If you’re planning to visit Albania, make sure you add Berat to your itinerary. This complete travel guide will cover all the best things to do in Berat, along with practical information and travel tips.
Berat is one of the most beautiful cities in Albania. It’s known as the “city of 1000 windows” with its white Ottoman era houses on the hillsides. This UNESCO World Heritage site features cobbled streets and 13th century old castle.
You can and sample some excellent local food at one of the most entertaining restaurants we’ve ever visited.
We visited Berat in March 2025 as part of our Albania Road Trip in our campervan. We absolutely fell in love with this beautiful city. It quickly became our favourite spot in Albania!
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How to get to Berat
By Car
Berat is in the centre of Albania, around 1.5 – 2 hours drive south from Tirana. You can either drive via Durres or Elbassan. As we were staying on the west side of Tirana, we drove via Durres.
While driving around Tirana might be a little busy, once you are on the highways, the roads are generally good. Albanian drivers can be a lot more “impatient” than what you are used to in your home country. They tend to overtake anywhere, even on corners.
By Public Bus
You can take a public bus from Tirana to Berat. The bus leaves from the South and North Bus Terminal which is a couple of kilometres north west of Skanderbeg Square.
The bus to Berat will cost around 500 Lek (around €5). You can buy your ticket on board, a conductor will come around to collect payment (cash only).
While the bus from Tirana to Berat leaves hourly, bus timetables in Albania are not as strict as other European countries. The bus may leave early if it is full, or it may wait for more passengers if its not.
The bus is a cheap way to travel, you’ll just need to be a little patient!
Getting around Berat Albania
Berat is a small city, located on the Osum River. The main part of the city which includes the castle and the Mangalem district with its white Ottoman houses, is on the western side of the river.
Just further west you’ll find the old town and Boulevard Republika – a pedestrian street lined with restaurants and cafes on one side and parkland on the other.
You can cross the Gorica Bridge to arrive in the Gorica Quarter, a smaller section of Ottoman style buildings.
You can easily walk around Berat in a day, crossing the river via the Gorica Bridge or the new Suspension bridge a few hundred metres upstream.
Where to stay in Berat
As we were visiting Berat in our campervan, we looked for a central campsite. We’d been recommended several on the outskirts of town, but we chose to stay at Camping Veno. This small campsite is right by the Gorica Bridge.
Camping Veno offers toilet and shower, electrical hook-ups and wifi. The wifi wasn’t strong enough for streaming, but we were out exploring most of the time anyway. We paid 1500 Lek per night (low season).
There are plenty of small guest houses in Berat. If you can get a room with a view on the Gorica side, you could wake up to see the “city of 1000 windows” and the castle right from your bedroom!
You can check availability and pricing for hotels in Berat at booking.com
Best things to do in Berat
Visit Berat Castle
The Castle of Berat dates back to the 7th century BC. This site was chosen for its strategic importance. Berat Castle is situated on a hilltop 187m above the Osum River, on a bend, with views out over the surrounding countryside.
The castle complex was added to over the centuries, and most of what we see now dates from the 15th – 19th centuries. The walls of the city enclose an almost 10 hectare village, which once had 42 churches.
Berat Castle is known as a “living castle” as people still live within it’s walls. You’ll find several churches and a ruined mosque, cafes and restaurants, and one of the best viewpoints in town here.
You can visit the St Mary Blachanae Church, the St Nicholas Church and the Holy Trinity Church. When we visited only the Holy Trinity Church was open.
Onufri Iconography Museum
The Onufri Iconographic Museum contains over 200 artworks and icons dating back from the 14th century. The museum is housed within the St Mary Cathedral, and the iconostasis is one of the finest examples of Albanian wood carving.
Photography is not allowed within the museum but you can see some pictures on the official museum website.
Entry to the museum is 400 Leke, and an audio guide is 500 Leke. If you choose not to take an audio guide (we didn’t), you’ll be given a large laminated information sheet – there’s a lot to read here!
Stroll through the Mangalem and Gorica Quarters
You’ll find white Ottoman houses on both sides of the Osum River. The Mangalem Quarter is busier however both have cobbled streets and small cafes.
Gorica Bridge
This 18th century Ottoman bridge is open for pedestrians only. You’ll get some great photos from here, especially of the Gorica quarter.
Berat Viewing Platform
Located at a high point of the Berat Castle overlooking the town. You can see the Albanian Flag flying here from below. This is a great place to get views of the city and the river.
Ethnographic Museum
The Ethnographic museum is housed in a traditional Ottoman house. The exhibits range from clothing, a mediaeval bazaar, and crafts showcasing traditional Albanian life. Sadly, this museum was temporarily closed when we were in Berat.
Bachelor’s Mosque
This mosque dates back from 1827 and was built for the unmarried tradesmen of Berat. The mosque became a cultural monument in 1961 and avoided being destroyed when the communists destroyed over 2000 other religious buildings in Albania.
The mosque is known for it’s frescoes. While it may not be open for visitors, you can see into the outdoor prayer area through the railings.
Boulevard Republika
Boulevard Republika is a pedestrian street that runs between the old medieval town and the river. The street has cafes and restaurants on one side, and green parkland on the otherside, between the street and the river.
We saw old men sitting playing backgammon and just chatting in this parkland. It’s great for people watching.
Homemade Food with Lili
We recommend you visit this small restaurant not just for the food (which is great) but for the experience. We had read the reviews on Google (a 4.9 rating with almost 2000 reviews!) and wondered if it would live up to the hype.
It not only lived up to it, it exceeded our expectations! Lili is a fantastic host who remembered our names from when we visited in the afternoon to make a reservation. Lili truly makes all guests feel like part of the family.
There are only 3 tables (plus one outside during summer), so you’ll need to make a reservation. Call Lili on WhatsApp at +355 69 234 9362 to book.
Oh, and Lili is a man!
FAQs
When is the best time to visit Berat?
We visited Berat in March and we had beautiful warm sunny days and cool nights. Tourist numbers were low, and we did find plenty of restaurants open already.
Summers can be very hot in Albania and the walk up to the castle would not be fun in the heat! Spring and Autumn are beautiful times to visit.
How long do you need in Berat?
We recommend spending at least one full day in Berat and overnighting there. The city looks beautiful lit up at night. Spending two nights in town would be ideal.
Is Berat worth visiting?
Well, we are going to say “Absolutely!” Berat is one of our favourite places in Albania. The city is beautiful to look at, the locals are friendly, there’s great food with a lively café scene.
Watch our Berat adventure travel film
If you’d like to see more of beautiful Berat before you visit, check out our YouTube episode. We check out the city, and take a day trip to the Osumi Canyon.
Where to next?
Have you checked out the fascinating Albanian capital, Tirana? If so, you might like to head down to the Albanian Riviera.
For more practical tips and hints for your visit to Albania, check out the essential information on our Albania Road Trip travel guide.