5 Can’t-Miss Things to Do in Berat, Albania

Berat is one of Albania’s most popular tourist destinations after the country’s beaches and capital Tirana. This small city sits in the heartland of southern Albania and is best known for its historical nature. As such, many of the main things to do in Berat in Albania relate to its history and preserved look.

Arriving in town, I wasn’t completely sure what to do in Berat. I just knew that it was famous for the white houses stacked on top of each other and that it was one of Albania’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It didn’t take long to piece together the main things to do here as I explored. So, whether you’re undecided about visiting or just want a plan for your sightseeing, these are the essential things to do in Berat that you won’t want to miss.

Is Berat worth visiting?

If you’re at all undecided about visiting Berat, let’s sort that out first. Yes, Berat is worth visiting, even if only for one day or a day trip.

As you’ll see from my Berat photos, it’s one of Albania’s most picturesque cities. Most visitors will find that it’s not too out of the way, so you shouldn’t need a big detour to get there. And there’s enough to see for one day in Berat without feeling rushed or bored.

How to get to Berat

Although Berat is located in Albania’s Southern Region, it’s quite a central destination. This makes it one of the easiest places to get to Albania, whether you rent a car or use public transport.

Berat is well connected with other common tourist destinations, from Tirana and Sarande to Vlore and Gjirokaster. Find timetables (that you can rely on) at Gjirafa. I took the bus from Gjirokaster as well as the Berat to Tirana bus, and it all worked fine; just look for the sign on the bus/minibus’ windscreen.

Worth knowing is that the Berat bus station is not that close to the old town. Board a local bus that will loop through the station to travel south into the city centre.

Another way to visit Berat is to just come for a day trip. You can easily book a shared tour from Tirana and see a lot of the city with a guide showing you around.

Where to stay in Berat

Because Berat is such a common stop on the tourist route through Albania, you have your pick of accommodation. What may be harder is deciding which part of the city to stay in.

Many choose the obvious solution, stay in the Old Town, also known as Mangalem. Places there have personality, but you’ll need to walk through alleys and stairways to get there. Staying in the grounds of Berat Castle may also be appealing, but this means tackling the hill between it and everything else.

Gorica is home to more accommodation with character and it’s easy enough to cross the river to see the sights. The modern city centre around Sheshi Teodor Muzaka Square is even more convenient, if a little lively at night. I stayed in this part of the city at the White City Hotel, which was comfortable and offers one of the best city views.

Other highly-rated Berat hotels include:

• Hotel Rezidenca Desaret
• Hotel Ansel
• Hotel Vila Aleksander

What to do in Berat

As soon as you arrive in Berat, it should be pretty clear how you’ll spend your time there. The city’s historical landmarks stand out proudly and aren’t far apart. This isn’t a destination where you’re constantly travelling long distances from one attraction to the next. Here are the things to do in Berat to see the best of the city.

Explore the Old Town

The star of the show for sightseeing in Berat is the city’s Old Town. Row after row of old Ottoman houses line the hillside in the city center, a mix of stonework, white plaster, and brown tile roofs. Individually the buildings don’t seem like much, but step back from the Old Town and it’s a sight to behold. The reason it’s UNESCO-listed is obvious.

Views of the Old Town are one thing. Walking through the narrow alleys and stairways that connect every home are another thing. Even in such a small space, it’s easy to get turned around. Most buildings now serve as guesthouses, restaurants, or at studios.

Among the buildings of the Old Town there arent’ many stand-out attractions. For those, you want to look down around its edges. Through an ornate arch stands the former Pasha’s palace, which has clearly seen better days.

Across the street lies the Xhamia Mbret mosque, and the Halveti Tekke. On the far side of the Old Town, the Bachelors’ Mosque with its painted facade reminded me a little of the Painted Mosque of Tetovo.

Cross the river to Gorica

Berat Old Town may be the obvious highlight of the city, but there’s another part of the city you need to know. Look across the Osum River and you’ll see the small, old neighbourhood of Gorica.

Two bridges lead from the main part of the city over to Gorica. One is the rather plain-looking structure near the Old Town. The other is the Gorica Bridge, a beautiful stone bridge with fantastic views. Make sure you follow the riverfront to see it, as the views from the Gorica side are wonderful.

By the looks of it, Gorica is basically a second old town stuck against its own hillside. Stone houses line narrow streets, with everything in the typical Ottoman architectural style. Some of the buildings now host boutique hotels and traditional restaurants. Regardless, it’s another nice area to explore, especially with the revamped riverfront promenade.

People watch on Bulevardi Republika

When you’re sightseeing and experiencing a destination, not everything has to be about visiting attractions. Sometimes, it’s nice to just sit down and watch local life unfold. Berat has the perfect spot for you to do this too.

Bulevardi Republika is a pedestrian bordering Lulishtja Park in the city centre. Locals seem to come to this park at all hours of the day to socialise and meet up. But they also enjoy filling the outdoor seating of the cafes and bars that look out to Lulishtja Park.

Many cafes and bars here appeal more to tourists than locals, while the more traditional venues are full of locals. No matter where you sit, you’ve got a front-row seat to life in Albania.

Visit Berat Castle

Sitting high above Berat directly over the Old Town is Berat Castle. It’s a steep walk up to the castle, and you especially feel it in summer, but it’s definitely worth it.

Despite the name, it’s best to think of this more as a citadel than a castle. That’s because this isn’t just a castle keep, it’s a huge fortification with what amounts to a small village inside its walls. You don’t fully appreciate this until you’re inside its impressive main gate.

Visitors have a lot to see inside Berat Castle. Nobody should miss the view down to town from the Berat Viewing Platform. To get there though, you’ll need to walk the length of the fortress. That’s not a bad thing though as you get to see all sorts of ruins, walls, and preserved homes along the way.

Inside the fortress lie the ruins of two mosques, while the castle’s churches look in much better condition. In terms of location, the Holy Trinity Church above from the 14th century takes the cake. The other attraction worth mentioning is the Onufri Iconography Museum, a church full of Byzantine artifacts and icons. Expect crowds at the museum if you see a tour bus parked at the main gate.

Enjoy some Albanian cuisine

Berat is as good a place as any to experience the food of Albania. You don’t have to look far for Berat restaurants that focus on traditional Albanian cuisine.

During my visit, I liked Zonja Gjene on the road west out of the town centre. The staff there were nice and sitting outside you could enjoy views over to the river and Gorica. Just as important, the food was good, so I went back the second night. The highlight for me was the stuffed peppers. I also tried the oven potatoes and their “traditional casserole”, which I believe was fërgesë.

If you prefer to get more hands-on with local cuisines, consider doing a cooking class. You’ll still get to eat traditional dishes, but you’ll also learn how to make them yourself for when you get home.

Other things to do in Berat

Aside from some smaller attractions, that roughly sums up what to do in Berat. But why stop there? You have the wider Berat County to explore.

One activity to consider is hiking, given the hills and mountain ranges surrounding the city. Two local hiking spots are the Mali Partizan trail behind Gorica and the hillside trails northeast of the city. I never even considered a hike, it was that hot in summer.

Another way to occupy your time is to do a day trip from Berat. While you could go to other cities, most are better visited for more than a day trip. The ruins of Apollonia are only roughly a 1.5-hour drive, but it’s awkward without a car. Instead, your best bet is to do a day trip to Osum Canyon and the Bogove Waterfall, two natural wonders I didn’t even know existed until it was too late.

Do these things to do in Berat make you want to visit on a trip to Albania? Where else in Albania would you like to go or learn about? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.