Itinerary
- Day 1
Tirana to Skopje via Ohrid
You'll get picked up in Tirana and head toward North Macedonia, crossing the border after about 2.5 hours of driving. Once you arrive in Ohrid, there's a walking tour through the Old Town where you'll see the Church of St. John at Kaneo sitting on the cliffside, the Ancient Amphitheatre, and the Old Bazaar area. After that, it's another 2.5 hours or so driving the 170 km to Skopje. You'll check into your hotel in the city center and have the rest of the evening free to walk around on your own.
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Ohrid Old Town
- Visit Church of St. John at Kaneo
- Visit Ancient Amphitheatre
- Explore City Center and traditional Old Bazaar in Ohrid
- Private transportation from Tirana to Skopje via Ohrid
Optional Activities
- Wander through Skopje's Old Bazaar
- Explore Macedonia Square and its grand statues
- Relax at a riverside café along the Vardar River
Landmarks/POIs Church of St. John at Kaneo Ancient Amphitheatre of Ohrid Ohrid Old Town Lake Ohrid Macedonia Square Vardar River - Day 2
Skopje to Prizren via Pristina
Today takes you into Kosovo for about 1.5 hours driving the 90 km to Pristina. You'll see the Newborn Monument which marks Kosovo's independence, stop by the National Library with its distinctive look, and visit the Mother Teresa Cathedral. From there, you'll travel south another 85 km to Prizren, which takes around 1.5 hours through some nice countryside. Once you're there, you'll cross the Old Stone Bridge to enter the Ottoman-era town, check out the Sinan Pasha Mosque, and climb up to Prizren Fortress for views across the area. Your hotel is in the city center, so you can settle in after a full day of travel.
Included Activities
- Visit Newborn Monument in Pristina
- Visit National Library in Pristina
- Visit Mother Teresa Cathedral in Pristina
- Walking tour through Prizren Old Town
- Visit Sinan Pasha Mosque in Prizren
- Visit Prizren Fortress
- Private transportation from Skopje to Pristina to Prizren
Optional Activities
- Free time to explore charming streets of Prizren
Landmarks/POIs Newborn Monument National Library of Kosovo Mother Teresa Cathedral Old Stone Bridge of Prizren Sinan Pasha Mosque Prizren Fortress - Day 3
Prizren to Shkodër
You're heading back into Albania and driving north to Shkodër, which is about 180 km and takes roughly 3 hours. Along the way, there's a stop in Shirok Village by Lake Shkodër where you can grab coffee and relax by the water. After that, you'll visit Rozafa Castle, which sits dramatically above the city and is one of Albania's most legendary fortresses. You can walk through the ancient ruins, take in the views over the lake and countryside from the top, and hear stories about the place. Once you're done exploring, you'll head into the city to check into your hotel near the center.
Included Activities
- Stop at Shirok Village by Lake Shkodër
- Visit Rozafa Castle
- Explore Rozafa Castle ruins
- Private transportation from Prizren to Shkodër
Optional Activities
- Free time to explore Shkodër city
- Relax at a pedestrian street in the evening
Landmarks/POIs Shirok Village Lake Shkodër Rozafa Castle Buna River Drin River - Day 4
Shkodër to Montenegro and Back to Albania
You'll drive into Montenegro and stop for photos at St Stephen, then continue about 30 km to Kotor. The Old Town there is a UNESCO site with medieval streets, Venetian-style buildings, and old churches that you can walk through. There's lunch planned with local Montenegrin food before you start heading back to Albania through mountain scenery and coastal roads. If you're traveling in July or August, there's an alternative route available that goes through Old Bar City and Ulqin to skip the summer crowds.
Included Activities
- Panoramic photo stop at St Stephen (Sveti Stefan)
- Explore Kotor Old Town
- Walk through medieval streets and past Venetian-style buildings
- Visit ancient churches in Kotor
- Private transportation to Montenegro and back to Albania
Optional Activities
- Lunch in Kotor (Montenegrin cuisine)
Landmarks/POIs St Stephen (Sveti Stefan) Kotor Old Town Bay of Kotor Old Bar City Ulqin - Day 5
Shkodër to Berat
Leave Shkodra early and drive about 3 hours to reach Berat, which locals call the 'City of a Thousand Windows' because of all the Ottoman buildings stacked on the hillside. You'll do a guided walk through Berat Castle, which people still live in, and see Byzantine churches, Ottoman mosques, and stone pathways with views down to the Osum River. The historic quarters of Mangalem and Gorica are separated by the river but connected by bridges, so you can explore both sides. Your hotel is actually inside the castle itself, which is a unique spot to stay.
Included Activities
- Guided walk through Berat Castle
- Visit Byzantine churches inside Berat Castle
- Visit Ottoman mosques inside Berat Castle
- Explore Mangalem historic quarter
- Explore Gorica historic quarter
- Private transportation from Shkodër to Berat
Optional Activities
- Free time to explore Berat's magical atmosphere
- Wine Tasting Experience in Berat
Landmarks/POIs Berat Castle Mangalem Quarter Gorica Quarter Osum River - Day 6
Berat to Durrës and Return to Tirana
Leaving Berat, you'll head north toward the Adriatic coast to check out Durrës, one of Albania's oldest and busiest cities. It used to be an important Roman port, and you can still see the largest amphitheater in the Balkans along with Byzantine wall remnants scattered around. There's a nice walk along the seafront promenade where you can see the modern marina and maybe stop for coffee by the water. In the afternoon, you'll drive back to Tirana where your Balkan trip ends.
Included Activities
- Explore ancient ruins in Durrës
- Visit Durrës Amphitheatre (largest in the Balkans)
- View Byzantine walls remnants
- Walk along seafront promenade
- View modern marina
- Private transportation from Berat to Durrës to Tirana
Optional Activities
- Coffee stop by the sea in Durrës
Landmarks/POIs Durrës Amphitheatre Durrës Seafront Promenade Durrës Marina
