9 Best Things to Do in Berat, Albania

This is your guide to the best things to do in Berat, Albania; a historic city that should definitely be on your Albania itinerary. Together with Gjirokaster, Berat is considered one of the best examples of Ottoman architecture in the country. The historic centre is divided into three neighbourhoods, with both Mangalem and Gorica filled with narrow, cobbled stone streets and white stoned houses, and the Castle district which is packed with history and stunning views.

If you’d like to see what we got up to in Berat, then make sure to watch our dedicated south of Albania video on our YouTube channel. For more Albania videos, check out our Albania Series.

Introducing Berat, Albania

The picturesque city of Berat is situated on the banks of the Osum River on the slopes of the Tomorri Mountain in the south of Albania.

Berat’s history began in the 6th-5th century B.C. as an Illyrian settlement. In the 4th and 3rd century B.C. it was turned into a castle city called Antipatrea. Even today many of Berat’s residents live inside the castle walls. The city was ruled by different empires over the decades, including the Ottomans, who ruled Berat from the 15th century until the end of the Ottoman Empire.

Today, Berat is also known as the ‘city of a thousand windows’ due to the large number of windows on the well-preserved white stoned houses. The city can be divided into three main neighbourhoods: Mangalem, Gorica and Kalaja where the castle is located.

The historic city was declared as a Museum City in 1961. In addition, in 2008 it also became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

How to Get to Berat, Albania

By car: Berat is located to the south of Tirana and you can reach it in about 2 hours by hire car. You can follow the SH2 towards Durres and then the SH4 to Lushnjë. From there you have to drive on the SH72 to Berat.

By Bus: You can also reach Berat by local bus from Tirana. There are regular minibuses departing from Tirana’s South and North Bus Terminals to Berat. A one way bus ticket costs 500 LEK (4.50 EUR) and they leave almost every hour. If you’re taking a taxi to the bus station in Tirana, that can cost around 1000 LEK (9 EUR) from the city centre.

The buses travel via Durres and the ride is relatively smooth. It takes over 2 hours to reach Berat depending on the traffic. The bus will drop you off at the main bus terminal which is located a bit outside of Berat’s historic centre. From there you can hop on a green bus that takes you to the city centre for only about 30 LEK (0.25 EUR). Alternatively, you can also grab a taxi which would cost you around 500 LEK (4.50 EUR).

How Long Do You Need in Berat

We stayed in Berat for two nights which gave us just enough time to see everything in the city itself. You can definitely see the absolute highlights in only a day, so if you’re very short on time, you can definitely just stay for a night.

If you’d like to explore the surrounding area, then you can consider staying at least 3 nights. That way you’ll have enough time to go on a day trip to some stunning locations such as the Osumi Canyon.

Best Things to Do in Berat, Albania

Top Tip – Before you start exploring the best of Berat, make sure to put on some comfortable shoes. The whole city is very hilly and the cobblestone streets can be a bit slippery.

1. Climb Up to Berat Castle (Kalaja)

Situated on top of Gorica Hill, Berat Castle or Kalaja is without doubt the number one attraction in Berat.

The origin of the castle goes all the way back to the 4th century. A large portion of Berat’s population used to live within the castle, although even to this day there are many people still living within the walls. The structures you’ll see today are mainly from the 13th century onwards.

There are quite a few features not to miss when wondering around the castle grounds. These features include the head sculpture of Constantine the Great, the ruins of the Red Mosque and White Mosque, the Holy Trinity Church, and many other churches. There are also people selling local products that you can check out and consider purchasing if you’re after some souvenirs.

For some epic views over Berat and the surrounding area, make sure to head to the viewing platform. Walking along the walls of the main fortress will also give you some undisturbed views so don’t skip that either.

You can walk all the way up to the castle by following Rruga Mihal Komnena. It’s pretty steep going up, but as you gain elevation the views will get better and better.

The entry fee is 300 LEK (2.60 EUR) between 9 AM  – 6 PM. It’s actually open 24/7 so if you visit outside these hours you can visit for free.

2. See the Historic Mosques of Berat

Red Mosque

Whilst you’re exploring Berat Castle, make sure to see the remains of the Red Mosque. The majority of the structures you’ll see within the castle walls are from the Byzantine era. However, the Red Mosque is one of the buildings that was built by the Ottoman Empire around the 15th century. It was built with red bricks and limestone. Today, there’s only the minaret left. It has been a Cultural Monument of Albania since 1961.

White Mosque

Still located within the castle walls, you can also see the ruins of the White Mosque otherwise known as Sultan Bayezid II Mosque. Unlike the Red Mosque, the White Mosque doesn’t have its entire minaret any more, only the two metre tall base of it, and about a metre high part of the foundation walls. As the name suggests, it was built using white limestone. Just like the Red Mosque, it became a Cultural Monument of Albania in 1961.

Bachelors’ Mosque

Located in the Mangalem neighbourhood of Berat is the Bachelors’ Mosque, formerly known as the Sylejman Pasha Mosque. This mosque was built for unmarried shop assistants and junior craftsmen. Just like the other mosques, it also became a Cultural Monument in 1961.

Lead Mosque

Another mosque in the Mangalem district you can visit is the Lead Mosque also known as the Izgurli Mosque. It is a 16th-century historical mosque and its name comes from the lead coating on its dome. It is also a Cultural Monument of Albania.

King Mosque

The King Mosque, also known as the Sultan’s Mosque or Sultan Bayezid Mosque, is also found in the Mangalam area of Berat. It has also been a Cultural Monument of Albania since 1948. The mosque was built in the 15th century for the local Albanian population.

3. Visit the Churches of Berat

You’ll soon notice the large number of churches in Berat. Just like the mosques listed above, many of the churches are also considered Cultural Monuments.

Holy Trinity Church

Probably one of the most beautiful Byzantine churches in Berat is the Holy Trinity Church, located in the Kajala (castle) district of Berat. Overlooking Mount Shpirag with the Osumi River meandering below, this church couldn’t have been built in a more scenic location.

St. Mary of Blachernae Church 

Another must see church within the castle walls is the St. Mary of Blachernae Church. It’s actually named after the Church of St. Mary of Blachernae, one of the most famous churches in Constantinople (Istanbul). The church dates back to the 13th century. Its interior walls and floor have frescoes and icons from the 16th century. In front of the church is where you’ll find the head sculpture of Constantine the Great.

St. Michael’s Church

The Byzantine Church of Shën Mëhilli is located at the foot of Berat Castle. This 14th century church is actually perched on a steep rock. You can get a pretty good view of it from the the river bank of the Gorica neighbourhood.

Church of St Spiridon

Within Gorica district you can visit a beautiful old church called the Church of St Spiridon. This 18th-century orthodox church has nine circular pillars and a stone bell tower. You’ll also find some frescoes painted inside.

4. Wander Around Mangalem Neighbourhood

Just below the castle is the Mangalem neighbourhood which is one of the three main districts of the historic centre of Berat. This part of the city was historically a Muslim quarter and was also known as the Ottoman Quarter. Here, you can also find some of the old mosques such as the Bachelors’ Mosque, the King Mosque and the Lead Mosque.

You can freely wonder around the district’s narrow cobblestone streets with white stone houses towering over them. Most houses will have terracotta tiles and wooden doors with some flowers around the windows. Make sure to have your camera with you because the whole area is just postcard perfect.

5. Walk Across the Gorica Bridge

One of the most iconic features of Berat is the Gorica Bridge. The first mention of the bridge was in the 17th century by a Turkish traveller. According to him the bridge was originally constructed of oak beam placed on stone support. In 1777, the bridge was built from stone by Ahmet Kurt Pasha. Unfortunately, in 1880 it was destroyed by the flooded river. Up until the 1930s it was constantly undergoing repairs as they changed its original structure.

Today, it has 9 arches and spans 130m across the river. It connects Gorica and Mangalem neighbourhoods. Standing on the bridge will give you some great views of both districts and the mountains with Osum River running in the middle.

It’s also a great starting point to wonder around the hilly streets of Gorica district.

6. Explore the Gorica neighbourhood

Directly across from Mangalem neighbourhood, on the left bank of the Osum River, is Gorica district. Historically, it used to be the Christian quarter of Berat. Of course, today there’s no such difference between the neighbourhoods.

Gorcia is probably not as popular a district when compared to Berat’s Castle or Mangalem districts. However, we still recommend spending some time wondering around its narrow streets. It’s just as beautiful and feels even more traditional. Not to mention that from Gorica you can also enjoy the lovely views of Mangalem and Berat Castle perched on top of the hill.

7. Visit the Ethnographic Museum of Berat

Housed inside an 18th-century Ottoman stone building is the Ethnographic Museum of Berat. In the museum you can get a glimpse of what life used to be like back in the past. There are over a thousand artefacts, ceramics and traditional textiles on display.

You can walk through a medieval bazaar set, an old porch that displays crafts people used at home. Then you’ll also get to see the main part of the house called the chardak which is an open space. During the warmer months this is where people used to do craft-work and other housework. The workroom is where women and girls used to sit and work or prepare their dowry. Lastly, you can also see the richly decorated guest room which is probably the most important room in any traditional house.

Entry fee is 300 LEK (2.60 EUR). The museum is open every day between 9 AM and 6 PM, except Monday. On Sundays it’s only open between 10AM and 2PM.

8. Visit the Onufri Iconography Museum

The Onufri Museum of Icons is located in the 18th-century St. Mary’s Church within the castle district of Berat. It has nearly 200 objects of artwork, icons and liturgical items from between the 14th and 20th century. It also displays Onufri and his son Nikolla’s work, who were some of Albania’s most famous iconographers in the 16th century.

Entry fee is 400 LEK (3.55 EUR). The museum is open every day between 9 AM and 6 PM, except Monday. On Sundays it’s only open between 9AM and 2PM.

9. Enjoy the Bulevardi Republika

There’s no better way to end one of your days in Berat than to stroll down the wide promenade located in the more modern part of the city along the river. The walkway is filled with both locals and tourists in the evenings and has plenty of restaurants and cafes on one side and is lined with trees on the other. From one end you’ll be able to enjoy views of Berat Castle and at the other end you’ll see Tomorr Mountain.

Final Thoughts on Things to Do in Berat, Albania

Berat is definitely a place you want to add to your Albania itinerary. The historic city is absolutely stunning and more often than not we felt like we’d stepped back in time. Especially in the Gorica neighbourhood and when we realised that people still live within Berat Castle. We can’t recall any other castle ruins that we’ve visited that still had active inhabitants living within the walls. Let’s not forget about the insane views we had as well, whether we were on top of a hill or just crossing a bridge.

Once again, the local hospitability was something else in Berat and we’ll never forget when our waiter treated us with some free freshly baked cakes to try at one of the restaurants we had dinner at.

Have you ever been to Berat before? If so how did you like the city? If not, would you add Berat to your Albania itinerary? Let me know in the comments below.