Holiday in Shkodra (Shkodër)

What makes Shkodra (Shkodër) special as a destination?

Shkodra, the cultural capital of Albania, is located on the shores of the lake of the same name — the largest lake in the Balkans — and serves as the gateway to some of Europe's most unspoiled landscapes. The city at the foot of the Albanian Alps combines millennia-old history with a vibrant café culture and serves as a starting point for the famous Koman Lake ferry and hikes in the Theth National Park. The Rozafa Fortress, perched on a hill above the city, offers one of the most extensive views in Albania: over Lake Shkodra to Montenegro, the Albanian Alps, and the confluence of the Buna and Drin rivers. The fortress, whose history dates back to the Illyrian period, is associated with a tragic legend — a young woman is said to have been bricked into the walls to secure the construction. The pedestrian zone around the Pedonale Boulevard is the lively center of the city. Here, cafés line up where one can enjoy a top-notch espresso for one euro while locals chat for hours and observe life. The Venetian-influenced architecture of the old town and the 18th-century Ebu-Bekr Mosque give the city center a special charm. Shkodra's greatest asset is its location as a gateway to the Albanian Alps. The Koman Lake ferry, a three-hour journey through a deep gorge with emerald green water and steep cliffs, is considered one of the most beautiful ferry routes in Europe — a "Norwegian fjord at Balkan prices." From Fierza at the other end, it continues to Valbona, and the hiking trail from Valbona over the Valbona Pass to Theth is Albania's most famous trek. Theth itself, a remote mountain village in a dramatic valley, is one of the last refuges of original Albania with its stone Kulla tower houses and the spectacular Grunas waterfall. Lake Shkodra, shared by Albania and Montenegro, is a paradise for birdwatchers. Pelicans, herons, and over 280 other bird species inhabit the wetlands around the lake, which becomes one of the most important resting places for migratory birds in Southeast Europe in spring and autumn.