Best of Berat and Durres Full Day Tour

The antique Dyrrachium located on the eastern shores of the Adriatic sea, was founded by Ancient Greek colonists around the 7th century BC, becaming an integral part of the Roman Empire and its successor the Byzantine Empire. Given its geography, and Mediterranean clime, the crucial Via Egnatia started in this city, traversing the Balkan Peninsula all the way to Constantinople.

The modern day Durres welcomes tourists all year around, and your exploration will include the tour of the Old Town, the ruins of the Byzantine forum and walls, the Roman baths, the contemporary city centre, the renown Roman Amphitheatre, the Venetian tower, and the archaeological museum which hosts an amazing display of antique discoveries, especially focused on the urban planning of this historically significant city.

Located in the center of the city, the construction of The Roman Amphitheater of Durrës began under the emperor Trajan in the 2nd century AD, and tragically was destroyed twice by earthquakes in the 6th and 10th centuries.

It was discovered in late 1966, and to date, it is the largest Roman amphitheater ever built in the Balkan Peninsula, once having a capacity of 20,000 people.

The Durres Roman amphitheater is included on the tentative list of Albanian UNESCO World Heritage Sites and remains one of the most visited sites in Albania.

A first-category cultural monument, The Venetian Tower is one of the most beautiful historical defensive structures in Durrës. An integral part of Durres Byzantine fortress, it was regarded as a formidable defense structure along the western coast of the Adriatic Sea.
The present-day fortress traces its roots to the initial construction efforts of Byzantine Emperor Anastasius I (491–518), a native of Durrës (ancient Dyrrhachium).
Built atop the remains of the Byzantine tower around the XV century, the Venetian Tower was fortified with cannons to protect the city from the sea and served as a crucial observation point for monitoring the surrounding area.
The Venetian Tower was renovated in 2023 and was transformed into the first Albanian Heritage Interpretation Center that and now offers visitors the chance to explore historical events and places through state-of-the-art digital and multimedia tools that combine entertainment with a more in-depth look at the city’s ancient history.

The Byzantine Forum situated in the heart of Durrës was constructed during the reign of Roman Emperor Anastasios around the end of the sixth century and held a pivotal location among the Byzantine period’s other big civic and religious structures.
Regarded as one of Albania’s outstanding Late Roman and Early Byzantine Period structures, the Forum is very similar to Constantine’s Curved Forum at Constantinople, which was destroyed by Fourth Crusade forces in 1204.
Despite being bordered by the contemporary city of Durres, the atmosphere of antiquity is palpable and a perfect structure that together with the other city-harbor defences are regarded to be the strongest in the Balkans once they were completed. This explains this forum's longevity that with its particular circular paved area indicates that it was utilized also for formal events. The Forum’s rotunda is believed to have housed a gigantic statue now lost to time, and the market and trade activities were centered around it.

A visit in the seaside city of Durres will not be complete without taking a stroll on the Beach Promenade, taking in teh beautiful vistas of teh Adriatic sea and enjoying a cafe and free time among the many cafes, shops and restorant established throughout the shore.

Hidden behind the crumbling walls of the fortress that crowns the hill above Berat is the whitewashed, village-like neighbourhood of Kala; if you walk around the quiet cobbled streets of this ancient neighbourhood for long enough you'll invariably stumble into someone's courtyard, thinking it's a church or ruin (no one seems to mind, though).

The Onufri Museum is situated in the Kala quarter's biggest church, the Church of the Dormition of St Mary (Kisha Fjetja e Shën Mërisë). The church itself dates from 1797 and was built on the foundations of an earlier 10th-century chapel. Today Onufri's spectacular 16th-century religious paintings are displayed along with the church's beautifully gilded 19th-century iconostasis
The Museum holds 200 artwork objects, icons and liturgical items dated from the 14th century to the 20th, brought together from several churches and monasteries of the region. You will see icons painted by renown Albanian icon painters such as Onufri, Onufri’s son Nikolla, Onufër the Cypriot,etc

The church, one of the most visited in Berat, is considered to be one of the most well-constructed and best-preserved Byzantine churches of Berat. Its construction dates back to the end of the 13th century, confirmed by an inscription on one of the church gates with the name of Andronicus Paleologus, Governor of the Berat

According to Ottoman explorer Evliya Çelebi (1611–1682), the mosque was built under the reign of Bayazid II It was probably built in the 15th century and was one of the oldest mosques in the country. It was probably built shortly after the conquest of Berat by the Ottomans in 1417. The oldest written record dates from 1431/32. The original names were Mosque of the ruler and Mosque of conquest.

The Mangalemi quarter, located in Berat, is one of the oldest and most iconic districts in the city. It lies just north of the Osumi River and to the south of Kalaja. Historically, this quarter has been known as an Islamic area due to its Ottoman roots – which still remain clearly visible today.

As you walk through Mangalem Quarter, you’ll be surrounded by centuries-old white stone houses with terracotta tiles, wooden doors and flowers hanging from their windows. This district is renowned for its unique architecture, earning it the nickname ‘City of 1000 Windows’ due to the abundance of large symmetrical windows along its rocky hillsides.

The King Mosque, also known as the Sultan’s Mosque or Sultan Bayezid Mosque, is one of the oldest mosques in Albania. Built in the 15th century by Ottoman sultan Bayezid II, the mosque served as a place of worship for the local Albanian population of Berat. The mosque underwent a full rebuild during the 19th century to prevent it from collapsing and is still an active site today. Inside, there is a beautiful women’s gallery full of intricate painted designs and decorations on its wooden ceiling.

Helveti Tekke, a place of worship for the Helveti who are Muslim dervishes or mystics. This small square building was constructed in 15th century and was then rebuilt by Ahmet Kurt Pasha in 1782. Above its doorway lies an inscription dedicated to him that marks this special occasion. Inside, visitors will find a small prayer hall with an external portico that houses columns which originate from Apolonia ancient city. There is also a balcony specifically designed to further improve sound quality for religious rituals held within its walls.

A bridge with a fascinating history, complex architecture, and a beautifully simple aesthetic style, it has drawn admirers across the ages.
Built in the center of the city of Berat, the grandiose Bridge of Gorica is one of the most beautiful Ottoman bridges in the Balkan region and connects the city with the neighborhood of the same name. This object owes much of its beauty to its very gradual arch, 10m tall, and elegantly extending 130m over across both sides of the Osumi riverbed. It is composed of a total of seven arches, wooden railings, and several small “windows,” which give the arches whimsical facial features, making this bridge a rare sight indeed