Vlore: what to see, where to stay and how to get around

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Vlorë is where Albania declared its independence in 1912, and the town still feels proud of it. The walk goes from Flag Square to a mosque by Sinan, climbs a hill for the view and ends at the house of the first government by the port. Finish on the promenade at sunset. About three hours on foot, with one taxi ride if it is hot.

A short history of Vlore

The Greeks called it Aulon, and its port, the closest to the coast of Italy, served merchants, armies and pilgrims for two thousand years. In 1417 it passed to the Ottomans. On 28 November 1912 Ismail Qemali raised the Albanian flag here and declared independence, and for a short time Vlorë was the capital of the new state. In 1914 the Italians entered the city, and in 1920 local fighters drove them out in a war named after the city. In the 1950s the Soviets kept submarines at the Pasha Liman base in the bay, until the split between Albania and Moscow in 1961. Today Vlorë is the country's second-largest port and seaside city.

The ten best sights in Vlore

1
Independence Monument
The heart of Flag Square, where Albania was declared independent
2
Muradie Mosque
A 16th-century mosque of red and white stone, near the square
3
National Museum of Independence
In the house where the first government sat, by the old port
4
Ethnographic Museum
Costumes and household things in an old house near the square
5
Kanina Castle
On the hill above town; go for the view over the bay and Sazan
6
Zvërnec Monastery
A medieval church on an islet in the Narta lagoon, reached by a wooden bridge
7
Amantia
An ancient hill city with a stadium in the olive groves; few visitors
8
Lungomare
The seafront promenade south of the centre; the evening walk
9
Kuzum Baba
Park on the hill in town with a view of the whole bay
10
Narta Lagoon
Salt pans and wetland north of town; flamingos in the cool months

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What is an audio walk?

Tours in Vlore →

A guide in your headphones: open the walk on our site, walk from stop to stop, and at each one your phone tells its story. No guide, no group, and free. This is the first walk in Vlore:

Free walking tours in Vlore

Where Albania began

Independence Monument · On 28 November 1912 Ismail Qemali raised the Albanian flag in Vlorë and declared the country independent from the Ottoman Empire. The bronze monument on Flag Square was put up in 1972, for the sixtieth anniversary.
Muradie Mosque · Built around 1540 and attributed to Mimar Sinan, the great architect of Suleiman the Magnificent. Its walls are laid in bands of red and white stone.
Ethnographic Museum · A short visit to see the costumes, weaving and household objects of the Vlorë region, kept in an old house a few steps from the square.
Kuzum Baba · The hill is named after Kuzum Baba, a Bektashi dervish whose tekke stands on it. From the top you see the whole bay of Vlorë, the island of Sazan and the Karaburun peninsula.
National Museum of Independence · This modest two-storey house was the seat of Albania's first government in 1912. The rooms are kept as they were, with the desks and portraits of the men who signed the declaration.
Lungomare · The promenade runs along the bay for kilometres south of the port. In the evening all of Vlorë walks here, and the sun sets behind Karaburun across the water.

Island, cave and lagoon

The best of Vlorë is on the water. A boat from Orikum goes along the wild Karaburun coast, into a sea cave and past a former military island. Back on land in the afternoon, drive to the lagoon for flamingos and a monastery on an islet. Book the boat the day before and go only in calm weather. A full day.

Orikum · Orikum stands on ancient Oricum, a Greek and then Roman port at the end of the bay. Today boat trips to Karaburun and Sazan leave from its marina.
Karaburun Peninsula · Karaburun and Sazan together form Albania's first marine national park, created in 2010. The peninsula has no road, so its coves are reached only from the sea.
Haxhi Ali Cave · The largest sea cave in Albania, named after Haxhi Ali, a sea captain who, the story goes, hid his ship inside it. In calm water the boats nose right in.
Sazan Island · The largest island in Albania guards the entrance to the bay, so it was a military base for most of the 20th century, including for Soviet submarines. Its bunkers and empty barracks can be seen on organised visits.
Narta Lagoon · Back on land, drive north to a wide lagoon of salt pans and reeds. Flamingos winter here and many stay into spring.
Zvërnec Monastery · The Church of St Mary on its pine-covered islet dates from the 13th or 14th century. A long wooden bridge crosses the water to it, best at sunset.

Hill cities and the pass

Inland from Vlorë the olive hills hide an ancient stadium and a castle over the bay. Then the coast road runs south past cold springs and quiet beaches, and climbs to the Llogara pass. The road over the pass is the way to the riviera, so this day can end there. A full day by car.

Amantia · An ancient city of the Amantes, on a hill among olive trees. Its small stone stadium is one of the few known in Albania, and its seats can still be sat on.
Kanina Castle · The castle has stood on this ridge since antiquity, rebuilt by Byzantines and Ottomans. From the walls you see the whole bay, which explains why every ruler wanted it.
Uji i Ftohtë · The name means cold water: springs run out of the hill into the sea here, and the cafés keep drinks cool in them. A good first swim on the way south.
Radhimë · A village on the road to Orikum, with small beaches below the olive slopes. Quieter than the town beaches.
Llogara Pass · Here the road climbs over 1,000 metres before dropping to the riviera. The pass is also called Caesar's Pass, after Julius Caesar landed his army on the beach below in 48 BC.
Llogara National Park · Black pine and fir forest, much cooler than the coast. Roadside restaurants grill lamb and serve mountain honey.

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Getting to Vlore and getting around

Vlorë Bus Station · Intercity buses to Tirana and the south; buy the ticket on board
Coast and Orikum bus stop · Local buses south along the shore to the beaches and Orikum

Cheap eats in Vlore

Vlorë eats fish from its bay and greens from its hills. A quick lunch is byrek or lakror, a pie baked under embers, or a pita wrap; dinner on the promenade is grilled fish sold by the kilo. Coffee costs about 100 lek. Look out for Narta wine from the villages by the lagoon.

Sofra e Lakrorit · Lakror pies near the port, about 150-300 lek a piece
Pita Pan · Pita wraps north of the square, about 250-400 lek
PitaFun · Wraps near the port, about 250-400 lek
Furrë Buke Bleta · Bakery by Flag Square; bread and byrek about 100-150 lek
Pasticeri Aleksandri · Cakes and coffee, about 100-300 lek

Museums in Vlore

National Museum of Independence · The house of the first government, kept as it was
Muradie Mosque · Sinan's mosque in red and white stone
Ethnographic Museum · Costumes and crafts of the region
Zvërnec Monastery · Medieval church on a lagoon islet
Amantia · Ancient city and stadium in the hills

Nature and day trips near Vlore

Narta Lagoon · Birds, salt pans and reeds
Karaburun Peninsula · Wild coast and clear water, by boat only
Llogara National Park · Cool pine forest on the pass
Uji i Ftohtë · Cold springs by the sea

Things to do in Vlore with kids

Sazan Island · Boat trip to an island of bunkers
Haxhi Ali Cave · Sail right into a sea cave
Lungomare · Long flat promenade for bikes and scooters

Where to eat in Vlore

Kuzum Baba Restaurant · Dinner on the hill with the whole bay below
Sazani · Restaurant near Flag Square
Iliria Restorant · Albanian dishes in the centre
Taverna Filipi · Taverna north of the centre

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Frequently asked questions about Vlore

What is there to see in Vlore?

The top sights in Vlore are Independence Monument, Muradie Mosque and National Museum of Independence. The full list on this page has 10 sights, each with a photo and a short note.

How many days do you need in Vlore?

Three to four days are enough to see the best of Vlore without rushing, including at least one walking tour.

Is there a free walking tour in Vlore?

Yes. sleepntrip has 3 free audio walks in Vlore, with no guide and no group: your phone tells the story at every stop. The first one: Where Albania began.

How do you get to Vlore and get around?

The main ways are Vlorë Bus Station and Coast and Orikum bus stop. Full details are in the transport section on this page.

Where to stay in Vlore, and for how much?

sleepntrip shows only rooms in Vlore that meet nine conditions: a good location, high guest scores, cleanliness, and a price of up to $80 a night for two. Pick your dates and see what is free.

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