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Shkodra & Rozafa Castle Day Trip

Staying the night in the north? See the Komani and Shala day from Shkodra →

5.063 Google reviewsDay trip from Tirana, Durrës or Golem

Shkodra is the cultural capital of the north and one of the oldest cities in the region, and it gets passed through far more often than it gets visited. People stop overnight on the way to Theth or Komani and leave at dawn. It is worth a day of its own.

Itinerary

For reference only. Itineraries are subject to change.

  1. 07:30

    Pickup

    From your hotel in Tirana, Durrës or Golem, and north on the coast highway.

  2. 09:45

    Rozafa Castle

    Up to the walls and the ruined church-mosque inside. The legend, the rivers and the view.

  3. 11:15

    Marubi Museum

    A century and a half of Albanian photography from one family's studio.

  4. 12:15

    The old town

    Rruga Kolë Idromeno, the Ebu Bekr Mosque and the Catholic cathedral, a few streets apart.

  5. 13:30

    Lunch at Shirokë

    On the lakeshore, with Montenegro across the water. Carp, eel or grilled meat.

  6. 15:30

    Back south

    Home by about 17:30, depending on traffic.

Experience & Highlights

  • Rozafa Castle and the view over three rivers and the lake
  • The legend of Rozafa, told where it happened
  • The Marubi National Museum of Photography
  • Rruga Kolë Idromeno and the old merchant houses
  • Lakeside lunch at Shirokë on Lake Skadar

Full Description

Rozafa Castle stands on a rock above the point where the Drin, the Buna and the lake meet, and the legend attached to it, of a woman walled into the foundations who asked to leave one breast free to feed her child, is the story every Albanian child knows. The view from the walls covers the city, the rivers, and the lake running away into Montenegro.

In town we walk Rruga Kolë Idromeno, the pedestrian street of restored merchant houses, and go into the Marubi National Museum of Photography, which holds images from the 1850s onward taken by one family of photographers. Lunch is on the lake at Shirokë, where the shore restaurants serve carp and eel from the water in front of you.

What's included

  • Hotel pickup and drop-off in Tirana, Durrës and Golem
  • Air-conditioned transport
  • English-speaking guide
  • Bottled water

Not included

  • Rozafa Castle entry (€3)
  • Marubi Museum entry (€5)
  • Lunch at the lake

Good to know

  • The castle path is steep cobbles and loose stone for about fifteen minutes. Flat shoes with grip.
  • The Marubi Museum closes on Mondays. On Mondays we add a boat on the lake instead.
  • Shkodra is the most bicycle-heavy city in Albania. Watch for them on the pedestrian street.
  • Runs year-round.

Good questions, honest answers

Is Shkodra worth visiting for a day?

Yes. Most people treat it as a stopover on the way to the Alps or Komani and miss that it is one of the oldest cities in the region, with the best castle view in the north and the only serious photography museum in the country.

What is the legend of Rozafa Castle?

Three brothers building the castle found the walls fell down every night. They were told it would only stand if one of their wives was walled into the foundations. Rozafa, the youngest brother's wife, agreed, asking that one breast, one hand and one foot be left free so she could care for her baby. It is the founding story of the castle and one of the best-known legends in Albania.

Can you swim in Lake Skadar?

Yes, from the shore at Shirokë and further along the Albanian side. It is shallow near the edges and warm in summer. Most people come for the lunch rather than the swim.

Plan the rest of your trip

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