Durres is the second largest city in Albania. It is located on the Adriatic coast and is a very popular tourist destination for a beach holiday in Europe. Every year, the number of tourists who decide to spend their holidays here is significantly increasing. And given the fact that the distance from the capital of Albania can be covered in just half an hour, the Albanians themselves prefer to spend the weekend here. What is the reason for this popularity, we will tell further in our travel guide.
How to get to Durres?
There is no own Airport in Durres, the nearest is located in the Albanian capital, Tirana. Tirana International Airport (Rinas International Airport) is the country’s largest and only international airport. It is here that flights from most capitals and major cities of European countries land. The distance from the airport to Durres is only about 30 minutes drive. To get to the resort, you do not need to visit the capital at all. Just take a taxi and head straight to Durres from the airport.
Things to do in Durres
The first, and perhaps most important, why tourists come to Durres is of course a beach holiday on the Adriatic. The beaches here are mostly pebble, but there are also sandy ones. They are perfect even for families with children as they have a gentle entrance to the sea. The beaches have all the necessary infrastructure: deck chairs, showers, cafes, etc.
If you want to add any activity to your vacation, then in addition to water and sports activities, you can go on a tour and visit local attractions, since there are a lot of them. Here are some of them:
- Roman amphitheater;
It is located right in the center of Durres and is open to visitors daily from Monday to Friday from 9 am to 4 pm.
- Antique Mosaic;
The mosaic depicts the head of a woman, her size is 5 by 3 meters, and her age is about the age of 9 centuries. Today you can see this mosaic at the National Archaeological Museum in Tirana.
- Fatih Mosque;
The mosque is about 500 years old; it is located on one of the main squares of the city.
- Roman baths;
Despite their very respectable age, the baths are perfectly preserved and even partially functioning. They are located near the Alexandria Theater.
- Roman Aqueduct;
Once it was a grandiose building that supplied the city with clean drinking water. Today, only a small part of it remains, but even this is enough to appreciate the principles of building the Roman Empire.
Hotels in Durres
Durres is a very small resort city on the shores of the Adriatic. But even in these conditions, finding a hotel here is not a problem. There are many options for accommodation, they all differ in comfort class, price and location. The only thing you have to do is book a hotel in advance, especially if your vacation takes place during the summer months.
