Albania is stuffed with wonderful locations and Berat is among the highlights. Whereas Tirana didn’t have actually any “previous city” areas to talk of attributable to Communism, Berat is strictly what you’re considering of in terms of previous European villages. This UNESCO world heritage website is called the town of a thousand home windows and it feels precisely like that.
The previous city is constructed alongside the face of a hill and its historical past extends 1000’s of years. The homes with the quite a few home windows have been constructed throughout Ottoman occasions resembling structure it’s possible you’ll discover in previous Turkish cities. Picturesque stone homes with darkish mahogany stucco roofs are constructed alongside the hillside. Don’t neglect the fortress on the high of mentioned hill simply so as to add perspective. The city is extremely photogenic and you’re going to get a few of your greatest footage of the nation right here.
Berat lies on the edges on the Osum River with a backdrop of Mount Tomorr, elevation 2,416m/7,927ft. Moreover a 2,500 yr previous fortress overlooks the town with quite a few, excessive architectural and historic stone neighborhoods under.
Attending to Berat from Tirana
Attending to Berat is kind of easy from Tirana. It’s only 100km from the capital and there are quite a few methods to get right here.
In case you are on a street journey by way of Albania with your individual automotive, then a cease right here is a straightforward cease on the best way south from Tirana to the coast.
By Bus:
From Tirana, you may attain Berat by bus. The bus from Tirana to Berat prices 400 LEK (3.50 euros) for a single journey and it takes 2 hours and 45 minutes. It’s essentially the most handy strategy to get to Tirana and a day journey is completely attainable.
The bus leaves at varied occasions all through the day as it is a frequent connection. There isn’t a set schedule or set bus firm that I do know of. Merely arrive on the bus station and inform individuals the place you’re going and you can be pointed in the precise path. It’s much like the bus stations I skilled whereas in Tunisia the place it felt like full chaos however you continue to bought the place you wanted to go.
You possibly can take the bus round 8:00am, arrive by 11:00am and have your complete day earlier than coming again to Tirana.
How lengthy to spend in Berat?
Berat is a metropolis by way of and thru with over 100,000 residing right here. Nevertheless, the city is separated in numerous areas with the previous city and new city firmly aside. The previous city is the place you’ll spend most of your time.
As lovely as it’s, there isn’t that a lot to see in Berat. It’s nice to chill out right here however a day is admittedly all you want. Two days most if you wish to chill out as nicely.
For the perfect views, go to the brand new bridge and take the photograph head on. As well as, the views from the principle city sq. that’s adorned with quite a few cafes is wonderful.
Final however not least, when you simply have one night time right here like I did, make sure that to completely go eat dinner at Do-it-yourself meals Lili positioned proper within the previous city. The proprietor is extremely energetic and I’ve by no means seen a happier soul. Coupled with among the greatest Albanian meals you’ll discover and it is a should go to.
What to do in Berat?
There are just a few issues to do in Berat, in and out. Once more, you don’t want greater than a day in Berat to see the highlights.
Eat at Do-it-yourself Meals Lili
When you solely wanted to have one meal. Make certain to eat at Do-it-yourself meals Lili positioned within the small streets of the previous city. It’s somebody’s home the place they make home made meals and that somebody is Lili. He had essentially the most character of any restauranteur I’ve seen and made the meal so fulfilling together with his hospitality. The meals in fact was out of this world scrumptious as nicely. The meals appeared scrumptious and fortunately I met one other traveler who ended up sharing dinner with me so I might strive extra issues!
You received’t go unsuitable!
Take footage of the previous city from the brand new bridge
The most effective a part of Berat is solely admiring its pure magnificence, meander by way of its cobblestone streets, and simply respect the great thing about such a historic city. This can be a particular city in that you may really feel like you’re someplace in Turkey as an alternative of Europe which I’m certain doesn’t exist in too many different elements of the continent. The homes are nearly constructed into the stone facade and their partitions are painted white which distinction with the reddish-brown roof tiles. To not point out the a whole lot of home windows.
From the Gorica Bridge (the brand new bridge), you’re going to get the perfect views and greatest image alternatives of the previous city. When you stroll throughout the bridge to the Antigona restaurant, you may have a restaurant overlooking the river and previous cities.
Rafting in Osumi Canyon
Arriving in Berat, Osumi Canyon was proper on the high of my record. Ochre cliffs draped in vines, veils of water cascading into a superb blue river and the joys of hurtling down rapids between the hovering canyon partitions.
Rafting alongside the turquoise water of Osumi Canyon is an exercise that’s gaining some momentum, whereas mountain climbing alongside the rim or by way of the river water are simply starting to be acknowledged for his or her journey potential. The rafting right here is just not that excessive in contrast to my close to loss of life expertise at white water rafting in Victoria Falls but it surely offers you one thing extra to do in case you are staying for greater than a day.
It’s additionally value noting that the water ranges differ dramatically all year long, being highest in spring and dropping quickly by late summer season.
HIKE UP TO KALAJA E BERATIT, THE CASTLE OF BERAT
What’s an previous city in Europe constructed into the face of a hill with no large fortress on the high of it? Don’t fear, Berat has one of many higher ones and it’s completely value a go to. You’ll get panoramic views of the valley and mountains close by.
The stroll is steep however straightforward to get to the highest. When you attain the within of the fortress partitions, you’ll discover that it appears like one other mini previous city itself. I used to be anticipating a museum and a few monuments but it surely turns on the market are resorts, eating places, and other people residing right here as well1.
The fortress stays open 24 hours a day so it’s an amazing place catch a dawn or sundown. Between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. guests do have to buy a ticket for 100 lek (€0.80), however exterior of those occasions it’s free to enter.
Have a espresso on the BULEVARDI REPUBLIKA
Bursting with cafes and bars that gaze throughout the leafy park, Bulevardi Republika is the principle vacationer strip that was solely occupied with locals once I went (in all probability as a result of there have been no vacationers throughout COVID).
There are infinite cafes right here the place you may get pleasure from a scrumptious glass of Albanian wine and benefit from the views of the city. I discovered that you may take some implausible footage right here within the early morning earlier than it will get crowded.
Gorica Hill Hike
Whereas I didn’t do that, it was really useful to me by my guesthouse for some severe mountain climbing and much more severe views. Situated on the high of the mountain straight throughout the river from the previous city, this hill will afford you a significantly better view of the city than from the fortress. Nevertheless, it’s a muh longer hike up right here!
Rising steeply past the twisting streets of Gorica, this forested hill serves up glorious views as a reward for those who make the steep and rocky climb.
Rising between the bushes, excessive above the rubble partitions of Berat Fort, the scene opens as much as reveal an ocean of rust-red rooftops that soften into infinite folds of verdant countryside. It’s undoubtedly the most effective views in Berat.
The beginning of the trail is usually a little tough to search out, however when you flip up the small alleyway beside Lodge Muzaka and preserve heading uphill and up a number of stairs you have to be on course.
Wine tasting at Cobo Vineyard
You will have a automotive fo this however 20-minutes from Berat, Çobo Vineyard is the realm’s most well-known providing. With a stunning open-air terrace overlooking the river and a long-held household custom of winemaking, excursions right here embody a stroll by way of the vineyards and winemaking services earlier than an intensive tasting of their domestically grown vintages.
The wine in Albania is surprisingly scrumptious. They share the identical local weather as with southern Europe and is barely throughout the ocean from the attractive space of Puglia, Italy.
They make scrumptious pink wines right here at very inexpensive costs.
The place I stayed in Berat
There are numerous locations to remain in Berat and all for very inexpensive costs. I stayed at Guesthouse Arben Elezi which had comfy rooms and fashionable finishings. Nevertheless, the perfect a part of this guesthouse was its rooftop terrace with useless on views of Berat’s previous city. Having breakfast right here with these views was an absolute deal with.
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