Korçë (also spelled Korce or Korca) was one of the last places we visited in Albania and it turned out to be one of the unexpected highlights of our Albania Road Trip. We quickly fell in love with its relaxed atmosphere and it’s distinctive mix of Ottoman, Orthodox, and modern influences.
If you’re planning to visit Albania, you really should include Korçë on your Albania itinerary. We were surprised that there were so many things to do in Korce. From wandering the tree-lined avenues, visiting the churches and mosques, sipping coffee at the restored old bazaar. Korce has one of the best museums in Albania, AND a brewery!
We visited Korca Albania in late October 2025 as the leaves were changing, making the city even more colourful. As we looped around Lake Ohrid in our campervan, we made a quick detour south to the city we had heard so much about and we’re so glad we did.
Whether you’re here for a quick stop or a few days, here are the best things to see in Korçë – arguably one of the most “authentic Albanian cities” you will find.
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Best things to do in Korçë
1. Resurrection of Christ Cathedral (Orthodox Cathedral)
The Resurrection of Christ Cathedral is one of Korce’s most impressive landmarks, dominating the city centre. It was built to replace the old cathedral of St George that was destroyed by the communists.
This beautiful church opened in 2002 and is considered a symbol of Albania’s religious and spiritual revival and the return of religious freedom to the country.
The distinctive exterior is painted pink, cream and brown, and inside you’ll find a beautiful wooden iconostasis. It’s free to enter and well worth a look inside. Just remember to dress respectfully, with your shoulders and knees covered.
When were amused by the guy with small motorised cars for kids to ride around in, they were buzzing around the cathedral forecourt having a great time!
Take a wander in the narrow maze of streets behind the cathedral to see some of the typical architecture of Korçë (and maybe meet some locals).
2. National Warrior Monument
The National Warrior Monument is across the main street from the cathedral. This statue was built in 1932 to commemorate the Albanian struggles, particularly in WW2. There is a small water feature in front of the statue (who is standing with his back to the church?).
Standing in front of the monument is a great place to take a photo of the cathedral, especially if the Albanian flag is fluttering in the breeze.
3. Bulevardi Shën Gjerji (St George Boulevard)
This is the main pedestrian street, lined with trees, running from the Cathedral to the Panoramic tower. The locals love to stroll along this street in the evenings, stopping for a slow coffee in one of the many cafes along the way.
There are two notable museums along this street.
4. Museum of Education
You’ll find the Museum of Education on the right hand side as you walk down the hill from the Cathedral. This museum is housed in the building where the first Albanian Language School was opened in 1887.
Since 1973 it’s been a museum, primarily about the Albanian Language, which is significant for being it’s own unique branch of Indo-European language.
We didn’t visit this museum, but if you are interested in linguistics or education, you’ll want to check it out. The museum is open 9-4 Tuesday to Saturday and 10-3 Sunday (closed Mondays). Entry is 300 Lek.
5. Gjon Mili Museum
The Gjon Mili Museum celebrates the life of photographer Gjon Mili who pioneered the use of electronic flash and motion and light photography. He was born in Korce in 1904 before emigrating to the USA.
The collection features over 200 of his works and memorabilia that celebrates his life. The Gjon Mili Museum is open 10am – 2pm and 5pm – 7pm Tuesday to Sunday. Entry fee is 200 Lek.
The museum is housed in a beautiful bright yellow building known as the Romanian House, which was built in 1928.
6. Korçë City Library
The City Library was built on the site of the Cathedral of St George which was demolished in 1971 by the communists. There is a memorial wall outside the Library with an inscription in English. You can also see the outline of the old church in the pavement.
7. Korçë Panoramic Tower
The Korce Panoramic Tower is an odd looking building at the bottom of Bulevardi Shën Gjergi. It was built in 2014 as a viewing platform. From the top, you’re rewarded with 360-degree views across Korçë, including the same red-tiled roofs of the old city, the tree-lined central boulevards and the surrounding mountains.
When we visited the lift was not working. We’ve read that this is often the case! The short climb up 8 flights of stairs is well worth it, especially at sunset! For photographers, this is a particularly good spot at golden hour when the old city glows and the mountains pick up soft evening light.
Entry to the tower is 50 lek (cash only), whether the elevator is working or even if you need to climb the stairs. The tower is open from 8am to 8pm
8. The Old Bazaar of Korçë (Pazari i Vjetër)
Korce’s old bazaar is an interesting maze of narrow cobblestone lanes with artisan shops, and a large square lined with cafes and restaurants. The bazaar dates back to the 15th century, but fell into neglect in the 1990s. It was beautifully restored in 2015, making it popular with tourists and locals alike.
The Old Bazaar is a great for a spot of souvenir-hunting and people-watching. We bought a beautiful rug (supposedly hand woven) for our van here. We also spent an evening at one of the local cafe’s watching the young locals flirting with one another.
9. Mirahori Mosque
The 15th-century Mirahori Mosque is one of the oldest buildings in Korçë, and serves as a reminder of the city’s Ottoman heritage.
The mosque survived the communist period, as it was deemed a monument of historical importance. However, the minaret was destroyed by an earthquake in 1961. The mosque and it’s minaret were restored in the early 2000s.
The mosque is open to the public outside of prayer times.
10. Korce Clock Tower
Right beside the mosque is the Korçë Clock Tower. This traditional city landmark was also damaged in the earthquake, and rebuilt in 2016. Even in its reconstructed form, the tower remains an unmistakable symbol of Korçë.
The Mosque, Clock Tower, and Old Bazaar sit within a few minutes’ walk of each other making this little pocket of the city a perfect starting point for a walking tour.
Many guides note that the tower “can only be viewed from outside,” or don’t mention public access at all. It was certainly closed when we visited, but then it was quite late in the day at the time.
11. National Museum of Medieval Art
The National Museum of Medieval Art houses one of the richest collections of Orthodox icons (religious paintings) and artifacts from southern Albania. There are over 7,000 religious icon paintings, although there are only around 400 works on display.
The art is arranged in different rooms, and features works by some of the most renowned orthodox artists, like Onufri and the Zografi brothers. If you’ve visited Berat, you may be familiar with Onufri
The “icon museum” is a must-see if you appreciate art, history, and regional heritage. We are not huge art buffs, but we really enjoyed looking at the different art. Nigel was especially fascinated at the pictures of John the Baptist holding his head on a plate.
The museum is open 9am – 7pm daily in summer (April to September). The winter hours are 9am – 4pm Tuesday to Saturday and 9am – 3pm Sunday, closed Mondays (October to March. Entry is 700 Lek.
12. Korça Brewery Tour
With your mouth still agape from the incredible artworks you’ve just seen at the Icon Museum, continue a little further up Boulevard Fan Noli to the famous Korça Brewery for a thirst quencher.
We’d been “warned” that the brewery tour was equal parts quirky and entertaining; and it absolutely lived up to the hype. Our guide Victor felt like a long-time character of the brewery, full of stories, some facts, dry humour, and a deep love for the craft. At one point, he even had us drinking beer straight from a running tap, which was a first for us!
There’s no booking system, no online reservations, and no official “tour desk.” Instead, you’ll find a small sign with set tour times posted on the front gate of the brewery. At the time of posting, they had 3 daily sessions; 10:00, 12:00 and 14:00.
You simply show up at the designated time, where the gate guard – who doesn’t speak a word of English – will silently nod, make a phone call, and summon the guide from somewhere deep within the brewery. A few minutes later, your guide appears, and off you go. The best thing? It’s free of charge!
There is a large beer garden and beer hall right next to the brewery. You can get a 400ml beer here for just 80 Lek! That’s less than €1. We enjoyed a couple of brews here, and some snacks.
Are you surprised that this was one of our best things to do in Korce Albania?
13. Martyrs’ Cemetery
If you want sweeping views over Korçë without committing to the full uphill climb to the church on top of Mount Morava, the National Martyrs’ Cemetery is the perfect alternative. And, to be honest, it’s worth visiting on its own merits.
The cemetery is a solemn and respectfully maintained monument dedicated to Albanian partisans who lost their lives during World War II.
It is accessible by car (or campervan), although we chose to take the hike for the exercise and more importantly, avoid the narrow lanes and any possible parking issues. There is also a long stairway that leads down into the centre of the city, coming out just near the Cathedral.
Best Day Trips from Korçë
If you’ve come all the way to Korçë, you’ve probably seen most of the significant top places to visit in Albania, and we will assume your Albania Road Trip will continue on to Lake Ohrid (unless you’ve just come from there!).
The one place nearby that we would recommend, even if it’s just for a day trip, is Prespa Lake. This lake sits on the border of Albania, North Macedonia and Greece.
There are a number of walking trails in the area, but we elected to hike the “Tortoise Trail” which is near the tiny settlement of Dolna Gorica. We didn’t spot any tortoises, but the Prespa Lake region is great for those wanting countryside, nature or a change of pace.
Korce Travel Guide – Essential Information
How to get to Korça, Albania
Korce is located on a fertile plateau 850 m (2,800’) above sea level, in south-eastern Albania. Korçë is located less than an hour’s drive south of Pogradec on Lake Ohrid, and is surrounded by mountains and wide-open scenery.
By Air
The closest international airports are Tirana International Airport (TIA) in Albania and Ohrid St. Paul the Apostle Airport (OHD) in North Macedonia.
From Tirana it’s approximately a 4 hour drive to Korçe and from Ohrid it’s around 2 hours, including the border crossing at Qafe Thane.
You can rent a car from either airport to get to Korçë, if you’re renting from Ohrid, just make sure you can take the car across the border. We recommend Discover Cars to find the best price. This is a car rental platform which compares prices and cars across all the car rental providers in the area.
By Car
Once you have your rental car (or if you’re driving your own), the roads from Tirana via Elbasan and from Pogradec along Lake Ohrid are generally in fair condition and improving.
When we travelled eastern Albania in late 2025, there was a new road between Korce and Elbasan that bypassed Lake Ohrid and was not even on Google Maps! We would only recommend taking this road if you’ve already seen Lake Ohrid, as this is somewhere not to be missed!
By Train/Bus
There is currently no passenger train services in Albania. Buses run to Korce regularly from Tirana, Pogradec and Gjirokaster. You can check timetables and book tickets on Omio or Gjirafa Travel.
Getting around Korçë
Korçe is a very walkable city, especially the central areas like the Old Bazaar, Cathedral Square, and the pedestrian promenades. Most attractions are within a 10 to 15 minute walk of each other.
There are public buses and taxis are readily available. We didn’t have the need to use any public transport when we were in Korçë.
Parking in Korçë
We were lucky to be staying right in the centre of Korçë and didn’t need to worry about parking. Most hotels and guest-houses have their own parking lots. There is parking near the stadium which is only a couple of kilometres from the centre of town.
Where to stay in Korçë
We have read that people have stayed in their campervans overnight near the stadium. We stayed in a paid camper stop attached to the Vila Mano, a family-run guesthouse with a dedicated parking area. This place is an absolute gem for campervan travellers. It’s only a short walk from the centre of town and has everything you need here.
Overnight parking is 700 Lek, with an additional 700 Lek for a key to the bathroom (toilet and shower) if you wish to use it. Electricity is also an additional charge.
Korçë has a large range of accommodation, ranging from small family run guest-houses (like Vila Mano) to upmarket hotels. We use and recommend booking.com for search for accommodation
Best Places to Eat in Korçë
Korçë may be small, but it has a reputation across Albania for its excellent food culture, strong café scene, and hearty dishes influenced by both Ottoman and Balkan traditions. In summer, the city buzzes with outdoor dining, but we visited in late October when many restaurants had already closed for the season.
You’ll find plenty of cafés and restaurants in the main square of the Old Bazaar. We stopped by here for drinks a couple of times, and a sneaky pizza from Secret Pizza (which was very good!)
We also enjoyed some typical Balkan dishes at the beer garden next to the Korça Brewery.
One typical dish to try in Korçë is Lakror, Korçë’s signature dish – a thin, hand-stretched pie similar to burek but traditionally baked in a saç (a domed iron lid covered with embers). It’s usually filled with spinach, leeks, or meat. Locals are fiercely proud of it.
Oh, and you must try Korça Beer. It’s absolutely iconic. Whether you tour the brewery or just enjoy a cold glass in the Old Bazaar, this is the city’s go-to drink.
FAQs
Is Korca worth visiting?
Yes. Korçë offers a different pace: quieter, more local, rich history and culture. It’s ideal if you prefer authenticity over tourist crowds.
When is the best time to visit Korça?
Spring, summer and early autumn are ideal. Winter can be cold (mountains nearby) and some rural excursions may be limited, but city life and indoor culture stays accessible. We would say that the only downside to visiting in the summer months, is dealing with the higher number of tourists.
In mid-August each year, Korça hosts the Korça Beer Festival – we may have to return to check this out!
How many days do you need in Korçë?
1 to 2 full days covers the main sights nicely. 3–4 days lets you savour the vibe, dip into museums, try local food, and even take a day-trip. We spent four nights here, so we could visit the city at a relaxed pace.
Is Korçë safe for travellers?
Korce, like all of Albania, feels very safe. The atmosphere here is relaxed, and locals are friendly. We found walking around the bazaar or pedestrian streets in the evening to be fine.
Where to next?
Continue your road trip through Albania by visiting Gjirokaster, or head to the Albanian Riviera for some beach time.
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