There are such a lot of nice day journeys from Tirana; making it among the finest bases in Albania to get out and discover the nation.
Not solely will you expertise Albanian tradition within the metropolis, and among the finest meals and historical past to be present in Albania, however you may benefit from the stunning shoreline or go to the extra quaint and historic cities and cities which might be close by when taking one of many many day journeys from Tirana.
I spent 2 months in Albania and was based mostly in Tirana for 1 month. Throughout that point, I visited the coast and noticed among the most beautiful surroundings by venturing out on day excursions from Tirana. So, learn on for my high 10 day journeys from Tirana.
Greatest Day Journeys from Tirana
There are some unbelievable day journeys from Tirana. Because the capital metropolis and residential to the busiest worldwide airport within the nation, it’s the right place to base your self and discover the remainder of this stunning nation.
Listed below are among the finest day journeys from Tirana.
1. Berat
A go to to the unbelievable metropolis of 1,000 home windows is certainly one of my favourite day journeys from Tirana. The town is constructed on a hillside, and its stone homes appear to be they’re stacked on high of one another. The home windows within the homes are all the identical uniform sq. form, giving town its well-known nickname.
Berat is a UNESCO World Heritage Web site and so you may look forward to finding loads of superbly preserved historic buildings which supply an interesting perception into life by the ages in Albania.
The citadel in Berat is a must-visit. It’s actually spectacular and provides unbelievable views over town. Equally, take a stroll down the attractive Bulevardi Republika which is crammed with cafes good for just a little people-watching.
The town is framed by the Tomorr Mountains at one finish and the Citadel on the different making it a extremely spectacular place to take a break.
One of the simplest ways to go to Berat from Tirana is with a tour, and this full-day guided tour actually helps profit from your time on this nice metropolis. You’ll be picked up in Tirana and set off for among the highlights of Berat, together with the citadel, the Purple Mosque, and St Trinity Church.
Berat is certainly one of my favourite day excursions from Tirana and visiting is a tremendous technique to spend a day attending to know the guts of Albania.
Getting There: There are common buses from Tirana bus station to Berat leaving roughly each half-hour, so it’s among the finest day journeys from Tirana by bus. The journey will take round 2 hours and 45 minutes every manner.
2. Mount Gamti and Lake Bovilla
For these searching for energetic day journeys round Tirana, you need to you’ll want to add a go to to close by Mount Gamti and Lake Bovilla to your checklist of issues to see.
Positioned round 20 kilometers north of Tirana, Lake Bovilla is beautiful. It’s blue and turquoise in colour and is surrounded by peaks and mountains on all sides, making it appear to be one thing out of a film. It’s unsurprising that the encircling Gamti Mountains are vastly common with hikers and climbers.
When you love exploring nature, then head into the mountains on one of many marked trails. From the peaks, you’ll have uninterrupted, breathtaking views over Lake Bovilla and past.
This 1-day climbing tour of Lake Bovilla and Mount Gamti features a personal switch from Tirana to the dam which crosses the lake. From right here, your information will take you on a comparatively straightforward hike into the Gamti Mountains. The hike lasts round 40 minutes and takes you to an unbelievable viewpoint over the lake.
After the hike, you may take a refreshing dip within the lake to chill off and benefit from the perspective of the mountains from beneath. You’ll then be pushed again to your lodging for a well-deserved relaxation.
Albania has some unbelievable nature ready to be explored simply exterior its capital metropolis and this is without doubt one of the most enjoyable day journeys from Tirana.
Getting There: The place to begin for hikes into the mountains is usually the dam at Lake Bovilla which is round 20 kilometers north of Tirana. One of the simplest ways to get right here is by rent automobile, personal taxi or by taking a day tour. A tour will embrace a information that will help you navigate the mountains for the most effective views.
3. Kruja and Durrës
Durrës is Albania’s second metropolis, and it’s most historic at over 3,000 years outdated. Its location on the coast, to the west of Tirana, presents a magical mix of historic historical past with seashores and the ocean.
One of the crucial spectacular historic points of interest in Durrës is its Roman Amphitheater which is nestled amongst high-rise buildings and different fashionable contrasts.
One other of Albania’s most historic cities is Kruja, which is legendary as the middle of the resistance towards the Ottoman Empire, led by the hero of Albania, Skanderbeg, in addition to for being house to a preferred bazaar promoting all types of handicrafts.
If you wish to study extra about each the traditional and fashionable historical past of Albania, this is without doubt one of the finest Tirana day journeys by which you’ll get to see an enormous quantity in someday.
Getting There: Each Durrës and Kruja could be reached by bus. The buses depart from the Tirana Bus Station. The bus to Durrës takes round 45 minutes, with common departures all through the day. A ticket will value you round 130 lek/€1.
The bus to Kruja will take round 55 minutes and can value round 100 lek/€0.80. There are 15 departures a day making these straightforward day journeys from Tirana. Or, mix each with this epic personal day tour.
4. Blue Eye
One of the crucial unbelievable sights in Albania, the Blue Eye (situated within the south of the nation) is without doubt one of the finest day journeys from Tirana by automobile.
The ‘eye’ is a freshwater spring that rises from a depth of at least 50 meters – it’s so deep that divers have been unable to battle the strain of the rising water to get any deeper than this to date.
The result’s a shocking blue lake in the course of a nationwide park. The spring brings chilly, recent water from deep underground and feeds an attractive lake and stream. It’s set within the coronary heart of the forest and creates a magical and delightful pure marvel.
There’s a viewing platform that folks typically soar from into the Blue Eye and when you’ve completed exploring, there’s an ideal little restaurant subsequent door serving meals and drinks that will help you cool off additional.
It’s fairly a distance from Tirana to the Blue Eye, however completely well worth the journey. I like to recommend combining a day journey from Tirana to the Blue Eye with a cease at Sarandë and Ksamil. These two are often known as the highlights of the Albanian Riviera and are house to among the finest seashores in Albania.
Getting There: There aren’t any direct buses from Tirana to the Blue Eye nationwide park. When you want to journey by public transport, you might want to take a bus to Sarandë after which from Sarandë to the Blue Eye. The bus to Sarandë leaves from the primary bus station and takes round 5 hours. A non-public taxi is an possibility, however I like to recommend combining the taxi with this wonderful guided tour.
5. Gjirokastër
One other gem within the south of the nation is the staggeringly stunning UNESCO World Heritage Web site of Gjirokastër. This hilltop city is named the Metropolis of Stone and provides an nearly fairy story look with cobbled streets, stone metropolis partitions, and an attractive citadel and fortress trying over the city.
It’s additionally situated in the course of the mountains and so has beautiful 360-degree views throughout the farmland and peaks past.
Exploring the cobbled streets packed filled with cafes, native eating places, and boutique shops is without doubt one of the finest issues to do right here however the citadel is without doubt one of the primary points of interest in Gjirokastër. From inside, you get to discover the depths of the citadel, and benefit from the unbelievable views over Gjirokastër and past.
For the last word expertise in Gjirokastër, this sensible full-day journey from Tirana comes extremely really helpful. You get to tour the city, go to its citadel and bazaar, go to the household house of Enver Hoxha and take a conventional Albanian lunch at one of many stunning household eating places on the town.
There’s one thing magical about Gjirokastër and it’s completely price a go to. It’s positively certainly one of my favourite Tirana day journeys, and someplace I might return to time and again.
Getting There: There’s a bus from Tirana Bus Station to Gjirokastër, which takes round 4 hours relying on site visitors. Alternatively, you may rent a automobile in Tirana for round €20. The best technique to go to is certainly to take this highly-recommended one-day personal tour from Tirana to Gjirokastër.
6. Go to Montenegro
Tirana shouldn’t be solely an ideal base for exploring Albania, nevertheless it’s fairly near Montenegro too.
When you like exploring, I like to recommend a day journey from Tirana to Budva or Kotor. These are two walled cities on the south coast, near the Albanian border.
Kotor is without doubt one of the prettiest locations in Montenegro, filled with historical past and Montenegrin tradition. It’s based mostly on the attractive bay of Kotor which affords the city unbelievable views over the water and surrounding mountains. The bay is gorgeous and is ideal for paddleboarding or kayaking.
I like to recommend taking a strolling tour of the Kotor Outdated Metropolis as you’ll see the principle points of interest while having the prospect to study lots alongside the best way. Factors of curiosity within the metropolis embrace the Bay of Kotor, the Kotor Fortress, and the scenic view over the ‘Mediterranean Fjords’.
Budva is just a little totally different – it’s extra of a vacationer resort, but in addition has a big walled metropolis to discover and a few stunning seashores and enjoyable seaside bars. I like to recommend Mogren 2 seaside.
Getting There: To profit from the day, I like to recommend taking this sensible tour. The information is tremendous educated, and also you’ll journey in consolation within the personal bus. You may get a bus from Tirana to each Kotor and Budva. Nonetheless, it takes a very long time, and I like to recommend an in a single day keep. You possibly can view the timetables and costs right here.
7. Ksamil Seaside
You should take a day journey from Tirana to see Ksamil when you’re touring within the hotter months (Might-September). The seashores in Ksamil are among the finest within the nation – I typically felt like I used to be in Asia fairly than Europe.
The sand is white, the water is essentially the most stunning turquoise colour, and it’s heat and crystal clear. It’s positively among the finest locations within the nation to expertise the ‘Albanian Riviera’ at its finest.
There are additionally another implausible points of interest near Ksamil that are positively price a go to when you’re touring right here. Butrint Nationwide Park, Albania’s first UNESCO World Heritage Web site, is simply 10-Quarter-hour from Ksamil.
If you wish to go to Ksamil, I like to recommend taking this 1-day personal day journey from Tirana. You’ll loosen up on the most effective Ksamil seashores and go to stunning Gjirokaster, the Blue Eye, and Lekuresi Fort in Sarande – all superb locations within the south of Albania.
Getting There: To go to the Ksamil Seashores, you’ll must get a bus to Sarande (there aren’t any direct buses to Ksamil). It takes round 4.5 hours and from Sarande you’ll must get a taxi to Ksamil. The best technique to go to Ksamil seaside on a day journey from Tirana is to take a personal tour.
8. Komani Lake
That is certainly among the finest day journeys from Tirana for outside lovers. Komani Lake is simply accessible by boat, so that you attain it by crusing the Shala River, which traverses by stunning gorges and valleys.
The water of the river is crystal clear, and it’s described because the pearl of Lake Komani – it’s completely beautiful. When you’re feeling courageous, take a dip in paradise, however be warned, the water could be very recent!
There are additionally climbing alternatives within the mountains. When you’re feeling energetic, hike to the point of view for essentially the most spectacular views. It takes round 45 minutes and is medium issue, however the sights you’ll be rewarded with are so price it.
Getting There: At the present time journey from Tirana is simply actually doable when you be a part of a tour. It’s round a 4-hour drive and is simply accessible by boat, so that you want any individual who is aware of the world, and the Shala river nicely. I like to recommend reserving a guided tour to profit from this unbelievable day journey from Tirana by boat.
9. Lake Ohrid
Tirana is actually tremendous near the border with North Macedonia. Positioned right here lies essentially the most stunning lake that the border truly runs straight by, that means that half is Albanian and half is Macedonian.
Ohrid as a city is completely charming. It’s house to 365 church buildings, one for every day of the 12 months, that you will discover squeezed in between buildings, hidden in backstreets, and even proper on the water. The Lake is crystal clear and the surroundings is unbelievable.
It’s additionally a spot with numerous totally different influences, with Turkish being an apparent one. Sip Turkish tea and check out the native meals within the city, or take a dip within the water. A day journey from Tirana into North Macedonia is one thing I positively suggest.
Getting There: There are direct buses that run from Tirana Worldwide Bus Station to Ohrid and value €15 every manner. When you’re touring within the low season, you’ll must get the bus to Struga, then onto Ohrid from there. You possibly can e book on-line right here. One of the simplest ways to discover Ohrid from Tirana is by a guided tour to profit from the day.
10. Shkoder
The Albanian folks consider Shkoder because the ‘conventional’ capital of Albania for its arts, tradition, and spiritual variety.
Nonetheless, the principle cause folks go to Shkoder is that it’s the entry level to the Albanian Alps. When you love climbing and being out and about in nature, it’s an important day journey from Tirana.
One in every of my favourite issues to do in Shkoder is to lease a motorcycle and go pedaling across the lake, cease for a swim, and revel in trying on the stunning surroundings.
Getting There: You may get a direct bus from Tirana to Shkoder from the Regional Bus Station. The journey takes round 1 hour 45 minutes and prices 400LEK (round €3). As the principle points of interest in Shkoder are fairly a distance from the bus station, for comfort and ease, I like to recommend reserving a guided tour.
Greatest Day Journey Excursions from Tirana
There are some unbelievable day journeys from Tirana. Listed below are a few of my favorites.
Group Tour of Ohrid from Tirana: See essentially the most well-known church in Ohrid, St John at Kaneo, with its beautiful views over the water, take a dip within the glassy lake, and eat conventional Macedonian meals. This wonderful tour consists of transportation and begins at 8 am to profit from this enjoyable day journey from Tirana to North Macedonia.
Day Journey from Tirana to Berat: This enjoyable day tour to Berat takes you to some of the stunning cities in Albania. From the surface, it appears magical with its 1000s of home windows searching throughout the river. Inside, you’re transported again in time the place you may uncover a lot of Albania’s traditions.
Shkoder Day Journey from Tirana: Uncover Shkoder on this sensible 7-hour tour from Tirana. The tour consists of pick-up and drop-off out of your lodge in Tirana, and also you’ll see the most effective of town with a educated information. The view over town from Rozafa Fort is unbelievable.
Blue Eye and Ksamil: That is an unbelievable day tour that takes you to the south of Albania and into the Albanian Riviera. You’ll get to see the finest seashores in Albania when in Ksamil. As well as, you’ll go to the Blue Eye, which is an exceptional, pure marvel within the coronary heart of a nationwide park.
Durres and Kruja: To maximise your time in Albania and see these two unbelievable and historically-significant Albanian spots, I like to recommend this wonderful personal day tour from Tirana. The tour will choose you up out of your lodging earlier than taking you on a guided journey by each cities.
You’ll go to the Preza Fort, Skanderbeg Museum, and the well-known bazaar in Kruja and the Amphitheater, the Roman Discussion board, and its Venetian Tower in Durres earlier than being taken again to your lodging in Tirana.
Day Journeys Round Tirana: FAQs
Listed below are some solutions to generally requested questions on day journeys from Tirana.
Gjirokaster and Berat are highly regarded day journeys from Tirana. Each are stunning, historic cities with fairly streets, historic castles, and nearly infinite cobbled streets to discover.
You’ll be capable of do and see loads of Tirana’s points of interest and find out about its tradition over a weekend, however I like to recommend round 3–4 days for a visit to Tirana. If you wish to embrace a number of day journeys from Tirana, every week is an effective period of time to discover.
When you have a automobile, among the finest day journeys is to Shkoder. The bus station isn’t near the principle points of interest, so entry to a automobile is an actual bonus.
There are only a few trains in operation in Tirana. If you wish to go on a day journey from Tirana, you’ll must go by bus, taxi, or personal switch. The buses are common and dependable.
There’s some beautiful nature near Tirana. Lake Bovilla could be very near Tirana and is a good place to go to to hike and see the attractive landscapes of Albania with out touring too far.
In Conclusion
Tirana is a implausible place in its personal proper to discover. It’s certainly one of my favourite cities in Europe and one of many causes for that is that it’s so well-connected and near most of the different primary points of interest in Albania.
Tirana is the right base for exploring and experiencing the tradition and great thing about Albania. The buses run commonly and are dependable, and there are many sensible excursions which can transport you comfortably, and train you all about totally different locations in Albania.
I hope this weblog submit helps you intend some thrilling day journeys from Tirana!