Durrës

Durrës is an Albanian Adriatic port city. It has ferries to Bari and Ancona in (Italy) and bus connections to other Albanian and international destinations, often via Tirana. Alternative spellings of the city's name are Durazzo (Italian), Drač (Драч, Serbo-Croatian) or Dyrrhachion (Δυρράχιον, Greek).

Understand
Durres is a bustling, lively port city. There is a busy city centre, historical sites, beaches and promenades. The city has a vibrant feel with friendly and helpful locals. In parts the city is attractive and well maintained. In others it is somewhat ramshackle with both active and what appears to be abandoned development co-existing next to each other. There are abundant shops, retail stalls and street traders. They appear to trade from early morning until late and provide an attractive "always on" vibe to the city.

By boat


From specific destinations:
 * Bari (Italy) – Adria Ferries, GNV Ferries and Ventouris Ferries
 * Ancona (Italy) – Adria Ferries
 * Trieste (Italy) – Adria Ferries



By bus


From specific destinations:
 * Tirana – The buses depart from the temporary bus station near the Casa Italia shopping center. The ride takes around 45 min and costs 150 lek (May 2022). The bus operates daily from 06:30 to 19:30 and every 30 min.
 * Skopje (North Macedonia) – Buses run through Durrës on their way to Tirana. A typical Skopje-Tirana ticket costs around €25 return.
 * Kumanovo (North Macedonia) – There is a daily direct bus line to Durrës. The cost of tickets is around €20.
 * Pristina (Kosovo) – During the summer season there are several buses a day. You should check the timetables at the Pristina bus station, but in 2013 the timetable was as follows; 04:00, 05:00, 06:00 and 06:30 and then at 14:30, 15:00, 15:30, 16:00 and 23:00. There are at least a couple of buses going back at 16:00 and 17:00. Return ticket costs about €20. The trip takes around 4–5½ hr, depending on whether it goes via Prizren. Buses ran by Artiti Tours depart and arrive from the by a roundabout near the middle of Rruga Pavaresia street running parallel, and very close, to the beach. Tickets can be booked online at Gjirafa or Autobus.al. The bus stop can be reached on foot in about ½ hr from the city centre. Alternatively, take a taxi (about €8) or use a bus running along Rruga Pavaresia from the city centre.

By car
There is a road between here and Tirana, the SH2, which takes just over half an hour for the journey. You could fly into Tirana, then drive or get a taxi to Durrës, with the airport connecting to the SH2 by the SH60. Also from Vorë and Shijak from main roads and highways.

Get around
The city centre where the archaeological sites are located can be toured by foot. Many taxis are available in Durrës. You can find them parked everywhere on the streets with a taxi symbol on the top of their car. There are also public buses in orange that can drive you around the city although much slower.

Walking: Durres is a relatively compact city, so many attractions,shops,and restaurants are within walking distance of each other, especially in the city center and along the waterfront.

Public Transportation: Durres has a public bus system that connects various parts of the city.You can purchase tickets from kiosks or directly from the bus driver. Keep in mind that bus schedules may vary,so it is a good idea to check in advance.

Taxi: Taxis are readily available in Durres and are a Convenient option for getting around, especially if you're traveling to destinations not easily accessible by bus.Make sure to negotiate the fare with the driver before starting your journey.

Further afield




Do

 * Watch football: KF Teuta Durrës play soccer in Kategoria Superiore, the country's top tier. Their home ground is Niko Dovana Stadium, capacity 12,000, one km north of the ferry port.
 * Watch football: KF Teuta Durrës play soccer in Kategoria Superiore, the country's top tier. Their home ground is Niko Dovana Stadium, capacity 12,000, one km north of the ferry port.
 * Watch football: KF Teuta Durrës play soccer in Kategoria Superiore, the country's top tier. Their home ground is Niko Dovana Stadium, capacity 12,000, one km north of the ferry port.
 * Watch football: KF Teuta Durrës play soccer in Kategoria Superiore, the country's top tier. Their home ground is Niko Dovana Stadium, capacity 12,000, one km north of the ferry port.
 * Watch football: KF Teuta Durrës play soccer in Kategoria Superiore, the country's top tier. Their home ground is Niko Dovana Stadium, capacity 12,000, one km north of the ferry port.

Events

 * Take a look at interesting films from around the world at the annual Durres International Film Summer Festival in early September.
 * Visit the yearly Open Port Festival where the Port of Durres opens to the public featuring various exhibits of historic ships and modern inventions coupled with local entertainment.

Buy

 * Kokomani Wine
 * Souvenirs
 * Sea Souvenirs
 * Household goods
 * Traditional Albanian products

Connect
As of Sep 2021, Vodafone has the best coverage, with 4G in Durrës, the other main towns, and highways between. One and ALB have 4G in Durrës but less coverage elsewhere. 5G has not been rolled out in Albania.

Go next

 * Tirana the capital is ringed by trees and mountains. Mount Dajt has great views of the city.
 * Kruje in the hills above Tirana has museums and an old castle.
 * Lezhe has Skanderbeg's Tomb, panoramic Lezhe Castle and several renovated churches
 * Fier is a lively seaside city, near the ruins of the ancient Illyrian city of Apollonia.
 * fushe kruje its near with durres