Tirana, Albania's capital, is the principal centre for major economic, political and even cultural events in the country. Its location at the centre of Albania adds to its importance. Tirana lies 113 m above sea level.

Tirana took shape under a feudal lord, Suleyman Pasha Bargjini in 1614.  The first buildings in Tirana were a bakery, a mosque and a hammam (a public bathhouse). Partizani-i-Panjohur, a monument honouring the Unknown Partisan, stands at the site of these first buildings.

The Adriatic Sea, with the Durrës beach, beckons in the west. You need to travel 32 kilometres to get to the beach. On the eastern side a 26-kilometre trek will bring you to the 1612 m high Dajti Mountain.

Birds love Butrint and so will you, especially if you are a birdwatcher. It has a marshy landscape that birds are drawn to and is located between Lake Butrint and the strait between Corfu and Albania. The historic monuments here take you on a journey back in time.

People have made their home in Butrint since ancient times. There is evidence of the Greeks having lived here and of the place having been under the jurisdiction of a bishop. Ruins of a Roman city can also be found here. Butrint prospered under the Byzantine Empire and then was briefly occupied by the Venetians. During the middle Ages, environmental changes resulted in the growth of a lot of marshes in this area, making it more hospitable for birds and animals than for humans. Butrint has been given the status of an archaeological repository and makes for an interesting site to study the history of Butrint.

All you nature worshippers will love the Llogara National Park in Albania. This park is located 40 km southeast of the coastal town Vlora. It lies between the Adriatic Sea and the Ionian Sea. The park has its beginning at 470 m above sea level and rises to a majestic 2018 m, forming the Llogara Pass. Air currents at the Llogara Pass have caused trees to bend into several interesting shapes.   Make it a point to locate and view the Flag Pine known in local lingo as the "Pisha Flamur."

A breathtaking view of the Ionian Sea awaits you at the Llogara Pass. The other interesting place in this area is the precipitous stony surface of Vetëtima or the Lightning Mountain. You can also see a good part of the Riviera from here. The road that takes you through the park is Vlora-Himara-Saranda.
You will be able to do justice to the many wonders of the Llogara National Park only on foot. There are many footpaths that take you to the park's interior. A trek will help you get acquainted with the rich flora and fauna of the area first hand as you breathe in the fresh air up in the mountains. The location is ideal for air sports; however, if you are not the activity-oriented kind just relax with a picnic hamper and go on long walks when you feel like it.

As you travel south from the Llogara Pass you will come to Palasë Village. The Çika Mountain looms large on one side of the village. The pride of the village is a 100 year-old plane tree around which the village centre is built. The village paints a charming picture: narrow roads paved with stone lead to quaint houses painted white, with small courtyards that are a burst of colour with plenty of flowers and other shrubbery. The most interesting part of the village is its 1.5 kilometre long beach called the Palasë beach. Air sports enthusiasts who take off from the Llogara Pass use the Palasë beach as a landing strip.

Dhërmi is a coastal village that houses the hill of St. Todhri's Monastery. Situated atop this hill is the Cave of the Pirates. The cave gets its name from the fact that it was used by pirates as a base for their operations. Visit this cave when the sea is calm. The spectacular views from the cave will be well worth the trip. 

If you travel by the Saranda-Ksamil road you can stop and sail towards the Ksamil islands. These islands have typical Mediterranean vegetation and are just 7.5-15 m above sea level. Ksamil village is dependent upon income from tourism and extends several facilities to tourists. It would be a good idea to rent an apartment and spend some quality time with your family in Ksamil village.

"Blue Eye" - the name is derived from the sparkling azure waters here. This water has a karstic, limestone-rich water source.  Approximately six cubic metres of water passes through the Blue Eye daily.  Blue Eye is at a distance of 18 km from Saranda and is a very popular destination in Albania. To reach Blue Eye you must take a small road off the national road to Gjirokastra. Bistrica I hydro power station is the landmark that indicates that you are on the right track. On reaching Bistrica I, you need to take a left turn and two kilometres further down this road you will be gazing into the crystal blue waters of Blue Eye.

The ancient name for Dhermi is ‘Drimades,' a word derived from the Greek word Drymades, which means Oak Forest. Dhermi dates back to the seventh century, making it one of the oldest settlements in the area. Dhermi was built atop a few hills and has around 30 old churches, all of them with breathtaking views of the mountainside.  The lovely beaches in Dhermi are very well known, with the Gjipe Beach being the most popular. The Gjipe Beach is one that you will definitely enjoy.

The Dajti National Park lies 26 km to the east of Tirana and covers an expanse of 3,300 hectares. The International Airport is about 50 km from the park. Keep a lookout for the many beech trees that are a whopping 200 years old. Visitors flock to the park and there are accommodation facilities available if you wish to stay at the park for a longer time.

The National Ethnographic Museum Krujë was thrown open to the public in the month of November in 1989. This museum is housed in an eighteenth century ‘urban' building. There are around sixteen rooms in the museum and are used to exhibit several artefacts of the region from times bygone. Some of the exhibits tell you about how people lived in ancient times. Adequate care has been taken to ensure that original items are displayed in the museum. Some of the items displayed date back to 500 years ago. The samples of embroidery on cotton, silk and woollen cloth are exquisite to behold. Other items like pottery and metal objects are also interesting to view.

The National Museum of Medieval Art located in Korca has been open to the public since April 1980. There are more than seven thousand pieces of art in this museum. Works in stone, metal and wood and pieces of textile are also found here.  Works of both known artists and unknown craftsmen are featured here. 

Albania's history is well documented by the collection of icons and other artistic objects stored in the principal hall of the museum. Some of the well-known 13th and 14th century artists featured here are Teacher Kostandini, Onufri, Jeromak Shpataraku, Onufer Qiprioti, Zografi Brothers and Selenica. 

The Drisht Castle lies at a distance of 6 km from Urae Mesit or the Mes Bridge, as it is popularly known. A little higher up from the present village is the site of archaeological excavations of the ancient settlement, Drivatium. This ancient village dates back to the Roman period and was located en route to Kosova from Shkodra. In those days the Drisht Castle was a fortress defending Shkodra. Later, in the 9th century, it was a vital link in the defence arrangement of the Zeta principality. This castle also professed allegiance to the Bar Diocese. The Drisht castle was built during the Byzantine rule in the 13th century. The 14th century was a period of prosperity for the Drisht Castle and it became independent of Shkodra during this period. Later, in 1442, it was conquered by Venetian forces and then taken over by Skanderbeg, the Albanian national hero. The latter part of the 15th century saw Turkish occupation. A hilltop 800 metres above sea level makes a scenic setting for the Drisht castle. A stroll through the castle will reveal 11 houses inside the castle walls. 

The Albanian national hero, Skanderbeg started the construction of the Rodoni Castle in 1450. This was after Kruja was attacked for the first time. Skanderbeg chose to build his castle on Cape Rodon. In his time, Prince Karl Topia wished to have a shipyard at this location. But obviously Skanderbeg had his way, with the castle enabling him easy access to the sea. The castle is believed to have taken two years to take shape. 400 m long walls and towers in all the corners gave the castle an imposing look. Venetian forces occupied the castle in 1500. Continuous battering of seawater on the castle has had its effect with most of the walls under water. A few of the outer walls on one side and one tower are all that is visible of the outer structure now. The ruins of the Saint Peter's Church are a place of interest near the castle.

This castle is also known as the Castle of Sopot by the name of the hill on which it is located. It was built on the fourth century B.C., by Epirote-Illyrian tribes. The castle was heavily damaged during the barbarian invasions of the fifth and sixth centuries A.D., and it was rebuilt in the Middle Ages at which time it took its present name.

A short ride from Apollonia will take you to the Pojan Monastery, which houses the beautiful and serene St. Mary's Chapel. The west wing of this monastery has an inscription that proclaims it to be very ancient. One more inscription on the southern wall gives a date - 31 March 858. Andronicus Palaeologus the Second, the Byzantine Emperor later reconstructed this monastery.  The emperor's family, attired in ceremonial dress, looks down upon visitors from a painting just below the inscription. The Byzantine style is very much in evidence with the chapel's interior carrying the stamp of this style. An iconostasis - a stand displaying icons - featuring four icons can be found here. The surrounding walls display bas-reliefs of Appollonia. There is a regional fair held on the 15th of August each year to commemorate the Assumption of Our Lady, St. Mary.