Durres Tirana, Albania
Albania
12
Cruises availables
At departure or passage at this port
Lindblad Expeditions (7 Cruises)
Frequently Asked Questions
At the port of Durrës, right in the city centre. The terminal opens onto town : the Roman amphitheatre, the Venetian tower and the Archaeological Museum are all within walking distance.
Yes, and it is the best way to do it. The historic centre takes a couple of hours on foot. Only the southern beach and Tirana call for a taxi or a shore excursion.
The Roman amphitheatre, the remains of the Byzantine forum, the Venetian tower and the Archaeological Museum, all clustered in the centre. That still leaves time for a coffee on the seafront before heading back on board.
Yes. It is the largest in the Balkans, built in the 2nd century and able to hold up to 20,000 spectators. What makes it unusual is how it sits inside the neighbourhood : houses were built all around it and you climb down into the arena as if into an excavation. A Byzantine chapel with mosaics occupies one of its galleries.
Yes. The capital is about 39 km away, roughly an hour each way, by organized excursion or by taxi arranged at the port. On a short call the round trip eats up most of the day : it is Tirana or Durrës, rarely both.
The Albanian lek. Cards work in hotels, restaurants and shops downtown, but keep cash for taxis, markets and the small vendors along the seafront.
Albanian. Italian and English get you by in tourist areas, French much less so. A few words of English are plenty for a port call.
Yes. Durrës has one of the longest beaches on the Adriatic, a strip of sand running south of the centre, a short walk or taxi ride away. The shallow water suits families well.
Very much so. Distances are short, the seafront promenade has playgrounds, the beach is shallow and kiosks sell doughnuts and grilled corn. The amphitheatre takes about thirty minutes to visit, which holds younger attention spans.
May through October, when the Adriatic cruise season is in full swing. July and August are hot and busy; May, June and September strike a better balance for walking the centre and visiting the sites.
