I find it complicated to write about Durres, Albania because I am a bit conflicted about it. Durres honestly lacks the dramatic flair of a number of the other spots we visited in Albania, but somehow, I absolutely LOVED it. Being from the US it felt like a stereotypical beach town you’d go to with your family. This was delightful and kind of nostalgic in the best way.
We also visited more of the Southern coast which was just so much more special and rustic. But Durres has some value all it’s own, and if you’re transiting through, nearby in Tirana, or passing it on the way to somewhere else, we found it worth our time.
How to get to Durres
By Road: Car/Taxi/Bus
We did a road trip around Albania so we had a car to get in and out of Durres. It was very easy to drive there. The roads in this part of Albania are well maintained and easy to navigate. We were also able to coordinate parking with our accommodation.
You can also reach Durrës from Tirana in under an hour. If you are staying in Tirana and wanted to visit the beach for the day it would be easily accessible.
You can take a bus from Tirana for a few dollars or a taxi from Tirana for between 25-45 USD. Overall this place is very easily accessible.
By Ferry
Durres is also accessible by ferry! It makes a direct ferry connection with Bari in Italy the Puglia region of Italy. We did an overnight ferry at the end of our time in Albania and ended our trip in Italy.
I have a post all about our overnight ferry ride if you’re interested you can find it here —-> Overnight Ferry from Albania to Italy
I also have a post about our itinerary through Albania and Italy which you can find here —-> 2 Week Itinerary for Albania & Puglia
Where to stay in Durres
We actually decided to visit Durres last minute, and we are SO lucky we found the amazing spot we did. We had been visiting the mountains of Theth (highly recommend) and the weather was forecasted to storm all day so we swerved and escaped to the beach.
The “center” or main town of Durrres is not located at the beach, but we found staying at the beach to be lovely and peaceful.
Wave Beachfront Apartments
We were able to get an apartment at Wave Beachfront Apartments (you can click on the link to view & book). We loved our apartment with the most stunning view of the beach scene. It was super clean, very large, and very modern. This would be an excellent spot to stay for a few days and enjoy like a true vacation. It was also central to anything we wanted to do in Durres and we could walk up and down the promenade easily. The host of the apartment was also so lovely and kind and gave great recommendations for food/drinks in the area.
Other options
As I mentioned, we booked last minute and were very happy with our stay. However, if you’re looking for a hotel and the amenities that they offer, there are many wonderful hotels in Durres.
You can search via this link and find some lovely alternative options for places to stay. —-> Book Durres Hotels Here
Where to Eat in Durres
Zanzi
This place is a hotel and restaurant and we loved hanging out here during the day. We had a delicious lunch and then we were able to take our drinks right over to the beach and grab a chair to hang out for the day. I had excellent fish, Griffin had chicken, and we found it to be a great spot.
Palmas
Our host at our apartment told us to go here for dinner and I am so glad that he did. We likely would have walked right on by as it honestly looked just like any other place here. We had a delicious dinner and a range of seafood. We got to sit out at a table in the front which was basically on the promenade. It was a perfect place to have a delicious meal, some nice wine, and people watch the night away.
Things to Do
If you have more than 24 hours
If you have more than 24 hours in Durres my friends “Tasting Sunsets” have a great post with “10 Things That are Worth Doing in Durres“. Make sure to check this out for some more great ideas!
Go Wine Tasting at Kantina Enol
Do not miss out on the wineries in Albania. Albanian wine is fantastic and so underrated. This spot is delightful and is on the way between Tirana and Durres. We walked in and immediately felt so welcome and were so impressed with how incredibly beautiful it was. I could have blinked and thought I was in Tuscany.
We were here mid day and it was so relaxed, we got to meet the winemaker (who was incredibly kind), learn about the wines, and then we got to taste them with lovely meat and cheese board. It was so peaceful, the wines were delicious, and it was a perfect experience that I’d highly recommend.
Go Wine Tasting Anywhere in the Area
Admittedly “Kantina Enol” may not be the most accessible winery from Durres. There are a few that are quite a bit closer. We genuinely had great experiences at every single winery we went to in Albania so I am sure you could have an excellent experience at a closer winery and it would be worth your while to seek one out.
Enjoy the Beach
The stretch of beach here in Durres is so long and impressive, you basically can’t avoid it. There are so many choices for place to spend your beach day that you’ll be spoiled. Find one that looks good to you and enjoy cooling off in the beautiful Albanian sun! One of the great things about Albania is that compared to European or American prices, getting a nice spot on the beach is very affordable. Although there are public areas that you can use for free, the cost of a beach bed here wont put your budget over the top. Durres is a good place to splurge for a little reasonably priced luxury.
Stroll the Promenade
Durres has such a lovely beach promenade. I actually think it was made for me because it is a track! It was so lovely to run on in the morning when we visited. Albanians LOVE to take walks in the mornings and evenings, it was one of our favorite parts about visiting the country. In Durres this was so popular and so lively. We loved strolling ourselves and also people watching as we went. There are plenty of places to pop in and get a drink as well.
Grab a drink on the water
As you head down the promenade you also reach an are with some concrete deck areas that you can sit on and have a drink. It is really lovely to watch the sunset over the ocean while you’re sipping a drink on a lovely deck. I highly recommend walking down to this area. Some parts of Durres had a bit of a party vibe, but we were able to find some peaceful spots to relax and enjoy too.
Check out the historical side of Durres
We actually didn’t do this on our trip as we only had a short amount of time after our last minute decision and we were craving beach. But Durres has an Amphitheater, a Venetian tower, and some archeological sites that are worth checking out if you have the time. The Amphitheater is quite large and requires ticketed entry, but it absolutely looks worth seeing.
If you’re interested in more posts about Albania and the other areas we visited as well as practical tips and “know before you go” type facts, you can check out my posts here ——> Albania Posts
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