists may find many similarities between among attractions around the world. Fortunately, many things remain authentic and are true to the place [...]

Favorite 10:  Exploring Albania with The Blonde Gypsy

Berat

Larissa Olenicoff, aka “The Blonde Gypsy”, is one of the most popular travel bloggers in the Balkans. Thanks to her instagram page and her website, “The Blonde Gypsy” travel stories and features are becoming a source of inspiration for many people to visit Albania. That is why we decided to do a Favorite 10 edition [...]

Top 10 Most Instagrammable Places to Visit in Albania

Berat

Despite its small size, Albania offers would-be visitors anything they could ever wish for -mountains, beaches, and historical towns. From the capital city of Tirana to the ancient towns and breathtaking mountains through the stunning clear waters of the Riviera, spot after spot, Albania is plenty of gorgeous Instagrammable places. Let’s have a look! Driving [...]

Old Postcards from Albania (1914-1918)

Berat

Have you ever seen old postcards from Albania? We are presenting you a rare collection of postcards created by the German printing house Purger & Co, dating from 1914 to 1918. The full collection was published at the website albanianphotography.net, which was founded by the famous specialist in Albanian studies, Robert Elsie (1950-2017).  The photos [...]

Best Museums of Shkodra

Shkodra

If we were to give a full account of Albania’s history, culture, folk traditions, and art, Shkodra would most definitely lead the discussion. The 2500-year-old city holds traces of each historic period of the country! Otherwise known as the capital of northern Albania, Shkodra beautifully preserves the country’s heritage in its countless museums. We list [...]

Lead Mosque

Shkodra

Right beneath the Rozafa Castle in Shkodra, surrounded by vast green valleys, rests one of the most majestic and well-preserved mosques in the country.   All the religious monuments scattered throughout the cities of Albania represent the famously harmonious coexistence of religions in the country. One such monument is the Lead Mosque in Shkodra, the [...]

Shkodra: 12 Photos that Will Make you Want to Visit the City Now!

Shkodra

From its imposing castle, built thousands of years ago, to modern museums that beautifully reflect this city’s rich tradition and culture, offers plenty of wonderful sites for the visitor. Add the largest lake of the entire Balkan region and rivers that cross ways with one another precisely around this city, and you can bet that [...]

Shkodra Lake

Shkodra

With its rich variety of plant and animal species, and breathtaking views, the legendary Shkodra Lake is the ideal place to get in touch with Albanian nature. It’s also an excellent alternative beach hot spot during the warm summer months. In the Northwest of Albania lies the beautiful Shkodra Lake, the largest in the Balkan [...]

8 Must-Have Experiences for a Fast-Track to Albanian Culture

Saranda

In Albania, drinking coffee is a rite of passage. Here, you can be sure there’s a café around every corner of every city, town and village. The capital serves any coffee from traditional Turkish-style to delicious Italian espresso and everything in between. While in Tirana, do not skimp on the affogato, a delicious espresso and [...]

Nature around Shkodra

Shkodra

In terms of natural beauty, Shkodra and its surrounding landscape is truly blessed. Here is where three beautiful rivers intertwine with one another. Here is also where you will find the largest lake in the Balkans. Adding some of the country’s most popular mountainous areas makes exploring the outdoors around Shkodra a must! The meeting [...]

St. Euphemia: The Mystical Church

Lezha

Kallmet, famous for its delicious wine, is also known for its rich culture, history, and nature. One of the beautiful region’s best-kept secrets is the small church with a fascinating story, hidden among ancient trees. One of the most impressive parts of St. Euphemia Church is the saint’s portrait carved on the side of the [...]

St. Euphemia: The Mystical Church

Lezha

Kallmet, famous for its delicious wine, is also known for its rich culture, history, and nature. One of the beautiful region’s best-kept secrets is the small church with a fascinating story, hidden among ancient trees. One of the most impressive parts of St. Euphemia Church is the saint’s portrait carved on the side of the [...]

23 Awesome Photos that Will Make you Want to Visit Albania Now!

Berat

From north to south, the cities and places to visit in Albania are many. Below are some of our favourites. Check out these inspiring photos and make plans to go there!

24 Hours in Shkodër

Shkodra

Shkodër is a city that truly has it all: a rich cultural life, art and history, beautiful nature, bazaars, and much more. Its wonderful restaurants along the promenade and its legendary cafes make this traditional Albanian city enjoy a buzzing big-city atmosphere while retaining its quaint charm. With so many offerings, the challenge rests in [...]

Annual Festivities in Shkodër

Shkodra

Among many Albanians, the northern city of Shkodër is known as the nation’s cradle of art and culture. This is apparent not only by its long list of names who have contributed to Albanian arts and culture throughout centuries but also in the unique manner the people of Shkodër lead their daily lives. There is [...]

Shkodra

Shkodra

This multifaceted city has had a traditionally rich artistic life and an enormous contribution to Albanian culture. Shkodra is the cradle of the most important Albanian poets, like Migjeni, painters like Kol Idromeno and Edi Hila, and photographers, the Marubi Family. Shkodra houses the haunting Marubi National Photography Museum, which displays the first photo taken [...]