What To Do in Durrës, Albania!

Top Things To Do in Durrës, Albania:

Durrës is a lovely sea town/ city very close to the capital. Whether you’re staying just for some days on your Albanian road trip/ tour, a day trip from Tirana to get a taste of the sea, or using this as your home base for awhile, Durrës is a charming and perfect escape! It is seaside, easily accessible, a city, but also a small sea town feel.

How to get to Durrës: If you are coming from Italy, there is a ferry from Bari, Italy. It’ll be about 8-9 hours on a ferry and directly to the port of Durrës! If you are flying, fly into the capital, Tirana. From Tirana, the simplest way is by car. You can get a taxi for about 15-20 EURO one way. It is always negotiable. jaja! If you are going around Albania, I would encourage you to rent a car! With a car, you have the freedom to make it anywhere and everywhere. The only form of public transport here is the bus. You can take the bus from the Tirana bus station to the Durrës bus station for 150 LEK, about 1 EURO. Super cheap! You can find a bus from the centre of Tirana to the bus station or take a taxi to the bus station for about 8 EUROS from the centre or Tirana to the Tirana bus station. Parking is free anywhere on the streets in Durrës! We support that.

A couple helpful tips and reminders: This is a mostly cash country. In the capital and some places in Durrës, you can pay by card, but most places are only cash! Get some LEK out or even Euros. Most places will take Euros. Tipping is accepted and appreciated, but not mandatory! But I always like to tip some and would encourage people to do the same. Also, Albania has some of the kindest people I have met, but I do recommend always asking the price and being clear up front. Unfortunately, I have been ripped off more than I would like. Other things are that you need to drink bottled water, unless you’re in the fresh mountains. Buy some produce. I have had some of the most luscious tomatoes and other fruits and vegetable in this country. Also there is Airbnb here, but I mostly do all my little trip accommodations through booking.com or messaging. It is very normal and encouraged to send a WhatsApp, call or even an instagram message to get information or to make a reservation here!

Okay so let’s start with a big part of the Albanian culture… Coffee!!

First off, coffee/ breakfast!!!

Albania has a massive coffee culture and has a cafe or restaurant anywhere you look! The culture to sit and share a coffee with your friends is crucial here. The best coffee spots are local chains that have a variety of options:

-Mulliri Vjetër: This is my favorite and perfect to sit here with a coffee and a pastry right on the boulevard. They have good coffee, a variety of options and even a soy milk option for those who don’t do regular milk!

-The Best Bryek in Town: this is located right by Mulliri and the amphitheater. Bryek is a traditional savoury pastry in the Balkans and I am passionate that the byrek here is the BEST in all of Albania! All of Buljia’s bryek are legendary but my favorite is the tomato/ onion one and the classic cheese! Another crowd favorite is the spinach! She just recently got a menu in English, so it is very international these days! It is just a stand , so you can eat your bryek on the go or at the little counter!! I recommend that you come here every morning that you’re staying in Durrës. It is only 30 cents per bryek!!! An absolute steal!!

-Sophie Caffe: located past the main square of the mosque. This is another favorite cafe of mine, with good ambiance and a killer cappuccino!! 

-Flair: If you’re going to enjoy a coffee over here at Sophie Caffe, I recommend that you pair it with breakfast from this fabulous little cafe just around the corner! They have amazing sandwiches and savoury and sweet croissants! I love the Nutella croissant and the ham and cheese croissant! Many locals go here. It is a crucial spot for a simple, delicious and cheap breakfast!

-Mema House: Mema house is one of my favorite restaurants in Durrës and I usually go here for lunch or dinner, but if you’re looking for a more hearty breakfast with eggs, toast and maybe some meat or a vegetarian option… Mema house is the place!! Such a kind staff and a traditional ambiance!

Lunch/ Dinner Spots:

-Spaghetteria Luli: This hole in the wall pasta place will knock your socks off! The best Italian in Durrës. Luli is the lady who makes it all happen and her and her family lived in Italia for years and know how to change your world with simple and classic pastas. She has different pastas with different sauces, lasagna and some other options! It is not a set menu. Great prices and the most fabulous food. They only stay open until about 18:00h! So I suggest going for lunch and my favorite thing it the truffle/ mushroom ravioli.

-Pastarella: My overall favorite restaurant. It feels fancy, but reasonable! The best, kindest and most attentive staff! I would write home about many of the seafood pastas, the fish soup, the greek salad, the vegetarian croquettes, the mussels and so much more!! If you come to Albania, you have to try raki (it is a classic alcohol drink that the people slowly sip here. It is very strong!!! Jaja and potent. There is a sweeter one that is a honey raki and they have a really good one here). This is the best dining experience in Durrës for good prices too! If you can only go to one place, I would suggest here! You can see the sea, have sea food or other options. It is located on the back corner of the building and you have to take the elevator up.

-Mema House: As mentioned before, I love this place for dinner! They have a variety of traditional Albanian dishes, seafood, pasta and more! I think the lasagna here is the best in town! Anything I have ordered here, I would write home about! You cannot go wrong eating here.

-2 Kitarat Aromë Deti: This is right on the sea, with great ambiance and great seafood options! They have live music starting at 20:00h. This paired with the stringed lights and the sun setting is just lovely and magical! Also really kind staff!

-Porti Gjermanit: This is a hole in the wall and a place for  the locals and fisherman. It is straight from the fisherman to the kitchen and I just love it. They don’t have a huge menu. Different fish and seafood and some salads!! If you want a simple and tasty experience, maybe with some raki, this is your place!!

-Meison: Another place that I love. Great ambiance, amazing menu and all indoor seating! I judge a place by their fish soup these days and it passed my fish soup test!! 

-Charlie Max: A bit far, but great outdoor ambiance! Seafood and pasta menu! If you are wanting a nice dinner ambiance after being at the beach on this side of town, this is your place!

-Pizza King: Quick and tasty pizza that you can eat there or get for delivery which is nice sometimes!

Drinks/ Dessert:

-Sunset Bar: It’s obviously the best to come here at sunset, hints the name! Such a low key vibe, right on the sea! I like to come here for drinks, but they also have the tasty snack-y food!

-Portiku Wine Bar: The ambiance of a lifetime— surrounded by wine and you can see parts of the byzantine wall, but it feels kind of like a cave! They have wines from all over the world and sooo tasty and reasonably prices. I also love to get a charcuterie board here! YUM.

-Epidamn Restaurant & Garden: When it is warm, it is nice to enjoy a drink at the outdoor tables, but they also have a vibe-y inside with a garden part that is nice to come for a drink! They also have good snack food and sushi!

-Fly Bar: It has been under construction lately, but hopefully that’ll end soon! This has a great ambiance and view of Durrës!! I like to come here for a drink and some appetisers.

-Cela Gelateria: Located on the boardwalk and with great gelato! Salty pistachio and the Cela are the greatest flavours! Either sit down or take a walk on the boardwalk with a gelato in hand! To me walking around with a gelato is the greatest luxury. 

-Pelikan: With a newer location near Portiku, they have a variety of yummy desserts!!

-Bonjour:Cute little turquoise ice cream shop on the boulevard past the plaza!! 

For me eating and drinking through Durrës are the best things to do.— Such yummy foods for such good prices! I am someone who loves a good ambiance and a hole in the wall situation too! I mainly always look for good food, kind and fair staff and good prices!!

What to do in Durrës (besides eating jaja!):

-Walk the boulevard: Full of shops and cafes, it is nice to walk down it! You will run into the Mosque and I love hearing the call to prayer! Near sunset, many people are out and in the plaza! Continue past the plaza and continue down the boulevard for more shops! My favorite souvenir shops are: Venezia Studio— with many artistic and locally made options. And Marigo Souvenirs And Gift Shop!!

-Fruit Market: There is a giant fruit market past the bus station (lol actually bus parking lot) and it is HUGE and beautiful with so many fruits and vegetables. I love seeing all the locals here. I think it is crucial to walk here because you get to see a different side of Durrës than the seaside! There’s more grit and hustle walking here and I feel like it gives you a little glimpse of life here in Albania for locals.

-Walk the Volga Around Sunset: You will see that everyone comes out to walk the boardwalk near and during sunset! I love walking, people watching, grabbing a gelato and experiencing the life here! You can even get your Polaroid picture taken! There is an older gentleman walking around with his polaroid! Snap a pic with him to always remember that moment. OR there is an artist that will do a drawing of you, which is fun! There are some stairs at the end of the Volga that is nice to sit and have drink while enjoying the sea!

-Lay by the Beach: I am going to be honest and I hate saying it!! But the water in Durrës, is not the best water to swim in comparison to the turquoise water of the south of Albania. But nonetheless, coming to the beach and living the beach life is part of the charm of this city!! I love coming and soaking up the sun and having a beverage by the sea! I think the best place to go to the beach in Durrës is Plazhi Kallmit e Curilla.— Either take a car or bike here if you’re feeling lazier. If not, it’s quite a walk but it is nice to venture here through the backroads!

-Two Guitars Spa: This is a different location than the seaside venue. It comes before the other one! For 40 EURO you can get an hour massage, a Turkish bath scrub, some tasty tea and chill in the sauna, hot tub and heated stone beds for however long you desire! It is a luxurious and totally relaxing experience. Either pop into the location to make an appointment or send them a WhatsApp. I think this is CRUCIAL. They also have the best pedicures in town, if you want to make an appointment. The pedicures in Albania are not as inexpensive as the manicures. If you want the full gel pedicure it is 25 EURO and if you want the basic with regular polish, it is 15 EURO.

-The Beauty Room- This is where I get my manicures and the occasional hair wash and style. She does a fabulous job and has great prices! Find her on insta to make an appointment by insta or WhatsApp! Or pop in to make an appointment located right by Pastarella. She is a busy gal, so do try to make an appointment and treat yourself to a manicure!

-Rent a Paddle Boat: most places on the beach will have a paddle boat to rent!

-See the Amphitheater, Byzantine Wall, VenetianTower and the Byzantine Market.

-Kulla e Rojës: This is a great viewpoint of Durrës! I love that you can see the sea and the mountains from here. A 10 minute walk from the centre. It’s nice to sit up here for a bit and watch the sunset with a beer in hand!

-Archaeological Museum of Durrës.

These are all my favorite things I do and try to treat my guests to when they come visit Durrës. All these places I would recommend to anyone to have the absolute best experience you can have while being in Durrës! I do love this little city and hope you can maximise your experience to embrace it to the full. I am often reminded that it isn’t always about what or where you are doing things, but with the people you do it with! Whether you’re traveling with people or solo, most places I love here include me loving the people who run these places! I hope you not only love the city, the delicious foods, good prices, but also the people of Durrës!!!

Gezuar, Rruga e mbare dhe shume faleminderit!

Cheers, have a nice trip and thank you so much!!