Albania · DAY TRIPS FROM DURRëS
This is the shortlist you would send a friend: 15 day trips from durrës worth the money, each with its price, its traveller verdict and the one thing to know before you commit.
Review of the $22.99 Tirana day tour to Durres, Berat, and Belsh Lake, with itinerary details, value advice, language notes, and practical tips.
“A great day out visiting Durres and Berat. Plenty of time in each place with a nice knowledgeable guide. Small group and air conditioned minibus.”
Review of the Gjirokastra and Ksamil day tour from Tirana, with practical advice on timing, beaches, costs, guides, and what to expect.
“A great trip. Antonio guided us throughout the trip and explained very eloquently. We visited Gjirokastra + Bazaar, and Monastery of Ardenica, and a stop at Vjosa River. He also briefed us on history and other noted places we saw along the way. We had also sometime on our own to explore. On his recommendation, I visited Skenduli House and Museum of Ethnography, and tried local cuisine, oshaf (fig dessert) is so good. Weather was great too!”
Review of Albania’s 12-hour day trip from Durrës or Golem to Saranda, Ksamil, Lekursi Castle, and the Blue Eye spring.
“Kristina was such an awesome guide! So friendly, warm, happy, she really made it a great day. We got to see everything that we planned to and I liked that we didn’t feel like we were being rushed to fit it all in. Long day of travel but it was definitely worth it !! The waters at blue eye and Ksamil were unreal :). Thanks so much!”
Review of the 14-hour Ksamil, Saranda, Blue Eye and Lekursi Castle tour from Durrës or Golem, with practical tips and honest value advice.
“Brilliant trip, we may not of had the weather, but we had Beni, such an amazing guide and nothing was too much trouble. Regular stops, lots of talks about the locations and mountains around us, even stopped for strawberry’s. Highly recommend Beni, such a nice guy and so caring about all his customers.”
Review of the Ohrid day tour from Tirana, Durres, and Golem, with border tips, itinerary details, transport advice, and honest value assessment.
“The tour was okay, but there’s definitely room for improvement. One major issue was the logistics - picking up each participant from their hotel significantly reduced the time we had to actually enjoy the destination. Although I got in the car around 7 a.m., we didn’t arrive in OhRead more”
Review of the private Ohrid day tour from Tirana, with Lake Ohrid views, historic sites, Saint Naum, a village stop, and practical tips.
“Excellent tour and wonderful day, everything went smoothly despite the wind and rain. Enrid was a great guide”
Review of the Tirana to Kosovo day trip, with Prizren, Prishtina, border tips, timing, guides, transport, and honest value advice.
“A fantastic day trip. Our lovely guide, Eno, was very knowledgeable, enthusiastic and generously modified our tour to take account of the very hot weather. The places we visited were very interesting and Eno was able to answer all our questions, giving us a great insight into the history and customs of his amazing country. Superb!”
Explore Pristina and Prizren from Tirana on a private Kosovo day tour with hotel pickup, local guides, major sights, and fees included.
“Daniel was a very safe driver (which you will need when going to Kosovo) and a very knowledgeable guide. He told us a lot about the complicated history of the region and was open to every question. We had a great day and a lot of fun with him and really enjoyed our short glimpse of Kosovo. Especially Prizren was such a charming place to visit and the lunch in Pristina was fantastic. Absolutely recommend!”
Taste Albanian wines, raki, local snacks, and enjoy a private lake boat ride on a half-day tour from Tirana or Durres.
“The driver picked us up from Tirana, but we waited for almost an hour because he blamed the traffic jam. I believe better planning could have avoided this delay. During the trip, he only talked about himself and his favorite cars instead of discussing the country and its history—or he could have simply been quiet. While driving, he constantly checked his phone and watched YouTube for music, which was very dangerous. Then, at the winery, he introduced us to an unprofessional guide who spoke for barely 10 minutes about the winery's history and production process. I expected more: a demonstration of wine tasting, how to appreciate different wine aromas, and…”
Ride an ATV from Durrës to secluded Kallmi Beach, with mountain tracks, sea views, clean water, and a strict driving license rule.
“Fantastic experience and easily the best activity in Durrës. The mountain route is challenging and not for the faint-hearted, so if you’re uneasy with dangerous roads, it’s best to ride as a passenger. A valid driving licence is required to operate the quad bikes. This is probably the best quad biking experience in true mountain conditions.”
Review the 12-hour Saranda, Ksamil, and Blue Eye tour from Tirana or Durrës, with beaches, castle views, transport, costs, and practical tips.
“Beaucoup d'heures de route pour peu de temps sur place, notamment deux heures à Ksamil où nous avons été déposés dans une crique excentrée entourée de club lounge privés avec musique a fond et eau pas limpide sans doute a cause du vent fort. Toutefois, une partie de la plage, bien remplie, était, heureusement, publique. L'oeil bleu était envahi de touristes, pas toujours respectueux du site. L'Albanie souffre déjà du surtourisme... Point positif : on a pu admirer de beaux paysages et se rendre compte de la vie locale au cours des trajets.”
Review of the Theth and Blue Eye day tour from Tirana, Durres, Golem, Lalez, or Shkoder, with hiking, mountain views, pricing, and practical tips.
“It was a long journey from Tirana to Theth, Albania with my family, but it was absolutely worth it. We had a nice rest along the way and enjoyed a delicious lunch at a local restaurant, where we tasted Byrek—an authentic Albanian pie that was incredibly tasty. The views of Read more”
Explore Bylis and UNESCO-listed Gjirokastër from Tirana, with ancient ruins, Ottoman streets, castle views, transport, and practical tips.
“Our tour guide Skerdi was excellent. Not only vey knowledgeable of Albanian history, but Skerdi gave us a personal insight into Albania today through sharing many perspectives from a younger generation. Skerdi personalized our trip back along the Riviera coast since he grew up there. A lover of Albanian polyphonic folk singing, we ended up driving back to Tirana singing along with a recording of his neighborhood choir. He was fun, genuine and gave us a feel for authentic Albania. Also, Skerdi was an excellent driver which we appreciated.”
Review of the Ksamil, Blue Eye, and Saranda day tour from Tirana, with honest advice on timing, beaches, transport, guides, and value.
“Beautiful day out , sun was out early October. A long trip but worth it . Blue eye was a good walk but worth getting train back if you struggle.”
Explore Kruja Castle, its old bazaar, and Roman Durres on a 7 to 8 hour small-group tour from Tirana with hotel pickup.
“Ilir was a great tour guide! I highly recommend him and this tour. This tour takes you to Skanderbeg's castle which is a must when you visit Albania. Durres is also a great town to visit.”
Pick a coast, a canyon or a kitchen.
