Shkodër

Shkodër (Albanian: Shkodra) was the capital city of Albania for centuries until 1915 when World War I broke out. Now it is the second largest city in Albania with 135,612 people.

Understand
Nowadays, Shkodër has experienced a face lift as streets and buildings were renovated, a promenade opened and a new bridge built over the Buna River. Shkodër is 30 minutes away from the beach or 2 hours away from the mountains.

Furthermore, it seems that Shkodër is the bicycle capital of Albania—the chaos of bicycle going in any imaginable direction and the reckless driving of cars can make you dizzy.

History
Queen Teuta's Illyrian kingdom was based here in the 3rd century BCE. The Ottomans besieged it in 1473 and 1479, and lost 14,000 and 30,000 men in these raids, respectively. Shkodër changed hands with Montenegro numerous times during World War I. Shkodër was badly damaged in a 1979 earthquake.

Get in
As in the rest of Albania, there is no bus station per se. Instead, there are a few gathering points for buses/furgons scattered around the city.

To Montenegro
From Ulcinj (Montenegro), buses cost €5 or 700 lek (plus €1 if you have baggage) and leave at 06:00, 07:00, 12:30 and 16:30. If they are not available, you can take a taxi to the border at Muriqan (€10) and after crossing the border, take another taxi to Ulcinj (€8). However, the return ticket from Shkodër to Ulcinj costs €5 and buses leave at 09:00 and 16:00 from the city center fountain.

From Podgorica there are 4 daily buses to Shkodër (10:00, 13:00, 16:00, 23:45).

Minibuses to/from Hani i Hotit (the Montenegro border on the way to Podgorica) run from around 300 lek. Taxis for this journey cost €15.

To Kosovo
Buses from Gjakova go at 06:00 directly to Shkodër via the highway from Prizren.

Get around
Finding your way round Shkodër is complicated by the fact that all of the roads have been renamed, and some of the old names have even been re-used in different places! All roads have got new road signs. Since all the maps and guides (including this one) give the old names, finding your way round is a bit like being in a parallel universe.

There are some public buses running inside city. There is also infrequent bus to the nearby village of Shiroke.

By bicycle
Shkodër is the bike capital of Albania, because it's flat. This is a heritage from the Hoxha era. Bicycle can be rented for around 300 lek and are good to reach the lake, the castle and Ura e Mesit, the old Roman bridge.

See

 * Shkodra 0Shkodra Final 25.jpg
 * Shkodra 0Shkodra Final 25.jpg
 * Shkodra 0Shkodra Final 25.jpg
 * Shkodra 0Shkodra Final 25.jpg
 * Shkodra 0Shkodra Final 25.jpg
 * Shkodra 0Shkodra Final 25.jpg
 * Shkodra 0Shkodra Final 25.jpg

Do

 * Football: KF Vllaznia Shkodër play soccer in Kategoria Superiore, the top tier. Their Loro Boriçi Stadium (capacity 16,000) is central in town.
 * Lake Koman ferry is a breathtaking trip across Lake Koman from Koman to Fierze, where you can move on to Bajram Curri or further to Kosovo. Take a furgon in the morning 06:30 from the second roundabout down Marin Barleti about 500 m away from the city centre. If you are at the center-most place (the one in front of the hotel Rozafa) before 06:00, you can shout "Koman" and people will guide you through the correct furgon or call the furgon driver by phone that he picks you up.
 * Football: KF Vllaznia Shkodër play soccer in Kategoria Superiore, the top tier. Their Loro Boriçi Stadium (capacity 16,000) is central in town.
 * Lake Koman ferry is a breathtaking trip across Lake Koman from Koman to Fierze, where you can move on to Bajram Curri or further to Kosovo. Take a furgon in the morning 06:30 from the second roundabout down Marin Barleti about 500 m away from the city centre. If you are at the center-most place (the one in front of the hotel Rozafa) before 06:00, you can shout "Koman" and people will guide you through the correct furgon or call the furgon driver by phone that he picks you up.

Since Shkodër is the city of the bicycles, cycling from the city centre to Shiroka's lake and around of it, it is always a great choice, especially if you enjoy nature. There are shops near the city centre which will rent you a bicycle for 100 lek per hour (as of July 2022).

Buy

 * "Skënderbeu" Kognak
 * Locally made souvenirs such as rugs located in Zogaj village or at the Artisan's Bazaar (Albanian: Pazari i Artizanatit) at Shkodër's entrance.
 * Tregu i Madh (The Big Market): This is one of the most well-known markets in Shkodër. Here you can find a wide range of food products, clothing, shoes, cosmetics, and daily-use items.
 * Tregu i Ri (The New Market): This is a new and modern market that offers a fresh and daily shopping experience. You can find fresh fruits and vegetables, fresh meat and fish, and other food products.
 * Tregu i Vjetër (The Old Market): A traditional market in the old neighborhood of Shkodër. Here you can find handmade items, used clothing, antiques, and other unique items. The items you can find in these markets include:
 * Fresh Fruits and Vegetables: Including a variety of local and imported produce.
 * Clothing and Shoes: Including everyday wear, shoes, and fashion accessories for all ages and tastes.
 * Handmade Items: Including traditional clothing, home textiles, carpets, handicrafts, and many other unique items.
 * Antiques and Cultural Artefacts: Antiques and old cultural artifacts can be found, which are of interest to collectors and history enthusiasts.
 * Antiques and Cultural Artefacts: Antiques and old cultural artifacts can be found, which are of interest to collectors and history enthusiasts.

Eat

 * Carp fish in Shiroke village
 * Sheqerpare - desert
 * Lakra turshi - pickled cabbage

Lots of dining options are available on the main pedestrian street - Rruga Kolë Idromeno. There are also some nice restaurants and pizzerias on the promenade near Buna River Old Bridge (Rruga e Molos street).


 * 1) Tradita Geg & Tosk: Offers a blend of traditional Albanian cuisine and authentic atmosphere. You can try traditional fish and meat dishes.
 * 2) Ambasador 2: Is well-known for its excellent cuisine and pleasant atmosphere. It offers a wide range of fresh and delicious dishes.
 * 3) Besa: Another good option to try traditional Albanian cuisine in a beautiful setting. Local specialties are highly regarded.
 * 4) Kulla e Ajkërës: If you want to experience authentic mountain cuisine, this is a good choice. The restaurant offers delicious traditional mountain dishes and a stunning view of nature.
 * 5) Era e Kolonatit: A family-friendly restaurant, offering a wonderful atmosphere and a wide range of traditional Albanian and international dishes.

Budget

 * Zogaj Fishermen Boats.jpg

Cafes
Shkodër is famous for its numerous patisseries where you can eat delicious sweets, and it's possible to come to Shkodër for this alone.

Drink
Local beers "Korça" or "Tirana", Zadrima Winery and the famous Albanian spirit called Rakija made of different fruits.

Go next

 * Albanian Alps.
 * Ulcinj, Montenegro
 * Gjakova is worth it for the journey alone, through the gorges on Lake Koman.
 * Theth is approximately 72 kilometres away from Shkodra and also with the road trip can take longer around 3 or 4 hours depending on road conditions and traffic
 * Puke is approximately 47kilometres away from Shkodra and offers a beautiful blend of mountainous nature.
 * Deja`s Ford is a town and a municipality in Shkoder country, northwestern Albania.its so near with Shkodra