Explore Shkoder and Rozafa Castle - Full-Day Tour

Shkoder is one of Albania's most active centres in northern Albania. Visitors here will be able to enjoy the wonders of the natural landscape, the richness of a thousand-year history and the hospitality of the locals. In the Illyrian kingdom (2nd century BC), Shkodra was an important site. Then, Shkodra was conquered by the Romans who made it an important maritime and port centre. Later came the Byzantines, the Serbs, and the Bulgarians. Venetians came after the Bulgarians and within a century of domination, have left important traces of their passage here in Shkoder.

This guided tour will start with pick up at your hotel. Leaving Tirana at 9 am, we will drive along the coast of northern Albania. On the way to Shkoder we will stop in the town of Lezhe (Alessio), to visit the memorial dedicated to the Albanian national hero, Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg, who dedicated his life to defend the Albanian culture and identity against the Ottomans. This place is sacred to Albanians and represents more than just a grave. It is a real memorial, a monumental grave. In Lezha, in March 1444, Skanderbeg signed a pact to reunite the Albanian principalities against the Ottoman invader. Although raised in Turkey, Skanderbeg remained loyal to Albania until his death in 1468. This monument was raised here in 1981 above the ruins of the ancient church of St. Nicholas. The architectural structure, with the marble columns on the external perimeter, is similar to the Parthenon and the Lincoln Memorial. Inside the memorial you can see Skanderbeg's shield and a reproduction of his heavy sword and helmet.

After arriving in Shkoder, the tour continues with a visit to the castle. The famous Rozafa Castle was built in the 4th century BC and for centuries remained standing as a defensive fortress for the city. Here lives the legend of Rozafa, the young woman who was sacrificed halfway inside the wall of the fortress. While half of her body was inside the wall, the other half was left outside so that she could breastfeed, cradle and hug her little boy. Inside the castle you will visit the museum where you will find an interesting documentation of Shkoder history. In fact, many different peoples and cultures have passed through here, leaving their mark: Illyrians, Romans, Byzantines, Ottomans and Slavs.

From the castle we walk down to the city centre, enjoying a fantastic view. Through the pedestrian street we reach a typical place, where you can take a break and have a nice coffee. After the break, we start walking towards the Marubi Museum (optional). The Marubi Museum preserves an important collection of over half a million negatives, which make it one of the major centres dedicated to photography in the Balkans. Finally, in the early afternoon, you will have free time to explore the city and stop at the shops along Rruga Kole before returning to Tirana.