Shkoder

Wedged between the magical Accursed Mountains and the glittering expanse of Lake Skadar, Shkoder is a small city in the North of Albania. Shkodra, the popular center of the Gheg cultural region, is one of the oldest cities in Europe and arguably the most beautiful urban center in Albania. The old Rozafa Fortress offers marvelous panoramas over Lake Shkodra, while the pastel-painted houses in the Old Town have a distinct Italian ambiance. Many tourists rush through here while traveling between Tirana and Montenegro, or route to the Lake Koman Ferry and the villages of Theth and Valbona, but it's worth spending a night or two to soak up this friendly and welcoming place. It’s usually a thoroughfare for hikers going to other parts of the country but there are lots of things to do in Shkoder that make it a good stopping spot.