Adriatic Coast

Durrës Travel Guide

Albania's main port and the closest beach to Tirana. Long sandy beaches, Roman ruins and big resort hotels to the south.

Families with small kids
Ferry arrivals from Italy
Quick beach fix from Tirana
Resort-style holidays

Updated 1 September 2026

Time needed: 1 to 2 days
From Tirana: 40 to 60 min by car or bus
Ferries: Bari, Ancona (Italy)
Beach type: Long, sandy, shallow

Durrës is where most of the ferries from Italy arrive and where Tirana goes to the beach on a Sunday. It is a real city, with a port, traffic and apartment blocks, and a genuinely long sandy beach that shelves gently into shallow water.

Manage your expectations and it is fine. Do not come expecting the turquoise coves of the south. Come for a soft sandy beach an hour from the capital, the Roman amphitheatre in the middle of town, and cheap seafood on the promenade.

Durrës vs the Riviera

The Adriatic coast around Durrës is sandy and shallow with a brownish tint from the rivers. The Ionian coast from Vlorë south is rocky, clear and blue. If beaches are the point of your trip, keep going south.

Ferries

Overnight ferries connect Durrës with Bari and Ancona. The port is walking distance from the old town, and Tirana is under an hour by bus, which makes Durrës a sensible first or last stop if you are arriving from Italy.

Getting there & around

Transportation

Tirana Airport Transportation Guide: Bus, Taxi, Transfers & Car Rental

Tirana Airport is small and easy, but your options depend on where you are heading. Here is every way out of the airport, what it costs and when each one makes sense.

Updated 1 September 20265 min read

Durrës: common questions

Is Durrës worth visiting?

As a destination in its own right, it is a mixed bag. The Roman amphitheatre and the old town are worth an afternoon, and the beach is good for children. For clear water and scenery, the southern Riviera is in a different league.

Durrës or Golem?

Golem is the resort strip a few kilometres south, with bigger hotels and a quieter beach. Durrës itself has the city, the ruins and the ferry port. Families usually prefer Golem.

Keep exploring

Other destinations

All destinations

Adriatic Coast

Golem

The resort strip south of Durrës. Long sandy beach, pine trees, easy access from the airport, and the bar where you might bump into us.

Tirana & Central

Tirana

Albania's loud, colourful, fast-changing capital. Most trips start here, and it deserves more than a transit night.

Albanian Riviera

Sarandë

The busy hub of the southern coast. Ferries from Corfu, a long seafront promenade and the best base for Ksamil, Butrint and the Blue Eye.

Albanian Riviera

Ksamil

Albania's most famous beaches. Caribbean-coloured water, tiny islands you can swim to, and crowds to match in high season.