Sightseeing stop in Durrës (Durres): discover beautiful places in Albania

Durrës (Durres) highlight

ancient theatre is a UNESCO Tentative List Site

We at Monterrasol Transfers specialize in private car transfers. Together with the transfer itself, we propose that you visit some beautiful places along the transfer route. We call such places optional sightseeing stops (short excursions).

One of the places we selected to propose as a sightseeing stop is a beautiful Durrës (Durres) in Albania. Sightseeing stops are a perfect easy opportunity to see new places during your transfer across Albania, especially during long distance transfers. Take it as a great option to get in touch with local culture and history. It's good to combine transportation and sightseeing together!

Durrës (also known under Italian name Durazzo), historically known as Epidamnos and Dyrrachium, is the second most populous city of the Republic of Albania. Located on the Adriatic Sea, it is the country's most ancient and economic and historic center.

Last reviewed: 14 March 2020

Durrës (Durres) description

Founded in the ancient region of Illyria in 627 BC by Greek colonists from Corinth and Corfu under the name of Epidamnos around the 7th century BC, the city essentially developed to become significant as it became an integral part of the Roman Empire and its successor the Byzantine Empire.

Durrës is served by the Port of Durrës, one of the largest on the Adriatic Sea, which connects the city to Italy and other neighboring countries. Its most considerable attraction is the Amphitheater of Durrës that is included on the tentative list of Albania for designation as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Once having a capacity for 20,000 people, it is the largest amphitheater in the Balkan Peninsula.

After the Illyrian Wars with the Roman Republic in 229 BC ended in a decisive defeat for the Illyrians, the city passed to Roman rule, under which it was developed as a major military and naval base.

The Romans renamed it Dyrrachium. They considered the name Epidamnos to be inauspicious because of its wholly coincidental similarities with the Latin word damnum, meaning "loss" or "harm". The meaning of Dyrrachium ("bad spine" or "difficult ridge" in Greek) is unclear, but it has been suggested that it refers to the imposing cliffs near the city.

One of the city's main sights is the Byzantine city wall, also called Durrës Castle, while the largest amphitheater in the Balkans is found close to the city's harbor.

Durrës is home to the largest archaeological museum in the country, the Durrës Archaeological Museum, located near the beach. North of the museum are the sixth-century Byzantine walls constructed after the Visigoth invasion of 481. The bulk of the museum consists of artifacts found in the nearby ancient site of Dyrrhachium and includes an extensive collection from the Illyrian, Ancient Greek, Hellenistic and Roman periods. Items of major note include Roman funeral steles and stone sarcophagi, an elliptical colorful mosaic measuring 17 by 10 feet, referred to as The Beauty of Durrës, and a collection of miniature busts of Venus, testament to the time when Durrës was a centre of worship of the goddess.

We know good things to see in Albania. We know the roads, well-known tourist attractions like UNESCO sites, and off-the-beaten-path places.

If you would like to learn more about Albania and explore it by visiting different attractions, come with us for a private tour. We can travel all across Albania and we will show you all the important tourist attractions together with the hidden gems of this beautiful country. Feel free to contact us!

We have developed numerous itineraries for private car tours in Albania as well as in neighboring countries, including tours passing through several countries as one journey. Solo private tours and tours for Seniors are available also.

Transfers to Durrës (Durres)

Currently we know prices for these car transfers to Durrës (Durres):

Private transfers from Bosnia-Herzegovina

• private car transfer Sarajevo to Durres (Durrës)

Private transfers from Montenegro

• private car transfer Kotor to Durres (Durrës)

• private car transfer Meljine to Durres (Durrës)

• private car transfer Perast to Durres (Durrës)

• private car transfer Podgorica to Durres (Durrës)

• private car transfer Portonovi to Durres (Durrës)

• private car transfer Tivat to Durres (Durrës)

Unable to find your transfer?

If the transfer you need not exist in the list of our transfers, feel free to ask us for custom transfer by this form: ask for a custom private transfer to Durrës (Durres), Albania.