Where to Stay in Durrës

Accommodation › Durres › Where to Stay in Durrës

This blog post will guide you on where to stay in Durrës, recommend the optimal number of nights to spend, and introduce you to the best hotels in the area.

A big city and a five-star beach holiday at a fair price? This is possible in Albania, for example in the harbour city of Durrës. For most travellers to Albania, other cities are on the bucket list. However, Durrës not only offers the longest beach in Albania, but also several historical attractions.

I recently visited Durrës and personally had a great time. Opinions on the city can be mixed as the town isn’t as overwhelmingly historic as Berat or Gjirokastër. But if you know where to go, and what to expect, Durrës can be an awesome stop on your Albania road trip itinerary.

In Durres, you can choose between staying in the city centre or right on the beach, where you can find everything from cozy apartments to elegant boutique hotels and luxurious accommodations. Depending on whether you are coming to Durres for a city trip or for a beach holiday, you should pick the right accommodation in the right location. During my time in Durrës, I discovered several great places to stay that I will share with you. 

Table of Contents

My Picks For Where To Stay – Hotels in Durres

Quick Overview

In Durrës, you can stay in a variety of hotels along the coast, in the city centre or near the main beach, such as the Art Gallery Boutique Hotel, La Onda Hotel Durres or luxury hotels, depending on your budget and preferences. The city offers a good combination of a bit of history & culture and relaxation.

Accommodation options in Durres

• Beachfront hotels: For beach-focused stays, you can find options directly on the coast, such as the La Onda Hotel or Meliá Hotel Durres.
• City centre hotels: To explore history and culture, choose a hotel in the centre like Art Gallery Boutique Hotel, which is close to the harbour and ancient sites such as the Roman amphitheatre, the Archaeological Museum and the Venetian tower.
• Luxury hotels: More upscale establishments are also available, offering services such as a spa, e.g. the Palace Hotel & SPA.

Tips for choosing your stay

• For a cultural experience: Stay near the centre for easy access to historical sites and the promenade.
• For a seaside holiday: Choose hotels located along Golem Beach or Lalez Beach.

Here are my top 3 accommodations in Durres for each budget. Read on for a more comprehensive breakdown with recommendations from each area.

Meliá Durrës Albania

Luxury

Meliá Hotel, rated one of the best hotels in Durres on the beach, is located in the Lalzi Bay area if you are looking for a stylish place

Art Gallery Boutique Hotel

Mid-Range

With direct access to all major attractions in a convenient location, this hotel is a good choice. Staff are very friendly and helpful, rooms come with a beautiful, tasteful design.

Old Town Villa

Budget

A charming, family-run hotel that perfectly combines modern comfort with a warm, welcoming atmosphere. A great choice in the central part of Durres with easy access to the main boulevard.

How many days do I need for Durrës?

Travellers staying in hotels in Durrës spend 6 days there on average. If you are using Durres as your first or last stop in Albania and just wish to explore the old town, staying 2 days will be enough.

Do you like it really quite hot? Then the height of summer and especially the month of August is a good time to travel to Albania and Durrës. More moderate Mediterranean bathing temperatures can be found in May and June, as well as in September. I recommend avoiding the months of July and August, as it just gets too busy in those.

Tip: I recommend booking your accommodation early. The best Hotels with good reviews and affordable pricing usually book up quickly.

Where to Stay in Durres – The best neighbourhoods

The city centre of Durres around the port offers easy access to all major sights and attractions in the (fairly small) old town of the city. Staying there means you will be able to reach most of those places walking.

If you have chosen Durres for a beach holiday, I recommend Golem (the classic) with its kilometre-long beaches in the south, or if you prefer it more quiet and less busy, Lalzi bay or Kallmi Beach to the north.

The Best Beaches in Durres Albania

Durres might not have the crystal-clear waters of the towns along the Albanian Riviera, but it does have some great beaches—especially if you know where to go. Most of the coastline here is made up of long, sandy beaches with rather shallow entry to the water.

• Durres Beach (Plazhi i Durrësit) – Best Beach in Durres for Convenience
• Golem Beach (Plazhi i Golemit) – Best for nightlife
• Curilla Beach (Plazhi i Currilave) – Best for a more tranquil experience close to town
• Lalez Beach (Plazhi i Gjirit te Lalëzit) – Best Beach in Durres for Clearer Water
• Kallmi Beach & Cape of Rodon – Best Durres Beach for Nature & Views

Central Durrës – Best for culture lovers and easy access

Picking a central hotel in Durres means you will be close to attractions like the amphitheatre and the Venetian Tower and experience the vibrant energy of the city. From the centre, you can also easily reach other beaches in Durres.

Hotel Kloest: If you are looking to stay centrally located near the city centre, Hotel Kloest is a safe choice. It has perfect location, close to the seafront and Ventus harbour, near the city centre and just 10 minutes walking to the amphitheatre. It comes with nice, large rooms and comfortable beds.

Hotel Nais: A budget friendly family-run hotel with a long tradition, right on the centrally located Bulevardi Epidamn. You feel at home immediately here. The breakfast is plentiful and very tasty.

Things To Do in Central Durres

• Explore the Durrës Amphitheater
• Walk Along the Durres Promenade
• Visit the Archaeological Museum
• Climb the Venetian Tower (Durrës Castle)
• Hike up to King Zog’s Villa

Golem Beach – Best for Beachfront & Nightlife

The hotels on Golem Beach in southern Durres are ideal for a beach holiday, with plenty of restaurants and bars in close proximity. The area is very lively and popular with many guests coming from Kosovo during peak season (July to August).

Volmar Hotel: The hotel located centrally right on Golem Beach offers tastefully furnished rooms with amazing views of the Adriatic Sea. The newly opened property also features a private beach area with sun loungers and private parking. You will find friendly staff and a delicious breakfast served daily.

Klajdi Resort & Spa: A great hotel further south on Golem beach with very friendly staff, good value for money. The breakfast buffet is incredible. The larger rooms are very spacious making it a place also perfect for families.

If you are looking for a child-friendly option, Hotel Adriatik is also a worth having a look at.

Lalzi Bay Durres – Best for Families & Couples

Lalzi Bay in Durrës is my favourite for those looking for a family-friendly destination offering various beachside accommodations like apartments, villas with all amenities and hotels with private beaches, pools, playgrounds. The bay is located north of Durres and offers a more quiet setting while you can reach the city by car within 30 minutes. The entry to the beach is rathewrr shallow here making it ideal for families with samll children.

Meliá Durrës Albania: For those seeking to stay away from the rather busy beaches in the south, this hotel located in Lalzi Bay (Gjiri i Lalezit) north of town is the best choice. A large new and modern hotel with spacious rooms, a great pool area with pool bar.

Things To Do at Lalzi Bay:

• Take a Day Trip to Cape of Rodon (Kepi i Rodonit)
• Visit one of the many Vineyards

Surrounding Villages – Best for Nature Lovers

I recommend staying in one of the many agoturizems around Durres for those seeking a more tranquil stay in nature paired with some amazing locally sourced food. My favourite agroturizem near Durres is Gjepali.

Agroturizem Gjepali, Shijak: Looking for something a little different? Why not stay on a farm all in nature while enjoying some amazing local food and wine? The Nature and Hotel​​ In Gjepali Agrotourism offers you exactly that, while you will also enjoy the quietest sleep you’ve ever had. The food here is sourced all local, driving from Durres takes about 30 mins.

Practical Information for Staying in Durres

How to get to & around Durres in Albania

Getting there to Durres: The good ferry connections from Bari and Ancona to Durres are the reason many travellers especially from Italy start their Albania road trip here. The distance between Tirana (airport) and Durrës is 38 km. It takes just 40 minutes to drive from Tirana to Durrës. The cheapest way to get from Tirana to Durrës is by bus, which costs €4.

Once you have reached Durrës, many things can be done on foot. Alternatively, you can use the bus network. I need to advise you that there is sometimes no timetable, but the buses only inform you of the destination via the location information in the window.

For more flexibility, I recommend opting for a hire car. I use DiscoverCars website to compare prices of local providers and always find good deals there. You can save if you book your car as early as possible.

Is Durres in Albania worth visiting?

There are certainly more beautiful beaches in Albania than in Durres. I really like the beaches on the Albanian Riviera, where I discovered a few real hidden gems in the area around Ksamil and Sarande. Nevertheless, Durres is not without charm.

What is the beach like in Golem, Albania?

This seaside town attracts visitors who want to enjoy the authentic Albanian beach life. The beaches of Golem stretch for miles and are ideal for beach holidays. The soft, golden sand and calm waters invite you to relax and sunbathe.

What is there to see in Durres?

The most famous attractions in Durrës are the amphitheatre, the Great Mosque, King Zog’s Villa on the hill and the Venetian Tower. But the best thing about the city is its 10-kilometre-long beach.