About Durres Albania
Read this blog to find out what to do in Durres, Albania…
Durrës, Albania, is a lively port city on the west coast of Albania, on the Adriatic Sea. Durres is a 30 minute to one hour drive from Tirana airport, making it the perfect destination for a shorter trip to catch some rays…
Durres boasts a rich history dating back to 627 BC. As one of Albania’s oldest cities, it features the grand Roman amphitheater & also, ancient Byzantine walls, showcasing its storied past.
The city also hosts a number of bustling beaches & has a very lively nightlife, including a modern seafront promenade littered with eateries & bars alike…
With hot summers & not-too-cold-winters, the lush Mediterranean climate combined with its historical landmarks, fresh seafood, reasonable prices for both flights & eating, & also, warm Adriatic sea makes Durres, Albania, a great holiday destination.
WHERE TO STAY IN dURRES, ALBANIA
The ‘Beach of Durres’ is just south of Durres City & has lots of hotels… They are reasonably priced & reasonably basic in terms of design & facilities, but are clean, well-maintained by the staff & offer undisrupted views of the sea.
We stayed at the Volmar Hotel, which offered 4 nights for £800 for 4 people (with breakfast included)… So £200pp. The Volmar has a beautiful beach-bar-esque seating area that overlooks the sea. The team were helpful & friendly, & I had zero complaints here (which is actually pretty unlike me…).
BARS & RESTAURANTS
Staying at Durres Beach, I would recommend stopping in to some of the bars & restaurants along the waterfront.
Some places are definitely better than others but generally speaking, the food is pretty tasty, & the seafood is particularly fresh & delicious. We ate a lot of salads, fresh seafood & a few too many pizzas to admit to… (Sucker for picky sharing bits…).
Dyrrah Mare was a firm favourite for our group… You can sit outside at the front of the restaurant, which is glorious in the sunshine. We enjoyed the fresh catch of the day, which was seabass, with grilled Mediterranean veg. Plus, they give you a shot of raki to finish the meal…
The View from Dyrrah Mare Restaurant
Another spot that I recommend is the Empire Beach Restaurant. Don’t be put off by their Google listing as they don’t have any good pictures of their outside cabana-like bar on there. Enjoy an afternoon Aperol Spritz or also, play a game of cards here to cool down after a day of sunshine.
Empire Beach Restaurant
Walking north along the beachfront & through Durres town, there is another spot that I highly recommend, called Sunset Bar. This cabana-like, waterfront spot quite literally juts out into the water & is what dreams are made of. Watching the sunset over the water was phenomenal… You could confuse this with being in Bali or Barbs.
Sunset Bar, Durres
Your Itinerary for the sites in Durres, Albania
We walked to Durres City from Durres Beach, which is predominantly a nice walk along the sea front, & takes just over an hour in total. However, once you hit the port, there is about a 10-15 min walk along the main road, which is safe but a lot less attractive than the rest of the walk.
You can see the sites of Durres City in one day. They are all pretty close to one another & are, therefore, walkable. These are the sites I recommend, & if you hit them in the order that I’ve listed then it’s a pretty easy loop that ends up at the beach, & you are then an 11 minute walk from the aforementioned Sunset Bar, ready for a well-deserved, refreshing drink whilst watching the sunset…
The Durres City Itinerary:
- Byzantine Forum: This ancient forum, dating back to the 5-6th centuries, features a circular colonnade & remnants of columns & also, arches. It served as a central marketplace & can be seen from the street. No entrance fee.
- Great Mosque of Durres: Originally built in 1931 & reconstructed after damages, this mosque is a prominent religious site.
- Durres Ampitheatre: Constructed in the 2nd century AD, this Roman amphitheatre is one of the largest in the Balkans. It seats around 15,000 spectators. It hosted gladiatorial battles & also, public events, with ongoing excavations revealing intricate mosaics and structures. You need to pay a small entrance fee to visit.
- Venetian Tower of Durres: This 15th century tower, part of the city’s medieval fortifications, was built by the Venetians. It offers panoramic views of the port & city, symbolizing Durrës’ strategic maritime importance & rich historical legacy. The tower is not that tall so you do not need to enter here if you don’t want to. The Royal Villa of Durres offers better
- Sfinski: A modern stepped structure located on Durres beach. It is a great spot to visit if you want to have a wander down the beach & sit to watch the sunset with a bottle of wine.
- Royal Villa of Durrës: Built in the early 20th century for King Zog as his summer palace, this villa is a blend of neoclassical & also, modernist architectural styles. Situated on the top of a hill, this is a great viewpoint as it overlooks the sea & Durres City, so walk up to get a good look.
Thank you for reading!
I hope that this blog has been helpful in guiding you in what to do in Durres, Albania, & also, I hope that you enjoy your trip!
If you want to read more about Durres, Albania, or other places in Europe, head to the blog here.
