What To See in Shkodër, Albania
Shkodër, Albania (ISO 200, 4.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/60 s)
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Shkodër is considered the traditional capital of Albania and also referred to as Gegëria. Its earliest origins date back to the Bronze Age whereby the surrounding land was known to be quite fertile. Early inhabitants were the Illyrians which then lost the city to the Romans in 168 BC, before being a part of the Byzantine Empire in 535.
Shkodër is the 5th most populated city in Albania whose skyline is dominated by churches and mosques. The old town is the main attraction with great viewpoints also coming from Rozafa Castle, also known as Shkodër Castle.
Our journey through Albania had us staying in Shkodër for a few days, while we did day trips to places like Theth. It was very enjoyable to be able to relax in the city center and reflect on our days activities while eating a great meal and having a drink, for cheap! This blog post outlines what you can expect and what we recommend seeing in the city of Shkodër, Albania.
Check out my drone video of Shkodër, Albania below!
How to get to Shkodër
Shkodër is not quite remote but it is a little more challenging to reach. Getting to this city requires first knowing which airport you would like to fly into.
The closest major airport happens to be Podgorica in Montenegro (TGD).
There are then two bus companies that leave from Podgorica town (therefore you must find your way from Podgorica airport to the town itself. A taxi is probably most convenient and not too expensive in this case, otherwise there is a local bus).
Croatia Bus offers one departure to Shkodër daily, starting at 1 pm, taking 2 hours, and costing 12 Euros.
Old Town Travel offers one departure to Shkodër daily, starting at 10am, taking 2 hours, and also costing 12 Euros.
You can also fly into Tirana International Airport (TIA).
Upon arriving, you will have to find your way to the Tirana Bus station, so you can take a bus with Luna Travel from the Airport to the Tirana bus station.
Then you can find a direct bus ride from Tirana to Shkodër, which takes 2 hours, with multiple departures daily with a variety of companies. (Check out the link here for more info)
The total price for this journey is around 4 Euros.
You can also do what we did was to pick up a rental car from Tirana Airport and drive directly to Shkodër. Driving in Albania can be a little chaotic but it’s sort of a controlled chaos type situation. Just be super alert and you will be fine. There are petrol stations everywhere as well.
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Rozafa Castle (Shkoder Castle)
The Rozafa Castle is located near the city center of Shkodër. It stands on top of a rocky outcrop about 130 meters above sea level, flanked by the Buna and Drin rivers. It is said that due to the strategic location of the hill itself, that it has been inhabited since antiquity. It was used as an Illyrian stronghold before being surrendered to the Romans.
Inside the castle itself bear ruins of a Venetian Catholic church from the 13th century, otherwise known as St. Stephen’s Cathedral. It inevitably was turned into a mosque after the capture by the Ottoman Empire.
When we arrived at the castle, there was a bit of a line for cars coming up and down the road, as it becomes quite congested. What is best is to park near the bottom of the castle and just walk up. The views from up top are stunning and you can get a 360 view of the surround area. These surroundings form the Archaeological Park of Albania.
Mesi Bridge
This bridge is just a little bit outside of Shkodër but is worth checking out. It sits in the village of Mes and is considered a monument of the Postribë culture. The entire area around the bridge is also just breathtaking. You can see mountains for days and the bridge becomes an excellent foreground.
The Mesi bridge was constructed around 1770 but a local Ottoman leader, and spans the Kir river. It is 108 meters long, 3.4 meters wide and 12.5 meters high with 13 arches. You can see a more modern bridge just next to it that takes car passenger traffic.
It seems as though the bridge has been withering away over time as floodwaters usually dwindle the supports around the arches, which causing bridge cracking. Hopefully this is remedied in the future but take a bus here if you don’t have a car and have a picnic in the area. It’s great on a nice summer day.
Kiri River
The Kir River is what flows underneath the Mesi Bridge. In the time when we came, the bridge was dried up just at the site of the bridge. Nonetheless, I imagine this changes in the colder months as melting snow water comes down from the mountains. For those who can handle cold water while swimming, this is a dream. As someone who has lived in Sweden the past few years, swimming in colder water is something I am getting more used to.
The Lead Mosque (Xhamia e Plubit)
The Lead Mosque is a historical place of worship in Shkodër. It bears its name from the lead that covers its cupolas inside. Built in 1773, the mosque was constructed by Mehmed Bushati and imams after him were in charge of its upkeep thereafter. Unfortunately, as lead portions of the stolen and eventually taken by the Austrian army, the mosque fell into disrepair and was also damaged by lightning. It was declared a Cultural Monument in 1948, which saved it from demolition from Enver Hoxha.
Shkodra Lake
The Shkodra Lake is also known as Lake Scutair and sits on the border of Albania and Montenegro and is the largest lake in Southern Europe. The portion of the lake sitting on Montenegrin territory is designated as a national park. You can drive to some areas that border the lake, many with cafes and restaurants. Furthermore, in the summer months, there are tour operators that organize boat trips taking you to some of the lake’s nicer spots.
Ebu Beker Mosque
As you walk through the old town of Shkodër, you will eventually run into the Ebu Beker Mosque. It is a fairly modern mosque, building in 1995, on the site of an old destroyed mosque during the communist era. Although not the most impressive mosque I have seen, it compliments the skyline of the city well and is a welcome sight.
Shkodër, Albania (ISO 100, 45 mm, f/4.0, 1/1000 s)
Old Town Shkodër
Shkodër is a very walkable town with some notable portions to check out. With classic architecture and a variety of shops, the ‘old town’ of Shkoder is replete with bars and restaurants and is where most people seem to congregate every single night. The pathways are adorned with warm lights that stretch from building to building, giving a nice atmosphere. Hotel accommodation in this part of the city is actually quite cheap as well.
