Shëngjin

Shëngjin is a growing beach town in Lezhë in Northwest Albania. It is well known for its Adriatic coastline and tourist accommodations. Shëngjin is quickly becoming one of the must see locations in Albania for day trippers or those looking for a relaxing getaway by the coast.

Understand
Shëngjin's district, Lezhë, has thousands of years of history that has provided this beach city with a unique Mediterranean culture. Home to some of the most historic and heroic moments in Albania's history, the Lezhë district has become well known for its history as much as its sandy coastline. Shëngjin is outlaying district of Lezhë. The people of Shëngjin, like the rest of the people of Albania, are known for their hospitality.

Although cosy and beautiful, large apartment blocks and hotels have been built in the recent years. A small commercial port still serves the area. The port has a history of being used by the Venetians and the local population and being a stopover spot for ship travel up and down the Adriatic.

Shëngjin beach is easily accessible from the main Tirana-Shkodra road and popular as a weekend destination. It also has some wonderful and affordable cuisine.

Recently a number of Afghan refugees has been housed in the many hotels.

Get in
By bus: In the summer months it is possible to take a bus between Shëngjin and neighboring city Lezhë. Buses routes between Shëngjin and Lezhë costs 50 lek and take approximately 15 minutes to ride. The location for bus drop-offs and pick-ups are throughout the city of Shëngjin and Lezhë.

By taxi/furgon: Furgons (or minivan taxis) run year around from Shëngjin to neighboring city Lezhë. Furgon rides between Shëngjin and Lezhë costs 100 lek and take approximately 10-15 minutes. The locations for furgons drop-offs and pick-ups are throughout the city of Shëngjin and Lezhë. Furgons are the most common form of transportation in the area and are easy to locate as they drive through the city from morning till night.

By boat: The ferry connection with Brindisi was reinstated in June 2015 running twice a week by European Seaways in the summer. Ferry departs from Brindisi at 23:00 and arrives in Shëngjin at 07:00. It departs from Shëngjin at noon (12:00) and arrives in Brindisi at 20:00.

By Car: You can go through the Village Shengjin from the main road,. In the crossroads between Lezha and Shkodra go left after 10km to arrive at the destination. The road's speed limit speed in within a 40-50km/h range.

Get around
Most visitors get around Shëngjin by walking along the make road or along the coastline. However, it is possible to take a bus, taxi, or furgon throughout the city. Just be aware that most of these means of transportation often lead out of town to the neighboring city, Lezhë. If you wish to travel within the city, make it clear to the driver where you want to go, or else you may be taken out of town on the more typical transportation routes.





Do
Shëngjin offers a wide arrange of outdoor activities including:
 * Fish
 * Hunt
 * Camp
 * Hiking
 * Camp
 * Hiking

Eat
Shëngjin's restaurants are best known for offering the freshest seafood in the region. Tourists greatly enjoy the local seafood dishes caught by the local fisherman. Shëngjin also offers Albanian and Italian-influenced cuisine in its restaurants. Some of Shëngjin's most popular restaurants include;



Drink
Like other Albanian towns, Shëngjin's drink of choice is "raki", which is produced from local grapes. Visitors also enjoy drinking wine produced in northern Albania that is sold at many of the cafes and restaurants across town.

Sleep
Many resort-style hotels have been built along the beachfront. Some of Shëngjin's top hotels include Hotel President, Hotel Ermiri Palace, Hotel Antag, and Hotel Rafaelo. The accommodations are spread out from the southern to the northern parts of the city, and they also range in price. The hotels fill up with guests during the summer months when thousands pour in to visit the Adriatic coast.

Connect
You can buy a local SIM card for around €10 (1200 lek). All the telephonic shops have touristic offers. You must provide ID (passport) to buy the SIM.

Many local cafes and hotels offer free Wi-Fi service to their customers.

Go next
Shëngjin is 7 km from Lezhë, 10 km from Laç, 28 km from Shkodër, 55 km from Durrës, 58 km from Tirana, and 60 km from the Tirana International "Mother Teresa" Airport. All of these locations can be accessed by bus, minivan taxi (furgon), or taxi. Visitors to the area have found that transportation is fairly easy to navigate in this area.