Best of Berat and Durres Full Day Tour
Explore the highlights of two important Albanian cities in one full day tour that will immerse you into two thousand and half years of history.
Admire the ancient seaside city of Durres and its Roman amphitheater where one can still hear the gladiators roar, and the UNESCO's sites of Berat with its lived-in castle, two museums, and the world-renowned Ottoman neighbourhoods.
Depart from your hotel and make your way in comfort to the port city of Durres where you can stroll through the ruins of the old Dyrrachium, sightseeing the Byzantine Forum, the Venetian Tower, and lastly, what will make your day - enjoy a cafe taking in the lovely vistas by the shore of the Adriatic Sea.
Be in awe by the breathtaking views on top of Berat castle - perfect place for photos, and revere the frescoes of the medieval iconographic master, Onufri.
Hassle-free pickup and drop-off from your hotel with our professional guides that possess a deep knowledge and love of history and language skills.
Options
Best of Berat and Durres Full Day Tour
Pickup included
What's included in Best of Berat and Durres Full Day Tour
(Subject to Option Inclusions)Itinerary
Durres
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.
Durres Amphitheatre
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.
Inclusions
- Bottled water
- Licensed Tour guide
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Professional Drivers with Deep knowledge of history
- PRIVATE TOUR option
- Meals and drinks
- Personal expenses
- Tips and gratuities
- Optional activity costs
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Travel time is already included in the tour duration.
- Please contact us after your booking if you are travelling with infants
Meet
Pickup and Dropoff
Choose to be picked up from a list of locations
Please arrive at the pick up point 15 minutes before departure time.
Additional Information
We can pick up customers from where ever they want inside the city of Tirana. We just need after the booking a short communication to agree the pickup point. Please also provide us any other details you need about your pick up. If the customer needs to be picked up outside the city of Tirana the operator will charge an extra cost which could be paid directly to the guide in Cash,PayPal or Bank If the customer wants extra services than the ones that paid for,the operator will charge him extra and the payment will be done to the guide in Cash,Paypal or Bank.
