Booking fee
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* This tour requires at least one of the following per booking: Adult, Senior
Discover the magic of Berat, Albania's "city of a thousand windows," and the serene landscapes of Belsh in a captivating day tour. Experience Berat's rich history as you explore its ancient castle and marvel at the stunning Ottoman architecture. Learn about the city's unique blend of religious harmony at the King Mosque and Helveti Teke. Capture the essence of Berat's beauty at the iconic 1001 windows location, offering a perfect photo opportunity. Then, embrace the tranquility of Belsh, known for its picturesque lakes and scenic beauty. This tour combines cultural immersion, historical exploration, and natural wonders, making it an unforgettable journey through the heart of Albania.
Air-conditioned vehicle
Tour Guide
All Fees and Taxes
Lunch
Personal expenses
Departure Point
Traveler pickup is offered
Pickup is very flexible just let us know where you are and our drivers will come
Berat Castle, Berat, Albania Visit Berat Castle
Berat Castle, a fortress landmark in the city of Berat, Albania, lies high above the Osum River. The castle dates back 2,500 years and records of its first conquering were accomplished by the Romans in 200 B.C. After many centuries of stone reinforcement, the exterior (perimeter) was enlarged slowly over time, under Byzantine conquerors, in the 5th, 6th, and 13th centuries. Currently, the castle is in restoration due in part to a UNESCO World Heritage Site acknowledgment. (This is a welcome "gift" for the residents of the castle who have been left underserved as the city below has gotten much attention.)
Inside Berat castle houses many historical elements. A Mosque, "Red Mosque", which can be identified by its lonely minaret (a staircase inside provides access to the top), more than 20 Christian churches, and a central museum which surrounds one of the largest Orthodox churches with many 16th century paintings, by "Master Onufri", and a decorative alter inside. (Many churches in Albania were destroyed during the Communist years as an "Atheist State" was declared during Enver Hoxha's reign.) Other architectural elements are courtyards, a large cistern in the center, and numerous houses of stone in which the residents of the castle still occupy today; this is an absolute specialty in castle heavy Europe as it's one of the last remaining! 90 minutes
Mangalem, Berat, Albania Visit The Mangalemi quarter, better known as the "City of 1000 Windows", dates back centuries to the Ottoman ruling period and the architectural elements of each home clearly illustrate this. If one was to compare the ancient construction of the Mangalemi quarter to present day, residential architecture, the differences of highly-placed windows to slow intruder advances, stairwells winding particular directions to allow sword strike advantage for the owner, and animal storage areas would be found
10 minutes
Bulevardi Republika, Berat, Albania Walkthrough the famous pedestrian street of Berat
National Iconographic Museum Onufri, Berat, Albania From 27 February 1986 Onufri National Museum is located in the inner part of “Saint Mary Church” in Berat Castel. The Cathedral is rebuilt during 1797, and it is the most representative monument of post-Byzantine architecture in Berat town. The Museum is called “Onufri”, in honor of the Albanian painting Headmaster of XVI Century.
The museum collection is constituted with 173 objects chosen from a fund of 1500 objects, belonging to the fund of Albanian Churches and Monasteries as well as to Berat, where you can find 106 Icons and 67 Liturgical objects, created from Albanian Iconographical painters during XIV-XX–th Centuries: Onufri, Onufri’s son, Nikola, Cypriot Onufri, David Selenica, Kostandin Shpataraku and Cetirs (Gjergj, Johan, Nikola, Naum and Gjergj junior) and from a lot of anonymous painters. 30 minutes
The King Mosque, Berat, Albania The 16th-century Sultan's Mosque is one of the oldest in Albania. The Helveti teqe (a place of worship for those practising the Bektashi branch of Islam) behind the mosque has a beautiful carved ceiling and was specially designed with acoustic holes to improve the quality of sound during meetings. The Helveti, like the Bektashi, are a dervish order, or brotherhood, of Muslim mystics. 20 minutes
Belsh, Belsh, Albania In Belsh, travelers will embrace the tranquility of its natural beauty, explUpon arrival, guests will be taken to a scenic viewpoint overlooking the town's remarkable lakes. This spot provides a perfect photo opportunity, capturing the serene beauty of the lakes set against the backdrop of lush greenery. Here, your guide will share fascinating insights about Belsh's natural formations and the significance of these lakes to the local ecosystem and community.
Next, the tour briefly meanders through the town center, allowing travelers to observe the local architecture and soak in the ambiance of this peaceful Albanian gem. Although time won't permit a deeper exploration, this quick walkthrough is designed to pique your interest and perhaps inspire a return visit.
This 30-minute stop in Belsh offers a refreshing interlude to the Berat tour, giving travelers a taste of Albania's diverse natural and cultural landscapes. It's a promise of tranquility and beauty. 30 minutes
Specialized infant seats are available
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.
413jerryg
06 Oct 2024
We had a great day in beautiful Berat. There are a good range of trips on the website and booking was easy and quick. Our tour guide Zeni was very informative. His good company and knowledge of good places to eat made our day.
r0bbyth0mmy
24 Jul 2024
Zeni our tour guide was informative about the whole area. It's worthwhile to visit Berat to see it's history. The only issue was that we went on a very hot day.
951willemijnk
27 Jul 2023
The tour was incredibly well organized. For example, the tour guide took great care of everyone and that even though we were a very large group. There was enough consideration for rest periods and on the other hand there were also many fun and varied things on the schedule. The tour guide provided us with a lot of nice information and real Albanian facts. As a result, we learned a lot and saw a lot of the beautiful country!
This tour in
Albania
is organized by
Tirana Day Trips
We always double-check the availability with our local partners for each booking. Even though this is usually a swift process, it can take up to 24 hours. Once this process is completed you will receive your voucher or ticket by email. If our local partner is not able to confirm your booking we will offer you the best possible alternative. If the new date and/or time doesn’t fit your itinerary, we will reimburse the full amount paid.
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