Best Castles in Albania

Albanian Castles

Albania is your Fairytale Destination. With scenic lakes and rivers, green lush and blue waters Albania look like you’re in a Fairytale. But, what makes fairytales complete are the castles, and Albania has many of them. Below we will list you the best castles in Albania.

In this list, every famous castle from Albania has been included. These castles are built of stone and so many of them still survive today. Spanning a period of 900 years during the Middle Ages, castles come in many styles of architecture and design. Despite their differences though, they all have one feature in common. They are fortified.

How these castles are built?

Castles are defensive structures. They are specifically built to withstand attacks in the medieval world. However, technologies such as arrowslits, murder-holes, and moats improved their capabilities. Castles finally fell out of favor with the advent of gun powder, as offensive technologies, such as canons, rendered castles largely obsolete. Read the list and choose your destination.

Porto Palermo

When you travel from Himara to Qeparo or vice-versa, is impossible not to notice the castle at Porto Palermo Bay. It is also known as Panorama Bay and is one of the best castles in Albania. It is located 228km away from Tirana. Additionally, the beautiful castle that overlooks the Ionian Sea was a gift of love from Ali Pasha Tepelena to his beloved wife. He is also known as Ali Pasha of Ioannina.

Others say that the castle might be a hiding place of Ali’s famous treasure. It is one of the most thrilling and unresolved mysteries of our history. Also, the legend mentions around 40 tons of pure gold and precious gems. It seems that the Pasha of Ioannina had a treasure worthy of his reputation.

“He has the appearance of anything but his real character, for he is a remorseless tyrant, guilty of the most horrible cruelties, very brave and so good a general, that they call him the Mahometan Buonaparte.”

-Lord Byron, Letters from Albania

Ali Pasha Castle

The castle is located on a small island. It connects to the coast through a 30 meters narrow strip of land and rocks. It has a triangular shape with three bastions while the entrance is on the southern wall. Numerous writings and books about Ali Pasha Tepelena mention the castle.

It was built by Petro Permetari and an Italian architect. The name of Porto Palermo was chosen by the Italian soldiers because it reminded them of their city of Palermo.

Over 300 meters away from the castle, lays a church that Ali also built for his wife. The legend says that the church was built by the Italian architect upon Ali’s request.

When the architect completed the construction project and asked for his payment, the Pasha told him that he would receive it only if the church was strong enough to resist cannon projectiles. He closed the Italian architect within the church and began to fire round shots. Fortunately, it was strong enough to stand. So, Ali was sure that his wife would be safe in case of a possible attack.

What to do at Porto Palermo Castle

Given its location on the Southern Riviera, there’s the option to visit all the villages along the Ionian coast. Therefore, you can go swimming, diving or sailing. Also, you can go to Qeparo, Vuno villages, hiking through the olive groves, and in the hinterland.

If you want to know more about Albanian Riviera, click below:

Best time to visit

You can visit the castle all year round, but spring to late autumn is the best time of the year to explore the area.

How to get there

Follow Tirana-Fier-Vlora-Llogara Pass-Himara itinerary or Saranda-Lukova-Borsh-Qeparo itinerary.

For the map, click here.

Book a tour to see the castle and many more.

Kanina Castle

Built on top of a hill, 379 meters above sea level, the Kanina Castle offers a rare panorama of the bay of Vlora and the entire city. This fortress evolved as an inhabited fortified center during the Hellenistic period (4th century – 2nd century B.C.). It continued to develop throughout the Roman period and is one of the best castles in Albania.

Thanks to its reconstructions in the middle ages, this fortress managed to have an uninterrupted life, until the 18th century. As such, some of the most important historical periods of Albania can be traced in the ruins of this fortress.  The castle was one of the places that hosted Skanderbeg’s historic wedding to Donika Araniti.

Kanina and its sad ladies

Eqerem Bej Vlora in his book ‘Kanina Castle and other scriptures’ quotes a Norman anonymous chronicle named “Breve Cronica normanna”. According to it, Crusader Bohemond of Taranto surrounded Kanina Castle during the Norman Campaign of 1081. Given that they couldn’t take seize the castle by force, they changed tactics.

The Normans convinced the wife of the Byzantine commander to kill her husband for a good reward. The women accepted, so the Normans invaded the castle. However, the vile tactic was disapproved by the father of Bohemond, Robert Guiscard. Therefore, the wife was imprisoned at Zvernec Monastery.

The second story

It’s about Maria Frengu, a noblewoman from Kanina, or as Shakespeare would describe: “Look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under it.” She would cause the death of her two husbands. Firstly Kostandin Habaroni, a Byzantine statesman in Arbri Principate.

Then, Admiral Filippo Kinardi, a vicegerent of the King of Naples. The reasons why she caused the death of her husband, was related to her brother-in-law, the Depot of Epirus Mihali II and his expansion goals.

The third story

This one is about Komnena Muzaka, who became the ruler of Kanina following the death of her husband, Prince Balsha II. After her death, at the time when the area was threatened by the Ottoman Invasion, her daughter Princess Rugina Balsha was the ruler of Kanina. After she failed to put her properties under the protection of the Republic of Venice, Rugina fled into exile.

Donika Arianiti, the daughter of Gjergj Arianiti married Gjergj Kastrioti Skenderbeu in this castle. Also, the legends say that the wedding ceremony took place in Kanina Castle.

What to do at Kanina Castle?

Kanina is five km away from Vlora. Also, a few km away from destinations like the Albanian Riviera, Karaburun Peninsula, Sazani Island, and many other locations for the fans of great outdoors. While in the Vlora area you can go hiking, diving, paragliding, and many other recreational activities.

Best time to visit

You can visit the castle all year round thanks to the warm climate.

How to get there

Follow the Tirana-Fier-Vlora itinerary.

Location: Village of Kanina, 6 km from Vlora.

For the map, click here.

Kruja Castle

The castle of Kruja is located in central Albania on an impressive rocky peak, 557 meters above sea level. Only 30 minutes away from the national airport, the castle is one of Albania’s most visited tourist sites and one of the best castles in Albania. It is known for the remarkable resistance of the Albanians led by Scanderbeg against the Ottomans, in the 15th century.

After the fall of Constantinople in 1453, the castle of Kruja became the most important stronghold in the war of the West against Ottoman expansion.

Wondering what else to see in Kruja? Click here.

Under Scanderbeg’s leadership, the fortress endured three consecutive sieges. From 1450 to 1469 until it fell under Ottoman control in 1478. Even nowadays, the city has retained its medieval flavor. An old bazaar and a walking street going through direct the visitors inside the walls of the castle.

Within the complex, visitors can observe not only the old ruins of the original castle but also walk along the corridors of the historical museum, dedicated to the figure of Scanderbeg. As well, enter inside the premises of ethnographic museum where 18th-century housing traditions of the Albanians can be experienced.

How to get there

There are many buses to Kruje from Tirana. The town is easily accessible by a direct bus from Tirana. This is because it takes approximately 45 minutes. It costs 100 ALL each way. And it departs from the bus station North Stacioni Autobusave Zona e Veriut.

Just 15 minutes of walking from Skanderberg Square. Current bus departure times from Tirana are 10:00, 11:00, 13:00, 16:00, 17:00, 18:00. From Shkodër and Durrës take a bus or furgon to “Fushë Kruje”. It is directly at the motorway to Tirana. Then from there is a local bus every 15 minutes to Kruje.

For the map, click here.

Book a tour in Kruja to see this castle

Rozafa Castle

It lays on a rocky hill on the west side of Shkodra city. The city has three rivers, Buna, Drini and Kiri. Rozafa is one of the most important and best castles in Albania It serves as the main tourism object in the city of Shkodra. The castle has an Illyrian origin. Also, the historian Tit Livi mentioned it as the “the strongest country of Labeati” (Illyrian people in the front of Shkodra river).  Furthermore, the Illyrian Queen Teuta used it as the base of her wars against Rome.

How the castle got its name?

The name Rozafa comes up in the middle ages. It is based on the legend about the so-called “keeping the given word”. The legend tells about three brothers who would build up the castle walls during the day and the walls were destroyed at night. Thus, they had to immure the youngest brother’s wife, named Rozafa.

At the entrance of the castle, there are the Rozafa basso-relievo and the limy-stone water. It flows in the main entrance and represents the breast milk of Rozafa. According to the legend the breast was left outside in order to feed her baby child. The castle shape later was given by Balshaj feudal family. Today, most of the castle’s rests belong to the Venetians period. Anyhow, we do see also sings of ottoman occupation (Century XVI-XVII) and Bushatllinjve (Century XVIII-XIX).

Rozafa Castle with Private Guide.

Despite the strong resistance, Rozafa castle was occupied by Ottomans in 1479. Other objects, inside the castle, are water cisterns. They date back to the XV century. There you can also find the cathedral of the XVII century. But during the Ottoman occupation, they turned it into a mosque. Also inside the castle, there is the Rozafa Museum. It explains all the periods that the castle had to pass through.

For the map, click here.

Book our tour of Rozafa Castle

Butrint (Three Castles)

This place, Butrint is a preserved archaeological site that lays in Albania’s most southern coastal area. It is one of the most beautiful sites in Europe. There, the archaeological treasures combine beautiful environmental landscapes. Human activity has been recorded in this area since the VIII century B.C.E. However, there are myths according to which Trojans were the first ones to create the settlement.

The embryonic part of Burtint stands on marshy land. It resembles a subtropical island that is, in fact, a small peninsula part of a larger land strip. A narrow water canal separates the ancient city from the southern lands. At the same time, it connects the Ionian Sea with the inner lagoon. This whole area represents a collection of different types of cultural heritage sites that belong to different eras.

More about The National Park of Butrint.

Specifically, during the Venetian control from 1386 until 1797, additional defensive projects were conducted. These include a rectangular well-preserved medieval castle, standing on the ancient acropolis. As well as a triangular strategic castle. It is built on the southern side of the canal, during the XV-XVI century. The former castle was apparently mostly used for commercial and social activity.

Whereas the latest was clearly built to control both sides of the canal as part of the measures to deal with the Ottoman threat. You can see a third castle, the castle of Ali Pasha, on a tiny island further west, where the canal joins the sea. This square-shaped castle with a tower on each corner perfectly reflects the transition of Butrint from Venetian control into Ottoman rule.

Best time to visit

If you’re visiting during the summer, it can be very hot too. If you can, we’d really recommend visiting either early in the morning or later in the afternoon when things have quietened down.

How to get there

In Ksamil, a small seaside town 4km from Butrint, you may catch the bus from any of the three little squares that are by the main road. Probably there are no signs for the bus stop. The buses stop, only on request. Click here for more.

For the map, click here.

Book our Butrint Tour from Saranda in a click.

Lezha Castle

When mentioning Lezha one should mention it’s a beautiful castle. The walls distinctive architecture of the castle is covered in rich greenery and is also considered one of the best castles in Albania. Even though you will be able to see the encircling walls of the castle, the walls have been restored recently.

As the castle has been rebuilt over and over since year III-BC, you will still be able to see the Ottoman renovation that is in contrast with the Illyrian and Roman way of building. This castle is regarded as the biggest in Central Albania, built in Illyrian, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman architecture.

Where it is set?

It lays on the top of the hill of 186 m high in the east part of the city. The origin of the castle is Illyrian. In 1440 the castle was subject to reconstructions by Venetians, and in 1522, after the Ottoman occupation it is reconstructed also by them. Here you can find vestiges of Illyrians, Romans, Byzantines, and ottomans.

Above all, the most interesting objects to visit are ottomans construction rubbles inside the castle, mosque, and the tower in the south-east wall with roman arch and Illyrian tower in the south wall of the castle.  Lezha Castle is a cultural monument. You can also see the beautiful landscape of Lezha country and the Adriatic Sea from there.

Best time to visit Lezha

You can visit Lezha’s Castle all year round. But if you want a sightseeing around the place, it’s better you visit in springtime and summertime.

This is how to get there.

For the map, click here.

Himara Castle

It is impossible to fully know the southern village of Himara without visiting the place where its memory is: the Himara Castle. Beautifully surrounded by the Ceraunian Mountains in the north and the spectacular Ionian Sea in the south, the castle offers a rare journey into Albanian history and breathtaking nature.

In antiquity, the city was known by the name of Chimera. Its fortification began during the 8th century B.C. and, it is restored various times but it’s most significant reconstruction occurred during the 6th century, A.D., under the rule of Justinian, emperor of the Byzantine Empire.

With the castle becoming the center of the Bishopric of Himara during the 8th century, many churches were built inside and outside of it; some of them are still standing and well worth seeing! The most famous one among them is the Episcopal Church (Kisha e Episkopisë), displaying a beautiful sculpture of the Albanian symbol of the two-headed eagle on one of its gates.

What to do in Himara?

Take a day trip to Gjipe beach

Set in a remote pocket of bushland with deliciously blue seas, a series of caves and the towering ochre cliffs of the Gjipe Canyon leading directly off the pebbled shore, it’s not hard to see why tourist consider Gjipe Beach as one of Albania’s best.

Away from the summer crowds of the country’s far south, it’s a simply beautiful spot to while away the day. Lose hours drifting between the aqua sea and pebbled shore, and when the searing midday sun becomes a little too much, escape to the cool shadows of the canyon where spiky trees sway overhead and the promise of adventure draws you in.

Spend the day sprawled out on Himara’s main beaches

The pebbly shores of Spile Beach, Himara’s main town beach, make a lovely place to flop down on the beach and relax, particularly in the morning and afternoon when the crowds are yet to rise or have already begun to disperse.

You’ll quickly notice the vast number of colorful and neatly tied up umbrellas poking out across the shoreline, and while it may be tempting to grab some shelter beneath one, these actually belong to fellow beachgoers who are saving their spot for the duration of their beach vacation.

Just a 20-minute walk through the forest north of Himara, you’ll emerge at Livadhi Beach which is another favorite in the area. It’s a little livelier here than Himara with plenty of beach bars and chairs for rent, as well as a perfect vantage point for sunset at the right time of year.

Get lost in the rambling alleyways of Himara

On the hilltop above town, Himara Village is a magical snapshot of traditional Albanian life. A curious web of twisting cobbled laneways that weaves through a tight cluster of timeworn homes beneath a canopy of grapevines. It is certainly worth a visit, even if just for an hour or so. Atop the hill, you’ll find the ruins of Himara Castle which offers beautiful views over the leafy surrounds and out towards Livadhi Beach. However, it’s a steep 3km walk uphill from Himara along the road or 2.5km from Livadhi Beach.

Discover the hidden cove of Filikuri beach

Just 2.5km south of Himara lays Filikuri Beach – a perfect spot for those seeking a more secluded beach hideaway. Cliffs cover Filikuri and it has a rather rocky shore so it is best if you visit it by boat or kayak.

Best time to visit

During the summertime.

For the map, click here.

Berat Castle

Berati Castle, located in one of the three UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Albania, is one of the most visited tourist attractions in the country and also one of the best castles in Albania. The number of visitors, especially international tourists has been increasing lately. Berat Castle or as people call it “Kalaja”, is located on the right side of Osumi River and it is home to the ancient city of Antipatrea, which dates back to the seventh-fifth centuries B.C.

According to the data by DRKK Berat, Antipatrea is one of the most beautiful and important sites in Albania and a large number of visitors that confirm this fact. The castle of Berat has through different historical stages such as the Illyrian, Byzantine, the feudal principalities and the Ottoman invasion periods. A special fact about the castle is that it has 24 towers.

What to do in Berat?

Hiking to the top of Tomorri Mountain is fun. But rafting in Osumi River is more fun. If you are about cultural tourism you can visit the Onufri Museum. It is located in the Church of the Dormition of Saint Mary in the Castle. The artworks that date back to the 14th – 20th centuries belong to Albanian master iconographers Onufri, Nikolla son of Onufri, David Selenica, Kostandin Shpataraku, Cetiret, Onufer Qiprioti, and many other anonymous painters.

Best time to visit

Berati is a year-round destination.

How to get there

Follow Tirana-Lushnja-Berat itinerary

For the map, click here.

Scanderbeg Castle at Cape of Rodon

The Cape of Rodon lays on the Adriatic Sea, north of Durrës in Albania. The rocky cape offers a wonderful landscape filled with small beaches and surrounded by wild vegetation. The most interesting site along the cape is the Castle of Scanderbeg, Albania’s national hero that led the Albanian army against the Ottomans from 1443-1468.  In addition, the cape and its castle offer a wonderful landscape filled with small beaches and surrounded by wild vegetation. Scanderbeg started to build this castle during 1451-1452.

Later, in 1463 construction masters from the Republic of Ragusa (Dubrovnik) were brought in the castle to make other complementary works, they strengthened its defense and thus finished its construction. According to local tales, Scanderbeg used this castle as his private marital residence in times between battling campaigns. The relatively small size of the structure supports this claim.

Why he built it

He built it also to have his own access into the sea and to be closer to the members of the Aragon family who ruled southern Italy and were his allies. After Scanderbeg’s rule, the castle fell in 1500 under Venetian control. Soon after, the Ottomans invaded it but they abandoned it for centuries. Recently the tourists are really curious about this castle.

More about Cape of Rodon.

What to do at Cape of Rodon?

Are you looking for a location for your wedding photo session? The cape is a picturesque landscape and it can be an amazing wedding photo location. There are always couples shooting their photo sessions. You can also visit Saint Ndou church, laying on the beach. It is an important monument that international tourists pay a visit. It is also a pilgrimage site, where believers gather every June 13. If you are a fan of outdoor adventure, the road in the hilly countryside is great for biking and off-road tours. Meanwhile, the small beach by the church is perfect for camping.

Best time to visit

April-October

How to get there

Follow Tirana-Maminas-Lalzit Bay- Drac-Shetaj itinerary.

For the map, click here.

Tirana Fortress

They call it also as The Fortress of Justinian. Its history dates back before 1300 and is a remnant from the Byzantine-era. The fortress is the place where the main east-west and north-south roads crossed and formed the heart of Tirana. The current fortification has three known towers and inside the fortified walls of the former fortress.

Best of all, there are many buildings that can be visited, including restaurants, hotels, and cultural institutions. About all that is left from the fortress above ground is a 6-meter (20 ft) high Ottoman-era wall.

The recently uncovered wall foundations are incorporated into the pedestrian Murat Toptani Street, while a mosaic commemorating the 100th Anniversary of Albania’s Independence is unveiled near the Albanian Parliament. The Castle of Tirana was declared a monument of culture of the first category on 10 June 1973 and the new tracks of walls of Tirana Castle were declared a cultural monument on 15 May 2008.

Best time to visit

The best times of the year to visit Tirana are spring and autumn. Generally speaking, the town has warm temperatures during the summer.

For the map, click here.

Borsh Castle

The Borsh Castle is located on the hill of the village of Borsh, about 500 m above sea level. The castle dates way back to the 3rd – 4th centuries, B.C. In the middle ages, it was known as the Sopot Castle. Furthermore, it was mentioned as early as 1192 in the memoirs of Anna Komnenos, daughter of Byzantine emperor, Alexios I Komnenos. During Ali Pasha’s rule, in the 18th century, a mosque was added to the castle which is well-preserved to this day, missing only a minaret. What makes this one of the best castles in Albania is its setting and antiquity.

Best time to visit

The very best time to go is from June to August. Still good is in March and from May to September.

Location: 3 km northwest of Borsh.

Book a hiking trip to Borsh here.

How to get there.

For the map, click here.

Gjirokastra Castle

“Gjirokastra, in the Drinos river valley in southern Albania, features a series of outstanding two-story houses dating from the 17th century. The town also retains a bazaar, an 18th-century mosque and two churches of the same period,” UNESCO says in its description about the city.

Yet, the castle is the most impressive building that a first time visitor may see not only in Gjirokastra but in the entire country. People also know it as the city of Argjiro. She was the sister of the city lord.

According to the legend, when the Ottoman troops surrounded the city, the princess together with her son jumped from the castle walls. This is a popular explanation of the city’s name and this makes this castle one of the best castles in Albania. However, historians say that the name of Gjirokastra dates back to earlier centuries. Some linguists say that it is related to the typical gray color of the city. The castle had a military function. It was during the Middle Ages that the city expanded further the castle walls.

Gjirokastra, full-day tour.

The city flourished during the period of Ali Pasha Tepelena, who invested in major infrastructural works such as the aqueduct of Gjirokastra. It is a 12km long water supply structure that was destroyed during the 30s. The aqueduct is depicted in the paintings of Edward Lear. The city developed an important cultural and economic area.

What to do in Gjirokastra?

The historic center of Gjirokastra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, so it’s worth a detailed exploration. You can visit the bazaar, the Ethnographic Museum, Skenduli House, Zekati House, the house of the writer Ismail Kadare and the house of former Communist dictator Enver Hoxha. Also, two important ancient sites you should not miss, near Girokastra are Antigonea and Hadrianopolis.

Best time to visit

In order to understand why people call it the grey city, you must visit Gjirokastra on a rainy/foggy day. However, you can enjoy the city at any time of the year. The locals organize several festivals and fairs, especially during the April-October period.

How to get there? Follow Tirana-Fier-Levan-Tepelena-Gjirokastra or Saranda-Muzina Pass-Gjirokastra itineraries.

For the map, click here.

Visit Gjirokastra

Petrela Castle

When you take the southeastern route from the capital towards the rural areas, you can see the Petrela. Although it stands on a steep 400 meters high rock, you can easily visit the castle since a rural road takes the visitor just a few meters below its walls.

Then, a short walk on a path uphill leads into the only entrance of one of the best castles in Albania. This stronghold was built around V-VI century C.E., during the Byzantine rule to protect this part of the Empire against Norman invasions.

It later fell under the rule of a local Albanian feudal family, a member of which married Scanderbeg’s sister. After her husband was killed in combat, Scanderbeg’s sister practically inherited this fortress. At that time, the castle represented a precious possession since it controlled the trading routes through Central Albanian that connected Venetian merchants with the Ottoman market. Also, it was a comfortable residence for the ones who stayed within its premises.

Best time to visit

Saturday and Sunday are the days when Petrela waits and conveys a lot of visitors.

For the map, click here.

Preza Castle

It lays above the village with the same name, in the hill’s crest. This is a small castle and one of the best castles in Albania that started to be constructed at the beginning of the XIV century and was finished at the beginning of the XV century from the feudal family of the region, Topiajve. Besides, the castle is a ‘culture monument’. In her corners, the castle has four roundly towers. The watching dates from 1800 – 1850.

Tourists love it for its beautiful position that sees over the Tirana field. Also in front of the tower, you will find the Kruja Castle. This Castle lays by the International Airport of “Nene Tereza“ in Rinas. Also, in the castle are restaurants and service bars where you can rest and have a good time.

For the map, click here.

Lëkursi Castle

If you visit Saranda, you should definitely make a stop at Lëkursi Castle. This fortress dates back to the 16th century and has the shape of a square with two round towers sitting diagonally to one another. Its strategic position on a hill of about 300 meters in height as well as its panoramic views of Saranda, the Butrint Lagoon and even the island of Corfu, make this destination a tourist favorite.

Inside the fortress, you will find one of the best-known bars and restaurants in Saranda which also offers the most beautiful view of the sunset. The view from the castle makes this castle to be part of the list of the best castles in Albania.

Best time to visit

Any time of the year.

How to get there

By sea from Corfu Island. Also, by road: take a bus or van from Tirana. By car: follow Tirana-Fier-Levan-Tepelena-Gjirokastra- Muzina Pass-Saranda or Tirana-Fier-Vlora-Llogara Pass- Saranda

For the map, click here.

Elbasan Castle

The city of Elbasan is located in the very center of Albania, just 40 km south of the capital. Its castle is one of the largest castles in Europe laying entirely on flat ground. However, at its zenith, the castle had 26 towers raised in an equal distance among each other all the way across the wall that reached an impressive height of 9 meters. When all its four straight walls surrounded the place once, they covered a massive area of 107,184 square meters.

The Ottoman Sultan Mehmet II (the Conqueror) established the site in its full form as an army garrison during the XV century. However, the origin of the site dates back to the III century C.E., when the Romans constructed it as a legionary fortress that controlled the main route of this area.

Nowadays, all the southern parts of the wall are still in very good condition. Only a few towers are now still visible and at the one on the southwestern corner, you can find the construction elements from the Roman and Byzantine times.

The castle of Elbasan is on the list of the best castles in Albania because it still protects the old-city of Elbasan from a foreign attack.

Best time to visit

The best time to visit Elbasan in Albania is from April until October when you will have a pleasant till hot temperature and limited rainfall.

Other cultural sites in Elbasan.

How to get there.

For the map, click here.

Durrës Castle

Durrës Castle is a 5th-century castle. The castle was built by the Emperor of the Byzantine Empire Anastasius I. At that time, Anastasius made the city one of the most fortified cities on the Adriatic. Repairs to the walls have been carried out since the devastating earthquake of 1273.

Currently, medieval walls, nearly 15 feet (4.6 meters) in height and the three entrances of some of the fortification towers are preserved in nearly one-third of the initial length of the city castle walls. The castle was reinforced with several guard towers by the Republic of Venice and during the occupation of Albania by the Ottoman Empire, the wall was reinforced. The castle is now a popular Albanian tourist attraction in Durrës.

Why is Durres Castle one of the best castles in Albania? Because it has withstood time and natural disasters.

Things to do in Durres.

Best time to visit.

You can bet this city really comes to life in summer and it’s undeniably the best time to visit. But it’s not that you can’t visit it in other seasons. In fact, you totally can.

How to get there.

For the map, click here.

Triangular Castle of Vivari

While visiting the famous Butrint Archaeological site, don’t forget to stop at the Triangular Castle of Vivari, located at the front entrance of Butrint.

Round towers surround the castle’s famous triangular shape, in all corners of the castle. Thought to have been built during the 13th century, this castle has been reconstructed various times in the following centuries.

For the map, click here.

Bashtova Castle

Bashtova Castle lays in an open field and a picturesque site in the western plain of Albania and is one of the best castles in Albania. It is a round-shaped form, so it represents a typical XIV Venetian castle, amidst a green area. The Venetians used this stronghold as a defensive location, part of the strategy of protecting Venetian seaports along the Adriatic.

More about Bashtova Castle.

What to do in Bashtova

Explore the picturesque landscape and visit local beaches and Divjaka Karavasta National Park.

Best time to visit

Choose the warm months of the year as the road and field surrounding the castle are flooded during the rainy season.

How to get there.

Follow Tirana-Kavaja-Gose-Vila itinerary.

For the map, click here.