Tirana Short Break

Fly to Albania’s capital and meet your local guide for the transfer to Tirana, following by a panoramic tour. Check in to the Rogner Hotel Tirana (alternative options available) for four nights before enjoying a welcome dinner at the excellent hotel restaurant. (D)

• Hotel Description

Take a full day guided tour of the city. Start by delving into Albania’s intriguing recent history with a visit to Bunk’Art 1, an extraordinary museum housed within a vast Cold War–era bunker. Its atmospheric chambers and thoughtful exhibits offer a compelling introduction to the country’s communist past. Continue by ascending Dajti Mountain aboard the Dajti Ekspres, the longest cable car in the Balkans where you will be treated to some fabulous views across the city. Return to the city and take a leisurely guided stroll through Skanderbeg Square, the cultural heart of the city. Here you’ll find many of Tirana’s most significant landmarks, including the National History Museum with its iconic mosaic, the Opera and Ballet Theatre, the Clock Tower, and the striking Pyramid of Tirana. Conclude the walk with a visit to the elegant Et’hem Bey Mosque, a symbol of the city’s enduring heritage. (B)

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Today could be a free day to further explore Tirana at your leisure. As the National Art Gallery is under renovation until 2028, you could perhaps visit Vila Shijaku instead; one of the oldest residences in Tirana, owned by the renowned Albanian painter Sali Shijaku. Lovingly preserved, it is a little oasis amid the urban sprawl of the city where visitors can explore a gallery showcasing the artwork of the family. Alternatively, take an optional tour out of the city to the historical town of Kruja with its panoramic mountainside location. Visit the restored Castle and Citadel, as well as the excellent Skanderbeg Museum located inside the castle and erected in memory of the Albanian national hero. Afterwards continue towards the coastal city of Durres, the main port and the second biggest city in the country. (B)

• Hotel Description

This morning, meet your guide and travel to the UNESCO-listed city of Berat, one of Albania’s most enchanting historic centres. On arrival, wander through the traditional quarters of Mangalem and Gorica, their white-washed houses cascading down the hillsides in a style that has earned Berat its moniker, “the town of a thousand windows". Continue up to the impressive Berat Citadel, where cobbled lanes and ancient stone walls reveal centuries of layered history. From its ramparts, enjoy far-reaching views over the Osumi River and towards the rugged peak of Mount Tomorr. Within the fortress, visit the excellent Onufri Iconographic Museum, home to a remarkable collection of religious art by Albania’s most celebrated iconographer. Later in the afternoon, return to Tirana. (B)

• Hotel Description

Transfer back to Tirana Airport, or extend your stay. (B)