UNESCO Heritage: Discover the Unique Architecture and History of Berat & Durres on a Day Tour
4.4
41 Ratings
Durres
Immerse yourself in the unique architecture and rich history of Berat and Durres on a day tour. Explore the UNESCO-listed Berat Castle and discover the charming white houses nestled on the green hillside. Indulge in delicious homemade food and experience the warm hospitality of the locals.
Duration: 9 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Durres - The meeting point at the hotel in Tirana .After you will start the journey to Berat .
    On the way to Berat.You will have a stop at the city of Durres.
    You are going to visit the amphitheater there,which was built in the beginning of 2nd Century before the Christ Also you will visit the Venecian Tower and then you are going nearby Adriatic Sea to walk along the promenade to enjoy the endless sea.

  • Berat Castle - First you will visit Berat Castle, which dates back to 4th century BC. The castle is one of the biggest inhabited castles and has many Byzantine churches, as well as some mosques built during the Ottoman era ,which began in 1417. Then you will learn a little history of Berat which is UNESCO World Heritage Site, more than 2400 year old. It is the most attractive city in our country. Berat is a very old town established by Illyrians with a fortified castle known as a city of Antipatrea.

  • Mangalem - Our next stop is in the old quarters of Mangalem and Gorica (old Berat)that are connected with each other by the Gorica Bridge over the Osumi River The bridge was built in XVIII century. It was originally made in 1780, during the ruling of Ahmet Kurt Pasha, it was rebuilt with stones.

  • Berat - After we are visiting the City of Berat (new Berat)there you will walk in the city pedestrian zone and will visit too Orthodox Church .After visits you will have a traditional lunch with home made specialties in one of best restaurants.

  • Kisha Shen Triadha (Holy Trinity Church) - You are going to visit this Byzantine Church built in 13 Century, stands on the steep hillside of Berat castle rising above the town

  • The King Mosque - Visit King Mosque,also known as the Sultan’s Mosque or Sultan Bayezid Mosque, is a mosque and a Cultural Monument in Berat The mosque was built in the 15th century by the Ottoman sultan Bayezid II for the local Albanian population. The King mosque became a Cultural Monument in 1948.

  • Halveti Teqe - Visit Halveti Tekke.
    The Halveti Tekke is a Cultural Monument of Albania, located in Berat. …
    The teqe was built in 1782 from Ahmet Kurt Pasha and pertained to the Khalwati order, a Sufi sect. This Tekke has great architectural values, its ceiling is unique in its kind ,as far as the paintings and carvings inside it are unique.

  • Belsh - Leave Berat and continue the journey through a road with many views and picturesque, to arrive at Belshi lake with a wonderful view. You will enjoy the beauty of the lake and take wonderful photos there (30’)Return to Tirana 1.30 minutes

What's Included
  • Entry tickets included for all attractions
  • Comfortable in-vehicle air conditioning
  • Convenient hotel pick-up and drop-off service
  • Guidance from a professional English-speaking guide
  • Private transportation for a personalized experience
What's Not Included
  • Visitors who have serious health problems
Additional Information

This excursion is as distinctive as the metropolis itself. The city stands out for its one-of-a-kind architecture, history, culture, customs, home-cooked meals, and above all, the unrivalled hospitality of its people, as affirmed by tourists. Berat Castle, not only a UNESCO site, being ancient has many fascinating aspects to explore.

  • Geographically, the town is nestled among the Tomor and Shpirag mountains, with the Osum river flowing through its heart. The typical Mediterranean climate, coupled with its geographic location, makes Berat a haven for fruits and vegetables. These, along with other fresh produce, can be savoured in the local eateries.
    *Architecturally, the city sits on the incline of a verdant hill. The castle perched atop the hill and the white residences cascading down the slope, appearing to pile atop one another, contribute to a truly special vista.
Location
Durres
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.4
(41 Ratings)
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Judy_l
May 30, 2024
A great day with our most informative and friendly guide Idrid. - Durres was interesting to visit, especially the Roman ruins. But Berat was definitely the highlight of the day. Such a beautiful old town with so much history, and a spectacular old castle.
Review provided by Viator
Shanaz_a
May 19, 2024
Highly recommended day activity - This is a excellent full day trip our tour guide Nick was very knowledgeable and friendly It’s a good way if you want to explore different areas, Durres is a calmer seaside resort, while Berat is a UNESCO heritage city with a rich history. We had time to explore the city at Our own pace. We were happy with service provided by the agency too, as we were picked up from our accommodation the agency contacted couple of days before the activity to confirm pick up time
Review provided by Viator
Thefegans
Apr 23, 2024
A taste of Albania - We had an excellent day tour to Durres, Berat and Belsh. Our tour guide Adi, was very kind, considerate, very knowledge, and had good English. We would highly recommend this tour for a taste of Albania. From the Mediterranean Seaside resort to beautiful countryside of rolling hills and mountains. Berat is a wonderful historical city.
Review provided by Viator
Ljane_a
Apr 10, 2024
Awesome tour - We had a great time in our trip yesterday, our tour guide Besnik is a very polite and gentleman. He is very helpful as well, guiding us in our hike to Behrati castle and assisting us to communicate with the locals. Overall, we feel very safe with Besnik and had a pleasant trip with free ice cream, so generous.
Review provided by Viator
Greg_d
Apr 5, 2024
Lovely, Historical, and Well Presented - This was the first tour on a long trip. Besnik offered a lot of insight about this part of Albania, and was more free to do so since we had a driver along with us. Durres was nice and we even took a look at some things that aren't being done so well there for the sake of tourism, Berat was beautiful, and Belsh was interesting and to me a sign of how a lot of smaller towns around the world might be able to transform themselves a little with some imagination. A great start to a long trip away from home.
Review provided by Viator
Jansel_p
Feb 9, 2024
Highly recommended! - Adi was an exceptional tour guide! He was exceedingly patient in discussing every history of the places we went. He even suggested some restaurants and food to try which are all delectable! 🩵
Review provided by Viator
Ross_c
Feb 5, 2024
A must do tour when visiting Albania - I would highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Albania. Adi gave us a Wonderful in-depth tour and explanation of all the attractions we saw from the Roman amphitheater in Durrës and the castle in Berat. This is a great tour to get a real sense of the history of Albaina. The food recommendations for lunch were delicious. We finished off the day in Belsh Lake with the glass of Raki. Adi answered every question we had and was very accommodating as he showed us extra mosques & historical sites along the way. The car was very comfortable with heat seats in the back and all electric car, so good for the environment and added bonus.
Review provided by Viator
Susan_c
Apr 14, 2024
Nice Tour - Long but lovely day see some of the Albanian countryside and castles. Not for the faint of heart, or anyone subject to heat stroke when it's over 20C. Very pleasant tour guide, but his command of English was iffy, so it seemed we weren't getting very much information. I did enjoy his personal stories about life in Albania back during the Soviet era.
Review provided by Viator
Ee99rsp
Mar 11, 2024
Berat tour - I had Besnik as a guide for Berat and Durres. I was very pleased with the tour. Our driver was very calm and experienced, I felt safe with him. The highlight for me was the view of the valley from Berat Castle. I was also pleased that Besnik was able to arrange a look inside Helvetive Teqeja which was recommended to me. Thank you for a great day.
Review provided by Viator
Devin_h
Jun 7, 2024
Avoid this tour company - This tour operator sent me a text at 1am on the same day asking to postpone the tour. I suggest booking with another tour operator or to go with the other tour app.
Review provided by Viator
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up to 15 guests
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June 2024
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