Durrës Ancient City Day Trip from Tirana
A day trip from Tirana to Durres, Albania's oldest city, with the Roman amphitheatre, the archaeological museum, Byzantine mosaics and time by the sea.
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Tour Overview
Durres was founded by Greek settlers around 627 BC and grew into one of the most important ports of the Roman Adriatic. Today the modern city sits on top of the ancient one, and you can still walk through its Roman amphitheatre, one of the largest in the Balkans, hidden among the streets near the sea.
What do you see? The amphitheatre with its arched passages, the archaeological museum with Roman and Greek finds, sections of the old city walls, and Byzantine mosaics. Durres is also a beach town, so there is time to sit by the Adriatic and have lunch by the water.
Who is it for? Anyone who likes history and an easy pace, including families. Durres is only about an hour from Tirana, so it does not need an early start or a long drive. Wear comfortable shoes for the ruins, and bring a swimsuit in summer if you want to add the beach.
Day Trip Itinerary
Stop 1: Pickup in Tirana
~09:00Stop 2: Roman amphitheatre & Byzantine chapel
~10:00Stop 3: City walls & Venetian Tower
~11:00Stop 4: Archaeological Museum
~11:45Stop 5: Seaside promenade
~12:30Stop 6: Return to Tirana
~14:00
What's Included
What's Not Included
Price & Booking Details
Pricing coming soon.
Booking: Request to book
Meeting Point, Pickup & Logistics
Transportation: Minivan
Who This Tour Is Best For
Audience info coming soon.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is the amphitheatre?
It dates to the 2nd century AD, built under the Roman emperor Trajan. It once held about 15,000 spectators and was the largest Roman amphitheatre in the Balkans.
What is the Byzantine chapel?
A small 6th-century Christian chapel built into one of the amphitheatre cells, decorated with mosaic images of saints — a reminder that ancient sites get reused, sometimes by religions that did not exist when they were built.
Is this a half-day or a full day?
A half-day — about 5 hours door-to-door including roughly 1.5 hours of driving and 3 hours in Durrës. You are back in Tirana by mid-afternoon.
Can I add the beach?
Yes, on request — Golem and Currila beaches are 10–15 minutes from the amphitheatre and we can extend the day to include one. Tell us at booking and we will quote the extension.
How far is Durrës from Tirana?
About 45 minutes by motorway, and the round-trip Mercedes Sprinter transfer from your Tirana hotel is included.
Is it suitable for children?
Yes, there is no minimum age. It suits children who can walk 2–3 km and manage some stairs in the amphitheatre’s lower cells.
Is it wheelchair accessible?
Partly — the upper amphitheatre and the museum are accessible; the lower cells and Byzantine chapel involve stairs and are not. Tell us at booking and the guide adapts the route around the accessible portions.
Can I combine this with Kruja?
Yes, as a longer full-day combo (Durrës in the morning, Kruja in the afternoon). Flag it at booking and we will quote the combo.
Verified Customer Reviews
Customer reviews coming soon.
