Përmet, Albania – Top Attractions & Things To Do

Albania › Përmet, Albania – Top Attractions & Things To Do

The “City of Roses” — as Përmet is known — is surrounded by mountains, rivers, and beautiful countryside and lies along the Vjosa River. Përmet claims to be greenest and cleanest city in Albania. It is famous for its spectacular surroundings, folk music, delicious recipes (sweets like gliko) and rich history.

Përmet in Albania is still a relatively undiscovered attraction, but this place will not remain a secret for much longer. The city lis in southern Albania, amidst some of the most beautiful natural landscapes in Albania to offer. Përmet is located about 60 km from Gjirokaster and 94 km from Sarandë in the depths of Albania. The small, little-known town has a romantic location.

It extends into the valley of the river Vjosa and is surrounded by mountains and hills. Përmet itself does not offer much for tourists, it also seems to be like a rather sleepy town. The most famous place that visitors come to see in this region are the hot springs (Llixhat e Bënjës). They are actually located near the small village of Benjë, which is about 14 km from Përmet.

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Përmet – a natural jewel on the Vjosa River in the heart of Albania

Only 10,000 people live in Permet. The city is relatively small, but don’t worry, Permet has plenty to offer and is definitely worth a trip, whether you are planning a day trip or a weekend away.

Brief History

In the 14th century, Permet was taken by the Ottomans, which is still commemorated by the old Ottoman bridges, which I will tell you more about below. During the communist period, Permet was given the nickname ‘Hero City’. The name comes from stories that have been passed down from generation to generation. The locals believe that the city was named after a hero called Premt in the Middle Ages. According to the stories, Premt was the ruler of the fortress that was located on the famous large rock in the centre of the city.

Best time to visit Permet

The best time to visit Permet in southern Albania is spring (April to June) and fall (September to October) when the weather is nice, not too hot or too cold. Since the city is called the city of roses, you can expect Permet to be in full bloom during spring.

The most popular time to visit is in the summer, which is the tourist season in Albania. The hot pools are often overcrowded and, as they are not as warm. If the weather is a little cool, it is a good time to go to Permet and visit the nearby springs. Locals come year-round for the healing properties of the springs, but summer brings tourists in crowds.

Permet – Attractions & Things to do

Although the area is best known to tourists for the Benje Hot Springs, there are many other things to do in Permet, which is why I recommend spending more than a day here.

Here you can find out what to do in Permet when you visit the city so that you can see as much as possible of this beautiful city and its surroundings.

Hike up to the City Stone (‘BIG ROCK’)

In the centre of town, you will find a huge rock that you can walk up following a mertal staircase! I recommend you do this, as you get an amazing view of the city and the Vjosa river.

Even though you might think it’s just a rock, trust me, the short walk up is worth it! When I visited in spring, I was able to take some great photos of the city from there.

According to a legend, at the beginning of the 15th century, a local governor named Premti chose to sacrifice his life and that of his daughter Aleksandra by jumping from this stone into the Vjosa River rather than fall into the hands of Ottoman invaders. In honor of this martyr, Përmet got its name.

Benje Hot Springs

Make sure to enjoy the Permet hot springs in Benje near Permet. One of the main reasons why people know about Permet are these hot pools or thermal baths.

The Bënjë Thermal Baths have been used since antiquity. The baths are sulfur springs that emanate from deep tectonic faults on both sides of the Lengarica Canyon.

Don’t expect a steaming, hot pools, the springs are lukewarm. There is one large pool that has been artificially created, and the further you walk down the valley, the more there are. Although the large pool is the main attraction, I recommend you visit the smaller pools too!

The hot springs of Permet can get very crowded in the summer. I visited in spring and there were still quite a few people there. The the further you walk, the fewer people there are because many tourists just visit the main pool and that’s it.

Getting there:

• The baths can be reached by an asphalted road that turns off the main road after Përmet to the Tre Urat border crossing in the village of Petran.
• The entrance to the pools is free of charge.
• The springs’ water has a temperature of between 22-28˚ Celsius. 

Katiu Bridge & Langarica Canyon

While most travellers come to Përmet for the famous thermal baths, my main reason for visiting was the Katiu Bridge. This stone bridge, located about 8 kilometres from Përmet, was built by the Ottomans in the 19th century. It is also known as the Ali Pasha Ottoman Bridge, named after the famous Albanian leader who commissioned it.

The bridge is an absolute beauty. It is one of about two dozen Ottoman bridges in Albania. I recommend you climb up to the bridge, where you will have an amazing view of the river, the surrounding gorge and the Benja thermal baths below. Be careful though, as the stone can be slippery and there are no rails!

If you walk past the bridge and hot springs, you will enter the Langarcia Canyon after about 200 metres, which is breathtaking. You can take a guided tour if you want to go deep into the canyon. For those who like to explore the beauty of nature, this is definitely one of the best places to visit in Permet.

With a length of five kilometers and a height of 150 meters, the Langaricë Canyon offers a spectacular journey between rocks that have been created over millions of years. The journey starts at the 18th century Ottoman bridge, known as the Katiu Bridge, and continues along the river, where you can kayak in what is considered the most scenic canyon in Albania.

Church of Leusa

The Church of Saint Mary of Leusa is one of the most significant religious monuments in Permet. The church was once one of the largest monasteries and schools built in the late 18th century. A dense forest surrounds the church, but inside it hides a treasure trove. The interior of the church is covered with ornate paintings and Orthodox icons. Many of these religious artefacts are quite old and open to the public. The church is located two kilometres from the city and can only be reached on foot or by 4×4. Nevertheless, it is an excellent destination for people who love both nature and culture.

• Location: Orthodox Church of Leusa Dormition of St Mary

Getting to Leusa:

• To get to Leusa, you need a 4×4 or similar vehicle. Otherwise walking is recommended.
• The walk to Leusa takes 30 to 40 minutes. Try to go early in the morning or in the evening.

To enter the church and see the icons, you need a key. To get it, you have to ask the priest who lives in the first house near the church (the house on the right side of the road). There is also a spring near the entrance to the village. The water is fresh and cold.

Përmet – Activities

Rafting the Vjosa River

Rafting has become one of the most popular activities in recent years. This is thanks to the Vjosa river, the last wild river in Europe. Rafting on the Vjosa is an adventure full of adrenaline and magic that is out of this world.

Travellers can experience almost 12 kilometres of the blue vein of Permet, passing over rocks, strong currents and through forests. The trip is suitable for everyone, with or without sufficient experience. In summer, the difficulty level of rafting is 2-3 (the 6th level is the most difficult). Therefore, even small children can accompany their parents and have a unique experience that they will never forget.

Useful information:

• Rafting can be done from April to early November.
• In summer, the difficulty level is 2-3 (out of 6).
• Rafting is a physical activity. You cannot go rafting if you have serious health problems.
• Tours usually take about 3 hours.

You can find ratfing tours led by locals on Get Your Guide:

Getting to Përmet

Permet is not on a route travelled by many travellers unless you are driving from Korce to Saranda using the southern route. You can either drive there or take a bus. I recommend renting a car via DiscoverCars if you feel confident enough to drive the roads.

Tirana to Permet

If you want to travel from Tirana to Permet, you can either drive or take the bus. The journey by car usually takes 3-4 hours, but by bus it can take longer. There 2-3 buses per day from Tirana to Permet.

Gjirokaster to Permet

The distance between Gjirokastër and Përmet is just 60 km. The fastest way to get from Gjirokastër to Përmet is by car, which takes 1h.

The best connection without a car from Gjirokastër to Përmet is by bus, which takes 1h 20m. There is one direct bus from Gjirokastër to Përmet. Buses depart once a day, every day.

Saranda to Permet

The drive takes about 2 hours and is a popular day trip destination for visitors and expats in Saranda. The road is smooth and in good condition.

Driving from Korca to Permet

The road from Korça is incredibly beautiful. The road is not in the best condition, and by that I mean there are loads of potholes and the road is obviously not being maintained.

However, before I drove this route for the frist time, I was told that the road is very bad and that it is better to come from the other side. I tried the road anyways, and although it was long, the drive was really worth it – I highly recommend it.

The views are breathtaking and you basically drive through the pine forest of Fir of Hotova National Park, which is just incredible. There is sharp turn when that Google Maps calls the Vjosa River Bend when you go through the town of Leskovik and I was just blown away by the scenery there.

On the road, you basically drive along the edge of Greece, so the landscape is mountainous and simply beautiful to look at. The entire drive from Korce to Permet takes about 4-5 hours by car.