Bajram Curri

Bajram Curri is the largest town in the Tropoja District of northern Albania, near the border with Kosovo. It is an important gateway to the spectacular Valbona valley and the breathtaking ferry ride across Lake Koman.

Understand
The town is named for the national hero of the same name, Bajram Curri, a freedom fighter who fought for ethnic northern Albanian interests, first against the Ottoman Empire and later against the new Albanian government. He shot himself near the town in order to avoid capture, and the town was renamed after him.

Due to its physical and cultural proximity to Kosovo, the area was adversely affected by the conflict in Kosovo, with many of its residents involved either directly in combat or in assisting and housing refugees from Kosovo.

The Tropoja area is culturally and historically closer to Kosovo than to southern Albania.

Bajram Curri is an important hub for the traveller, as you are likely to change minibuses (called "furgons") here from 3 directions. They all tend to depart around the same times, so with luck you can transfer straight from one to another:
 * Gjakova and Prizren in Kosovo
 * Shkodra via Kukës, and onward to Tirana
 * Valbona

Get in
Minibuses/furgons leave Gjakova and Prizren in Kosovo for Bajram Curri in the morning (€2.50 from Gjakova). Like the rest of Albania their schedules depend on demand.

Minibuses from Shkodra bring you to the scenic ferry across Lake Koman (500 lek). They leave Shkodra at about 06:30 and Tirana at about 05:00. The ferry leaves Koman at 09:00 and arrives in Fierze at about 12:00. You will there be picked up by minibuses that bring you to Bajram Curri (costs a few Leks extra).

From Tirana, minibuses using the ferry leave at about 05:00. Other minibuses go by road via Kukës or Gjakova. From Gjakova or other close Kosovan cities there are minibuses available.

Get around
The town is small enough to walk and see the buildings, enjoy the fresh air etc.

Do

 * Visit the Valbona valley. The village of Valbona is less than an hour away by taxi and can be enjoyed in a day. The nature of this park is full of varieties suitable for tourism, fishing, relaxation, amusing and mountain climbing as well as winter sports Mostly you can walk among the wonderful nature, make excursions and exercise different sports as hunting (during the season), climbing, trekking, and riding horses. The camping is another pleasure but you have to be informed about the right places. Valbona is one of the most beautiful places in Albania and the segments of the Valbona river can be a real challenge for the impassioned of the extreme sports.
 * Visit the Dragobia Cave near of Valbona Valley, at Dragobia village
 * Visit the Canyon of Shoshan, near Shoshani Bridge, at Valbona Valley
 * Visit the Historical Museum, in the centre of Bajram Curri town
 * Visit the Ice Cave near Valbona Valley
 * Visit Mic Sokoli Tower, at Bujan near the Bajram Curri town
 * Visit Statue of Bajram Curri, in the centre of the town
 * Visit the Valbona Sports Palace, in Bajram Curri town

Buy
You can buy souvenirs, handmade items, maps or tourist guide on shops near the Historical Museum of Bajram Curri.

Eat

 * There are restaurants serving Albanian food, traditional dishes of town and pizza along Rruga Syleiman Vokshi (the road starting from the statue). "Byrektore" (sweet cakes and desserts) and cafes are plentiful around the town. Hotels Ermali and Vllaznimi have restaurants.
 * Chestnuts. The region is known in the whole of Albania for holding the largest chestnut plantations in the country.
 * There is Bar Restaurant Nezaj in front of Agim Ramadani street, a place that serves all of traditional dishes of Tropoja.
 * Fli is a traditional dish usually served in the city. It consists of multiple crepe-like layers brushed with cream and served with sour cream. The name translates to "sacrifice".

Drink
There are many of clubs where tourists and residents can enjoy Albanian (traditional) drinks like raki, boza or vere musht (a special wine that people made). There you can find other drinks like Albania 'Kaon Beer', 'Korça Beer', 'Tirana Beer', 'Stela Beer', etc.

Connect
There are internet cafes around the town for 60 lek an hour or so. It is also possible to tap into one of the many unsecured Wifi networks near the town centre.

Stay safe
The Tropoja area has an undeserved reputation as a wild lawless region beyond the control of the government and ruled by the Albanian mafia. Unexploded ordnance from the Kosovo conflict is also an issue when wandering off the beaten path. Note that the UK, Australia and Canada have travel advisories in place advising against travel to the northeast region of Albania, including Tropoja district and Bajram Curri.

The law and order situation has improved greatly, however, and travellers are likely to meet nothing other than friendly and generous locals.

Go next

 * Take the Lake Koman ferry out if you didn't come by that way. It is a breathtaking journey through massive gorges on Lake Koman.
 * Prizren, Kosovo
 * Theth, Albania
 * Gjakova, Kosovo
 * Gjakova, Kosovo