Berat is like an open-air museum. The houses are perched on cliffs, one above the other, each with its own unique story.
From the banks of the Osum River, which separates the two central neighborhoods, you can admire the white houses and truly understand why Berat is also called the "City of a Thousand Windows."
We spent four days in Albania, and one of those days was dedicated to a fantastic day trip to Berat. If you want to read more about our itinerary in Albania, check out my previous articles.
Alex Cornici
Today, however, I want to introduce you to the most beautiful city in Albania. So, if you're planning to visit Albania and want an authentic experience, or you simply need a break after long days on the sand, I highly recommend you visit this city.
In this article, I'll take you on a virtual journey through Berat and provide some tips to help you organize a day trip there.
About Berat
Berat, which is believed to have been established 2,400 years ago, stretches along the Osum River. Due to its geographical position, the city has experienced a truly tumultuous history.
It was destroyed in numerous battles and rebuilt in the 13th century by the Serbs, who named it Beligrad. Later, when the Ottoman Empire arrived in the area, the city was fortified again.
In fact, Berat is considered one of the few remaining Ottoman cities still "standing," which earned it a place on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
Because Berat was conquered by various peoples with different beliefs, the city gathers within a small space both churches dating back to the 13th-14th centuries and mosques that preserve the memory of the Ottoman Empire.
Besides the white houses, Berat also boasts a castle and a bridge built in 1780, which connects the two neighborhoods: Goritsa (the Christian quarter) and Moré-Tchélépi (the Muslim quarter).
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Alex Cornici
What to See and Do in Berat
- Berat Castle
- Ethnographic Museum
- The two neighborhoods along the Osum River
- Byzantine churches
- The Sultan’s Mosque
How to Get to Berat
Whether you're on a city break in Tirana or vacationing on the Albanian coast, the easiest way to reach Berat is by car.
From Tirana
There are two routes:
- Via Durres – This is the route we took. It’s 130 km and can be covered in about 2 hours and 20 minutes.
- Via Elbasan – This route is 99 km long and takes about 1 hour and 50 minutes.
From Vlore
There are also two routes:
- Via Fier – 83 km, which can be covered in about 2 hours.
- Via Lushnja – 111 km, which takes around 1 hour and 30 minutes.
From Saranda
If you're in Saranda, you might need more time, as the road is quite long. Depending on the route chosen, the distance is between 170 and 240 km, with a driving time of 4-5 hours.
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Alex Cornici
Driving in Albania – National Roads, Highways, Speed Limits
As mentioned before, you don’t need to pay road tolls in Albania, except for the A1 highway, so you won't have to worry about purchasing a vignette. Highways in Albania are almost nonexistent—there are only three highways in the country: A1 (177 km), A2 (76 km), and A3 (30 km).
As a result, distances between cities take longer to cover, even if they aren’t very far apart. Additionally, major cities can be reached via expressways, often marked with "SH".
Unfortunately, as I've said on Instagram and Facebook, information about Albania is limited and not always up-to-date, which also applies to Google Maps.
- Speed limits: On highways, the speed limit is 110 km/h; on express roads, it’s 90 km/h; and on other roads, it’s 40 km/h.
To rent a car—which I highly recommend if you plan to tour the country—you can use Rental Cars. We always rent cars through Rental Cars (we’ve done so in Mexico, Belgium, Poland, Greece, and Albania).
RC also offers the option to purchase full insurance, which not only lets us sleep peacefully but also spares us from paying huge deposits.
We rented a car for just 24 hours from Alamo, which cost us 23 euros.
- Fuel: A liter of fuel costs between 150 and 160 LEK.
Public Transport
The most complicated yet cheapest option (for couples or solo travelers) is the bus. Several minibusses leave from Tirana to Berat, and the price for a single trip is around 300 LEK (though it could be more or less).
This option is perfect for those who aren't in a hurry, those who plan to stay in Berat for at least two days, or those traveling on a budget. We took the bus from Tirana to Durres, and the journey was quite easy (and super, super cheap).
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Alex Cornici
The most beautiful city in Albania – Berat
Berat is an open-air museum, a city seemingly frozen in time... a city with many stories to tell. I liked that the old center is well-maintained and that you can easily find parking on the main street.
However, before reaching the UNESCO center, just 2 km away, we managed to get lost in a slum, from which we barely escaped.
It was interesting to see the contrast between the well-maintained historical area and the rest of the city, but this situation is common everywhere, so we didn’t pay too much attention to it.
Regardless, Berat confirmed for us, if there was ever any doubt, that Albania is a truly fascinating country.
Although our time in the "City of a Thousand Windows" was short, we can honestly say that it was an experience that made our brief trip to Albania even more beautiful.
While there are still many places we have yet to see in this country, and I’m convinced we’ll return, Berat remains the most beautiful city in Albania.