Durrës is Albania’s oldest city and its main port, sitting on the Adriatic coast about 40 minutes west of Tirana. Founded around 627 BC as the ancient Greek and later Roman city of Epidamnos, then Dyrrachium, it holds one of the largest Roman amphitheatres in the Balkans, a long sandy beach, and more than 2,600 years of continuous history. For most visitors it is either the first stop off the ferry from Italy or an easy day trip from the capital.
This guide covers what to see, the beaches, the history, the food, and how to fit Durrës into an Albania trip.
Why Visit Durrës?
Durrës offers a rare combination: a working Adriatic beach resort layered directly on top of a major ancient city. You can walk from a Roman amphitheatre to Byzantine walls to a seafront promenade in an afternoon. It is the most accessible slice of Albanian history and coast in one place, and its closeness to Tirana makes it one of the easiest additions to any itinerary. For the wider picture of where it ranks among the country’s destinations, see our guide to the vendet më të mira për t'u vizituar në Shqipëri.
Një histori e shkurtër
Founded in 627 BC as Epidamnos, the city became the Roman Dyrrachium and the western starting point of the Via Egnatia, the great road that linked the Adriatic to Byzantium. It passed through Byzantine, Venetian and Ottoman hands, each of which left walls, towers and street plans still visible today. Durrës was briefly the capital of Albania in 1914, in the early years of independence, before the seat moved to Tirana. For that period see our guide to Pavarësia e Shqipërisë.
Top Things to Do in Durrës
The Roman Amphitheatre
Built in the 2nd century AD, the amphitheatre once held around 20,000 spectators and is among the largest in the Balkans. It sits right in the city center, partly built over by later houses, which makes walking through it feel like stepping between eras.
The Byzantine Walls and Venetian Tower
Sections of the old defensive walls survive, anchored by a round Venetian tower that now houses a cafe and bar with sea views.
The Archaeological Museum
Albania’s largest archaeological museum sits on the waterfront and holds finds from the Greek, Roman and Byzantine city, including the famous Beauty of Durrës mosaic.
The Seafront Promenade
The palm lined promenade is where the city walks in the evening, lined with cafes and seafood restaurants.
Beaches in Durrës
Durrës has the longest beach in Albania, a wide arc of sand stretching south through the Currila and Golem districts. The water is shallow and warm, which makes it popular with families, and the resort strip has the country’s densest concentration of beach hotels. The sand and busy boardwalk are a different experience from the dramatic coves of the south. If you want turquoise water and pebble coves, compare the Riviera Shqiptare dhe Ksamil further down the coast.
Food in Durrës
As a port, Durrës is a seafood city. Grilled sea bass and bream, fried small fish, mussels from the nearby lagoons and octopus salad are all local staples, usually served with a cold glass of white and a view of the water. Inland dishes from traditional Albanian cuisine are everywhere too.
How to Get to Durrës
- Nga Tirana: about 40 minutes by car, or frequent buses and furgons (shared vans) from the capital.
- From Tirana Airport: around 45 minutes by car.
- By ferry: Durrës is Albania’s main passenger port, with regular ferries from Bari and other Italian ports.
For planning your arrival, see our Udhëzues udhëtimi për në Tiranë.
Ku të qëndrosh
The beach strip south of the center has the widest range of hotels, from family run guesthouses to larger resorts. The city center is better if you want history and restaurants over sand. See our picks in hotelet më të mira në Shqipëri.
Is Durrës Safe?
Durrës is generally safe for visitors, with the usual care around crowded beaches and busy roads. For a country wide overview see A është e sigurt për të vizituar Shqipërinë?.
Durrës Through 2,600 Years
| Periudhë | Çfarë ndodhi |
|---|---|
| 627 BC | Greek colonists from Corfu and Corinth found Epidamnos on Illyrian land; a dispute over the city helps spark the Peloponnesian War in 431 BC |
| 229 BC onward | Rome takes the city, renames it Dyrrachium, and makes it the start of the Via Egnatia, the road to Thessalonica and Constantinople |
| 48 BC | Caesar and Pompey fight the Battle of Dyrrachium here during the Roman civil war |
| 2nd century AD | The amphitheatre is built, the largest in the Balkans, holding about 15,000 to 20,000 spectators |
| 1081 | The Normans under Robert Guiscard defeat the Byzantines outside the walls; the city changes hands repeatedly through the Middle Ages |
| 1392 to 1501 | Venice holds Durazzo until the Ottoman conquest |
| 1914 | Capital of the short-lived Principality of Albania under Prince Wilhelm of Wied |
| 1920 | Tirana replaces Durrës as capital |
| 1991 | Tens of thousands crowd the port to board ships for Italy as communism collapses |
Durrës at a Glance
| Artikull | Detajet |
|---|---|
| Ku | On the Adriatic 35 kilometers west of Tirana, about 45 minutes by road; the closest beach city to the capital and airport |
| Port | Albania’s largest, with daily ferries to Bari and Ancona in Italy |
| The amphitheatre | Discovered in 1966 under houses in the old town; partly excavated, with a Byzantine chapel of mosaics inside |
| Other sights | The Venetian tower and Byzantine walls, the Roman forum and baths, the Archaeological Museum on the seafront, and the royal villa of King Zog on the hill |
| Plazh | A long sandy strip running south through Golem and Mali i Robit, lined with hotels; the sand and shallow water suit families |
| Best time | May, June and September for the beach without the crowds; the amphitheatre and museum in any month |
One Day in Durrës
Start at the amphitheatre in the old town before the heat, then walk the Byzantine walls to the Venetian tower and along the seafront to the Archaeological Museum, whose collection covers the Greek and Roman city. Lunch in the fish restaurants by the harbor. In the afternoon, either the beach south of the center or the climb to King Zog’s villa for the view over the bay. Durrës is the easiest excursion from Tirana and the natural first stop for anyone arriving by ferry; from here the coast road runs south to Vlorë and the Riviera, and the highway east to the capital. See our guides to Tiranë, i/e/të Riviera Shqiptare dhe vendet më të mira në Shqipëri, and for the Roman road that began here, fiset ilire.
The Durrës Coast Beach by Beach
| Plazh | Ku | Personazhi |
|---|---|---|
| Durrës city beach | South of the port, along the promenade | Urban, busy, lined with hotels and restaurants; the water is cleanest away from the port |
| Golem | 10 kilometers south | The main resort strip: large hotels, sunbeds, families from Tirana and Kosovo |
| Mali i Robit and Qerret | South of Golem | Quieter hotels backed by pine woods |
| Shkëmbi i Kavajës | The rocky headland at the south end of the bay | Small coves and clearer water |
| Lalëz Bay | North of the city, past Cape Rodon | Newer resort villages and a long, less crowded beach |
| Cape Rodon | The headland at the north end | Skanderbeg’s ruined castle, a church and wild beaches reached on foot |
Ferries to Italy
Durrës is Albania’s gateway to Italy, and the ferries are the reason many Albanian Americans with family in both countries pass through. Overnight boats run daily to Bari, taking about nine hours, and several times a week to Ancona, taking most of a day; both carry cars and both fill in August, when the Italian diaspora comes home. The terminal is in the center, a short walk from the amphitheatre, which makes a morning in the old town a natural way to spend the hours before an evening sailing. Tickets are sold online and at the port, and a cabin is worth the extra cost on the Bari crossing. From Bari, trains reach Rome in four hours, which puts Durrës within a day of most of Italy. For the rest of the coast, see the Udhëzues për Rivierën Shqiptare dhe vendet më të mira në Shqipëri. For routes and other crossings, see our guide to ferries from Durrës to Italy.
Pyetje të shpeshta
Is Durrës worth visiting?
Yes, especially if you want history and beach in one place near the capital. Its Roman amphitheatre and long sandy coast make it an easy and rewarding stop.
How far is Durrës from Tirana?
About 33 km, or 40 minutes by car, making it a simple day trip or first stop.
Is Durrës beach nice?
It is the longest beach in Albania: wide, sandy and shallow, ideal for families. For clear turquoise coves, the southern Riviera is more scenic.
How many days do you need in Durrës?
One day covers the main sights. Add a second if you want to relax on the beach.
Eksploro Më Shumë nga Shqipëria
Continue with our Udhëzues udhëtimesh për qytetet shqiptare, or head south to Sarandë dhe Riviera Shqiptare.
Burimet
- Durrës (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
- Amphitheatre of Durrës (Wikipedia)
- Agjencia Kombëtare e Turizmit e Shqipërisë
- Wikipedia: Durrës
- Wikipedia: Durrës Amphitheatre
Autor: Dardanë Halimi
Dardanë Halimi është një shkrimtare dhe profesioniste e komunikimit me titull magjistër në Shkrim, Retorikë dhe Komunikim Teknik nga Universiteti James Madison. Puna e saj përqendrohet në tregimin e historive, përmbajtjen digjitale, arsimin e lartë dhe komunikimin strategjik, me përvojë në shkrimin për organizata akademike, jofitimprurëse dhe marketingu si në Shtetet e Bashkuara ashtu edhe në Kosovë.
