Durrës lies on Albania’s western coast by the Adriatic Sea, combining beaches with a long city history. The city has been continuously inhabited for more than 2,600 years. If you are looking for a holiday apartment for a coastal stay, the first question is what you want to focus on: should the sea be the main attraction, or would you also like to explore archaeological and cultural sites?
Beach and Promenade
Durrës Beach has a coastline of about 10.5 kilometres, with golden sand and warm Adriatic waters. You can swim there and take long walks along the shore. The calm, shallow water is also suitable for children. Activities available at the beach also include jet skiing, boating, parasailing and volleyball.
The waterfront promenade is a modern place for relaxation and leisure. Its amenities include restaurants, hotels, art galleries and cultural venues. Durrës therefore offers different aspects of a stay side by side: time by the water and a range of urban cultural attractions.
From Epidamnos to the Roman City
In the 7th century BC, Greek colonists from Korkyra and Corinth founded the city under the name Epidamnos. In Roman times, Durrës gained importance thanks to the Via Egnatia, which connected the city with Thessaloniki and Constantinople. You can explore these historical connections in more detail at various sites around the city.
The Durrës Amphitheatre was built in the early 2nd century AD under Emperor Trajan. The elliptical structure measures about 136 metres in diameter and is 20 metres high; it held approximately 15,000 to 20,000 spectators. Today, the amphitheatre is an archaeological site open to the public and is on Albania’s UNESCO Tentative List.
The Rotunda and the Byzantine Forum document the public, commercial and institutional life of Dyrrachium in the 5th and 6th centuries. The archaeological site is free to visit. It offers a glimpse of a later phase in the city’s history than the Roman origins represented by the amphitheatre.
Towers, Monuments and Museum
The Venetian Tower was built on Byzantine foundations as a defensive and observation structure. Today, it is Albania’s first Heritage Interpretation Center. Its offerings include VR, audio guides, dome projections and interactive activities.
The Durrës Medieval Hamam was built in the 18th century near Epidamn Boulevard and the Venetian Tower. It is one of Albania’s few surviving hamams and is a first-category Ottoman cultural monument. Durrës Castle and its surrounding walls are also a protected cultural monument and rank among the city’s most important tourist attractions. In the Kulla neighbourhood, you can visit Sulejman Tower: this three-storey stone cultural monument has about 20 loopholes.
The Durrës Archaeological Museum is considered Albania’s largest and most important archaeological institution. It contains more than 3,000 artefacts, including Roman funerary stelae, stone sarcophagi, busts of Venus, mosaics, sculptures, ancient vases, coins and everyday objects. The museum is located near the waterfront promenade and a Byzantine wall dating from the 6th century.
The Aleksandër Moisiu House-Museum is a first-category cultural monument and a rare example of a 19th-century urban house. The Aleksandër Moisiu Theatre opened in 1953; its programme features dramas, comedies, concerts, and activities for children and young people.
Nearby and on the Plate
Near Durrës lies Cape Rodon, a rocky Adriatic peninsula with green hills, clear water and white sandy beaches. It offers opportunities for nature walks, hiking, relaxing by the sea and taking panoramic photographs. Further afield is Rodoni Castle, built in the 15th century as a defensive fortification by order of Gjergj Kastriot Skanderbeg.
Revani, a long-established dessert served in homes and local pastry shops, is part of Durrës’s culinary traditions.
The difference to consider when choosing a destination can be summed up briefly: Durrës Beach is all about swimming, walks along the shore and water sports; the cultural sites offer insight into the history of ancient Dyrrachium and later buildings. If you enjoy both, Durrës offers different ways to focus your stay within the same destination.
For the broader travel overview: Durrës County.
